Written by Roger D. Campbell
In the Bible, the city of Ephesus is first mentioned in Acts 18, where we read that Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos spent some time there. The church in Ephesus played a significant role among God’s people in the first century.
Paul labored to proclaim the gospel in Ephesus for a few years. He later wrote a letter to the brethren there (we call it “Ephesians”), and, perhaps about three decades later, the congregation there received a letter from Jesus through the apostle John (Revelation 2:1-7). What lessons can we learn from the history and activities of the church in Ephesus?
✔ The Bible does not record the details of who was involved in establishing God’s church in Ephesus. However, who taught the saving message of the gospel to lost people there is not what matters most. The focus should be on the seed which causes people to be born again. That seed, of course, is God’s word (1 Peter 1:22,23). “How did you become a Christian?” All saved people have this path in common: “We heard the gospel, we believed it, and we obeyed it.”
✔ When Paul wrote the book of Ephesians, he mentions no immorality, division, or false teaching plaguing the church there. If you are a part of a congregation which currently is not facing any of those three troubles, rejoice and thank the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Let us never take for granted the blessings of being surrounded by sound teaching, godly living, and peace among the brethren.
✔ The church in Ephesus was blessed to have Paul work with it. The apostle said he labored there for three years (Acts 20:31), and apparently there was a good working relationship between him and the Ephesian saints (Acts 20:36-38). Again, if a local church today works extensively and harmoniously with an evangelist to build up God’s Kingdom, the parties involved should not take that scenario for granted. Beautiful are the feet and role of a gospel preacher (Romans 10:15), but beautiful also is unity and peace among brethren (Psalm 133:1).
✔ The church in Ephesus was connected with a monumental accomplishment. What was that? As Paul labored daily in the school of Tyrannus, here is what occurred: “And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). Exactly how every person in the province of Asia heard the word is not stated, but how awesome it would have been to be a Christian living in Ephesus at that time and feed off of the energy of such an evangelistic outreach! Evangelistic zeal is contagious . . . On the other hand, so is apathy toward reaching the lost.
✔ The church in Ephesus was blessed to have pastors who were willing to receive spiritual guidance. Paul called them to come join him briefly in Miletus. They did so, and they got an earful of spiritual instruction and reminders (Acts 20:17-35). Yes, elders have family and work responsibilities, but it is a blessing to them and the church which they oversee when the elders put in the time and put forth the effort to be taught and trained in the Lord’s way. Near the end of Paul’s third-recorded preaching trip, there were brothers in Ephesus who (1) were spiritually mature enough to serve as overseers and (2) were willing to take on that role. It is God’s will that there be elders serving in each local church (Acts 14:23). We need more brothers who will take on that responsibility.
✔ Wolves did great damage to the church there. Paul told the flock’s shepherds, “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). Even from among the overseers there would be those who would speak perverse things and draw away disciples after them (20:30). Be not deceived: spiritual wolves will not go away on their own! For the good of a local church, false teachers and divisive members must be confronted and have their mouths stopped, lest they influence the sheep to leave the truth (Titus 1:10,11).
✔ The brethren there put religious teachers to the test and discovered that some who claimed to be apostles were liars (Revelation 2:2). How wonderful that the brethren stood up for what was right. You and I also need to test the spirits by comparing their message to God’s truth (1 John 4:1).
✔ The Ephesian saints also showed perseverance and patience. They did not become weary in serving their Lord (Revelation 2:3). At the same time, some of them left their first love. Jesus said so (Revelation 2:4). What was the remedy? Our Lord told them to remember from where they had fallen (yes, they had fallen), repent, and return to their first works (Revelation 2:5). The Lord’s way will work!
When Paul wrote the book of Ephesians, things in the church there seemed to be in good order. Years later when John wrote the Revelation, the situation had taken a drastic turn for the worse. Are we listening? Let us take heed lest that same thing happen with us.