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NASB | Colossians 4:16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Colossians 4:16 When this letter has been read among you, see that it is read in the church of the Laodiceans; and also that you in turn read my letter [that is coming to you] from Laodicea. |
Bible Question: Did Paul write a letter to the church of Laodicea? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Nolan! This is a very interesting question. There is some evidence that Ephesians may have actually been the letter to the Laodiceans. The evidence is as follows. 1) External Evidence: Several very important and early manuscripts to do include the words "in Ephesus" in Eph. 1:1. These words were also omitted in some old codices known to Basil. And Marcion attributed Ephesians as being the Letter to the Laodiceans. 2) Internal Evidence: We know that during Paul’s third missionary journey, he spent 3 years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). Yet, there are no personal references to anyone in the letter at all. 3) Historical Evidence: We know that Philemon, Colossians, and Ephesians were all sent out at the same time. Philemon was being sent to Philemon, along with his slave Onesimus, in Colosse. We know that Colossians was motivated by the appearance of Epaphras, who was apparently the pastor at Colosse (Col. 1:7) and maybe at Laodicea as well. Therefore, if the above is all true. It appears that at the very least Ephesians may have been a circular letter intended for several churches. It may also have been the Letter to the Laodiceans. Col. 4:16 mentioned reading the letter from the church at Laodicea, the route Paul’s courier would have taken would have been: Ephesus, Laodicea, then Colosse. This is not a great matter of importance, but it would explain several interesting characteristics of Ephesians. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |