Colossians 4:16 is Paul’s instruction that his letter to the church in Colossae should be read aloud in the church at Laodicea, and that the church in Colossae should in turn read a letter Paul had sent to Laodicea. In short, the verse shows early believers making sure the apostle’s teaching reached more than one congregation. Paul wrote this near the end of the letter, traditionally attributed to him during his imprisonment, and he addressed it to the believers in Colossae.
When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
Colossians 4:16 (WEB)
What Colossians 4:16 Means
The phrase “when this letter has been read among you” refers to the public reading that would happen when the letter arrived. In the first century most people could not read for themselves, and Christian gatherings often included the reading of apostolic letters aloud. Paul expects the Colossians to hear the letter in full before passing it on.
The instruction to “cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans” asks for a deliberate act of sharing. The church in Colossae is responsible for making sure the letter is carried to a neighboring congregation and read there. The verse does not say how long the trip took or who carried the scroll, so we should not build too much on those details.
The last clause asks the Colossians to “read the letter from Laodicea” themselves. This is a reciprocal arrangement, so each church receives teaching the other has already received. The verse does not promise anything beyond this practical exchange. It describes how the early churches kept one another informed and nourished, and it leaves the content of that second letter unstated.
The Context of Colossians 4:16
Colossians was written to a church Paul had not personally founded, to guard it against teachings that undermined the supremacy of Christ. The letter moves from a rich account of who Christ is toward practical instructions for household life, prayer, and wise conduct. By the final chapter Paul is greeting people by name and sending messages, which is why the verse about exchanging letters fits naturally into the closing paragraph.
The verses just before and after the verse give it its setting. Paul mentions Epaphras, who has zeal for the churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis, along with Luke and Demas. He then greets the believers at Laodicea and the church that meets in the house of Nymphas. Verse 17 turns to Archippus with a charge to fulfill his ministry. Read this way, the request to exchange letters is part of a web of relationships among leaders and congregations in the region.
Key Phrases in Colossians 4:16
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
(WEB)
This verse, just before the closing greetings, asks the believers to let the word of Christ dwell richly among them and to teach one another. It shows the same concern for shared teaching that Paul expresses in chapter 4, emphasizing that Scripture and wisdom are meant to circulate within the church.
Acts 15:30-31
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
(WEB)
In this passage the church at Antioch receives a letter from the Jerusalem council and rejoices at its encouragement. It gives a concrete picture of letters being carried between congregations and read aloud, showing how the practice worked in the earliest church.
A Short Prayer From Colossians 4:16
Lord, thank you for the gift of your written word and for the believers who have gone before us in faithfully sharing it. Help me to hear your teaching with an open heart when it is read or spoken among my church family. Show me who needs encouragement, and give me the willingness to pass along what has helped me grow in you. Bind your people together in love across every congregation and every town. Amen.
