Church at Ephesus

TO: Church at Ephesus

FROM: Him who holds the seven stars (angels of the churches)

in His right hand and walks to and fro among the

seven lamp

stands of gold (seven churches)

1. I know your doings and your toil and your endurance.

2. And I know you cannot tolerate wicked men but have put to

the test those who call themselves apostles but are not,

and you have found them to be liars.

3. You endure patiently and have borne burdens for My sake

and have not become weary.

4. What I have against you:

YOU NO LONGER LOVE ME AS YOU DID AT FIRST

5. Be mindful of the height from which you have fallen.

6. Repent at once and act as you did at first, OR

7. I will come and remove your lamp stand out of its place.

8. What you have in favor:

You hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate.

9. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the

churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the

tree

of life,

which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

SCRIPTURE AND NOTES

EPHESUS

The Loveless church

Ephesus and its church play the largest part of any church in the New Testament than any other. There is more
about the Ephesian church in Scripture than any other. (DP)
Ephesus was the capital of Asia Minor, a center of land and sea trade, and along with Alexandria and Antioch in Syria,
one of the three most influential cities in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. The Temple of Diana, one of the
ancient wonders of the world, was located in this city, and a major industry was the manufacture of idols of this
goddess. Paul had ministered in Ephesus for three years and had warned the Ephesians that false teachers would
come and try to draw people away from the faith. (LB)
Called “the light of Asia” and “first city of Asia” (JFB)
Ephesus was an important city, rich in trace and commerce. It was also rich in idolatry, frivolity and worldly-
mindedness. It could be compared with one of our modern metropolitan cities with its wealth, amusement-seeking,
vices and social evils (TB)
A city of 225,000 population (HBH)
Ephesus was the approximate geographic center of the Roman Empire; and become the approximate geographic
and numerical center of the Christian population of the world (HBH)
Closest to Patmos (JB)
40 years before, Paul had done his most successful work in Ephesus. After the death of Paul, Timothy, it is aid,
spent most of his time in Ephesus and there suffered martyrdom. John spent his old age there. (HBH)
Ephesus is first addressed, as being the place where John chiefly resided (AC)
In spiritual decline
First three churches (includes Ephesus) the issue is of mixture. The mixture of the world in the church
This church no threat to enemy since lost first love
Loyal but loveless
In Ephesus a meteorite fell on it. It was black and covered with knobs which looked like female breasts. The
Ephesians believed they had been visited by Diana, the queen of heaven. So they used these symbols. Other
idols had bull’s testicles - all fertility symbols. And what you worship you become like. Ephesus was a cesspool of
sexual perversion.
Ephesus was an important city, rich in trade and commerce. It was also rich in idolatry, frivolity and worldly-
mindedness (wealth, amusement-seeking, vices and social evils) (DP)
In Ephesus there was a library that had 30,000 volumes. Under the surface of Ephesus there is an underground
tunnel from the library to a brothel. You can still see the prostitutes’ advertisements on the wall. Corruption under
the surface of respectability.
Commended for: hard work and perseverance; full of action and good deeds
Condemned for: lost first love; a defect in the inner life
First symptoms: departure from the truth, laxity in church discipline, tendency towards worldly mindedness
Neglected necessity for personal faith and love in the Lord
Worship and teaching become automatic and professional
Growth in numbers more important than spiritual growth
Prestige becomes important
Instruction of young isn’t taken seriously
Remember and repent (urgent)
Loss of lamp stand - would cease to be a manifestation of the body of Christ on earth
It would be a man-centered organization
Counsel - eat from the Tree of Life

Love Letters from Jesus

2:1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in
His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands:

Holds the seven stars in His right hand - this shows the supreme authority of Jesus Christ over all pastors,
teachers, and servants, of the assemblies of God’s people. They get their work and authority from Him (WNT)
He walks in the midst - this intimates His relation to His churches; though in heaven, He walks in their midst on earth
(MH)
Walking expresses His unwearied activity in the Church, guarding her from internal and external evils, as the high
priest moved to and fro in the sanctuary (JFB)
His walking among the lamp stands may imply an inspection of their condition, one by one (Zond)
Midst – in the middle of (NAS)
Ephesus had become a large, proud church and Jesus’ message reminds them that He is the head of the body of
believers (LB)

