Ephesus:
A Church in Decline
John M. Nielson
The Life Cycle of the
Church at Ephesus
with
“The Church as a
Social Institution”
by David O. Moberg
Pre-suppositions
1. Paul is the Author of Ephesians –
which was addressed to that city or
included it.
2. Apostle John wrote 1st John and it
reflects his teaching as pastor of that
church.
3. Revelation is written by the Apostle
John and is the product of Divine
revelation.
Paul Journey 3
5
Seven Churches of Asia
6
Ephesus
7
7 Significant Passages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Acts 18:18-26 – The Church Founded
Acts 19:1-20:1 – Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus
Acts 20:17-36 - Paul’s Farewell Message
The Epistle to the Ephesians – Paul to Ephesians
I Timothy – Paul to Pastor at Ephesus (note 1:3-11
The Epistle of First John – John as Pastor (?)
Revelation 2:1-7 – Jesus to Ephesians
The Word of God
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him
who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
(Rev. 2:1-6 NIV)
The Word of God
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.
I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men,
that you have tested those who claim to be apostles
but are not,
and have found them false.
You have persevered
and have endured hardships for my name,
and have not grown weary.
(Rev. 2:1-6 NIV)
The Word of God
Yet I hold this against you:
You have forsaken your first love.
Remember the height from which you have fallen!
Repent and do the things you did at first.
If you do not repent, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place.
(Rev. 2:1-6 NIV)
The Word of God
But you have this in your favor:
You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes,
I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the paradise of God.”
(Rev. 2:1-6 NIV)
7 Advantages of Ephesus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Strategic Location
Participants in Miracle
Great Pastors
Great beginnings, tradition, & heritage
Victorious in conflict
Powerful presence of H.S.
Balanced congregation
7 Commendations by Christ
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
know
know
know
know
know
know
know
your deeds. (v. 2)
your hard work. (v. 2)
your perseverance. (v. 2)
you cannot tolerate evil men. (v. 2)
you have rejected false teachers. (v. 2)
you have endured hardship. (v. 3)
you have not grown weary. (v. 3)
Based on G. Campbell Morgan
7 Commendations by Christ
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Good Works
Hard Effort (that produces good works)
Persistence (in that effort)
Pure ethics
Pure doctrine
Faithful in persecution
Not weary (great strength)
NOT
BAD!
“But I hold this against you.
You have forsaken
your first love.”
The Meaning of First Love
Question: Is “First Love” a matter of chronology, or
quantity, or quality, or priority?
Moffat: “You have given up loving one another as you did at
first.”
Weymouth: “You no longer love me as you did at first.”
G. Campbell Morgan: “First Love is the love of espousal and
marriage – Romance, Excitement, Commitment. He
points to Ephesians 5)
Was their First Love Jesus . . . & have they lost Him?
The Meaning of First Love
Hugh Martin: “It is a matter of “cooling off.”
(The Seven Letters)
W. M. Ramsay: First love is enthusiasm.
The “Tree of Life” comes from Hellenistic sacred trees.
“Removal” means the church building would be moved.
A “mild” denunciation because loss of enthusiasm is
natural and easily rectified.
Ignatius of Antioch proves the recovery of
Ephesus.
(Letters to the 7 Churches of Asia)
7 Results of “Lost” Love
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
It
It
It
It
It
It
It
means a fall from a great height. (v. 5)
demands repentance. (v. 5)
demands return to first works. (v. 5)
means loss of Christ & His presence. (v. 5)
means death of the Church
means the loss of heaven. (v. 7)
opens them to other sin(s) (implied)
(love fulfills the law)
7 Reasons for “Lost” Love
1. Loss of Faith, Love, and Hope from our
Work, Labor, Endurance (see I Th. 1:3) (BBC)
We remember . . .
your work
produced by faith,
your labor
prompted by love,
and your endurance
inspired by hope
in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
I know
your works,
your labor
your endurance.
(same words in Greek)
(1 Thessalonians 1:3)
(Revelation 2:2)
7 Reasons for “Lost” Love
1. Loss of Faith, Love, and Hope from our
Work, Labor, Endurance (see I Th. 1:3)
2. Intolerance for evil can become legalism that
kills love.
3. Busy-ness with good works may crowd out the
time for love.
4. Protecting the doctrine can lead to rigidity that
stifles love.
5. Being so commendable can lead to self-sufficiency
so we don't depend on God & His love.
6. Beginning to lose love allows the evils of
society to re-infect the church.
