Paul's Prison Epistles: Paul and the EphesiansSample

 Secondary Audience in Colosse: Colossians 4:16

In the first century a number of churches grew in the Lycus Valley. We know that there were churches in the cities of Colosse and Laodicea and have good reason to suspect that there was also a church in Hierapolis. Although these churches are not mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, there is good reason to suspect that Paul had them in mind as he wrote.

We will consider two types of evidence that point to the churches of the Lycus Valley as Paul’s secondary audience: first, the evidence that Paul wrote to an unfamiliar audience, and second, the relevance of this letter to the churches of the Lycus Valley. Let’s begin by looking at some details that suggest Paul’s audience was unfamiliar to him. Consider first Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:15:

Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints (Ephesians 1:15).

Apparently, there was a significant portion of his audience whose faith he had not seen firsthand. His words in Ephesians 3:2-3 suggest the same thing:

Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly (Ephesians 3:2-3).

Paul stated that his audience knew about his gospel, not because he had taught them previously, but because he had written about it in the earlier chapters of this very letter. But of course, Paul had personally taught the Ephesians. 

Another indication that Paul wrote to many unfamiliar people is that his letter contains no personal references. In all his other canonical letters, Paul indicated that he knew his readers personally. 

Having seen that Paul’s audience included unfamiliar churches, we are ready to examine the evidence that he wrote to the churches in the Lycus Valley, including those in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.

One connection to the Lycus Valley can be found in Paul’s friend Tychicus. According to Ephesians 6:21-22 and Colossians 4:7-8, Tychicus delivered at least two letters for Paul: one to the church in Ephesus and one to the church in Colosse. And it is most likely that he delivered them on the same trip. Also, Paul simultaneously wrote a letter to the church in Laodicea, although this letter has not survived. 

Paul mentioned his letter to the Laodiceans in Colossians 4:16, writing these words: 

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 (Colossians 4:16).

It is reasonable to assume that Tychicus also delivered the letter that Paul wrote to the Laodicean church. This would have been the best method of ensuring that both churches read both letters. And it is reasonable to think that he also carried copies of the Ephesian letter for them to read as well.