John, while on the isle of Patmos, wrote the Book of Revelation. In Chapters 2-3, there are recorded seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. Although each letter was written to a specific congregation, each is also applicable to us (cf. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," Rev. 2:7). The first of these letters was written to the church at Ephesus.

Background of the City

Ephesus was a chief city located on the coast of the Agean Sea. This city controlled one of the greatest harbors of her day. Ephesus was also on one of the most traveled trade routes. The city's population was about 250,000 in John's time. It was known as "the first and greatest metropolis of Asia," and the "Bank of Asia." Concerning religion, Ephesus was the center of cult worship to the Greek goddess Artemis (known as Diana to the Romans). The temple of Diana was considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world. Christianity had an impact on this city. Paul spent two years in Ephesus, and his Gospel preaching seriously threatened the idol making trade (Acts 19:8, 10, 23-27). Timothy also spent time in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:13), and according to secular history, the apostle John spent the last days of his life in this city. There are many lessons we can learn from this letter to the church at Ephesus.

Relevance of the Writer

The letter is written by He that "holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks" (Rev. 2:1). This description of Christ ties in with the vision that John earlier saw (Rev. 1:12-13, 16, 20). From this we know that Christ is present in the midst of His church, and that He is intimately concerned with each congregation. Sometimes, living in the fast paced twenty-first century we loose sight of this fact. However, Christ is just as much concerned with His church now as then (cf. Heb. 13:8).

Christ's Evaluation

In assessing this church, Christ first praises her loyalty. "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: 3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted" (Rev. 2:2-3). Their works were good! The Ephesians patiently labored in the faith. Their loyalty also consisted of an intolerance of evil. They could not stand those who were morally and doctrinally impure, unlike the Corinthians (1 Cor. 5:1-2). They also exposed as liars some who claimed to be apostles (cf. Acts 20:29-30; 2 Cor. 11:13; 1 Jn. 4:1). Christ also commended them for hating the "deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (Rev. 2:6). Although little is known about the deeds of the Nicolaitans, we can know that loyalty to Christ not only consists of loving the good, but also hating that which is evil (Ps. 45:7). In their loyalty, they had not "fainted." Loyalty to God is not easy (cf. Lk. 9:23-26), and thus many have taken the path of least resistance (cf. Mt. 7:13-14). However, we, like the Ephesians, must not faint.

Secondly, Christ points out Ephesus'lack of love. "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Rev. 2:4). The word translated "left" means forsaken. This forsaken love may have included one or all of the following: (1) the love for God's will that was demonstrated in the burning of the books on magic and the mighty growth of the word of God that resulted (Acts 19:19-20); (2) the love for God that was manifested toward His messenger when he left the elders at Miletus (Acts 20:36-38); and/or (3) the love they showed one another in Christ (Eph. 1:15). In any case, a loss of love leads to a loss of enthusiasm, which is a dangerous condition (cf. Rev. 3:16). Do we love God more or less than when we first became Christians? Even if we love God now, there is always room for improvement (1 Thes. 1:3; 3:12)!

Christ's Solution and Promised Blessing
Christ did not only point out their sin, but He also told them how to correct it. "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" (Rev. 2:5). The church at Ephesus shows us that we can gradually slip into apostasy and not realize it until it is too late (cf. Heb. 2:1-4). Christ told them to "remember" the point at which they departed. Memory is a powerful trigger of repentance (Ps. 137; Lk. 15:17). Repentance is a change of will that results in a positive change of action (cf. Mt. 3:8); hence, Jesus said, "do the first works." These are the kind of good works that resulted from their "first love." Unless they repented and did these good works, Christ would "remove thy candlestick." A lamp stand's purpose was to dispense light, but if it could not dispense light (like Christians who have left their first love), it has no more reason to exist. As the "light of the world," we must make sure our light keeps shining (Mt. 5:14-16).

Jesus promised, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Rev. 2:7). This blessing is pronounced only upon those who overcome forsaking their "first love." The blessing here promised is a restoration of that which was lost in the Garden of Eden — "the tree of life." As long as Adam and Eve had access to the "tree of life," they had immortality, but because of their sinfulness, God expelled them from the Garden, and thus also from the tree of life (Gen. 3:22-24). Immortality in a sinful condition is not good, but thanks be to the Lord, those who overcome will live eternally in the "paradise of God" (cf. Rev. 22:1-5).

We can be assured that Christ knows our every work, collectively and individually (cf. Heb. 4:13). He knows if we love what He loves and/or hates what He hates. Have we forsaken our first love? If so, may God help us to remember and repent before He removes our "candlestick." We cannot expect to live in eternal bliss without our "first love," but to all who overcome, the "paradise of God" awaits.

1The titles designating the churches in this series of bulletin articles are adapted from Ray Summers, Worthy Is the Lamb (Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1951), 108-124.