Revelation #3 – Study Questions
Revelation CGS – Week 3
A letter to the Ephesian Church – Staying Known
Revelation 2:1-7
INTRODUCTION: After the opening section and vision of Jesus in Revelation, John moves to a second section with seven individual messages to seven churches in Asia Minor. Those churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Laodicea, Philadelphia, Sardis, and Thyatira. Each church faced its own particular issue and pressure point. Some were in worse shape than others. The churches addressed in the three central letters have to varying degrees some who have remained faithful and others who are compromising with pagan culture.[1] The messages are important, but they derive their importance and weight from the one who authors them, Jesus. Each message to the seven churches will begin with an image of Jesus that corresponds to one that was given in the vision John had in chapter 1. Because the messages are repeatedly tied to the inaugural vision, they insist that the readers see their situation in relation to Christ.[2] The effect of this salutation is to give a picture of Christ as present in the very midst of the churches, a Christ who is intimately concerned with them and cares for them.[3]
The church in Ephesus was a prominent church in the first century, and it was located in a prominent city in Asia Minor with a population of over 250,000. In fact, it was the most important of the seven cities. Though Pergamum was apparently the official capital of the province of Asia, Ephesus was its greatest city. It was an assize town and a seat of proconsular government (Acts 19:38). When a proconsul took up his appointment he had to enter his province at Ephesus.[4] Ephesus was an outstanding religious center, the chief cult being that of Artemis (cf. Acts 19:24ff.). The city had the prized status of neōkoros (lit. ‘temple-sweeper’!) in connection with the great temple which was one of the seven wonders of the world. But religion and magic were hopelessly intermingled, and magical arts were popular (cf. Acts 19:19). ‘Ephesian letters’ were charms widely supposed to cure sickness and to bring luck. Paul spent over two years in Ephesus establishing the church (Acts 19:8, 10), to which the important Epistle to the Ephesians was later sent. Timothy was there for a time (1 Tim. 1:3), and tradition says that John lived there in his old age.[5] The church in Ephesus had done well to hold fast to good theology, but they had lost something, or were on the verge of losing something, their passion and love for Christ that they had experienced at first. This had led to a strong intellectual faith, but one that was weak in the witness department. See, they had grown to know facts about Jesus, but the relationship had grown cold. In their letter, we are reminded that I can know someone and not be known.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time this week, consider the following question. What was the first relationship that you felt truly known by another person? That is, they understood you, what made you tick, and enjoyed being with you because of who you were. Or discuss what is needed in a relationship to feel known by another person. And how does that apply to our spiritual life?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observing and noting repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Revelation can be a tough book. Here are some questions that might help with discussion.[6]
- The church in Ephesus was theologically sound but lacked passion. How is that true of you? What’s the remedy?
- If you want to grow in your knowing God, and God has made himself known through his Word, what is your relationship with the Bible like? What is a small step you can take this week to strengthen that relationship?
- When trying to love God with our whole selves, we need to do so intellectually, emotionally, and in community. Which of those three is your strongest right now? Which are you most inclined towards? And, which do you need to grow in? What is one step for growth this week?
- Ephesus needed to repent and get back to the connection and desire to proclaim Jesus it had at first. Do you still have the same desire to tell others about Jesus that you did at first?
- In what ways does your life together as a church witness to Christ?
[1] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 226.
[2] Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 61.
[3] Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 64.
[4] Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 63.
[5] Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 63–64.
[6] Chester, Tim. Revelation For You: Seeing history from heaven’s perspective. The Good Book Company. Kindle Edition.