Laodicea
Where is Laodicea today? The ancient city just north of Denizli; the church in Revelation warned for being lukewarm, with the chapters where it appears.
- Today
- Denizli (just north of the city)
- Country
- Türkiye
- Status
- Archaeological site: Ancient Laodicea
- Identification
- Certain
Laodicea was a wealthy trading city in the Lycus (Çürüksu) valley, neighbouring Colossae and Hierapolis. Writing to the Colossians, Paul says he is struggling for the believers in Laodicea too, sends greetings to Nymphas and the church in his house, and asks that the letters be read in both churches (Colossians 4:15-16). The last of the seven letters in Revelation is addressed to Laodicea: the church is warned for being neither cold nor hot but lukewarm, and for thinking itself rich while it is poor and blind. The letter ends with Christ standing at the door and knocking (Revelation 3:20).
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- Bible Verses About Thankfulness
- Bible Verses About Wisdom
- Bible Verses About Creation
- Bible Verses About Family
- Bible Verses About Marriage
- Bible Verses About Jesus
- Bible Verses About Anger
- Bible Verses About New Beginnings
- Bible Verses About Trials and Testing
- Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
- Bible Verses About Work and Labor
- Bible Verses About Honesty
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Related guides
- What Is a Church (Kilise)?
What is a church, what does the word mean and what does it refer to in the Bible? A short, neutral guide to community vs. building, its origin and its different traditions.
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Where is Laodicea today?
Laodicea is in Türkiye today: the archaeological site of Laodikeia lies about 6 km north of central Denizli. The church warned for its lukewarm faith, the last of the seven churches in Revelation, was addressed here (Revelation 3:14-16). Years of excavation have uncovered colonnaded streets, two theatres, temples and the Church of Laodicea from the early centuries of Christianity, now sheltered under a protective roof.
Why was the church in Laodicea called lukewarm?
In Revelation 3:15-16 Christ tells the church in Laodicea that because it is neither cold nor hot but lukewarm, he will spit it out of his mouth. It is a vivid picture of an indifferent, half-hearted faith. Many interpreters link the image to the local water: unlike the hot springs of Hierapolis and the cool waters of Colossae, the water piped into Laodicea from a distance is thought to have arrived lukewarm.
What is the letter from Laodicea?
In Colossians 4:16 Paul asks the church in Colossae to read the letter coming from Laodicea as well. That letter has not survived and was not preserved as part of the Bible. Some scholars suggest it may have been the letter we know as Ephesians, circulated around the region, but nothing certain is known.