Colossians 4:16

16. Cause that it be read This public reading of an epistle is also enjoined in 1 Thessalonians 5:27. The exchange of epistles, as in the present case, would require a copy to be made, and gives us a glimpse of the multiplication of copies of the gospels and epistles whereby they rapidly spread through the entire early Church. This epistle having been read to the brethren at Colosse, a copy was to be sent to Laodicea, but what was to be received in return is not so clear. It has been supposed to be, (1) An epistle written by the Laodiceans to St. Paul; (2) An epistle written at Laodicea by St. Paul, possibly the first to Timothy; (3) An epistle by Paul to the Laodiceans, as a circular letter, which we now have in our Epistle to the Ephesians; and (4) An epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans, which is now lost. The first and second suppositions need only be mentioned. The third, which originated with Grotius, and has a considerable basis of argument, is considered in the Introduction to Ephesians. We agree with those who hold that a letter is meant, no copy of which is now known to exist. It would be hazardous to say what treasures some future explorer, like Tischendorf, in Oriental monasteries may discover. There is extant in Latin an “Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Laodiceans;” but it is a mere rhapsodical collection of passages from the apostle’s other epistles, and is on all hands admitted to be a clumsy forgery.