The Church of Ephesus The Church of Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. It was located in the Roman province of Asia, in what is now Turkey. The church was founded by the Apostle Paul in the first century AD, and it was the first Christian church in the region. The church was known for its strong faith and its commitment to the teachings of Jesus. It was also known for its opposition to the teachings of the Gnostics and other heretical groups. The church was destroyed by the Romans in the fourth century, but its legacy lives on in the form of the modern-day Church of Ephesus.