Before we enter on the consideration of these words, we would remark, that whilst the first of these seven addresses to the churches in Asia was sent to the scene of the apostle Paul's protracted labors, it was not so with the Epistle from which the above words are quoted.
Yet there is this in common, that both Ephesus and Laodicea were alike favored with the same wonderful communication from the apostle, as that which we know under the title of “The Epistle to the Ephesians.” For we have no doubt that this same apostolic writing is the one referred to in Colossians 4:1616And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16), where we read, “And when this epistle [to the Colossians] is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the [epistle] from Laodicea.”
This “epistle from Laodicea,” being an inspired epistle, is not a “lost” one, as some unhappily, as we think, have concluded, but a copy, or duplicate, of the one addressed to the Ephesians, and which copy had been brought forward as far as to Laodicea, and left there, to be subsequently sent on to Colosse, which lay about eighteen miles to the cast of Laodicea. The saints at Colosse are here apprized by the apostle of an epistle which was coming on to them “from Laodicea,” to be read by them, in the same way as the one they at Colosse had now received, was to be sent to Laodicea to be read by the saints there.
Our reasons for this view are as follows. It is well known that the words “in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 1:1)) are omitted by the Sinaitic and Vatican MSS. (of the fourth century); are remarked by Basil as not found in the ancient copies (ἐν τοῖς παλαιοῖς τῶν ἀντιγράφων); and as not known at all by Origen (third century); though later MSS., and the Vv. contain the words.
Marcion and Tertutlian (of the second century) knew this epistle as connected with the Laodiceans, so that it is difficult to account for this knowledge without some basis for it.
Then again, there is the remarkable absence of personal salutations in the epistle, although the apostle had lived amongst them for three years, and knew the Ephesians well. Only, as we think, by recognizing the fact that the letter was meant for others besides the Ephesian saints.
And if we take into consideration the character of the Epistle as a whole, it is difficult to account for this knowledge on their part without sound basis for it. (To be continued)