What does Colossians 4:16 mean?

As mentioned in verse 15, the letter to the Colossians was not intended only for their congregation. They were to have it "also read in the church of the Laodiceans." It is uncertain whether the same copy would have been shared or if this letter was copied by someone in the Colossian church before sending it to the next church. In either case, it is clear there was a need for multiple copies of Paul's letters from the start. This led to the many copies that arose in the first through third centuries. Still today, the New Testament writings offer far more early copies than any other work in ancient times.

The second part of this verse offers another intriguing command: to read a letter Paul wrote to Laodicea. Tychicus and Onesimus carried this letter to the Colossian church (Colossians 4:7–9), the letter to Philemon, Paul's letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:21), and this other letter addressed to the church at Laodicea. The other prison epistle, Philippians, does not indicate who delivered it, though these same two men may have also been involved. Though now lost, a letter to the Christians in Laodicea would have included important information for the Colossians that Paul wanted them to know.