Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals
Monday, September 28
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Colossians 4:16-Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to our brothers and sisters at Colossae, he instructed that his Epistle to them be read to the churches in Laodicea. At the same time, he instructed that the Epistle from Laodicea be read to the Colossians.
Try as we might, we cannot find the Epistle to the Laodiceans in our New Testament.
What are we to make of this?
Let’s study.
First, it is possible that there was an Epistle that Paul wrote to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea that was never included in the New Testament canon and has since been lost. This should not concern us, since the same thing happened with Books of the Old Testament. There were many Books that were inspired which were not included in the Books of the Bible, even though they are valuable and worthy of study (cf. Joshua 10:12-13).
Second, there was a document that was created in the fourth or fifth centuries A.D. that was erroneously given the name “the Epistle to the Laodiceans.” Barclay gives a full transcription of this book.
It was mentioned by the biblical scholar Jerome in the fifth century, but Jerome himself said that it was a forgery and that most people agreed that it was not authentic. The letter runs as follows: Paul an apostle, not by men neither through any man, but through Jesus Christ, to the brothers who are at Laodicaea. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. I thank Christ in every one of my prayers that you remain steadfast in him, and that you persevere in his works, awaiting his promise on the day of judgment. Let not the empty words of certain men seduce you, words of men who try to persuade you that you should turn away from the truth of the gospel which is preached by me … [There follows a verse where the text is uncertain.] And now my bonds which I suffer in Christ are plain for all to see; in them I delight and joy. And this will result for me in everlasting salvation, a result which will be brought about by your prayers, and by the help of the Holy Spirit, whether by my life or by my death. For me to live is to be in Christ, and to die is joy. And may he in his mercy bring this very thing to pass in you, that you may have the same love, and that you may be of the one mind. Therefore, my best-beloved, as you have heard in my presence, so hold to these things and do them in fear of God, and then there will be to you life for eternity; for it is God who works in you. And do without wavering whatever you do. As for what remains, best-beloved, rejoice in Christ; beware of those who are sordid in their desire for gain. Let all your prayers be made known before God; and be you firm in the mind of Christ. Do the things which are pure, and true, and modest, and just, and lovely. Hold fast what you have heard and received into your heart; and you will have peace. The saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Cause that this letter be read to the Colossians, and that the letter of the Colossians be read to you. (William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians (The New Daily Study Bible), 201-202 (Kindle Edition): Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press)
As you can see, this alleged Epistle is a compilation of phrases from Paul’s sacred Writings. The document itself adds nothing to the Bible, and several evidences document that it is a forgery.
Finally, there is a great deal of evidence that the Epistle to the Laodiceans is actually in our Bible, just under a different name. Many in the second century church, as well as some of the early heretics associated with the Gnostics, claimed that the Book of Ephesians was the Epistle to the Laodiceans. The mainstream belief was that this Book originally started out as a “Chain Letter,” beginning at Laodicea and then being copied, passed on, and read to the other churches in that area. It ended up in Ephesus, and hence the name “Ephesians” was originally attached to it. Famous Bible scholar William Barclay mentioned this as a possibility, but was strongly drawn to the idea that the Epistle of Paul to Philemon was actually the Epistle to the Laodiceans.
We may begin with a consideration of the place of Archippus. He appears in both Colossians and Philemon. In Philemon, greetings are sent to Archippus, our fellow soldier (verse 2); and such a description might well mean that Archippus is the minister of the Christian community in question. He is also mentioned in Colossians 4: 17: ‘And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.” ‘ Now, that instruction comes after a whole series of very definite references, not to Colosse, but to Laodicaea (Colossians 4: 13, 4: 15, 4: 16). Might not the fact that he appears among the messages sent to Laodicaea imply that Archippus must be at Laodicaea too? Why in any event should he get this personal message? If he was at Colosse, he would hear the letter read, as everyone else would. Why has this verbal order to be sent to him? It is surely possible that the answer is that he is not in Colosse at all, but in Laodicaea. If that is so, it means that Philemon’s house is in Laodicaea and that Onesimus was a runaway Laodicaean slave. This must mean that the letter to Philemon was, in fact, written to Laodicaea. And, if so, the missing letter to Laodicaea, mentioned in Colossians 4: 16, is none other than the letter to Philemon. This indeed solves problems. (William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (The New Daily Study Bible), 307-308 (Kindle Edition): Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press)
Likely, the Epistle to the Laodiceans is simply another name for either the Epistle to the Ephesians or the Epistle to Philemon.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
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