7. It’s a natural process.
Challenges to the Church at Ephesus
Acts 20:13-38
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Guard yourself and the flock (28)
Be Shepherds (28)
Beware of wolves from without (30)
By hard work, seek to help the weak (35)
Be givers (35)
Challenges to the Church at Ephesus
I Timothy 1:3-11
1.Beware false doctrines & controversies (3-4)
2.The goal of this command is love (5)
3.Love flows from
A. a pure heart
B. a good conscience
C. a sincere faith (5)
4.The importance of morality (8-11)
5.Instructions regarding overseers & deacons (ff)
Challenges to the Church at Ephesus
Epistle to the Ephesians
1.Commended for their love for the saints (1:15)
2.Unity is found in Christ (Implied love?) (2:11-18)
3.Paul’s prayer for them is built around love (3:14-21)
4.They are to speak the truth in love (4:15)
5.Live a life of love patterned after Christ (5:2)
6.Warned about immorality (5:3ff)
7.Challenged regarding love in the home that is seen as a
reflection of the love of Christ for the church.
Challenges to the Church at Ephesus
Epistle of First John
1.Key themes are obedience and love that are constantly
seen as inter-related.
2.The word for “love” is always “agape”
3.God’s love is made complete in us by obedience (2:5)
4.Living in Light means loving your brother (2:10, 4:19-21)
5.Lack of love leads to stumbling (2:10-11)
6.Love for the world is incompatible with love for the
Father (2:15)
Challenges to the Church at Ephesus
Epistle of First John
7.God’s love for us is lavish (3:1)
8.Love for the Brethren confirms that we are God’s
children (3:10, 14; 4:7-12)
9.Love’s definition is:
A. Christ’s sacrifice (3:16
B. God’s love for us (4:10)
C. God Himself (His character/essence) 4:16
D. Obedience to God (5:3)
Challenges to the Church at Ephesus
Epistle of First John
10.Love’s words must be exceeded by love’s actions (3:18)
11.Love removes the fear of judgment (4:17, 18)
12.There is double warning in 2:18-27 regarding doctrine
and love.
According to tradition, John’s greeting was . . .
“Little Children,
Love One Another!”
1. Stage of Incipient Organization
A. Dissatisfaction with existing churches
B. Collective excitement
C. Charismatic, authoritarian, prophetic
leaders
D. Sometimes hard to designate a founder
Moberg
2. Period of Formal Organization
A.
B.
C.
D.
Formal membership
Separation from parent group
Membership goals
Seeks the perfection of society &
individuals
E. Creed protects orthodoxy
F. Slogans that emphasize group's
distinctives
G. Distinctive code of behavior
H. Differences draw persecution
Moberg
3. Stage of Maximum Efficiency
A. Leadership is less emotional - more
statesmanly
B. Rational organization replace
charismatic leadership
C. Historians & apologists emerge with
“propaganda”
D. Intellectuals repelled by earlier
emotionalism are drawn in
E. Moves from a despised sect to nearequality with recognized organizations
Moberg
3. Stage of Maximum Efficiency
F. Hostility toward others diminishes
G. First generation of converts has
mostly died
H. Development of committees & boards
I. Rituals and procedures are seen as
means, not ends
J. Rapid, but uneven growth with
periods of integrating new members
K. Incomplete integration gives rise to
internal dissension
Moberg
4. The Institutional Stage
A. Formalism saps group's vitality
B. Bureaucracy concerned with
perpetuating its own interests not
original theological distinctives
C. Administration centers in selfperpetuating boards
D. Those in authority talk one thing and
practice another
E. Mechanism of structure becomes an
end in itself
F. Creeds become venerated relics Moberg
4. The Institutional Stage
G. Organized worship becomes a ritual,
empty formality
H. Symbolism replaces internal, personal
devotion
J. Conflict with the outside world is
replaced with toleration
K. Membership standards relaxed to gain
respectable members
L. Feelings of intimacy decline
Moberg
4. The Institutional Stage
M. Membership becomes passive
and remote from leadership
N. Activities once considered secular
now become major attractions
O. Institution becomes the master,
not the servant
P. Sermons become topical lectures, not
fervent discourses on sin, salvation,
and doctrine
Moberg
5. Over-institutionalism Leads to
Disintegration & Death
A. Formalism, indifference,
obsolescence, absolutism, red tape,
patronage, corruption
B. Loss of confidence in leadership
C. Many withdraw to new sects
D. Support becomes nominal
and half-hearted
E. Futile attempts at restoration by a
few
Moberg
7 Historical Observations
1. Ephesus seems to have succumbed to the
processes outlined by Moberg. (See Revelation)
7 Historical Observations
1. Ephesus seems to have succumbed to the
processes outlined by Moberg. (See Revelation)
2. Evidence for that is found in the Letter of
Ignatius of Antioch.
