The ancient Agora of Ephesus reminds us of the city’s former commercial prominence. Located near the harbour, it measured 350x350 feet, offering sufficient space for several rows of shops.

Among other things, the region served as a source of leather for the Romans, who used it for clothing, footwear and military equipment such as harnesses and shields. While in Corinth, the Apostle Paul had earned his keep in the tent-making and leatherworking business. Presumably, he did the same in Ephesus.

Paul did not object to honest manual labour or private business. What he reacted against was the commercialised idolatry of a city dedicated to the goddess Artemis; every aspect of people’s lives, from worship to finances, was to be subject to the lordship of Christ.

The skies can seem dark for the Church and naturally, that can result in an ‘us against the world’ mentality where hunkering down and survival is the goal. But we shouldn’t focus on the sort of things Paul would just have ignored. According to Mark Sayers (in Reappearing Church), the Church shouldn’t look at the borders but the connections. Just as Paul and the early Church used the Roman infrastructure for the advancement of the kingdom, so we should see our highly connected world not as a threat but an opportunity to influence it through the good news of Jesus. 

So let's be strategic, and plan and work hard towards impacting all spheres of life with the kingdom message. Let's set up businesses run on biblical principles and aspire for Christian leaders to be influencers of culture. That said, Ephesus wasn’t changed because of Paul’s strategic brilliance or persuasive skills. The power for lasting change lies in God’s word, on which Paul leaned so heavily. Let’s follow Paul’s example as we aspire to influence and change culture.

Read on, to find out more about Paul’s holistic Gospel message.

• Saved by grace Ephesians 2.1–10
• A whole new way of living Romans 12