References: Revelation 1:11; 1:12; 1:16; 1:13

2:2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil.
And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

I know thy works – not merely “thy professions, desires, good resolutions” (JFB)
It is not enough that we be diligent, but we must be patient (MH)
Patience – perseverance – steadfastness (NAS) – persevering endurance (JFB)
Hard work and perseverance – a beautiful testimony, especially when seen in contrast with the serious rebuke
which follows. It was a church full of action and good deeds. The people worked hard for God and His kingdom.
There was sound teaching by competent teachers, exposing false apostles. Righteousness was important to them
– they refused to tolerate wickedness. And they persevered in all sorts of hardships without giving up through
tiredness. (TB)
Bear – evil men are a burden which the Ephesian Church regarded as intolerable (JFB)
We are to bear one another’s burdens in the case of weak brethren; but not to bear false brethren. (JFB)
Evil men - corrupt in faith and practice (WNT)
Wicked men – those who would lower the Christian standard of conduct (Zond)
We must show all meekness to men, yet we must show a just zeal against their sins (MH)
Tested – the necessity of testing for correct doctrine and dependable advice was widely recognized in the early
church (NIV)
True zeal proceeds with discretion; none should be cast off till they be tried (MH)
The church at Ephesus is commended for: (LB)

1. Working hard

2. Being patient

3. Resisting sin

4. Critically examining the claims of false apostles

5. Suffering patiently without quitting

Labor – labor without weariness (JFB)
The apostolical churches had the miraculous gift of discerning spirits. Paul presciently warned the Ephesian
elders of the coming false teachers, as also in writing to Timothy at Ephesus (JFB)

References: Psalm 1:6 (For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish); 1 John 4:1 (Beloved, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world); John 6:6 (And
this He was saying to test him; for he Himself knew what He was intending to do); 2 Corinthians 11:13 (For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ)

2:3 “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not
become weary.

These are the same things mentioned in the preceding verse, but in an inverted order, the particular reason of
which does not appear. (AC)
There must be bearing patience, and there must be waiting patience, that they may receive the promise (MH)
Thou hast not been wearied out with labor (JFB)

References: Galatians 6:9 (and let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart); John 15:21
(But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me)

REBUKE

2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Against you – somewhat – it is not just “somewhat” - it is everything (JFB)
Nevertheless, there was a certain defect in the inner life of the church, hidden perhaps from the naked eye but
known to the Lord. A defect so serious that it would lead the church to utter ruin unless they were to repent (TB)
First symptoms (but not the root): (TB)
Departure from the truth
Laxity in church discipline
A tendency towards worldly-mindedness
First love – fiery love with overcoming obedience and a desire to get rid of all compromise (MB)
Left first love - the love which you received when you first believed on Christ. No amount of work can compensate
for the loss of love (WNT)
They did not retain that strong and ardent affection for God and sacred things which they had when first brought
to the knowledge of the truth, and justified by faith in Christ (AC)
Root cause was neglecting the necessity for personal faith and love in the Lord. Outwardly the church has grown,
inwardly it has become weak. Worship and teaching have become automatic or professional; growth in numbers is
thought to be more important than spiritual growth; instruction of the young isn’t taken seriously; prestige becomes
a priority. (TB)
The good things they did should have sprung from their love for Jesus Christ. They may have been in danger of
falling into legalism. Their spiritual life had become sterile. (LB)
In the first steps of Christian life you may have had enthusiasm without knowledge. Do you now have knowledge
without enthusiasm? (LB)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind”. Because the Ephesian Christians had failed to love
God above all else, they were under God’s condemnation. (LB)
Their warmth of love had given place to a lifeless orthodoxy (JFB)
Many of the church founders had died, and the second-generation believers had lost their zeal for God (LB)

References: Matthew 24:12 (And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold); Jeremiah 2:2 (… I remember
concerning you the devotion of your youth, the love of your betrothals, you’re following after Me in the wilderness, through a land not sown)

ADVICE AND COUNSEL

2:5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will
come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place -- unless you repent.

