The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of Artemis

This paper will explore the background of how the first-century cult of Artemis was central to the economy of Ephesus, and subsequently, how Paul’s preaching of the gospel caused an economic disruption during his visit to the city, as narrated in Acts 19:21–41. The goal will be to show how theology...

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Main Author: C. Eric Turner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Religions
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/553
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author C. Eric Turner
author_facet C. Eric Turner
author_sort C. Eric Turner
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description This paper will explore the background of how the first-century cult of Artemis was central to the economy of Ephesus, and subsequently, how Paul’s preaching of the gospel caused an economic disruption during his visit to the city, as narrated in Acts 19:21–41. The goal will be to show how theology and economics are interrelated and, as a result, establish the proper domain for advancing human flourishing in our modern society. The lens through which this paper is seeking to understand economics is through what is known as substantivism over and against formalism, or an empirical-based approach against a deductive–abstract methodology. The substantivist position is undertaken here primarily to explain how economic life is embedded in non-economic structures (here, the cult of Artemis).
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spelling doaj-art-a5bbaa9625d347f5aab5e3cc36efaaeb2025-08-20T03:47:54ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-04-0116555310.3390/rel16050553The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of ArtemisC. Eric Turner0Christian Studies Department, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Hannibal, MO 63401, USAThis paper will explore the background of how the first-century cult of Artemis was central to the economy of Ephesus, and subsequently, how Paul’s preaching of the gospel caused an economic disruption during his visit to the city, as narrated in Acts 19:21–41. The goal will be to show how theology and economics are interrelated and, as a result, establish the proper domain for advancing human flourishing in our modern society. The lens through which this paper is seeking to understand economics is through what is known as substantivism over and against formalism, or an empirical-based approach against a deductive–abstract methodology. The substantivist position is undertaken here primarily to explain how economic life is embedded in non-economic structures (here, the cult of Artemis).https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/553economicshuman flourishinggospelanthropologyEphesuscult of Artemis
spellingShingle C. Eric Turner
The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of Artemis
Religions
economics
human flourishing
gospel
anthropology
Ephesus
cult of Artemis
title The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of Artemis
title_full The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of Artemis
title_fullStr The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of Artemis
title_full_unstemmed The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of Artemis
title_short The Gospel and Economic Disorder: Ephesus and the Cult of Artemis
title_sort gospel and economic disorder ephesus and the cult of artemis
topic economics
human flourishing
gospel
anthropology
Ephesus
cult of Artemis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/553
work_keys_str_mv AT cericturner thegospelandeconomicdisorderephesusandthecultofartemis
AT cericturner gospelandeconomicdisorderephesusandthecultofartemis