Colossians 4 16

Colossians 4:16 kjv

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.

Colossians 4:16 nkjv

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.

Colossians 4:16 niv

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.

Colossians 4:16 esv

And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

Colossians 4:16 nlt

After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.

Colossians 4 verses

Colossians 4 16 Meaning

This verse instructs the believers in Colossae to circulate the letter they have just received from Paul among the neighboring church in Laodicea, ensuring it is read publicly there. Conversely, they are also commanded to read an epistle that they themselves will receive from Laodicea. This highlights the apostolic emphasis on the reciprocal sharing of inspired teaching and the vital role of inter-church communication for mutual edification and doctrinal unity.

Colossians 4 16 Context

Colossians 4:16 falls within the concluding remarks and greetings of Paul's Epistle to the Colossians. Chapters 1-2 establish the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ against various heresies (Gnosticism, asceticism, angel worship, philosophical syncretism) that threatened the Colossian church. Chapter 3 calls believers to live out their new identity in Christ through practical holiness and right relationships. Chapter 4, before this verse, includes further exhortations for prayer, wise conduct towards outsiders, and speech "seasoned with salt." Paul then moves to personal news, introducing his companions and mentioning specific individuals by name (Col 4:7-15).

Historically, Colossae was a smaller town in the Lycus Valley of Phrygia, near the larger and more influential city of Laodicea (which would later receive a message in Revelation 3:14-22). Given their close proximity and the prevalence of travel and trade, communication between these churches would have been common. Letters from apostles like Paul served as authoritative instruction, meant to be shared and studied publicly by the entire congregation. The specific mention of the Laodicean church and a reciprocal letter emphasizes not only Paul's broad pastoral oversight but also the interconnectedness of early Christian communities in disseminating and adhering to sound doctrine, which was crucial for combating heresies affecting the entire region.

Colossians 4 16 Word analysis

• And when this epistle is read among you,
  • epistle (Greek: epistolē) - refers to Paul's letter to the Colossians. This word implies a formal, authoritative communication. Paul’s letters carried apostolic weight, considered divine instruction.
  • is read (Greek: anaginōskō) - means "to know again" or "to read aloud." Public reading was the primary mode of instruction in the early church, allowing the entire congregation to hear and receive the teaching. This ensured corporate understanding and communal accountability to the Word.
  • among you - refers specifically to the church in Colossae, the direct recipients of this letter.
• cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans;
  • cause that it be read (Greek: poiēsate hina anagnōsthē) - is a strong, imperative command from Paul. It literally means "make sure that it be read" or "you are to make it read." This demonstrates Paul's intentionality for his letters to circulate beyond their immediate recipients, underscoring the universal applicability of his teachings.
  • also (Greek: kai) - indicates inclusion and reciprocity. The instruction given to Colossians is also for the Laodiceans.
  • church (Greek: ekklēsia) - refers to the gathered assembly of believers. Paul envisioned his letters nourishing all local bodies of Christ.
  • Laodiceans - the believers in the neighboring city of Laodicea. This highlights the early church's interconnectedness and the importance of inter-church communication and mutual support in sharing sound doctrine.
• and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
  • likewise (Greek: kai kai) - emphasizes the mutual expectation: just as the Colossians will share their letter, they will also receive one.
  • epistle from Laodicea (Greek: tēn ek Laodikias) - literally "the one from Laodicea" or "the one that went out of Laodicea." This is one of the most debated phrases in the New Testament regarding an unknown Pauline epistle.
    • The leading interpretations include:
      • The Letter to the Ephesians: Many scholars believe this refers to Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians. Ephesus was a major hub, and it is possible Ephesians was a circular letter intended to be shared among the churches in the Lycus Valley, including Laodicea. This letter contains no personal greetings, fitting the description of a general, perhaps circular, letter.
      • A now lost letter of Paul to Laodicea: Some scholars suggest it was a letter written by Paul specifically to Laodicea that has not been preserved in the biblical canon. While other Pauline letters are mentioned in passing (e.g., 1 Cor 5:9) that are not canonical, this remains a possibility.
      • Less likely interpretations include a letter from the Laodiceans to Paul (though "from Laodicea" typically refers to the place of origin or destination for the writing) or a spurious letter the Colossians should discern. However, the command to "read" implies acceptance as authoritative instruction.
    • Regardless of its exact identity, the instruction underscores the value Paul placed on the circulation and reading of authoritative Christian teaching for the entire body of Christ, reinforcing unity and doctrinal truth among dispersed congregations.

Colossians 4 16 Bonus section

The concept of "lost books" of the Bible sometimes arises from passages like Colossians 4:16 or 1 Corinthians 5:9. It is important to understand that the Christian biblical canon was formed through a process of divine guidance and communal recognition over time, not through mere preservation of every document. The books included in the canon were those recognized as having apostolic authority, conveying universal truth applicable to the whole Church across generations, and aligning with the overarching message of Christ's gospel. The fact that Paul might have written other letters that are not preserved in the canonical New Testament does not diminish the inspiration or completeness of the biblical revelation we possess. It merely indicates that not every inspired word spoken or written by an apostle was intended by God to be part of the permanent, universal written Scripture for all time. What is canonical is what God intended to be authoritative and sufficient for faith and life. This verse highlights the practical communication methods of the early church rather than implying a deficiency in the received biblical canon.

Colossians 4 16 Commentary

Colossians 4:16 concludes Paul’s epistle with a powerful mandate for the broad dissemination and reciprocal exchange of his apostolic writings among the churches. This instruction reflects Paul's understanding that his letters carried divine authority, not just for the immediate recipients but for the broader Christian community. The command for the Colossians to share their letter with Laodicea, and to read the letter coming from Laodicea, underscores the organic unity and interdependence of local churches within the wider body of Christ. It was a means of strengthening mutual faith, reinforcing sound doctrine, and fostering corporate growth, particularly vital in an era prone to burgeoning heresies like those addressed in Colossians.

This verse teaches us the enduring value of Christian literature and communal study of the Scriptures. It demonstrates the apostles' intent for their inspired words to be circulated and read publicly, becoming foundational texts for early church teaching and worship. The historical mystery of "the epistle from Laodicea" serves less as an unanswered question about a specific text and more as a poignant illustration of the dynamic process by which apostolic teaching permeated the early Christian network. The essential message is the critical importance of hearing, internalizing, and sharing God's inspired truth among believers, guarding the pure gospel and building up the church. This practice encourages not only local spiritual growth but also a healthy, informed inter-church fellowship grounded in shared understanding of Christ's supremacy.