Laodicea | HVSB

Laodicea

Site Study· Brian Kvasnica

A city in western Turkey (formerly Asia Minor and Anatolia) in the Lycos Valley in the Roman province of Phrygia. Laodicea was one of the seven congregations of Revelation (1:11, 3:14), a congregation possibly founded by Epaphras (Col 1:7 and 4:13). The city of Laodicea (Ad Lycum) had been founded by Antiochus II (261-246 BC) of Syria who named it after his wife Laodike; and he populated it with Syrians and with Jews, the latter which were transplanted from Babylonia. Laodicea, naturally lying on the major southern Anatolian highway and at a key junction, began to flourish after the Roman province of Asia was formed in 190 B.C. Thus Laodicea was especially known for its: fine black wool, Phrygian powder for the eyes manufactured there (Rev 3:18), and renowned school of medicine. An earthquake in AD 60 almost entirely destroyed Laodicea, however wealthy citizens rejected Rome’s aid and quickly rebuilt it at their own expense (see Rev 3:17). It was a city of great wealth, with extensive banking operations (see Rev 3:18). Little is known of the early history of the Messianic movement of Jews and God-fearers; however, Laodicea was made the bishopric of Phrygia and about 166 AD Sagaris, its bishop, was martyred. In 1071 Laodicea was taken by the Seljuks; in 1119 John Comnenus won it back for the Christians, and in the 13th century it fell into the hands of the Turks. The ruins, today called Eski Hissar or old castle, lie near the Turkish town Gonjelli, and they have long served as a quarry for the neighboring town of Denizli. Much can still be seen today from the Roman period, including an aqueduct bringing water across the valley by an inverted siphon of stone pipes, a theater, a stadium, a colonnade as well as a necropolis and ruins of three churches. Turkey announced in 2011 that a large church with 11 apses and a baptistery was discovered at Laodicea, tentatively dated to the fourth century. If the dating is correct, the church would have witnessed or even hosted the Council of Laodicea in AD 363-365. - BK

Colossians 2 (WEB)

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.

Bible version

World English Bible · public domain · ebible.org