by self-styled apostles intent on manipulating local congregations for personal advantage, Ephesus had put them to the test and rejected all pretenders. Commitment to Christ had resulted in economic and social hardships for the membership, yet they had persevered and had not grown weary. 4–6 It has been said that a person’s greatest weakness inevitably lies in the area of his major strength. This was true of the congregation at Ephesus. The ability of the church to detect doctrinal deviation had