Final answer:
The church of the Ephesians faced removal if they did not heed the remedy prescribed in the biblical text. Throughout history, various societies, including the Roman Empire, have imposed exile or removal as penalties for non-conformance. Option a is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to a warning given to the Ephesian church, recorded in the Christian New Testament. If the Ephesians did not repent and return to their early devotions, according to the biblical text, the penalty for the church would be that it would be removed. The removal in this context implies the loss of its status as a church in God's sight, and possibly also the removal of its influence and presence in the community.
Throughout history, exile and removal have been common penalties for non-conformity to societal or governmental expectations. In the case of early Christianity, Christians who refused to conform to the Roman state cults faced accusations of treason and brutal persecutions, particularly under emperors like Nero and Diocletian. The Great Persecution instigated by Diocletian resulted in the destruction of Christian texts, torture, executions, and gladiatorial contests. However, the Edict of Milan in 313 AD issued by Emperor Constantine marked the end of such persecutions by granting religious toleration to Christianity across the Roman Empire.
The response of Christian communities to persecution varied. In North Africa, some Christians renounced their faith publicly while secretly maintaining it to avoid execution. This led to a significant controversy known as the Donatist controversy, which challenged the legitimacy of sacraments performed by those who had renounced their faith under duress. The division was substantial enough to require the intervention of Emperor Constantine, demonstrating the significant impact of defiance to imperial religious demands.