The Church in Laodicea
By Martin Canell
The city of Laodicea was founded by Antiochus II in the 3rd century B.C. and named after his wife Laodice. It is on an important trade route in Asia Minor from Sardis through Philadelphia. Trade enabled the city to produce enormous wealth and self-sufficiency. This wealth came from the four main industries of banking, agriculture, textiles and medical.
The banking and finance industry minted their own gold coin. The agricultural industry flourished from the fertile land in the Lycus River valley. The textile industry produced sandals for the Roman Empire and traded luxurious fabrics. In the medical industry, Laodicea exported an eye ointment called kollyria to the Roman Empire, made from the large deposits of zinc and aluminum. It was considered very valuable due to the beliefs that it had properties to cure eye ailments. These industries produced such wealth that after a devastating earthquake in 60 A.D. they refused Nero’s financial help to rebuild and rebuilt the city themselves.
An interesting fact about Laodicea is it did not have its own source of water, but two nearbycities provided water via aqueducts into the city: Hierapolis and Colossae. The one from Hierapolis was a source of hot water and Colossae was a source of cold water.
Revelation of Jesus
Jesus introduces himself and his words as “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.” These three descriptions point to the eternal, righteousness, and authority/sovereignty of Jesus. It lays the foundation for His authoritative words that will contradict how the Church of Laodicea sees itself.
Remarkably, Jesus who commended all the other churches doesn’t say anything positive aboutthis church. Some speculate that this church is a false church and as we explore more it will demonstrate that it is probably true.
Jesus’ rebuke to the Laodicean Church is in two parts. The first part is a striking imageryportraying the Laodiceans as lukewarm and Jesus will spit them out of His mouth. The common interpretation is that Jesus would have us “cold” or “hot” for Him rather than sitting on the fence. There is no doubt that Jesus wants us either cold or hot, but what is the meaning of lukewarm? Many believe Jesus saying “hot” is a Christian on fire for the Lord, “cold” is non-Christian and “lukewarm” is a Chirstian living no different than the culture and world around us. There is no doubt that those are principles from scripture. However, is there another way to interpret this passage?
A principle of hermeneutics is that the most likely interpretation is from the perspective of the original author and audience. Here the audience is the Laodiceans in this church of the 1stcentury. This is where history, archeology and geography might bring a different perspective. The city of Laodicea didn’t have a water source of its own. However, the city had two water sources from nearby cities. Colossae to the East had a cold-water spring which producedrefreshing drinking water containing many minerals with great therapeutic benefits. To the North in Hierapolis there was a hot spring that also had many minerals that are therapeutic and soothing for those who bathed in it. Both springs were brought into Laodicea via aqueducts. However, by the time the cold spring water made it to Laodicea it significantly warmed up and the hot spring water cooled off making the hot water and the cold water lukewarm for the Laodiceans.
There is also another unique aspect to these two water ways just outside of Laodicea to the west. Both waters from Colossae and Hierapolis ultimately ran into the Lycus River. At the place where the water mixed from both mineral springs it was not suitable for drinking. The mixing of the minerals made it undrinkable to the point one would throw up if consumed.
We can’t be 100% certain, but maybe the way to interpret the meaning of “lukewarm” is more in line with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus provides a lesson of salt and saltiness and how we as Christians are called to be salt of the world. Matthew 5:13 ESV “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet”. Maybe Jesus is telling the Church of Laodicea that they are no longer like the original church when Jesus was the source of their salvation and they are relying on their accomplishments for salvation, saying “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing”. And for this Jesus says, “I will spit you out of my mouth”.
The second part of Jesus’ rebuke hits right to the heart of those who lived in Laodicea and Jesus provides the remedy in His exhortation. They believe they are rich, prosperous and need nothing. However, Jesus says they don’t know they are “are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked”. There is no mincing of words from Jesus and His rebuke is strong. This church seems to be ungodly and may not be a part of the true Church of Jesus Christ, but a false church. Three of the attributes of the city are mentioned by Jesus in His rebuke and exhortation. Jesus sees themvery differently than the Laodiceans see themselves and provides answers for His rebuke.
First, Jesus says they are “poor”. Laodiceans were very prosperous and there is little doubt that members of this church benefited from the wealth of the city. They might have viewedthemselves as successful, not needing God; or believing that wealth, success and being part of the church made them followers of Jesus Christ. However, Jesus is not interested in all theiraccomplishments but wants them to know all that He accomplished on the cross for them. The Laodiceans need to rely on His sacrifice to be truly rich! Another contradiction of being poor was that Laodicea had the wealth to buy and mint their own gold coins, which is not common in the empire. However, Jesus says in verse 18 there is a better gold to buy because it comes from Him, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich”.
Second, Jesus says they are “blind” and said to use “salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”. Ironically, the Laodiceans made eye salve to help others with their eye ailments, but they did not see their own blindness. Blindness speaks of the need for salvation in many New Testament passages. Salvation is the process of going from blindness to sight and in John 9:39Jesus heals a blind man and afterward says “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Which group do the Laodiceans fall into?
Third, Jesus says they were “naked”. Here history tells us of the Laodicean’s wealth from their fabric trade. Garments worn by the people of Laodicea were of all sorts of rare and beautiful fabrics and maybe those who were part of the Church in Laodicea wore these beautiful clothes. However, these clothes according to Jesus made them “naked”. Jesus says to seek “white garments”. White garments are mentioned many times in Revelation referring to those wearing white robes in heaven from the 24 elders to the martyrs. Maybe this too adds credence to the interpretation that they are a false church.
To summarize the exhortation, Jesus tells them to look to Him as the source of their salvation. They don’t have to search for Jesus because He is at the door of their church. He is knocking and waiting for their response. If they open the door He will come in and sit and eat with them.
The promise that Jesus gives the Church of Laodicea and those “who hear what the Spirit says”is the promise of eternal life. However, Jesus adds “To the one who conquers” which seems to imply that there is a battle that must be won. Unlike the other six churches this church seems to be in a greater battle: a battle for their souls. And for conquering this battle Jesus tells this church, in verse 21 that He will share His throne. It is very hard to understand how this is areward for any church like Laodicea; however, that is how our God works. We sin and yet through salvation by faith through grace we get an inheritance and the privilege of sitting on the throne of Jesus with Him. How long will that line be in heaven?