Colossians 4:16 – Letters

Picture of first century scrolls (Grok)

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.

Summary: Considering the scope of Paul’s letters helps us understand why God chose some and not others to be included in the Bible. 

Apparently, Paul wrote a lot of letters. 

Do you ever wonder how many of them didn’t make it into the Bible? 

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Colossians 4:15 – Nympha

Picture of Nympha hosting a house church (Grok)

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Summary: The mention of Nympha and the “church in her house” opens the door to considering other women of renown who served the Lord in different ways. 

As we find our way through the last few verses of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we have found several that are “greetings” from Paul and his associates to specific people. In this passage, we focus on the “brothers and sisters at Laodicea” and on a woman named Nympha who hosts a church in her home. 

The mention of Nympha is a good reminder to focus on the role of women in the early church. 

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Colossians 4:13 – Faith in Action

Picture: Yellow "MEN AT WORK" sign with men kneeling in prayer.

I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

Summary: This passage invites us to indulge in the heart of meditation: Imagining what is possible. 

This passage is a bit of a puzzle. 

Paul is vouching for Epaphras’s work. Unfortunately, all we know for certain is that he is “working hard” and that the work is “for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.” 

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