What was the most strategic local church in history?

If you had to identify the most strategic local church in history, which church would you choose?

You could make an argument that the church at Ephesus was the most strategic church ever. Consider:

  • Paul spent more time there in Ephesus than any other church.
  • Scholars argue that as many as 8 New Testament books were written to an Ephesians context.2
  • Paul’s Corinthians correspondence was probably written while he was in Ephesus.
  • The Colossians were evangelized from an Ephesus base.
  • It was probably in Ephesus that Priscilla and Acquilla risked their lives for Paul (Romans 16:4).3
  • The church at Ephesus is the first church addressed in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation.
  • The book of Ephesians was written to Ephesus.
  • The Corinthian correspondence may have been written from Ephesus.
1 Thomas, 129. His commentary on Revelation.

2 Thomas’s commentary on Revelation is helpful about Ephesus (page 130). He talks about the fact that as many as 8 New Testament books were directed to them: John, Ephesians, 1,2,3 John, Revelation, 1,2 Timothy. Corinthians may have been written from Ephesus.

3 See F.F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, page 298.

Published by Chris

2 thoughts on “What was the most strategic local church in history?”

  1. Of course you could argue that without Antioch there would be no Ephesus. Then again, without a Jerusalem there is no Antioch…

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