Colossians 4:16 Meaning: When Letters Traveled
When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea.
and when the epistle may be read with you, cause that also in the assembly of the Laodiceans it may be read, and the epistle from Laodicea that ye also may read;
And when the letter has been read among you, cause that it be read also in the assembly of Laodiceans, and that ye also read that from Laodicea.
Meaning in one sentence
What is the letter from Laodicea in Colossians 4:16? Paul's instruction to share apostolic letters between churches shows the Word was meant to spread.
Context
Paul is finishing his letter to the church at Colossae. In these closing verses, he sends personal greetings from companions like Aristarchus, Luke, and Demas, and he passes along specific instructions. Among them is a charge about his letter itself. Colossae and nearby Laodicea were sister churches, both dealing with similar pressures from false teaching. Paul wants his words to reach beyond one congregation. So he tells the Colossians to make sure the letter is read aloud in Laodicea, and that they in turn read a letter coming from Laodicea. This is one of the few places in the New Testament where we catch a glimpse of how apostolic writings circulated among the early churches. It reminds us that these letters were not private mail; they were meant for the whole family of God.
Key Words
Two Greek words carry the heart of this verse. The first is anaginōskō, which means “to read” but specifically to read aloud in public. This was not silent reading at a desk. When the early church gathered, someone stood and spoke the letter so all could hear. Paul expects his words to be heard, not just passed around.
The second word is ekklēsia, often translated “church.” It means an assembly, a gathering of people called out for a purpose. The same word is used for the congregation in Laodicea. Paul is not thinking of a building. He is thinking of real people, scattered across towns, who belong to one family.
Notice the small preposition ek in “from Laodicea.” It means out of, origin. The letter comes from that city. Paul is connecting two assemblies, making sure they share what they have received. The Word was never meant to stop at one doorstep.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have long wondered what the “letter from Laodicea” actually was. Some early writers, like John Calvin and many Reformed commentators, thought it was a letter written to Paul by the Laodiceans, perhaps reporting on their situation, which Paul then forwarded to Colossae. Others, such as Matthew Henry and many Protestant scholars, suggested it was the letter we now know as Ephesians, which may have been a circular letter passed among several churches, with Laodicea being one stop before Colossae. Still others, including some in the Catholic tradition and ancient sources like Theodoret, believed Paul wrote a separate letter to the Laodiceans that has since been lost. A later forgery appeared with that name, but it was rejected by Jerome and the Council of Nicaea as inauthentic. Across traditions, the main point is agreed upon: Paul wanted the churches to share apostolic teaching, not keep it to themselves.
A common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is that this verse commands Christians to read a “lost epistle to the Laodiceans” that should be in the Bible. In fact, Paul is referring to a letter that the Colossians could obtain from Laodicea in his own day. There is no evidence it is a missing inspired book. The later forgery called the Epistle to the Laodiceans was never accepted by the church as Scripture. This verse is not about a missing book; it is about the early practice of sharing apostolic letters among churches for mutual encouragement.
Living This Out
This week, consider how you treat the Scripture you have. Paul wanted his words to travel from one church to another. Do you keep what you learn to yourself, or do you pass it on? Maybe you can share a verse with a friend, read a passage aloud with your family, or ask someone what they are reading in their own Bible study. The goal is not that everyone reads the same words alone, but that the whole body is fed together. If you have received something good from God’s Word, think of one person who could also use it.
Main takeaway: God’s Word was never meant to stay in one place or with one person; it is a gift to be shared across the whole family of faith.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul wrote a letter to his friends in one city. He said, “Read my letter out loud, then send it to the next city so they can hear it too.” He wanted everyone to hear the good news.
For ages 9, 12
Paul told the church in Colossae to swap letters with the church in Laodicea. That way both churches would get the same teaching even though they were in different towns. It shows that God’s Word is for everyone, not just one group. When you learn something from the Bible, think of someone else who might need to hear it too.
Questions People Ask
What is the letter from Laodicea in Colossians 4:16?
The phrase likely refers to a letter that came from the church in Laodicea. It could be a letter Paul wrote to them (which is now lost), or possibly a letter the Laodiceans wrote to Paul that he forwards to Colossae. Many scholars also think it might be the letter to the Ephesians, which was a circular letter passed among several churches. We do not know for sure, but the key point is that Paul wanted the churches to share apostolic teaching.
Did Paul write a letter to the Laodiceans?
It is possible Paul wrote a brief letter to the Laodiceans that has not survived. Clement of Alexandria and other early writers mention such a letter. However, a later forgery called the Epistle to the Laodiceans was rejected by the church as non-canonical. The verse does not prove a lost inspired book; it shows that Paul expected letters to circulate among churches.
Why did Paul want the Colossians to read the letter from Laodicea?
Paul likely wanted both churches to benefit from the same apostolic instructions. The nearby churches faced similar challenges from false teaching. By exchanging letters, they would be strengthened together. This also shows that Paul viewed his letters as authoritative teaching for the broader church, not just for one congregation.
Is the Epistle to the Laodiceans in the Bible?
No. A short letter claiming to be Paul’s Epistle to the Laodiceans exists in some Latin manuscripts, but it was never accepted into the New Testament canon. Church fathers like Jerome called it a forgery. Colossians 4:16 does not refer to that later document.
What does Colossians 4:16 teach us about reading Scripture?
It shows that apostolic letters were read aloud in public worship, just like Old Testament passages. It also teaches that God’s Word is meant to be shared across communities. The verse encourages us to treat Scripture as a gift for the whole church, not just for private study.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study