occurs in the opening of Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (1:3). Perhaps the grouping indicates, as scholars suggest, that John and Paul are operating from a traditional understanding about the relationship of the terms. Christ praises the witness work of the Ephesians because it materializes in an important way: they do not tolerate the evil ones who call themselves apostles. Having tested them (cf. 1 John 4:1), the Ephesians recognized them for the liars that they were. John does not use