The Ephesian Church: The Period of the Apostolic Church Rev. 2:1-7 (30-100 A.D.)
The Destination of This Letter
"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus."
The Immediate Destination of the Letter
"Unto the angel."
Already I have suggested that there are three general interpretations of the angel:
(1) A supernatural being, namely, a spirit being known as an angel.
(2) A natural being, namely, a bishop, pastor, or one in charge of the congregation.
(3) An impersonal reference, namely, the spirit of the church personified, etc.
It is the first of these that I think is under consideration. Such a custodian is biblical and reasonable, and above anything else would be highly desirable for the church.
Such a custodian, thus addressed, could thus be trusted to see that this message reached the church and accomplished its purpose (Ps. 103:20; Heb. 1:7, 14).
"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."
"And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."
"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
The Intermediate Destination of the Letter
The Immediate Destination of the Letter
"Unto the angel."
Already I have suggested that there are three general interpretations of the angel:
(1) A supernatural being, namely, a spirit being known as an angel.
(2) A natural being, namely, a bishop, pastor, or one in charge of the congregation.
(3) An impersonal reference, namely, the spirit of the church personified, etc.
It is the first of these that I think is under consideration. Such a custodian is biblical and reasonable, and above anything else would be highly desirable for the church.
Such a custodian, thus addressed, could thus be trusted to see that this message reached the church and accomplished its purpose (Ps. 103:20; Heb. 1:7, 14).
"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."
"And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."
"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
The Intermediate Destination of the Letter
"Of the church."
The Church is made up of pastors, deacons, and saints. There is the priesthood of God's people in this present age. They are the only intermediaries between a lost world and God.
Pastor: The elder specially charged with the oversight of the congregation.
Officers: Teachers, deacons, and other officers who must care for the church.
People: As a whole, the entire congregation. While God's message has been directed to His people for their own good, it was never intended that it should stop there.
The church is the light-bearer (1:20).
The Church is made up of pastors, deacons, and saints. There is the priesthood of God's people in this present age. They are the only intermediaries between a lost world and God.
Pastor: The elder specially charged with the oversight of the congregation.
Officers: Teachers, deacons, and other officers who must care for the church.
People: As a whole, the entire congregation. While God's message has been directed to His people for their own good, it was never intended that it should stop there.
The church is the light-bearer (1:20).
"The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
They give light in private (Matt. 5:15).
They give light in private (Matt. 5:15).
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
They give light in public (Matt. 5:14).
They give light in public (Matt. 5:14).
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
They give light to the world (Phil. 2:15-16).
They give light to the world (Phil. 2:15-16).
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."
"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain."
The Ultimate Destination of the Letter
"Of Ephesus" A.V.; "In Ephesus" Grk. This congregation was located in the city of Ephesus, the largest city in the whole of Asia Minor and the capital of the province of Asia.
This congregation of believers was called out from among the people by the Holy Spirit to worship God and to bear their testimony among the people. It was their responsibility to correct the spirit of the city and not to catch it, as Corinth.
Paul visited the city three times: (1) On his trip back to Jerusalem (Acts 18:19-21). His stay was brief, but he did take time to reason in the synagogue. (2) His second trip to the city was prolonged, lasting over a period of three years (Acts 19). (3) His third visit was not to the city itself. On his way back to Jerusalem he stopped off at Miletus and called the elders out to him, delivering his farewell address (Acts 20:17-38).
It was the ministry of Paul that made Ephesus the Christian Capital of the world after Antioch. It was here that he spent the most extended period of his ministry, a period of three years. It was here that he wrote the Corinthian Epistles. He wrote Ephesians to this church and he addressed Timothy here when he wrote the first Pastoral letter.
The Apostle John made this his home and the place of his ministry in his later years. Here he wrote all of his books: the Gospel, three Epistles, and Revelation.
The city as Paul knew it, just as Antioch of Syria, has disappeared. There remains nothing but a miserable village. Antioch was a city of 800,000, second only to Rome in the Empire. Ephesus must have been a city in the hundreds of thousands. One has only to read the accounts in Acts 19 to conclude that it was indeed a center of great importance.
The business was of great proportions. The political importance was great. The religious greatness was evident.
Probably every church in the surrounding region was established by the missionary effort of this one.
"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain."
The Ultimate Destination of the Letter
"Of Ephesus" A.V.; "In Ephesus" Grk. This congregation was located in the city of Ephesus, the largest city in the whole of Asia Minor and the capital of the province of Asia.
This congregation of believers was called out from among the people by the Holy Spirit to worship God and to bear their testimony among the people. It was their responsibility to correct the spirit of the city and not to catch it, as Corinth.
Paul visited the city three times: (1) On his trip back to Jerusalem (Acts 18:19-21). His stay was brief, but he did take time to reason in the synagogue. (2) His second trip to the city was prolonged, lasting over a period of three years (Acts 19). (3) His third visit was not to the city itself. On his way back to Jerusalem he stopped off at Miletus and called the elders out to him, delivering his farewell address (Acts 20:17-38).
It was the ministry of Paul that made Ephesus the Christian Capital of the world after Antioch. It was here that he spent the most extended period of his ministry, a period of three years. It was here that he wrote the Corinthian Epistles. He wrote Ephesians to this church and he addressed Timothy here when he wrote the first Pastoral letter.
The Apostle John made this his home and the place of his ministry in his later years. Here he wrote all of his books: the Gospel, three Epistles, and Revelation.
The city as Paul knew it, just as Antioch of Syria, has disappeared. There remains nothing but a miserable village. Antioch was a city of 800,000, second only to Rome in the Empire. Ephesus must have been a city in the hundreds of thousands. One has only to read the accounts in Acts 19 to conclude that it was indeed a center of great importance.
The business was of great proportions. The political importance was great. The religious greatness was evident.
Probably every church in the surrounding region was established by the missionary effort of this one.
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