The letter to Ephesus, as written by Jesus Christ, carries a profound purpose, reflecting His deep involvement and care for the church. Ephesus, known as a desirable city, was a significant center in Asia Minor, functioning as a self-governing free city within the Roman Empire. It stood at the crossroads of three major trade routes, making it a bustling hub of commerce and culture, surpassing even Pergamos, the technical center of Roman government in the region. Despite its prominence, Ephesus was steeped in spiritual challenges, being the center of Artemis or Diana worship, with an economy heavily tied to this cult, including practices like cultic prostitution and witchcraft, as well as a strong emperor cult presence. In His letter, Jesus identifies Himself as the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, emphasizing His active presence and authority over the church. He directly counters the misconception among the Ephesians that He is distant or uninvolved, asserting that He is always with them, upholding and guiding them with His strength. He commends the Ephesians for their steadfast endurance and intolerance of heresy, recognizing their role as defenders of the faith, willing to fight against false teachings and teachers with zeal. However, Jesus delivers a severe criticism, stating that they have left their first love, abandoning the intimate relationship they once had with Him. Their focus has shifted to defending objective truth and doctrines rather than devotion to Him, turning their faith into a mere philosophy. He describes this as a fall from a high position, urging them to remember their initial devotion, repent, and return to the basic works of Christian love and service. He warns that failure to do so will result in the removal of their lampstand, signifying the loss of their place in the church—a dire salvational consequence. Jesus also acknowledges their resistance to the Nicolaitans, possibly a heretical sect or church tyrants who sought to control or mislead the flock, praising their efforts to protect the church from such influences. Yet, He stresses that these battles must not overshadow their primary relationship with Him. The reward promised to those who overcome is to eat from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God, recalling the intimate relationship in Eden before sin, urging the Ephesians to shed their callousness and defensive nature, and return to a pure, harmonious connection with Him. He calls them to transform by renewing their minds, focusing on righteousness and love rather than merely fighting for doctrine, ensuring they live as children of God, not just as soldiers.

In the narrative of the apostle Paul's journeys, Ephesus stands out as a significant location during his third evangelistic campaign. Paul had visited Ephesus briefly before, but on his return, he experienced remarkable success, staying there for three years, longer than in any other place up to that point. His ministry in Ephesus resulted in a large and vigorous church, with many conversions marking this period as a fruitful one. Ephesus, situated at the southwest end of the Roman province of Asia, now part of modern Turkey, evolved from an insignificant village to a prominent city. Initially secondary to Miletus, Ephesus rose in importance as Miletus' harbor silted up, while Ephesus boasted a fine harbor of its own. Over time, under Persian and then Greek influence following Alexander the Great's conquest, Ephesus became a city of Greek character. After Alexander's death, it fell under the control of various rulers until Attalus III willed it to Rome in 133 BC, sparing it from potential destruction. Rome then made Ephesus the capital of the province of Asia, shifting the status from Pergamum. The city's wealth and vitality stemmed from its harbor, which linked the Greco-Macedonian world with the East, and from the worship of the goddess Artemis, known as Diana in Latin. The temple of Diana, recognized as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was a massive structure and became a central reason for Ephesus' existence as a tourist center after the harbor silted up. This temple also served as the city bank, reflecting the deep superstition and cultural significance attached to it. During Paul's time in Ephesus, the church made a notable impact, leading to tensions with local vendors whose livelihoods depended on the temple's tourism. The success of Christianity began to threaten their trade, as people turned away from idols, prompting a reaction that became a significant part of the events in Ephesus. Paul encountered disciples with incomplete understanding, having been baptized only into John's baptism without knowledge of the Holy Spirit. He addressed this by preaching about Jesus as the Christ, leading to their baptism and the receipt of the Holy Spirit, confirmed by speaking in tongues and prophesying. Paul also faced opposition and unusual situations in Ephesus, including itinerant exorcists attempting to use the name of Jesus Christ without faith, resulting in failure. Despite such challenges, the work prospered. He utilized the school of Tyrannus for teaching, possibly during times when it was not in use, indicating a packed schedule of ministry and possibly continuing his trade as a tentmaker. Additionally, extraordinary miracles occurred through Paul, with even cloths touched by him being used to heal the sick. While in Ephesus, Paul maintained connections with other churches, writing letters and making visits to Corinth to address issues there. His time in Ephesus was marked by both spiritual success and the logistical challenges of managing multiple congregations across regions. Eventually, Paul embarked on a circuitous route from Ephesus toward Jerusalem, planning to visit churches in Macedonia and Achaia, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the spread of the gospel.

The city of Ephesus holds a significant place in the narrative of Paul's ministry. Paul spent a remarkable three years in Ephesus, longer than in any other location during his journeys, indicating the depth of his commitment to the church there. After leaving Ephesus, his intention was to revisit churches in Greece, proceed to Macedonia and Corinth, and then head to Jerusalem. However, upon learning of a plot by the Jews against him while in Corinth, he altered his route, traveling north to Macedonia and then to western Asia Minor before sailing toward Jerusalem. On his return journey, Paul bypassed the city of Ephesus, possibly to avoid an emotional farewell with the church or to prevent stirring up trouble for them. Instead, he stopped at Miletus, thirty miles south of Ephesus, and summoned the Ephesian elders to meet him there. In his farewell message to them, Paul declared that he had not withheld any teaching about the way of God, having faithfully preached to them. He urged them to imitate him and adopt the philosophy that it is more blessed to give than to receive, encapsulating his ministry to the Ephesians in this poignant summary. Additionally, the book of Ephesians emphasizes the theme of unity within the church. The Ephesian church, primarily composed of Gentiles, was addressed to affirm their inclusion in Christ's Body, showing that there is no division between Gentile and Israelite believers. Paul wrote that upon conversion, these Ephesians became spiritually Israelites, no longer strangers or foreigners but fellow citizens, thus spiritually descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.