As followers of Jesus Christ we are supposed to live a different life than those who live in the world. But we find this difficult because we live in this world and are surrounded with all the temptations. Too often we find ourselves prisoner to our human appetites.
Paul addresses this problem with the Ephesians. First, he reminds them that they are not to live like the pagan Gentiles and says, “that you must walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind” (Eph. 4:17).
They grew up in the city of Ephesus, which was a thriving seaport, and they proudly referred to their city as the “Treasure House of Asia.” Asia Minor was the region that we now call Turkey. The Romans, who during Paul’s time, invested a lot of money in making sure the city was a showplace. But Ephesus was famous for the fact that it was the primary
But Ephesus was famous for the fact that it was the primary temple of the goddess Artemis. Artemis was the equivalent Roman goddess Diana. This was a huge temple that could accommodate 24,000 people and was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Her worship brought many pilgrims into the town. So there were many artisans who made a living making figurines out of silver, clay and wood. The silversmiths caused a riot against Paul because the gospel was causing a decrease in their business (Acts 19:23-27).
The worship of Artemis was directed to entertainment and excitement. Incense was burned, instrumental music filled the air, all to arouse those who came to go into an emotional frenzy and then to participate in immoral behavior.
Ephesus was also known as a city of criminals and thieves. The Temple of Artemis provided an asylum. If they were about to be caught, but if they could reach the Temple then they were granted asylum and could not be taken into custody.
So Ephesus was a very popular town and an immoral place. So that was the place where Paul was urging them not to live in the lifestyle in which they were raised. They were to live a different life.
The pagan Gentiles, Paul tells us, “are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to ...
