MINISTRY IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF EPHESUS

Ephesians 1 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; 4. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;

         

            I personally  enjoy reading and teaching this letter, because of the promises, and stress on "walking in the Spirit."

            I BELIEVE THE EPHESIAN CHURCH BECAME AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF THE CHURCH.

ACTS 19:39,41  For "assembly" is translated from ecclesia or more often in the scriptures, this Greek word   ecclesia is translated "church".  
BUT NEVER MEANS A BUILDING
verse 4

He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him

Verse 4 Even as he chose us in him (kaqwß exelexato hmaß en  autwi).                                                                                                     First aorist middle indicativise of eklegw, to pick out, to choose. Definitive statement of God's elective grace concerning believers in Christ. Before the foundation of the world (pro katabolhß kosmou). Old word fromn istia kataballw, to fling down, used of the deposit of seed, the laying of a foundation. This very phrase with pro in the Prayer of Jesus (John 17:24) of love of the Father toward the Son. It occurs also in 1 Peter 1:20. Elsewhere we have apo (from) used with it (Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 9:26; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). But Paul uses neither phrase elsewhere, though he has apo twn aiwnwn (from the ages) in Ephesians 3:9. Here in Ephesians 1:3-14.           Paul in summary fashion gives an outline of  view of God's redemptive plans for the race.          That we should be (einai hmaß). Infinitive of purpose with the accusative of general reference (hmaß). See Colossians 1:22 for the same two adjectives and also katenwpion autou.        Briefly, about Paul's earlier first mission trip (Acts 13-14), he started with Barnabas and John also named Mark (Mark the Gospel writer), starting from Antioch of Syria. by sea to the island of Cyprus, and then to the mainland of Asia. One of the first places he stopped at was another Antioch, but Antioch of Acts 13:14, This was inland in the Galatian region. (Later on this trip John Mark left them at Perga and went to back  to Jerusalem. Paul wouldn't take him on the 2nd mission trip )         The first Sabbath Paul preached in the synagogue in Antioch of Galatia. Pulling no punches, part of his message mentioning "the good news made to the fathers... Be it known to you, therefore, brothers," ...that through this man (Christ) is proclaimed to you remission of sins, and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.        While Paul would first visit the synagogues, and had a good response from many in this Jewish setting, obviously some responded in hostility.  Soon he found the Gentile crowds responding with real joy and in large numbers.        Traveling by land, Paul and Barnabas planted churches. The Apostle Paul was moved of God to visit the Ephesus area,  to establish the Christian church there.  Again these churches were not buildings, but assemblies of believers. He had visited Ephesus coming back from his 2nd mission trip and left Priscilla and Aquila there and Priscilla and Aquila had a church in their house. ( Rom.16:4)            "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country (Galatia) came to Ephesus...." Acts 18"24-19:1            EPHESUS BECAME THE CENTER OF CHRISTIANITY. When I write this it is not that there was some official designation (others have written this), or that some large church building had been built.          The last living Apostle, Apostle John had moved there. He lived there or had a residence there while writing some of his books.           Tradition tells us that John, in obedience to Jesus, had moved with Mary, Jesus' mother, to Ephesus to escape the Roman-Jewish war.                                         THERE  ARE AT LEAST TWO LETTERS, WRITTEN WITH GOD'S AUTHORITY BY TWO DIFFERENT APOSTLES.                                                   BOTH LETTERS WERE WRITTEN ABOUT THE MINISTRY IN EPHESUS. ONE OF PAUL'S LETTERS: "TO EPHESIANS" ONE OF JOHN'S LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATIONS