These notes were produced by the Rose Park Bible Class

There were four great cities that exerted a considerable influence on the fortunes and development of the early ecclesia: Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome and Ephesians. Ephesus was one of the greatest and most glorious cities in the Roman Empire. It was the capital city of the Roman Province of Asia, and contained the Temple of Artemis (Diana), which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Many Jews with Roman citizenship resided at Ephesus and maintained a synagogue there. The Ecclesia which was ultimately established in Ephesus was composed of a large percentage of Jews, as well as a number of Gentiles, and the ultimate conflict of opinion which arose between the two groups was one of the main themes of the letter which Paul alter wrote to the Ecclesia.