Introduction
Yesterday, we talked about Paul, the author of Ephesians. Today, let's learn about the city of Ephesus and its people to understand who Paul was writing to. Let's start by reading the beginning of Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus.

Scripture
Ephesians 1:1-2 (New Living Translation)

"This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace."

Explanation and Reflection
When we look at Ephesus, there are three important things to keep in mind.

1. Ephesus Was a Wealthy City
Ephesus had a strong economy because of its port, which was key to trade in the Roman Empire. Not everyone was rich, but Ephesus was a place where many wanted to live. It was located on the Mediterranean Sea and had mild weather all year. Think of it like modern-day Los Angeles.

But sometimes, living "the good life" can distract people from living "the Gospel life." The wealth in Ephesus caused problems for the church, like focusing on recreation, wealth, comfort, and pleasure instead of God. We see similar issues in America today, where many people identify as Christians and attend church but still live much like the rest of the culture.

2. Ephesus Was a Religiously Pluralistic City
Ephesus was a mix of many different religions. The city had over 50 Roman gods, with Artemis (also called Diana) being the most popular. Her temple in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus was like a giant religious buffet.

Early Christians said there was only one God, and this upset people who worshipped many gods. This caused tensions both outside and inside the church. Some new believers wanted to add Jesus to their list of gods instead of worshipping Him alone. Today, we see a similar rise in religious pluralism in America, where many believe that Christianity is just one of many ways to heaven, alongside Buddhism, Islam, or Hinduism. Sadly, many who call themselves Christians mix different beliefs instead of following the Bible's teaching that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

3. Ephesus Was a Very Political City
In Paul's time, Ephesus was one of the largest cities in Asia Minor. Leaders like Mark Antony, Caesar Augustus, and Domitian used the city's power and influence. Ephesus was part of the Roman imperial cult, where people worshipped their emperors like gods. They built temples, held ceremonies, and made sacrifices to honor the emperors. This practice united the empire and showed loyalty to the emperor.

However, early Christians didn't join in because they believed only Christ was God. Today, many Christians treat political leaders like saviors. They may not worship these leaders, but they put their hope in them, believing their political party can solve all problems. This is like 21st-century emperor worship. While we should be good citizens and involved in politics, our ultimate hope should be in Christ, not in political leaders or parties.

As you can see, Paul's letter to the Ephesians is still very relevant today. The church in America struggles with the same issues: religious pluralism, the distractions of wealth, and political idolatry.

Question of the Day
Here's a question for reflection and application:

Which of these three issues—wealth, religious pluralism, or political idolatry—is the biggest struggle for you? What practical steps can you take to overcome it?