AFTER THIS LETTER HAS BEEN READ / COLOSSIANS 4:16

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(KJV) Colossians 4:16

And 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.

After This Letter Has Been Read: The Ripple Effect of God’s Word

When you open your Bible to the book of Colossians, it feels like a personal, intimate encounter with Scripture. You might read it quietly in your favorite chair, highlighting verses that speak directly to your heart. But in the first century, receiving a letter from the Apostle Paul looked entirely different.

In Colossians 4:16, Paul leaves the church with a very specific instruction:

“After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.”

This brief verse pulls back the curtain on the vibrant, communal life of the early Church and reveals a powerful truth about how God’s Word is meant to move among us.

Read Out Loud and Shared Together

Paul’s letters weren’t meant for private consumption or isolated study. When a letter arrived, it was a monumental event. The Colossian Christians would gather together, and the letter would be read out loud to the congregation during worship. In an era where most people couldn’t read and personal copies of scripture didn’t exist, hearing the Word spoken aloud was how communities were shaped, challenged, and comforted.

But the story didn’t stop in Colossae. After listening intently, the believers would most likely make a copy of the letter to keep for their own ongoing instruction. Then, they would pack up the original parchment and send it down the road to the nearby church in Laodicea.

In return, the Colossians were eagerly waiting to receive the “letter from Laodicea”—which many scholars believe is the circular letter we know today as the book of Ephesians.

The Ripple Effect of Truth

Think about the beautiful rhythm of this exchange. The early Christians recognized that the truth given to them wasn’t theirs to hoard. It was a gift to be shared.

The gospel was never intended to sit stagnant in one heart, one house, or one church community. It was designed to have a ripple effect. What Paul wrote to encourage the Colossians was exactly what the Laodiceans needed to hear, and vice versa. By sharing these letters, they strengthened the global body of Christ, building bridges of unity across different cities.

Today, we are the beneficiaries of that ancient obedience. Because those early believers faithfully read, copied, and passed these letters along, the living Word of God has traveled across centuries and oceans to reach us.

Carrying the Letter Forward

As modern believers, Colossians 4:16 challenges us to ask: What are we doing with the truth we have received?

When God speaks to you through Scripture, it shouldn’t end with your own personal edification. The insights, comfort, and convictions you receive are meant to be shared with the people around you—your family, your small group, your neighbors, and your local church.

We are called to keep the letter moving. When we share how God is working in our lives, we continue the beautiful legacy of the early Church, ensuring that the transformative power of the gospel keeps rippling outward.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the incredible gift of Your Word. Thank You for the ultimate faithfulness of the early believers who gathered to listen, copied these sacred texts, and shared them so that we might know Your truth today.

Forgive us for the times we treat Scripture as a private luxury rather than a living truth meant to transform communities. Open our ears to hear Your voice when Your Word is spoken. Fill us with a holy enthusiasm to share the encouragement, hope, and love we receive with those around us. Let our lives be a continuation of that early gospel ripple, carrying Your truth into every corner of our world.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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