Paul provides a most profitable formula for life: Godliness + contentment = great gain. It is like a mathematical formula: G + C = GG. This is a formula which is universally ignored and shunned even by Christians. The false teachers who had come to Ephesus or maybe they originated in the city itself, had a very different formula. For them Christianity was about financial gain. For them, wealth was the key to happiness and success. They had wholeheartedly subscribed to the values of their city. Ephesus was a prosperous city in the Roman Empire where some benefitted massively from the trading opportunities which arose from being part of this great empire.
Ephesus was important because of its location on the west coast of the Roman province of Asia. It was proud of its great temple to Artemis or Diana which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. One writer named Strabo, writing in the first century, described Ephesus as the greatest emporium (a massive market place from which goods are bought and sold) in the province of Asia Minor. The worship of Diana or Artemis also brought great wealth to a multitude of artisans and craftsmen making icons and shrines for this goddess. The riot which is described in Acts 19 broke out because one of the craftsmen saw the advance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the preaching of Paul as a threat to the wealth of the city. The people rushed to their amphitheatre where they chanted "great is Artemis of the Ephesians" (Acts 19:29-40).
The city had a huge marketplace (called an agora) near to the theatre with monuments to various important citizens such as Pollio and Memmius. The whole of the market square was lined with shops as was the nearby street called Curetes Street. Just off this street were the residences of wealthy citizens and inscriptions have been found of specific silversmiths (like Demetrius in Acts 19).
We should not for one moment begin to imagine that all the Ephesians were wealthy. Look at the table below and it is clear that, according to these figures, about 25% of the wealth of the Roman Empire was in the hands of 3% of the population. Another 17 percent , including merchants and traders were successful and enjoyed a good lifestyle. But the rest of the population struggled to survive financially.
It is also worth noting that economic life was inextricably linked with pagan worship as well as the cult of the Emperor. In Ephesus, there was not only the temple of Diana / Artemis but there was also the expectation that all citizens would venerate the current Roman Emperor and recognise his lordship. All this was contrary to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So being a Christian presented moral challenges - to belong to the economic elite meant to be part of the worship of Caesar as well as the immoral worship of Diana.
It is against such a background that Paul is writing to Timothy. He is not just speaking to those who are wealthy: he is writing to those who were aspiring to be wealthy.
7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. [1 Timothy 6:7-8 ESV]
This is counter-cultural in today's world and it would have been similarly out of step with the values and thinking of the Roman Empire and the people of Ephesus who aspired to be wealthy as a sign of success.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. [1 Timothy 6:9-10 ESV]
This is not a popular message for today. We judge people's status and success by their home, their car, their holidays etc. We regard people as failures if they have 'not made it' up the economic ladder. As I was thinking about this subject, I heard a song on the radio, which repeated these lines. " I want it all, I want it all. I want it all …I want it now. [Song by Queen]
This sums up our postmodern society just as much as the city of Ephesus in the first century.
When Paul says that 'the love of money is a root of all evils,' he is not speaking about those who rob banks in order to get money or engage in shoplifting or burglary or tax evasion. The verse is often misquoted as 'money is the root of all evil.' There are two things to note. It is not the money itself that is the problem; it is the affection for it. It is not saying that all evil stems from the money or even the love of money. There are other sources of evil. But it does say that the love of money is extremely harmful and destructive. We think we 'need' far more than just enough food and a roof over our heads. We have added many luxuries to this list of 'essentials.' I think we need to look into our hearts and examine whether we are influenced by this worldly desire to be wealthy. If wealth comes our way, there is a great responsibility associated with this to share our wealth with those who are in need.
Pauls speaks specifically to those who have been successful economically.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. [1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV]
Notice that Paul mentions the uncertainty of riches. The harbour at Ephesus had to be abandoned a few centuries later as it became silted up with mud and was unusable by seagoing vessels. There have been many times throughout history when those who had accumulated wealth find that it evaporates. In the Weimar Republic in Germany after the First World War, there was inflation which was so severe that a person's life savings would not buy a loaf of bread. This was one of the factors in the rise of Hitler. He promised economic stability and some people were prepared to overlook Hitler's brutality because they saw a more certain economic future with him as leader of Germany. This is one example where the love of money produced extreme evil.
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