Laodicea

Col. ii. 1. Coloss. iv. 16. καὶ τὴν ἐκ Λαοδικείας ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀναγνῶτε.LAODICEA. There are several Cities of this Name, but the Scripture speaks only of that in Phrygia, upon the River Lycus, near Colossæ. Its ancient Name was Diospolis. It was afterwards called Rhoas. Lastly, Antiochus the Son of Stratonice rebuilt it, and called it Laodicea, from the Name of his Wife Laodice. Saint Paul never was in this City, and the faithful of Laodicea had never seen his Face in the Flesh. Notwithstanding upon Information from Epaphras their Apostle, that false Teachers had propagated some pernicious Doctrines in Laodicea and Colossæ: He wrote to the Colossians, with Order to arm them against the Influence of these Seducers, and desires them, when they had read his Letter, to send it to the Laodiceans; and writes in the like Manner that the Laodiceans would send their Letter to the Colossians. And when this Epistle is read amongst you, cause it to be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and that ye likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea.

Saint Paul’s Expression to the Colossians, And ye likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea, is ambiguous. It may either signify the Letter, which Saint Paul wrote to those of Laodicea, or that which the Laodiceans wrote to Saint Paul. Hereupon Interpreters have been divided; some¹ taking it in the former, others in the latter Sense. We have still at this Day a Letter under the Name of St. Paul to the Laodiceans. Theodoret² and Saint Jerom³ had seen one with this Title. The Fathers of the seventh Council say⁴, that their Predecessors had likewise a Knowledge of one. But both rejected it as false and spurious; and all Men of Learning are at present convinced of that’s being a Counterfeit, which is cited under St. Paul’s Name, and is inserted in some antient Bibles printed in Germany and Antwerp. We find it likewise in some old Manuscripts. There is Reason also to question whether that which the Ancients speak of be the same with this, since we have it not in Greek; that published by Hutter in this Language having been translated by him from a Latin Copy. Besides, Philaster says, that the Hereticks have added something to the Epistle to the Laodiceans; and Timotheus Priest of Constantinople⁵ tells us, that it was forged by the Manichees, now there are no Footsteps of Manechism, nor of any other Heresy visible in that which we have in our Hands, whereof you have here a Copy.

Paulus Apostolus non ab hominibus, neque per hominem, sed per Jesum Christum, Fratribus qui sunt Laodicex, gratia vobis & pax a Deo Patre nostro, & Domino Jesu Christo. Gratias ago Christo per omnem orationem meam, quod permanentes estis, & perseverantes in operibus bonis, promissionem expectantes in die Judicii. Neque disturbent vos quorundam vaniloquia insimulantium veritatem, ut vos avertant a veritate Evangelii quod a me præ-dicatur. Et nunc faciet Deus ut qui sunt ex me ad perfectum veritati Evangelii sint deservientes, & benignitatem operum facientes, quæ sunt salutis vitæ æternæ. Et nunc palam sunt vincula mea, quæ patior in Christo, in quibus lætor & gaudeo. Et hoc mihi est ad salutem perpetuam quod factum est orationibus vestris, & administrante spiritu sancto, sive per vitam, sive per mortem. Est enim mihi vivere vita in Christo, & mori gaudium. Et ipse in vobis faciet misericordiam suam, & eandem dilectionem habeatis, & sitis unanimes.

Ergo, dilectissimi, ut audistis præsentiam Domini ita sentite, & facite in timore, & erit vobis vita in æternum. Est enim Deus qui operatur in vobis; & facite sine peccato quæcunque facitis, & quod est optimum. Dilectissimi, gaudete in Domino Jesu Christo, & cavete omnes sordes in omni lucro. Omnes petitiones vestræ sint palam apud Deum: Estote firmi in sensu Christi, & quæ integra, vera, & pudica, & casta, & justa, & amabilia sunt, facite; & quæ audistis & accepistis in corde retinete, & erit vobis pax. Salutant vos omnes sancti. Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi, cum spiritu vestro. Amen. Et hanc facite legi Colossensibus, & eam, quæ est Colossensium, vobis.

You have here the same Epistle in English. Paul an Apostle not of Men, nor by Man, but by Jesus Christ, to the Brethren who are in Laodicea, Grace and Peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God in all my Prayers, that you are firm and persevering in good Works, waiting for the Promise of God at the Day of Judgment. Suffer not your selves to be moved by the vain Talk of those who accuse the Truth, that so they may persuade you to forsake the Gospel which I have preached. I trust that God will so order Things, that my Disciples may continue fixed to the Perfection of the Truth of the Gospel, and in the Practice of good Works, whereby they will deserve eternal Life. The Bonds which I bear for Jesus Christ are known of all the World, I rejoyce at them, and take Pleasure in them; and this will be of Use to me in procuring eternal Salvation, by the Help of your Prayers, and the Assistance of the holy Spirit, whether in Life or Death; for to me to live in Christ is Life, and to die is Joy. He will grant you through his Mercy to be always united with the most perfect Love. Wherefore, dearly beloved Brethren, as ye have learned that the Lord must come, continue in the same Sentiments, and guide your selves in his Fear, and ye shall have eternal Life, for it is God that worketh in you. Do therefore every Thing that you do without Sin, and practise continually that which is most perfect. My dearest Brethren, rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ, and shun all sordid Gain. Direct all your Petitions to God; remain firm in the Opinion that ye have of Jesus Christ, and practice always that which is most perfect, true, pure, just, and lovely. Retain in your Hearts what ye have learned, and ye shall have Peace. All the Saints salute you. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit, Amen. Cause this to be read to the Colossians, and read that which is directed to the Colossians.

But if this Epistle is spurious, as it is agreed it is, what must that be of the Laodiceans, which St. Paul requires the Colossians to read in their Assembly? Marcion⁶ pretended that this was the Epistle to the Ephesians; and Grotius is of the same Opinion, as are likewise M. le Clerc and Hammond. They say St. Paul having written an Epistle to the Ephesians and Laodiceans, conceived in the same Terms, he desired that these two should be looked upon as circular Letters throughout all Asia Minor, and should be sent from one Church to another. Now as Laodicea was nearer to Colossæ than Ephesus, Saint Paul chose rather, that the Colossians should address themselves to the Laodiceans, than Ephesians, in Order to have a Communication of this Letter.

Others in great Number⁷, both among the Ancients and Moderns, tell us, that this was an Epistle, which they of Laodicea had written to Saint Paul, and which this Apostle was desirous that the Colossians should read for their Edification and Instruction. There is some Probability in this Hypothesis; but we cannot deliver it as a true one. Saint Paul, one would think, should rather have sent from Rome the Letter which he received from the Laodiceans, if he had a Mind, that it should be read to the Colossians, than refer the Colossians to those of Laodicea for a Copy of it, while it was uncertain whether these had preserved one or not.

Others⁸ affirm, that Saint Paul wrote a Letter to the Laodiceans at the same Time as he sent one to the Colossians, which Letter is not come to our Hands. But there is an indisputable Proof, that Saint Paul did not then write to those of Laodicea; for in his Epistle to the Colossians he desires them to salute the Brethren of Laodicea in his Name⁹. We had better therefore suppose, that Saint Paul’s Design was to speak here of the Letter he received from those of Laodicea, which is lost. It is true this Fact is not certain; but it is the most plausible Supposition of all that are proposed, in Order to explain the Passage here in Question.

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