The Epistle to the Laodiceans refers to a non-canonical letter attributed to the Apostle Paul, whose existence is inferred from a reference in Colossians 4:16 to a letter sent to the Christian community (Laodicean Church) in ancient Laodikeia. In extant Latin medieval manuscripts—most notably the Codex Fuldensis—this text appears as a brief epistle, but is widely understood by scholars to be apocryphal or pseudepigraphal.
The mention in Colossians 4:16 directs believers in ancient Colossae to have the letter read at Laodikeia and vice versa, provoking speculation about a now-lost Pauline correspondence. Some early sources, including the Marcionite canon, allude to an Epistle to the Laodiceans; however, no original text survives. The Latin version that does exist appears in manuscripts such as the Codex Fuldensis (circa 546 CE) and is likely a compilation of passages extracted from Paul's authentic letters—especially Philippians—crafted to supply the missing letter.
Although it was incorporated into many medieval Latin Bibles, the text was ultimately rejected by both Protestant reformers and the Council of Trent, and was never adopted by Eastern Christianity, remaining unknown in Greek and Syriac traditions. Jerome dismissed it, and modern scholars dismiss it even more firmly as a clumsy forgery lacking theological substance.
circa 50 CE
The extant Latin epistle is brief, typically around twenty verses. It begins with a greeting—“Paul, an apostle… to the brethren that are at Laodicea. Grace be with you…”—and continues with exhortations that echo Pauline language: expressions of thanksgiving, references to perseverance in faith, warning against false teachings, hopeful expectation of salvation, and spiritual unity. A hallmark of the text is its heavy reliance on sentiments drawn from genuine Pauline letters, yet devoid of personal detail, doctrinal depth, or contextual specificity. Consequently, it reads as a pastiche of standard epistolary tropes, such as "to live is Christ and to die is joy", "God works in you", and "hold fast in the Lord", without delivering any concrete message or theological argument.
Signup for our monthly newsletter / online magazine.
No spam, we promise.
The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
Cloud Drive -
About -
Help -
Privacy Policy -
Contact
Madain Project: Encyclopedia of Abrahamic History & Archaeology.
Copyright MadainProject 2017 - 2025.
