Here are some interesting things that we know with a significant amount of certainty:
- Paul spent a lot of time in Ephesus. See Acts 18 & 19.
- Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians.
- John’s Gospel was written in Ephesus and was read by the Christians there and beyond. Irenaeus says that John wrote his Gospel after Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He writes, “Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.” [Adv. Haer. 3.1.1]
- John’s Epistles were written in Ephesus and were read by Christians living there. John seems to be a part of the community that receives 1 John. Second and third John may have been written to other house churches in Ephesus or communities close by.
- Revelation was written by John while on the island of Patmos, which is in the Aegean Sea not too far from Ephesus. The Ephesians were one of the 7 churches to whom Jesus has John write. They seem to be the leading church.
- Paul wrote 1st Corinthians while living and working in Ephesus.
- Some theories regarding the recipients of Galatians (specifically the North Galatian theory, as opposed to south) mention Ephesus as a possible place of origin.
- Timothy was working in Ephesus when he received Paul’s letters instructing him how to better lead the church there.
