<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/71428b96-8892-4ede-b187-0519de7fd40b/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213625.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/71428b96-8892-4ede-b187-0519de7fd40b/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213625.jpg" width="40px" /> Ephesus, an ancient Greek city located in what is now Turkey, was a beacon of political, economic, and religious activity. Its influence extended far beyond its borders, shaping the course of history in ways that are still being uncovered today. As a political entity, Ephesus was a "free city" within the Roman Empire, a status that allowed it a degree of self-governance. This political autonomy, combined with its strategic location, enabled Ephesus to become a thriving economic hub. The city's marketplaces were among the largest in the ancient world, drawing merchants from across the Mediterranean.
However, it was in the realm of religion that Ephesus left its most indelible mark. The city was one of the seven churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelation. It was here that the Apostle Paul and later the Apostle John, two titans of early Christianity, labored to spread the gospel. Their efforts transformed Ephesus into a key center of the Christian faith, a role that it would continue to play long after their deaths.
Yet, Ephesus was also a city of contrasts. Alongside its vibrant Christian community, the city was home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This coexistence of the Christian faith with other religious traditions was not without its challenges. The Book of Revelation, in its message to the church of Ephesus, warns against losing the fervor of one's initial love for Christ. This warning, issued in the context of a city grappling with diverse and often conflicting religious influences, remains a powerful message for contemporary believers.
In conclusion, Ephesus serves as a potent reminder of the need for discernment and steadfastness in the face of distraction. In a world where the "enemy" of trivial pursuits threatens to divert our attention from what truly matters, Ephesus calls us to a higher standard of engagement and discovery. It is a call to return to our "first love" for Christ, to resist the lure of the trivial, and to pursue the "heavenly vision" with unwavering obedience. For those who answer this call, the story of Ephesus is not just a tale of the past, but a living testament to the transformative power of faith.
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/b48442c7-1fd5-4cfa-a308-c5176c93e4ff/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213625.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/b48442c7-1fd5-4cfa-a308-c5176c93e4ff/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213625.jpg" width="40px" /> To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
"This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks among the seven gold lampstands. I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and how patient you have been. I know that you cannot tolerate evil men, and that you have tested those who say they are apostles but are not, and have found out that they are liars. You are patient, you have suffered troubles for my sake, and you have not given up. But there is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first.
Remember how far you have fallen! Turn from your sins and do what you did at first. If you don't turn from your sins, I will come to you and take your lampstand from its place. But there is what you have in your favor. you hate what the Nicolaitans do, as much as I. If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the chur-ches! To those who have won the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the garden of God". (Rev. 2:1-7)
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Ephesus was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, currently located in Turkey. It was among the major cities of the Ionian Greeks in Asia Minor and a crucial center for early Christianity. The city is referenced in the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, and it's believed that the Gospel of John might have been written here.
The city was renowned for the nearby Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Other monumental buildings include the Library of Celsus and a theatre capable of holding 25,000 spectators. Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelation.
The church of Ephesus was established in the significant city bearing the same name. The church was one of the most important Christian religious centers. The Basilica was constructed here shortly after the death of the Apostle John. Today, the ruins of this church are known as "St. John's Basilica". They are located on a hill near the town of Seljuk, south of the still existing, ancient Byzantine-Seljuk fortress-castle.
Ephesus had significant political importance too. Within the Roman Empire, it was a free city, with self-governing rights within its city boundaries. Economy-wise, it was a thriving city, with a population that originally migrated from the eastern and central parts of Anatolia. The coastal area was colonized by Ionian Greeks from the West. These diverse population elements led to an energetic breed of people in a prosperous city.
Christianity was introduced to the Ephesus region by the Apostle Paul. He stayed in Ephesus from 53-55 A.D, and had great success as a missionary. He first converted people from the Jewish Synagogue, but later extended his activities towards the Gentiles.
After Paul, the Apostle John worked for about forty years in this area, consolidating the work of his predecessor. John was accompanied by the mother of Jesus, Mary "the Virgin", who, according to old traditions, spent the last years of her life in a small house, the "Meryemana", approximately 5 kms from Ephesus.
According to tradition, John completed his Gospel and his Epistles near today's Seljuk at the end of the first century A.D. After his death, a small chapel was built over his tomb. Later, the Byzantine Basilica of St. John was built on this place during the reign of Emperor Justinian.
The church of Ephesus was critical due to many factors. Paul founded the church, John completed his Gospel here, and Mary lived and was buried here. The Apostle John was not only the leading figure of the local church of Ephesus, but he was also an archbishop of the whole province.
While Ephesus may seem an unlikely place for Christianity to flourish, some of its greatest triumphs occurred here, and it was the place from where the Christian faith expanded rapidly. However, Christianity has now disappeared in Ephesus, with the local population worshipping God in a somewhat different way. Only the humble Byzantine Chapel of Mary's Home, "Meryemana", some 7 kms from Seljuk, remains as a modest remnant of the Christian faith that once shone brilliantly here.
The church of Ephesus had the cause of real love among men and the mission to love each other. It was the first fine example of Christian fellowship and brotherhood, but it did not succeed in this lofty charge. However, we can say that when practicing the good things for which the church is praised, God's promise will surely come true; everlasting companionship with Christ in the Garden of God, that is, in Paradise.
Ephesus today is truly magnificent, even better than Jerash (Gerasa) in Jordan. I started at the Roman baths and small agora, strolling down remarkably well-preserved streets which featured side streets, statues of notable citizens, and other intriguing objects. We visited the Library of Celsus and walked down Marble Street.
The market place (agora) was vast, the largest I've seen, surpassing even the Roman Forum in Rome or the Agora in Athens. It once hosted trade exhibitions, attracting merchants from all over the Mediterranean to seek the best deals and prices. Ephesus was the commercial center of the ancient world, while Rome was the political capital.
We saw remnants of the synagogue but couldn't locate the School of Tyrannus mentioned in the Book of Acts. Our next stop was the Great Amphitheatre, an awe-inspiring sight. From the top seat levels, one can overlook the Arkadiane Street, a processional way over a mile long, flanked by enormous pillars. Here, the yearly festival to worship the goddess Diana would have taken place with grandeur and ceremony.
We also saw the hippodrome and the Vedius Gymnasium, which were not well-presented due to lack of funds for excavations. The famous Temple of Artemis, once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, is now just a handful of stones. It used to stand on the river's edge, rising above it like an albatross with hundreds of pillars. Now, it's completely gone, and the river is heavily silted, making Ephesus no longer a seaport. The best pieces of this grand temple were taken to Istanbul for the construction of San Sophia, and much of the ancient temple now resides in the British Museum in London and in Vienna, a fact that our Turkish friends often lament.
The message to Ephesus was mixed. It had maintained a vibrant Christian testimony. The three years the Apostle Paul spent there were fruitful. This was also the city where the Apostle John labored. But, just as the city has lost its former glory, the first-century Christians there were warned that they had lost the fervor of their initial love for Christ. This is an enduring message for us today.
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