What does Colossians 4:15 mean?

After mentioning his friends in verses 10 through 14, Paul offers greetings to those beyond the original readers of this letter. Verse 13 has already noted that Epaphras has worked hard for the people of Colossae, as well as the nearby towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis.

"The brothers at Laodicea" refers to the Christians in the neighboring city of Laodicea, about 12 miles from Colossae. This town, along with Hierapolis and Colossae, formed a three-city region. Paul wanted this church in Laodicea to read the letter he had sent to the Colossians, and for the Colossian church to read the letter he had sent for the Laodiceans. Some scholars suggest that this now-lost letter to the Laodiceans is the same as written to the Ephesians. However, it is more likely that this verse refers to a completely different writing which has since been lost.

Nympha is a female name, likely of a woman who hosted a church in her home. It is uncertain if Nympha and her church were in Laodicea or in neighboring Hieropolis (Colossians 4:13). Regardless, churches typically met in homes in the first century. Paul's greeting to a house church in a woman's home was not a reference to her as the church's leader but likely said more about the size of her home being large enough to accommodate a small worship gathering of believers.