And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.In Greek, the phrase "ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea" comes out as:
(Colossians 4:16)
καὶ τὴν ἐκ Λαοδικείας ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀναγνῶτεwhich comes out something like this:
and the [one] out of (or from) Laodicea, that also y'all should readThere are a number of possibilities here. The context is epistles, so supplying the missing word "epistle" makes sense. But who is the author, and what is the intended scope? Paul doesn't say. The Christian fellowships of Asia Minor, Colosse, Laodicea, Ephesus, and others, interacted with each other. Apostolic letters circulated among them, as well as less significant communication. Which of the two was it? There is a hint in the fact that Paul wanted these epistles read reciprocally, because it suggests they were on topic to what Paul was saying in the immediate letter to the Colossian Christians. But either way, the language is explicit that Paul was referring, not to a letter written to Laodicea, but a letter the Colossians were expected to receive from Laodicea.
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?But if someone serves a god who's purposes can be thwarted by human error or faulty human judgment or the chaos of history, then they serve a different god than the God of Scripture, Who is emphatic that His word will get where it is supposed to go, and do whatever He sends it to do:
(Daniel 4:34-35)
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.Great comfort in that. God rules.
(Isaiah 55:10-11)
My mind was opened to apprehend and appreciate the information in this your post.
Thank you for the clarity and the understandable layout of information.
R2z
I appreciate your response, and i also wondered if that sentence was being understood correctly, yet in any case using this or like texts to support Joe Smiths occultic visions is specious and desperate.