Where is Hierapolis in the Bible located today?

Hierapolis was an ancient city in Asia Minor. Its ruins are located near modern Pamukkale, Turkey.

What does the Bible say about Hierapolis?

The Bible mentions Hierapolis only once, as the home of Epaphras, a fellow worker with the Apostle Paul (Colossians 4:13). The text notes his hard work for the believers in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.

Why is Hierapolis significant in the New Testament?

Its significance comes from its connection to Epaphras, who helped spread the gospel in the Lycus River Valley. It shows the early church's growth in Asia Minor beyond major cities like Ephesus.

Hierapolis

cityNew TestamentAsia Minor

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Country

Turkey

Region

Asia Minor

Coordinates

37.9266, 29.1274

Hierapolis is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Asia Minor in modern-day Turkey. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

Biblical History

Hierapolis was a prominent Greco-Roman city in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor, situated near the confluence of the Lycus and Maeander Rivers in what is today southwestern Turkey. It is mentioned once in Scripture, in Paul's letter to the Colossians, where he sends greetings from Epaphras, who is described as laboring earnestly for the churches at Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13). This brief reference indicates that a Christian community had been established in Hierapolis, likely through the missionary activity of Epaphras, who may have been Paul's fellow worker from the Colossian church. The three cities of the Lycus Valley — Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis — formed an interrelated cluster of early Christian congregations. Hierapolis later gained significance in church history as the home of the apostle Philip, who according to early Christian tradition died and was buried there. The city's Christian community grew throughout the second and third centuries, and Hierapolis became an important episcopal center in early Christianity.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Ancient Hierapolis is preserved at the site of Pamukkale in modern Denizli Province, Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its striking white travertine terraces formed by calcium-rich thermal springs. Extensive Italian-led excavations have uncovered a large necropolis, a Roman theater, baths, colonnaded streets, and a Christian martyrion traditionally associated with the apostle Philip. A church complex near the martyrion has been excavated and dated to the fifth century AD. The city flourished under Roman and Byzantine rule, and its thermal waters made it a renowned spa destination throughout antiquity. The site remains one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in Turkey.

Verse Appearances (1)

Col

Col 4:13

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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