The recipients of the letter to the colossians are told. Jun 10, 2009 the following is an edited transcript of the audio. Lorber claimed to have heard by the inner voice, in 1844, the lost letter paul wrote to the assembly of the laodiceans, as referred to in colossians 4. But here it is sufficient to refer to the fact that paul enjoins the colossians to procure and to read the epistle from laodicea. Further, in this letter paul is writing to a congregation he has never visited, whereas he had a 3year ministry in ephesus. He considers the epistle of philemon to be the letter from laodicea in colossians 4. An earthquake around the time of pauls letter to the church at colossae possibly led to the demise of the city after a. Rather than accepting aid from the roman empire, the people of laodicea. The epistle of paul the apostle to the laodiceans sacred texts.
Doing a historical background study is helpful in understanding the specific situation and setting of the author and the reader of biblical literature. The epistle to the laodiceans is a lost although witnessed in codex fuldensis letter of paul the apostle, the original existence of which is inferred from an instruction to the congregation in colossae to send their letter to the believing community in laodicea, and likewise obtain a copy of the letter from laodicea greek. Laodicea was situated 60 kilometers southeast of philadelphia and was a famous health resort. Jun 04, 2014 and when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the laodiceans. It may not have been paul himself, but one of his coworkers who went out to colosse. We can do this by learning the historical situation of the author and his reader.
Rather than accepting aid from the roman empire, the people of laodicea refused any help and rebuilt the city themselves with. Paul and the colossians 2 for videos, study guides and other resources, visit third millennium ministries at. Writing to the colossians, paul mentions a letter from laodicea, which he instructs them to have read in their church. Epistle to the laodiceans wikisource, the free online library. Unfortunately, by the time paul wrote his letter to the church at colossae, the city had rapidly declined and lost its significance as a major roman providence. The hot water for the baths was ingeniously piped to the resorts in insulated pipes, but because of the distances involved, the water was often only lukewarm by the time it arrived at its destination.
They should then read the epistle from the laodicean church. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read. Now lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 3, and we come to the last of the letters to the seven churches, the letter to the church at laodicea, the church that made the lord jesus christ sick the lukewarm church. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the laodiceans. A letter to laodicea nation of judgment the seven churches. Dec 17, 2016 write this letter to the angel of the church in laodicea. Salute the brethren which are in laodicea, and nymphas, and the church which is in his house. Epistle to the laodiceans from the apocryphal new testament m.
Sep 22, 2010 after this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from laodicea. The lost letter to laodicea at the end of pauls letter to the colossian church the apostle tells them that when theyve finished reading his letter they should forward it to the church at laodicea. Grace be with you and the true peace from god, our father, in the lord jesus christ. In the first century it was part of the tricity area of laodicea, colossae, and hierapolis. Apparently laodicea received the gospel not from paul but from his helper epaphras during the time paul was in ephesus. The epistle to the laodiceans is a possible lost letter of paul the apostle, the original existence of which is inferred from the epistle to the colossians to send their letter to the church in laodicea, and likewise obtain a copy of the letter from laodicea colossians 4.
This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the letter of paul to the colossians. When this epistle has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the laodiceans. The quakers have printed a translation and plead for it, as the reader may see, by consulting pooles annotations on col. Laodicea was a wealthy banking center and proud of her rich resources. It teaches us that salvation is not just about individuals being redeemed from their sin. And once this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the church of laodicea. In colossians paul mentions a letter he wrote to the laodicean church. Its also important to discover the authors intended meaning of the text in order to interpret it. A round trip visit to all the seven churches of revelation, starting at laodicea, would be 523 kilometers or 325 miles. Some ancient sources, such as hippolytusand some modern scholars consider that the epistle from laodicea was never a lost epistle, but simply paul reusing one of his other letters the most common candidate is the contemporary epistle to the ephesiansjust as he asks for the copying and forwarding of the letter to colossians to laodicea. A antioch of pisidia first journey c corinth area second journey e ephesus area third journey r rome fourth journey pauls early travels acts 912.
If pauls letter to the laodiceans were found today, should. While colossae was in decline, both laodicea 10 miles to the west and hierapolis 12 miles to the northwest were experiencing population growth and expansion. The two towns, along with neighboring hierapolis, were destroyed by earthquakes in ad 17 in the reign of tiberius and again in 60 in the reign of nero. In fact, if there were any believers in this church, they arent even referred to in the letter at all. Pauls remarks in the epistle indicate that epaphras was the one who preached the gospel there. For centuries some western latin bibles used to contain a small epistle from paul to the laodiceans. I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. Colossae was a small city in the lycus valley in asia, about 100 miles from ephesus, but close to hierapolis and laodicea. Laodicea, located at the junction of several important trade routes, is 77 kilometers 48 miles from philadelphia alasehir and 155 kilometers 96 miles from ephesus. If paul told a scribe what he wanted to say and left the composition to him, the letter would obviously reflect the scribes style while faithfully expressing pauls ideas. Paul wrote at the end of his letter to the colossians. It is not listed as a canonical book or cited as scripture by the church fathers, and it was explicitly rejected by jerome and others in ancient. One possibility is that the church was established during pauls extended stay at ephesus, where the effect of his work spread throughout asia minor cf.
