THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS

 

The Church in Ephesus

The history of Christianity at Ephesus began about A.D. 50. The gospel was introduced to that city by Paul’s close friends and partners in ministry, Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:18-21). They were joined by the eloquent preacher and debater Apollos (Acts 18:24-26). Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos laid the groundwork for Paul’s ministry in Ephesus.

Paul came to Ephesus in about A.D. 52, establishing a resident ministry that would last for three years (Acts 20:31). During his Ephesian ministry, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:8). Influence from his ministry undoubtedly resulted in the founding of the churches in the Lycus River valley at Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae. During his stay in Ephesus, Paul encountered both great opportunities and great dangers (Acts 19:1-5; 11-20). Paul’s protégé Timothy served as pastor of the church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3).

According to the testimony of the early church, the apostle John spent the last decades of his life at Ephesus, from which he likely wrote his three epistles in which he calls himself “the elder” (2 John 1; 3 John 1).John was leading the Ephesian church when he was arrested and exiled to Patmos.

In the sixth century A.D. the Roman emperor Justinian (A.D. 527-565) raised a magnificent church to John’s memory in this city.

In A.D. 431 the council of Ephesus officially condemned the Nestorian heresy, which taught that there were two separate persons, one divine and one human, in the person of Jesus Christ.

Acts 18:19, 24-26, 19:1-5, 20:31, 11:20; 1 Corinthians 16:8; 1 Timothy 1:3, 2 John 1, 3 John 1

 

 

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.