Ephesus is the first church to which Jesus wrote a letter in the book of Revelation.
The church at Ephesus
The church is first mentioned in the book of Acts, chapter 18. We read about Aquila, Priscilla and Apollos. These were disciples of John the Baptist who started the church. They were about twelve. In Acts chapter 19, Paul arrives (for a second visit) and stays in Ephesus for 2 years:
Act 19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
On his last visit, he spoke to the Ephesus church leaders. Let’s take some verses from that scripture:
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders
Act 20:28-31 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
So it seems like he foresees some problems arising in the church of Ephesus. In the letter to the Ephesians, there is not much personal information about the church. In Ephesians 6, Paul instructs us about the Armour of God, which must be important for the Ephesians.
After a time, John the apostle is leading the church, as we can read in CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, III.3 (St. Irenaeus). So, John the apostle, to whom Jesus gave this revelation, is also the pastor of the church.
Ephesus Historically
Let’s first check out the historical situation in Ephesus. Instead of writing a paragraph about it, this video is much nicer than I could ever write a paragraph.
The letter to the Church in Ephesus
To the Church in Ephesus
Rev 2:1-7 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Introduction
Jesus describes himself in the same way as in Revelation 1. He is among the seven Candlesticks, which represent the churches.
The good news
Verses 2 and 3 give us a clear description of the church of Ephesus. A loving, hardworking patient church that loves the truth.
The bad news
The Ephesian church left its first love. So what is their first love, and how did they leave it?
What do we know from church history about the church in Ephesus? Eusebius writes in Book III, chapter 28 that Cerinthus, who was quite an interesting figure, lived in the same place as John: CHURCH FATHERS: Church History, Book III (Eusebius) (newadvent.org).
Jerome writes that John wrote his gospel, especially against this heresy: CHURCH FATHERS: De Viris Illustribus (Jerome) (newadvent.org) Chapter 9.
So the church is likely very busy defending the faith instead of doing the things they did, which are described in verses 2 and 3. Jesus warns them to repent.
More good news
The Ephesians hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Nicolas was one of the deacons ordained in Acts chapter 6.
Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
He was a proselyte, he was not born a jew, so he changed his religion twice in his life. Well, he did, but as we can read in CHURCH FATHERS: Church History, Book III (Eusebius) (newadvent.org) chapter 29.
He struggled much with the love for this world and the love for Christ. So the deeds of the Nicolaitans are that you are a Christian but have a love for the world as well. Interestingly enough, the Nicolaitans are mentioned both in the letter to Ephesus and Pergamum, the two most occult cities of the seven.
What’s in a name… Nicolas is composed of two Greek words, Nicos and Laos.
νῖκος = Victory, to win
λαός = The people
So it could suggest that the Nicolaitans reigned over the people.
The End
The overcomers are given a place in the paradise of God. Ephesus had a beautiful garden from Artemis and a temple from Domitian. The Christians knew about them, but likely they had never been there. Jesus promised the Ephesians, not earthly trees and gardens, but Heavenly.
The Ephesus church in church history
It is the first church in the chapter and the first church if you would view it as the first in 2000 years of church history. It is a loving, evangelising church, which had quite some issues to take care of, which caused them to forget their main purpose.