4:16a

After this letter has been read among you: In the first century many people did not know how to read. So most people in Colossae could not read this letter for themselves. They listened while someone else read the letter to the group.

4:16b

make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans: The phrase the Berean Standard Bible uses, make sure, is an idiom in English. It means, “make certain that.” This is also the meaning of the Greek phrase. Paul was telling the Colossians that they must make sure that the believers in Laodicea also had an opportunity to read this letter.

4:16c

the letter from Laodicea: There are two ways to understand this phrase:

(1) It means “the letter that I wrote to the believers in Laodicea.” Paul wanted the Colossians to ask the Laodicean believers for the letter that Paul had written to them, so they could read it too.

(Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible)

(2) It means, “the letter the Laodiceans will write to you.” Paul knew that the Laodiceans were planning to write to the Colossians and he was telling them to make sure they read that letter.

(Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1). The majority of commentators agree that this is the correct interpretation. Paul was referring to a letter he had written to the Christians in Laodicea. Unfortunately, a copy of this letter has never been found.

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