Colossians 2 (WEB)

Laodicea — Cities of the Lycus Valley

Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Colossae are biblical cities spoken of by the apostle Paul. 

Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale) did not have an apostle's letter written to it, but in the second century, it became an important city. The apostle Philip was martyred there, and a disciple of the apostle John, Papias, lived there. 

One of the apostle Paul's letters was addressed to the church at Colosse due to the influence of some incipient gnostic beliefs, and the man Philemon appears to have been a member of that church. The apostle John addressed one of his letters in the Revelation to the church at Laodicea, speaking of their lukewarm condition.

Hierapolis (Pamukkale) and Caesarea Philippi (Panias, Banias) in Israel both have what was considered an entrance to Hades, though the entrance in Turkey boasted the fumes of Hades. Hierapolis was where the apostle (not evangelist) Philip was martyred and where Papias was bishop in the second century. The poison emitting from the site in Hierapolis would kill someone going into it and the priests would demonstrate this by putting in animal sacrifices, yet they did enter very briefly, and held their breath, I would presume. Colosse (it is finally being excavated) is near Laodicea and Hierapolis, though the latter is on the other side of Lycus Valley and Laodicea on the same side and much nearer to Colosse. The back area of Colosse has cold running waters in the streams, which also overflow on the ground near the city of Colosse. The rusted pipes of Laodicea demonstrate the hot pipes of the city and illustrate the statement that John uses, that Laodicea has neither the refreshing cold waters of Colosse nor the warm healing waters of the hot springs at Hierapolis.

Map showing the Biblical Sites of Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Colossae

Map showing the Biblical Sites of Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Colossae

View of Hierapolis across Lycus Valley from Laodicea

View of Hierapolis across Lycus Valley from Laodicea

Hierapolis (Pammukale) Viewed across Lycus Valley from Laodicea

View of Hierapolis from Laodicea

View of Hierapolis from Laodicea

Colossae (modern Denizli, Turkey)

Colossae (modern Denizli, Turkey)

Ruins at Ancient Laodicea

Ruins at Ancient Laodicea

Dr. and Mrs. House in Temple at Laodicea

Dr. and Mrs. House in Temple at Laodicea

Theater at Laodicea

Theater at Laodicea

Tomb of the Apostle Philip at Hierapolis

Tomb of the Apostle Philip at Hierapolis

Person & place data: Theographic Bible Metadata by Robert Rouse (Viz.Bible), CC BY-SA 4.0.
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.

Laodicea