Laodiceans, Epistle to The
Paul's Reference in Colossians
The mystery begins with a single verse. In Colossians 4:16, Paul writes: "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." This instruction reveals that Paul intended his letters to circulate among churches and that he had written (or at least endorsed) another letter that the Colossians should obtain from Laodicea. The phrase "the letter from Laodicea" most naturally means a letter that Paul had sent to Laodicea, which the Colossians were to borrow and read, just as the Laodiceans were to read the letter to Colossae.
Three Possible Identifications
Scholars have proposed several identifications for this letter. First, some have suggested it was a letter written by the Laodiceans themselves, but this seems unlikely since Paul would have no way of knowing its content or guaranteeing its availability. Second, some propose it was a genuinely lost letter of Paul. Given that Paul wrote many letters during his ministry (some possibly referenced in 1 Corinthians 5:9), the loss of one would not be surprising. Third — and this is the view with the most scholarly support — the letter from Laodicea is identified with what we know as the Epistle to the Ephesians.
The Case for Ephesians
Several lines of evidence point toward our Ephesians as the letter Paul intended. The early heretic Marcion (mid-2nd century) knew Ephesians under the title "To the Laodiceans." The words "in Ephesus" are absent from the earliest and best manuscripts of Ephesians 1:1, suggesting the letter may not have been addressed to Ephesus specifically. Ephesians reads as a general, circular letter rather than a personal communication to a church Paul knew well — Paul spent three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31), yet Ephesians contains no personal greetings or specific references to the congregation. Furthermore, Ephesians and Colossians are closely related "sister epistles," sharing extensive vocabulary, themes, and even the same letter-carrier, Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7). If Ephesians was a circular letter sent to several churches in the Lycus Valley region, its copy at Laodicea would naturally be described as "the letter from Laodicea."
The Apocryphal Epistle to the Laodiceans
A short Latin document claiming to be this lost letter circulated widely in the Western church from at least the 4th century onward. It appears in many medieval Bible manuscripts and was even included in some early printed Bibles. However, this apocryphal epistle is universally recognized by scholars as a later forgery. It consists of only about twenty verses cobbled together from phrases in Philippians and other Pauline letters. It lacks any distinctive theology, personal detail, or original thought. Jerome dismissed it as spurious, and no Greek original has ever been found. The Muratorian Fragment (late 2nd century) also mentions a letter "to the Laodiceans, forged in Paul's name."
Laodicea in Biblical History
Laodicea was a prosperous city in the Lycus Valley of western Asia Minor (modern Turkey), located about 100 miles east of Ephesus. It was known for its banking industry, textile manufacturing (especially black wool), and a medical school that produced a famous eye salve. Paul appears never to have visited the city personally (Colossians 2:1), but the church there was evidently founded through the efforts of his associate Epaphras (Colossians 1:7; 4:12-13). Laodicea later appears in Revelation 3:14-22, where the risen Christ delivers a stinging rebuke to its church for being "lukewarm" — neither hot nor cold — and counsels them to buy from Him gold refined by fire, white garments, and eye salve, imagery that pointedly contrasts with the city's worldly sources of pride.
Biblical Context
The epistle is referenced in Colossians 4:16. Laodicea appears in Colossians 2:1 and 4:13-16 as a church closely connected to Colossae and Hierapolis. The city receives its most famous biblical treatment in Revelation 3:14-22, where it is one of the seven churches of Asia. Ephesians, if identified as the Laodicean letter, connects this discussion to one of Paul's major theological writings. Paul's associate Epaphras is linked to all three Lycus Valley churches (Colossians 4:12-13).
Theological Significance
This topic highlights the circulation and communal reading of apostolic letters in the early church, showing that the epistles were never intended as private correspondence but as authoritative teaching for the wider Christian community. It also demonstrates that the New Testament canon preserves the most significant apostolic writings while acknowledging that not every letter Paul wrote was intended for permanent preservation. The connection to Ephesians, if correct, underscores the universal nature of that letter's theology of the church as the body of Christ.
Historical Background
Laodicea was founded by the Seleucid king Antiochus II (261-246 BC) and named after his wife Laodice. It became one of the wealthiest cities in Roman Asia Minor. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a large stadium, two theaters, an extensive water system, and early Christian church structures. The city's water supply, piped in from hot springs and arriving lukewarm, provides the background for Christ's rebuke in Revelation 3. The apocryphal Epistle to the Laodiceans circulated in Latin from at least the 4th century and was included in many medieval Vulgate manuscripts, though it was never accepted as canonical by the church fathers.