Ancient church discovered in western TurkeyThe biblical references to a church in Laodicea are Colossians 4:15-16 and Revelation 3:14-22 (note: not "Revelations"). Also, the second-century heretical Christian leader Marcion evidently knew a manuscript tradition that made the NT letter of Paul(?) to the Ephesians a letter "to the saints who are in Laodicea." (The letter may have been a circular sent to multiple churches.)
Monday, January 31, 2011
ISTANBUL - [Hürriyet] Daily News with wires
An ancient church mentioned in the Bible has been discovered in western Turkey, according to the head of the excavation.
Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay visited the ancient city of Laodicea on Sunday in Denizli province and was briefed by Professor Celal Şimşek, head of the excavation team. The professor said they have discovered the Laodicea Church, one of the seven mentioned in the Bible. Şimşek said the church from the fourth century A.D. was found by underground radar search, a system they have tried this year for the first time. “The major part of the church, which is built on an area of 2,000 square meters, has kept its original [status].”
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Two problems here. First, the excavated church is from the fourth century but these New Testament books were written in the first century. Is there any reason to think this building goes back that far? Second, the references in Colossians and Revelation are to a "church" (ekklesia) in the sense of a community of believers in Laodicea, not a building. We are actully told in Colossians 4:15 that this church met in the house of someone named Nympha.
It is, of course, of great archaeological and historical interest that a fourth-century church building has been found in the ruins of ancient Laodicea, but so far nothing about it seems significant for first-century Christianity or the New Testament.