The City of Ephesus: A Short History

Cleopatra’s sister was murdered here. Cicero received a hero’s welcome here. Mark Antony caused a scandal here. And all of this happened before the apostle Paul even arrived—in Ephesus. Getting ready to teach 1 Timothy, the book of Ephesians, or about Revelation’s seven churches? Or would you simply like to enhance your own study of the Bible? Whatever your reason, check out this concise background on the city where Paul spent more than three years. Ephesus had great significance in the ancient world from its beginnings in the eighth century BCE through the fall of Rome, and *The City of Ephesus: A Short History* provides an overview of its entire story. But the work focuses especially on the time of interest to New Testament scholars, 100 BCE through 100 CE. Special emphasis is given to Ephesus’s prominence as a center of religious activity.Read more