15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. Colossians 4:15–16
You’ll hear preachers and teachers urge the church to read their Bibles. Here, because Paul had just written part of it, he was adamant that the Colossian church read what he wrote when it arrived by the hand of Tychicus.
He said something similar in 1 Thessalonians, but with a bit more punch.
I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. 1 Thessalonians 5:27
The Greek word for adjure is enorkizo, meaning “to put under (or bind by) an oath.” (Vine’s) It is the most intense word that Paul might have used in this case, and it includes “by the Lord” for even more emphasis. A Christian who doesn’t read his or her Bible regularly is or will become spiritually anorexic!
The point of all this is that we all need to take the time to download the Word of God into our brains and hearts. I get the sense that there are many Christians who don’t read and much less study the word. They might make the weekly pilgrimage to church on Sunday, but there is no substitute for the personal acquisition of its principles. We all should be self taught!
Paul urges us to dig into God’s word. Believe me, to really know what’s in Paul’s letter to the Colossians will take you weeks of study. In my case, I’m going on five months of daily study of it right now, and it’s been well worth it.
There is also reference here to a church in a city and a church in someone’s house. There is nothing stopping anyone from starting their own “church” in their homes. We hear of longstanding “Bible studies” in the home of a particular couple in the church. Paul gives credence to the church in Nympha’s house and puts it on the same plane as the “church” in the city of Laodicea.
Finally, there appears to have been a similar letter (to the Colossian epistle) sent or delivered to the Laodiceans up the road some ten miles, whether a now “lost” letter or Paul’s message to the Ephesians, we don’t know. This too he wanted the Colossians to find and read. It is likely that these letters were physically copied to more effectively spread the word.
Now more than ever do we need to hear from God! It’s there on your bookshelf or an app on your phone. It’s never been easier.
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
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