in Ephesus." But
the words "in Ephesus" are omitted in the two great MSS. K and B.
Origen also implies that these words were absent in some MSS., and St.
Basil definitely says so. And as the Epistle contains no salutation to
any individual, it is difficult to imagine that it was specially
addressed to Ephesus, where St. Paul's friends were numerous and dear
(see Acts xx. 17-38). In some passages St. Paul speaks as if he and
those to whom he writes knew each other only through third persons (i.
15; iii. 2). This suggests that the Epistle was written primarily to a
Church like that of Colossae which he had never visited.

The probable solution is that it was written to the Christians of
Laodicea in the first instance. Tertullian says that Marcion had
copies with "Ad Laodicenos" as the title. Now, in this case Marcion
had nothing to gain by fraud, and we may therefore suppose that he had
honest grounds for using this title. The same title gains some support
from Col. ii. 1; iv. 13, 16. The last verse suggests that it was to be
passed on from Laodicea. Perhaps several copies of the letter were
written at {183} Laodicea, and a blank space left in them for the
insertion of the various addresses. No doubt the letter would be
forwarded to Ephesus in time.

Laodicea, at present called Eski-Hissar (the "old fortress"), is now
utterly deserted. It was probably founded about B.C. 250 by Antiochus
II. Theos, and named after his wife Laodike. It was distant eleven
miles from Colossae. The population included some Syrians and Jews.
It rose to great wealth under the Roman power, and was so rich that
when it was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 60 it scorned to seek
pecuniary aid from the emperor. It was in a central position on the
great trade route from the east, and was famous for its banking
business, its manufacture of fine garments of black wool, and its
"Phrygian powder" for weak eyes. In Rev. iii. 18 there appears to be a
veiled allusion to each of these three sources of prosperity. Timothy,
Mark, and Epaphras (Col. i. 7) were instrumental in spreading
Christianity in this region. Laodicea was the leading bishopric of
Phrygia throughout the Christian period.

Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. With Antioch in
Syria and Alexandria in Egypt, it ranked as one of the greatest cities
of the East Mediterranean lands. Planted amid the hills near the mouth
of the river Cayster, it was excelle