Colossians 2 (WEB)
City of Laodicea, Lycus Valley of Asia Minor
Laodicea was situated on the south bank of the Lycus River, with Hierapolis its neighboring city to the north and Colossae to the east. It was one of five cities founded by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus II around 260 BC, which were named after his wife Laodice. Zeus was the main pagan deity of the city. Its location at a major road junction on the southern Anatolian highway caused the city to thrive as a commercial and banking center. After the Treaty of Apamea in 188 B.C., the city was transferred from Seleucid to Pergamene rule. When Roman control came in 129 B.C., Laodicea became a conventus city in the newly organized province of Asia. Twenty pounds of gold bound for the temple in Jerusalem was confiscated here by the proconsul Flaccus. This amount suggests a Jewish population of over 7,500 male adults plus women and children in the area.
Laodicea was often struck by earthquakes. One occurred during the reign of Augustus, and in 60 AD an earthquake devastated many Asian cities including Laodicea. Laodicea recovered from this quake using its own resources, an indication of Laodicea’s wealth and civic independence. The city was noted for a breed of sheep that produced soft, raven–black wool. Laodicea was also the home of a medical school in the first century. Laodicea is mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, which was to be read to the church in Laodicea (Col 4:16). It is possible that the circular letter to the Ephesians is the letter from the Laodiceans mentioned in the same verse. Laodicea is the final church addressed by John in Revelation 2-3. A bishop named Sagaris was martyred in Laodicea. The Council of Laodicea met here in AD 363.
City Street of Laodicea
Roman Road at Laodicea
Theater at Laodicea (Greek architecture)
Column with Menorah and Cross
Ruins of Temple in Laodicea
Temple, Laodicea
Amphitheater at Laodicea
Laodicea
1For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ. 9For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. 18Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
20If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, 21“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” 22(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.