'Rev 2:1-7

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Letter to Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)

Over the years the church at Ephesus had been troubled constantly by false teachers, as Paul had warned (cf. Acts 20:17,29-30).

The false teaching condemned in Paul’s letters to Timothy and in the letters of John was centred in Ephesus. Later the church in Ephesus was troubled by the Nicolaitans, who taught that Christians could best demonstrate their freedom from rules and regulations by eating food that had been offered to idols and joining in immoral behaviour.

At the outset of his message, the risen Christ praises the Ephesians for their hard work and patient endurance in opposing the evil teachers (Rev 2:1-3).

Unfortunately, in the process their love for Christ has lost its original warmth. They have become harsh, critical and self-satisfied.

They are warned that if they do not quickly change and regain their original spirit of love, the one who rules over the churches (see Rev 2:1; cf. 1:12-13,16) will act in judgment and bring the church to an end (Rev 2:4-6).

Those who triumph, however, will enjoy the fulness of eternal life in the world to come (Rev 2:7).