One of the most fascinating practices in Bible study is to take a topic, doctrine, person, or item, and follow its “trajectory” as time passes and as scripture mentions it over that passed time. One such study is to look at the Church at Ephesus, beginning with her planting and ending with Jesus’ letter to her “angel” in Revelation. After familiarizing yourself with he biblical facts and factoids about the topic, you’re then in a position to search the internet for extra-biblical background information.
What fascinates me about this Ephesian study is how the church at Ephesus managed to fare so well, compared to the other churches Jesus wrote to in the 7 letters of Revelation. To what, in all the prior biblical facts, could one attribute this success? Paul’s two years? His letter? The ministry of Priscilla and Aquila? Timothy’s oversight?
I don’t believe one can find a definitive answer, but it sure does one good to think on the benefits of all the recorded ministry that God provided the Ephesian church. Have some fun, as it’ll take at least a couple hours to read and note the passages and get some background info.
Here ya go!
Acts 18:19-21
Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila come to Ephesus and begin a ministry there. Paul stays a short time, then leaves Priscilla and Aquila to manage the work.
Acts 18:24-28
Apollos, a Jew, an Alexandrian, an eloquent, mighty-in-scriptures man, came to Ephesus; He was familiar with the gospel, but only up to the baptism of John. He began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the Ephesian brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 19:1 – 20:1
Paul returns to Ephesus, finds disciples, stays two years.
Acts 20:16-38
Paul makes his way to meet with the Ephesian Elders at Miletus to warn them of false teachers outside and inside their number, and to say goodbye.
1 Corinthians 15:32
Paul references his fight with “wild beasts” at Ephesus as evidence that he’s not in this apostle business for pleasure or profit.
1 Corinthians 16:8
Paul writes “But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost” in the close of this letter.
Ephesians
(sorry, but for this study you’d have to read the whole letter,
looking for statements about them (the Ephesians),
and noting what they were taught, either previous to the letter, or in the letter).
1 Timothy
(sorry, but for this study you’d have to read the whole letter,
looking for statements about them (the Ephesians),
and noting what they were taught, either previous to the letter, or in the letter).
2 Timothy 1:16-18
An offhand reference to Onesiphorus who rendered service at Ephesus.
2 Timothy 4:12
Paul tells Timothy that he sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
Revelation 2:1-7
Jesus sends a letter “To the angel of the church in Ephesus,” and writes:
“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent. ‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”
