1.- The community of Ephesus, founded by Paul (probably) in the second half of the year 52, becomes de centre, from where the apostle takes care of the previously founded communities (Galatia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth) and also of the communities born in the region of Ephesus (Colosse, Laodicea, Hierapolis). Let us see its foundation history, some problems confronted and what the evangelisation of the gentiles means, the mystery hidden for centuries. It is a precious heritage, Paul´s testament.
2.- Ephesus is the capital of the roman province of Asia. There were Asia pilgrims in Jerusalem on the Pentecost day (Acts 2,9), but to evangelise in Ephesus is something that Paul had not been able to carry out. In one occasion the Holy Spirit prevented him to do it (16,6). In another one he arrived with Aquila and Priscilla; he went into the synagogue and began to dialogue with the Jews. They asked him to stay there longer, but he did not accept: God willing, I will come back to you again (18, 18-21).
3.- Nevertheless, little by little an initial nucleus, a group of brothers, is being formed. Priscilla and Aquila live in Ephesus and they often go to the synagogue. They met there a Jew named Apollo, born in Alexandria, an eloquent man with a good knowledge of the Scripture. He had been educated in the ways of the Lord, but he only knew John´s baptism. Apollo started to talk courageously in the synagogue: When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home with them and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Since Apollo wished to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. (Acts 18,26-27).
4.- While Apollo is in Corinth, Paul crosses the regions of Galatia and Frigia, and arrives to Ephesus. He meets there some disciples. They seem Christians, but it is necessary to distinguish. Paul asks them the opportune question: Have you received the Holy Spirit when you embraced the faith? They answered: We have not even heard to talk about the existence of a holy spirit. Paul asks again: Then, which kind of baptism have you received? They answer: John´s baptism. Confusion was (and still is) possible. John´s disciples profess same religion, and they also baptize and have problems with the synagogue. Paul tells them: John´s baptism was no more than a sign of conversion. He preached the people to believe it the one who would arrive, id est, in Jesus. Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord. There were about twelve of them in all (Acts 19, 1-7).
5.- With this previous steps, Paul founds the community of Ephesus: Paul went into the synagogue and for three months he preached and discussed there boldly, trying to convince them about the Kingdom of God. Some of them, instead of believing, grew obstinate and criticized the way publicly. So Paul departed from them and took the disciples away. He taught in the school of a certain Tyrannus. He did this for two years, so that all those who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and non-Jews heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19, 8-10). The rejection of the synagogue is not decisive in the future of the community. Paul accepts like meeting place Tyrannus school. Obviously, he does not pretend to make the religion an academic curriculum.
6.- In a pagan ambient, the community keeps his identity. Not everything is valid. Ephesus is the centre of the magic and the magic books are even named “Ephesians’ writings”. Well then, some jews exorcists try to carry out same signals than Paul in the name of Jesus, but they completely fail: This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. All of them were very impressed and the name of the Lord Jesus came to be held in great honour (Acts 19, 17). Paul is not a magician but only an instrument in the hands of the Lord. The magician uselessly pretends to control God´s power.
7.- Another problem. Paul attacks the existent idolatry, saying that gods make by human hands are no gods at all (Acts 19,26). So, he separates the people from the pagan worshipping of Artemis, city’s goddess. Her temple is considered like one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Her image is venerated like if it had fallen from the sky. (19,35). The craftsman Demetrius is affected in his business and he gets out to the street with his fellow craftsmen. All of them altogether rush into the theatre taking with them the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul´s fellows. Paul wants to go in and to present himself before the people, but the other disciples prevent him to do it. The mob was calmed due to the intervention of a town clerk. If Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have any complain, the courts are open and there are officials: let them bring charges against each other. (19, 38).
8.- About Passover of the year 55, Paul writes from Ephesus (1 Co 16, 8) to the community of Corinth. He mentions his imprisonment and his process: Was it for nothing more than human gain that I fought in Ephesus like a lion tamer? (15,32), I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because I have great opportunities here, even though there art many opponents (16, 8-9). At the end of the year 55, he again writes to the community of Corinth from Macedonia: The trials we experienced in the province of Asia crushed us; it was too much; it was more than we could bear. We had already lost all hope of coming through alive and felt branded for death, but this happened that we might no longer rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Co 1, 8-9).
9.- The Letter to the Galatians was sent before his imprisonment, about the year 53. Paul´s prison does not prevent him from evangelising. On the contrary, the prison becomes a Gospel´s signal. The apostle writes to the community of Philippi, about the year 54: What has happened to me has served to advance the Gospel, since it is public in the whole praetorian guard, and even those outside the palace know that I am in chains for Christ. (Phil 1, 12-13).
10.- The letters are the apostle’s communication means with the communities. By that same date and in the same situation, he also writes to the community of Colossae: Remember that I am in chains (Col 4, 18), let no one criticize in matters of food of drink or for not observing festivals, new moons or the Sabbath (2,16), at present I rejoice when I suffer for you; I complete in my own flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, which is the church. For I am serving the Church since God entrusted to me the ministry of bringing into effect his design for you. I mean that mysterious plan that for centuries and generations remained secret (1, 24-26). Tychicus, who comes from Asia (Acts 20,4), will inform you about everything; Onesimus will do it too (Col 4, 7-9), whose father Paul had become while in prison (Phlm 10). My companion in prison, Aristarchus, greets you, like does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you already have received instructions. Jesus, named Justus, also greets you; they are the only Jewish people working with me for the kingdom of God, and because of that they have been a comfort to me; greetings from your countryman Epaphras, who constantly battles for you, and also for the Laodiceans and those of Hierapolis; greetings from Luke, our dear doctor (Col 4, 10-14; see Acts 16,10; Phlm 24).
