John's Original Community in Ephesus

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Today’s lesson explores the rich, dual-cultural context of the Gospel of John. 

Born and raised in Israel, the Apostle John later moved to Ephesus, a vibrant city in the Roman province of Asia Minor. This geographical shift profoundly influenced how John communicated his truth about Jesus and the kingdom of God. 

This lesson introduces how we can read John’s Gospel through both a Jewish and Greco-Roman cultural lens. 

The Gospel of John is a thoroughly Jewish document proclaiming Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and the sovereign King of Israel. Yet, John's narrative is not solely confined to a Jewish audience. His teachings also reached out to the communities in and around Ephesus, where the presence of various Greek deities permeated everyday life. 

In this lesson, we will examine how John communicates a Jewish message about Jesus as God’s anointed Messiah while also addressing the diverse spiritual landscape of Asia Minor, asserting Jesus' supremacy over all gods.

Our primary goal is to uncover how the Gospel was relevant to its first-century audience in Ephesus and what that means for us today. By understanding John's Gospel's original context and audience, we gain a deeper appreciation of its timeless message and its relevance in a pluralistic world.

​This session is crucial for anyone looking to enrich their understanding of the Gospel of John and its application across different cultures and eras.

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Lesson Handout: 

fig_tree_ministries_mystical_john_week_5_ephesus.pdf
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