7 Historical Observations
1. Ephesus seems to have succumbed to the
processes outlined by Moberg. (See Revelation)
2. Evidence for that is found in the Letter of
Ignatius of Antioch.
3. Ephesus became center of Montanism.
7 Historical Observations
1. Ephesus seems to have succumbed to the
processes outlined by Moberg. (See Revelation)
2. Evidence for that is found in the Letter of
Ignatius of Antioch
3. Ephesus became center of Montanism.
4. Ephesus became center of Gnosticism
7 Historical Observations
1. Ephesus seems to have succumbed to the
processes outlined by Moberg. (See Revelation)
2. Evidence for that is found in the Letter of
Ignatius of Antioch
3. Ephesus became center of Montanism.
4. Ephesus became center of Gnosticism
5. Ephesus became center of Mariolatry
Temple of Diana in Ephesus
Photo by Carlos Serrao
Artemis/Diana – Ephesus Museum
7 Historical Observations
1. Ephesus seems to have succumbed to the
processes outlined by Moberg. (See Revelation)
2. Evidence for that is found in the Letter of
Ignatius of Antioch
3. Ephesus became center of Montanism.
4. Ephesus became center of Gnosticism
5. Ephesus became center of Mariolatry
6. Ephesus became center of magic traditions
7 Historical Observations
1. Ephesus seems to have succumbed to the
processes outlined by Moberg. (See Revelation)
2. Evidence for that is found in the Letter of
Ignatius of Antioch
3. Ephesus became center of Montanism.
4. Ephesus became center of Gnosticism
5. Ephesus became center of Mariolatry
6. Ephesus became center of magic traditions
7. Ephesus was involved in controversy over
the date to celebrate Easter.
(preoccupation with peripheral?)
7 Contemporary Applications
Without Love . . .
1. Possessions become Materialism
2. Freedom becomes Antinomianism
3. Free Choice becomes Pluralism
4. Individualism becomes Isolationism
5. Abundance becomes Loss of Value
6. Ease becomes Hedonism
7. Obedience becomes Legalism
1
Gen #1
2
3
Gen #2
4
Gen #3
5
EPHESUS
1
2
50 AD
75 AD
Founding 51
Paul’s Farewell 57
The Epistle 60-62
3
4
100 AD
Revelation 95
5
125 AD
Ignatius 117
Your
Congregation
Church
of the
Nazarene
1
Gen #1
2
3
Gen #2
4
Gen #3
5
The Penalties of “Lost” Love
1.
2.
3.
4.
Removal of the lamp stand
Invasion of other problems
The death of the Church
No entrance into Heaven
The Remedy for “Lost” Love
1. Remember
2. Repent
3. Return
The Prodigal Son
The Promise to those who
“Lost” Love
God’s call to the wayward
Entrance into Paradise
Eternal Life
Behold!
I stand
at the door
and knock!”
an addendum . . .
Cultural issues:
Evidence author knows the city
Hellenistic Sacred Trees
The threat from Paganism & the Imperial Cult
Ephesus as asylum where criminals could hide
vs. Cross where sinners find refuge/new life
Eventual movement of Ephesus and the Church
to a site near the complex of Diana worship
see Ramsay and Hemer on these
an addendum . . .
Cultural issues:
1) As is often seen in Scripture & true contextualization,
there is the use of local images that can be transformed
and/or contrasted with Christian Concepts. (John’s use of
“Logos”)
2) The Church living in the neighborhood of paganism means
three things:
a) the danger of syncretism and compromise
b) the potential for persecution
c) the opportunity for evangelism & outreach
The absence of “First Love” complicates each of those
3) Now . . . about US!?!?
Bibliography
Ellul, Jacques. Apocalypse: The Book of Revelation, Seabury Press, NY 1977
Gardner, Percy. The Ephesian Gospel, Williams Norgate, New York, 1915.
Heick, Otto W. A History of Christian Thought, v. 1, Fortress Press, Philadelphia,
1965.
Hemer, Colin J. The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting.
Eerdmanns: Grand Rapids, 1989.
Martin, Hugh. The Seven Letters, Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1956
Meinardus, Otto. St. Paul in Ephesus, Lycabattus Press, Athens, 1973.
Moberg, David O. The Church as a Social Institution, Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey, 1962.
Morgan, G. Campbell, A First Century Message to a Twentieth Century Christians,
Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, 1902
Ramsay, W.M. Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia, A. C. Armstrong & Son, New
York, 1905.
also: The New Shaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia & online resources