11.- The letter to the Ephesians is addressed to the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1,1), in general. This letter is contemporary to the previous. Paul is in prison, probably in Ephesus. Tychicus, who is from that zone, will inform about everything (6,21). Paul tells them, the prisoner of Christ for you the gentiles (3,1): So I ask you not to be discouraged at seeing the trials I endure for you, but rather to feel proud because of them. (3,13) In the prison loneliness Paul contemplates God´s plan about the history and the world: Make all that have Christ like head, everything in heaven and on earth (1,10), he who has made two peoples one, destroying the wall which separated them (2,14).
12.- The evangelisation of the gentiles, the announcement of a Gospel free from the law, is the mystery hidden during centuries, but manifesting the present, delivered to the knowledge of all the gentiles (Rom 16, 25-26), since by the grace of God you have been saved through faith, and this has not come from you: it is God´s gift. This was not the result of your works, so you are not to feel proud. What we are is God´s work. He created us in Christ Jesus for the good works he has prepared that we should devote ourselves to them. (Eph 2, 8-10)
13.- Exhortations to submission (Eph 5,21 – 6,9; Col 3,18 – 4,1 and parallels), that are so strange to the Pauline message, seem to come from a later interpolation. The eventual interpolation should not provoke the global rejection to the mentioned letter. Id est, the question is to operate the tumour, and not to evict the sick. See the catechesis named Dependence relationship.
14.- Amidst great fights and difficulties, Paul presents himself like a minister of the mystery was not made known to past generations but only now, through revelations given to holy apostles and prophets. Now the non-Jewish people share the Inheritance… to me the least among all the believers, this grace was given me: to announce to the pagan nations the immeasurable riches of Christ (Eph 3, 5-8). We ask: Is it again hidden this mystery among so much Christian legalism? Is it coming out?
15.- The file of greetings at the end of the letter to the romans looks like part of a copy sent to the community of Ephesus. It reveals a living souvenir of the persons and communities cited. All this fits very well in the community of Ephesus. Paul recommends the sister Phoebe, deaconess of the church of Cenchrae, near Corinth; he greets Priscilla and Aquilas, his collaborators, and to the church that meets in his house, they exposed their head to save him; to the dear Epaenetus, the first in the province of Asia to believe in Christ;… to Andronicus and Junias, his familiars and companions in prison;… to Nereus and his sister, Olimpus and to all the saints who are with them (Rom 16, 1-15). Then, come the greetings sent to Paul´s fellows; between them, Timothy, his collaborator, Gaius, his host and host of all the community, and Erastus, city of Corinth administrator, from where Paul writes the letter (16., 1-15)
16.- About the year 56, after having spent the winter in Corinth, Paul comes back to Macedonia. Going to Jerusalem, he says goodbye of the community of Ephesus responsible, who meet him in Mileto. He warns them of what is coming over them: I Know that after I leave, ruthless wolves will come among you and spare no flock… be on the watch, therefore, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease to warn everyone even with tears (Acts 20, 29-31).
17.- By these dates, probably from Macedonia, Paul writes to Timothy, whom he has left in Ephesus with concrete instructions: When I left Macedonia I urged you to remain in Ephesus to warn certain persons not to teach false doctrine or to concern themselves with fables and endless genealogies (1 Tim 1,3)
18.- Paul is arrested in Jerusalem and he is transferred to Caesarea, where he stays for two years (Acts 24,27). He appeals to Caesar and he is transferred to Rome, where he stays another two years under domiciliary retention (28, 18.30). About the year 59 and already from Rome, he again writes to Timothy: You know that all from the province of Asia have deserted me…. May God bless the household of Onesiphoras, for he often came to visit me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, on arriving in Rome he searched for me until he found me (2 Tim 1, 15-17). As for me the time of sacrifice has arrived, and the moment of my departure has come (4,6), do your best to come quickly… Only Luke remains with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is a useful helper in my work. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. Bring with you the cloak I left at Troas, in Carpos´ house and also the scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker has caused me great harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. Distrust him for he has been very much opposed to our preaching. At my first hearing in court no one supported me; all deserted me. May the Lord not hold it against them. But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength to proclaimed the Word fully, and let the pagans hear it… Greetings to Priscilla and Aquila end to the family of Onesiphoras (4,9-19).
* Dialogue: Which lessons can we obtain?
- The foundation of a community requires a previous steps
- The rejection from the synagogue does not affect the future of the community
- Paul accepts Tyrannus´ school like a meeting place
- It distinguishes between the disciples of John and the disciples of Jesus
- It is only an instrument in the hands of the Lord, and not a magician
- It denounces city’s idolatry
- The prison becomes a Gospel signal
- The letters are a mean of communication
- For centuries the hidden mystery is the Gospel free from the law
- The mystery is again hidden
- It is manifesting itself
- It is a precious heritage, Paul´s testament