Introduction to Laodicea

                                                    Introduction to Laodicea

Meaning :-. The name Laodicea means "judging the people

Location :- Laodicea is situated on the long spur of a hill between the narrow valleys of the small rivers Asopus and Caprus, which discharge their waters into the Lycus. It was approximately 17 km west of Colossae, and 10 km south of Hierapolis.

Behind the Name :-

i.                     The town was originally called Diospolis, "City of Zeus",

ii.                   In 261-253 BC Antiochus II Theos named his wife Laodice.

iii.                  Laodicea is the name of a city in Asia Minor that wasn't too far from Colosse. The name of the city is a compound Greek word: laos means people, nation, or crowd; dike means custom, law, judgment, penalty, or punishment, depending on the context. From that, most conclude that the founders of

Laodicea saw themselves as a people of justice or law-abiding people.

Rulers:-

i.                     In 133 AD it came under control of Roman Republic. The place often suffered from earthquakes, especially from the great shock in the reign of Nero (60 AD), in which it was completely destroyed.

ii.                   After that the Greek ruler Antiochus and Theiodas rebuild this city.

City Income :-

i.                     Banking and financial center:- In Laodicea's case, it was a banking and financial center, which meant was was quite wealthy. When an earthquake destroyed parts of the city in 61 A. D., it refused aid from Rome and used its own resources to rebuild. It had a large clothing industry. The sheep in the area were noted for their soft, violet-black, glossy wool.

ii.                   Medical Center :- It also had a famous medical center noted for its treatments of the eyes and ears.

iii.                  Retirement area for the wealthy :- It was a popular retirement area for the wealthy. Because these people had retired, they concluded they had served their purpose and had reached their goal. As a result, they were indifferent to social issues of their day. One historian, Ramsay, describes Laodicea as a city of no extremes; a city that had no peculiar characteristics unless this lack of character was its character.

Spiritual Time : 1930 to the present. The Laodicean period of the church is where we are today
Christianity preached by St. Paul

i.        The Church of Jesus Christ in Laodicea was probably established during Paul's extended stay in Ephesus (Acts 19:10 –two years he preached gospel in Asia).

ii.         The epistles of Colossians was also epistles of Laodicea

 According to Col 4:16 we came know this.

Colossians 4:16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

iii.     Epaphrus followed St.Paul - Epaphrus may have been a native(Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you…) of the region who became a Christian under Paul's ministry in Ephesus (Col. 1:7 - Epaphrus was a disciple of Paul), and later shared the gospel of Jesus Christ in the tri-city area.

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Colossians 4:13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.