Read Ephesians 1:1 NLT
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:1 CSB
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:
To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yesterday, we explored who Paul was. Today, we will take a closer look at the city and the people of Ephesus.
At the time of Paul’s writing, Ephesus was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. On a map, you would find it in the southwestern corner of modern-day Turkey. With four major roads converging as routes into Asia Minor, this port city was a buzz of activity! People from multiple ethnic groups were drawn to Ephesus as a commercial hub for their livelihood, creating a very diverse culture.
With a diverse culture came diverse religious practices, along with the practice of magic. The city welcomed the worship of more than fifty different gods and goddesses, with perhaps the most famous being the Greek goddess Artemis or Roman goddess Diana. Artemis’ temple in Ephesus is considered one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, boasting a size four times that of the Parthenon.
Diverse people groups, wealth, and worship of whatever you desire, were the cultural setting for Paul’s letter to the followers of Jesus in Ephesus. It couldn’t have been easy for this early church! Yet in the first few lines of his letter, Paul addresses them as God’s holy people, or faithful saints in Christ Jesus. The church in Ephesus had their eyes on Jesus! They held tightly to Paul’s teachings on the gospel of Jesus and tried to live out their faith despite the culture they found themselves in. What a beautiful example for us today.
God,
As we prepare ourselves to dig into Ephesians, help us to focus our hearts and minds on You. In a world where it sometimes feels like anything goes, help us to resist temptation and to set our sights on the truth of your word and the salvation that comes from our surrender to your love and grace. Teach us what it looks like to follow you with all that we have. Make us your Holy people…faithful saints in Christ Jesus. Amen.
