Day 5: Let the scriptures come alive.

   Ok maybe I'm getting to creative with the title of these blogs. But bear with me. Ephesus is the best restored Roman city in Turkey, and maybe in the world. And we got to visit it! As I mentioned in my last blog, I was a little tired of ruins by the time we got there, but there was still lots of stuff to see and it was fun. There was a bathhouse, an ancient bathroom where they had a pool full of frogs originally so politicians and businessmen could make deals while sitting on the pot. There were statues of men, a giant ancient library, fountains, sarcophaguses, graveyards, markets, and more. There was a huge temple to Artemis there is Paul’s day, as well as a giant theatre where Paul’s companions were drug into it and were saved by the town clerk in Acts 19. Paul spent about three years in Ephesus, and was probably where John lived after his exile (according to tradition he brought Mary there after his exile to Patmos). There is evidence that the early Christian church divided up responsibility among its leaders. Peter went to Rome and presided there, John presided over Asia, (meaning Asia minor- the area of Turkey) and James in Jerusalem. Also, we sang some hymns sitting down in the theater, as well as on the theatre stage. There was an Asian group and I think German who clapped for us. Also there was a camel there but we couldn’t take pictures without paying for it.

   Before we sang, there was a lady from Highland, Utah there who saw our BYU shirts and talked to us. She said we stuck out because we were all smiling. The same thing was said by a merchant in the old city, and I think it’s neat that we stick out all the way here.

   We also visited Miletus, which I really enjoyed. It’s actually pretty much just a large theatre that’s there now, and an old temple out back. But, there are some neat teachings that are associated with the place. In Acts 20, Paul has the elders from Ephesus come down to Miletus for a priesthood meeting. There he recounts his service to them, predicts future persecution, and warns them of apostasy among the church leaders. "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Basically leaders in the church would lead the people astray in Ephesus. In 1 John 1:9 we can see an accurate fulfillment of this prophecy when a church leader wouldn’t even let members of his congregation talk to the apostles. Another teaching from Miletus is a saying of Jesus “it is better to give than to receive,” which is not found in the Gospels, only in Acts.

   At one place in the theatre there is an inscription that says “These seats are reserved for the Jew and the God-fearers” It could also be translated at “who are the God fearers.” If the first is correct it’s probably referring to Christians in the 2^nd century. It’s kind of a mystery because they are pretty good seats in the theatre, so it’s kind of weird to find seats for Jews/Christians in the theatre. Maybe they had really good relations there.

   At night we went to a pretty sweet hotel that was near ancient Hierapolis. In this little town there are several hot springs that bubble out this brown, hot water. Our hotel had its own hot springs, inside and out. It was pretty fun to get in the muddy hot springs, then in the pool, then go inside to the pool there, then to the hot spring inside the pool. They also had a Turkish bath and like a massage parlor but we weren’t allowed in there! It was fun and I got some good sleep.

Nike, the Goddess of Victory.

A Roman Forum and our guild talking in Ephesus.

Hey! (Roman Bathroom- no joke!)

Spudying in the Ephesus library.

Here reads "This space is reserved for the Jews and the God-fearers." Look at the writing on the steps!

Grievous wolves entering in amoung you and taking grievous pictures.

So, in Turkey they give stray animals shots, tag them, and let them loose. I guess the prophet Muhammed cut his cloak off so not to wake some kittens who were sleeping on it. We found this little of puppies in Miletus amounst the ruins. Lets hope they don't grow up into grievous wolves!

Theatre at Miletus.