The development of the canon of the new testament epistle. Another possibility is there could have been another letter being circulated that was currently in laodicea and paul wanted to make sure it also came to colosse. The holy assembly of laodicea and all the faithful brothers in it, and the wise in the spirit of god. Then there was sardis, a church with only a few genuine believers, a church which had a name but was actually dead. Letter key verse to where written when written theme galatians 5. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from laodicea. If thats the case, the most likely candidate would have been pauls letter to the ephesians which was written at the same time as the letter to the colossians, in 60 ad. Clarendon press, the following is an edited transcript of the audio. The city of laodicea became more and more important over the other two cities. If this letter were found today, should it be included in the canon of scriptures. We have lost paul s letter to laodicea, but it is mentioned in the letter to colossae which we do have. Epistle to the laodiceans close of the 3rd century ce.
Letter to the laodicea congregation sermon by scott. Rather, it is about building, maintaining and thriving in gods kingdom. In the letter to philemon paul does not directly take up the issue of slavery. Aug 18, 2019 some ancient sources, such as hippolytusand some modern scholars consider that the epistle from laodicea was never a lost epistle, but simply paul reusing one of his other letters the most common candidate is the contemporary epistle to the ephesiansjust as he asks for the copying and forwarding of the letter to colossians to laodicea. Includes pauls letter to the laodicians which the apostle paul encouraged us to read colossians 4.
The city was popular for its hot baths and the collyrium eye salve that was produced there. Epistle to the laodiceans the lost books of the bible. These letters, as you know, are directed at seven churches, actual churches, historical churches in actual cities in asia. For i bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in laodicea, and those in hierapolis. In this letter he encouraged, taught, and warned the recipients. Open your bible to revelation chapter 3 and we will look again at our text, verses 14 to 22, the final of the seven letters to the churches in asia minor, namely the letter to the church at laodicea. The epistle of the apostle paul to the laodiceans pdf.
The quakers have printed a translation and plead for it, as the reader may see, by consulting poole s annotations on col. There was once a heretical epistle to laodicea attributed to marcion that circulated in asia minor in the 3rd century, but more interesting is an orthodox but apocryphal letter of paul to the laodiceans that was compiled in the early fourth century that consists of twenty short lines and is mainly made of citations taken from philippians and. For i want you to know how great a struggle i have for you and for those at laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to. How to remember pauls journeys paul was a pacer in a race. As more copies were made, the words in ephesus, the name of the principle city in asia, may have. Epistle to laodiceans encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
But however occasional most of pauls letters are, we will preserve perspective a little better if we observe the following points. When i noticed this verse earlier today i suddenly desperately needed to have pauls letter to the laodiceans. Paul wrote the church here a letter during his first roman imprisonment. Pauls epistles and the seven churches 1 pauls epistles and the seven churches fred r.
A commentary on the letter of paul to the colossians. The lost books of the bible, 1926, full text etext at. The epistle to the laodiceans is a lost letter of paul the apostle, the original existence of which. Now when tychicus and onesimus finally arrive at colossae, it has been months. Doughty southside christian church september 2014 introduction. Sep 04, 2019 for centuries some western latin bibles used to contain a small epistle from paul to the laodiceans. The church of laodicea in the bible and archaeology. In pauls letter to the church at collosae, he says, and when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the laodiceans. Pauls epistle to the laodiceans the reluctant messenger. The earliest manuscripts of pauls letter to the ephesians lack in ephesus in the text. Pauls letter to the ephesians has a very important lesson to teach us today. When this letter has been read among you, have it read also in. What is known about the letter to the laodiceans mentioned. Pauls legacy in southern galatia abstract pauls letter to the galatians points to the influence of his missionary attempts in galatia.
A commentary on the letter of paul to the colossians pastor galen l. Pauls letter to the colossians may have addressed some issues that he knew also to be present in laodicea. Hierapolis, the sacred city, is located at presentday pamukkale in south central turkey. Colosse, hierapolis and laodicea epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of god. Pdf the epistle to the laodiceans dr denis callaghan. The believers at laodicea were also to read this letter. Book seven of the apostolicon the epistle of the apostle. Epistle to the laodiceans did you know that for centuries bibles used to contain a small epistle from paul to the laodiceans. In paul s letter to the church at collosae, he says, and when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the laodiceans. This connection between the cities lies behind pauls reference to hierapolis and laodicea in his epistle to the colossians col 4. In his letter to the church of laodicea, jesus warns us about the danger of selfsufficiency. Pauls letter to the colossians was meant to be read to the laodiceans colossians 4.
This letter is not known historically and some have suggested that it is the letter now known as ephesians. Epistle to the laodiceans early christian writings. The words may mean a letter written by the laodiceans. Pauls epistle to the laodiceans reluctant messenger. Paul, an apostle of jesus christ, through the will of god, and the grace of god and timothy our brother. At the close of the epistle to the colossians this request is made of its recipients. As more copies were made, the words in ephesus, the name of. This phrase has been much discussed see lightfoot, colossians 1875, 340ff. It is intended to help you better understand some of the. Book seven of the apostolicon the epistle of the apostle paul. One curious feature of many manuscripts of the latin vulgate is the inclusion of the apocryphal epistola ad laodicenses. So, as we study pauls letter to the colossians, it is important for us to know something about the occasion that prompted pauls writing.