Remember – consider the state of grace in which you once stood; the happiness, love, and joy which you felt
when you received remission of sins; the zeal you had for God’s glory and the salvation of mankind; your willing,
obedient spirit, your cheerful self-denial, your fervor in private prayer, your detachment from the world, and your
heavenly-mindedness. (AC)
Those that have lost their first love MUST REMEMBER - they must compare their present with their former state,
and consider how much better it was with them then than now. (MH)
Not merely “feel thy first feelings”, but do works flowing from the same principle as formerly, “faith which works by
love” (JFB)
Repent – be deeply humbled before God for having so carelessly guarded the divine treasure. (AC)
Do first works - be as earnest and zealous for My service as you were when you first believed (WNT)
Do first works – resume your former zeal and diligence; watch, fast, pray, reprove sin, carefully attend all the
ordinances of God, walk as in His sight, and rest not till you have recovered all your lost ground, and got back the
evidence of your acceptance with your Maker. (AC)
First works – first deeds (NAS)
Remove your lamp stand - withdraw My light from you and leave you in darkness (WNT)
Remove candlestick – take away My ordinances, remove your ministers, and send you a famine of the word (AC)
Remove candlestick – not extinction of the candle… …Judgment for some, but that very judgment the occasion of
mercy for others. (JFB)
Remove lamp stand – immediate judgment (NIV)
Remove lamp stand – would be to be judged (NCBC)

References: Matthew 21:41 (They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers
who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”; Hebrews 10:32 (But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you
endured a great conflict of suffering); Matthew 5:14 (You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden); Philippians 2:15
(that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world)

2:6 “But his you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Nicolaitans - a corrupt sect which sought to dominate the laity or common members, taking their liberties from
them and enslaving them to their corrupt doctrines and practices (WNT)
Nicolaitans were believers who compromised their faith in order to enjoy some of the sinful practices of Ephesian
society. (LB)
Nicolaitans – followers of Nicolaus. The exact person unknown. (Zond)
They were a sect, but professing Christians who, like Balaam of old tried to introduce into the church a false
freedom, i.e., licentiousness; this was a reaction in the opposite direction from Judaism, the first danger of the
church (JFB)
Nicolaitans – a heretical sect within the church that had worked out a compromise with the pagan society. (NIV)
Hate the deeds – we should hate men’s evil deeds, not hate the men themselves (JFB)

2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes
I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

Have an ear – hear – incline your ear – submit and consent to the divine will (Isaiah 55:3 Amplified)
Every man has an ear naturally, but he alone will be able to hear spiritually to whom God has given “the hearing
ear”; whose “ear God has wakened” and “opened” (JFB)
Overcomes - the flesh, the world, and the devil (WNT)
Tree of life – the rabbins use this term to generally mean the immortality of the soul and a final state of
blessedness (AC)
The Tree of Life – promised to those who overcome allurements of false teaching and natural temptations to
fleshly indulgence and worldly ease (HBH)
In the Garden of Eden were two trees—the Tree of Life and the Tree of Conscience. Eating from the Tree of Life
brought eternal life with God; eating from the Tree of Conscience brought knowledge of good and evil. Adam and
Eve ate from the Tree of Conscience, which God had forbidden them to do, so they were excluded from Eden and
barred from eating from the Tree of Life. (LB)
Symbolizes the eschatological state in which God and man are restored to the perfect fellowship that existed
before sin entered the world (NIV)
Will I give – as the Judge. (JFB)

References: Matthew 11:15 (He who has ears to hear, let him hear!); Revelation 22:2, 14; Genesis 2:9 (And out of the ground the Lord God
made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil); 3:22 (Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now,
lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”...); Proverbs 3:18 (She is a tree of life to those who take hold
of her, and happy are all who hold her fast); 11:30 (The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls); 13:12 (Hope
deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life); 15:4 (A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the
spirit); Ezekiel 31:8 (….no tree in God’s garden could compare with it in its beauty); Luke 23:43 (And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today
you shall be with Me in Paradise”)