Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
When this epistle hath been read among you (otan anagnwsqh par umin h epistolh). Indefinite temporal clause with otan (ote an) and the first aorist passive subjunctive of anaginwskw. The epistle was read in public to the church (Revelation 1:3).
Cause that (poihsate ina). Same idiom in John 11:37; Revelation 13:15. Old Greek preferred opwv for this idiom. See I Thessalonians 5:27 for injunction for public reading of the Epistle.
That ye also read (kai umeiv anagnwte). Second aorist active subjunctive of anaginwskw, to read.
And the epistle from Laodicea (kai thn ek Laodikiav). The most likely meaning is that the so-called Epistle to the Ephesians was a circular letter to various churches in the province of Asia, one copy going to Laodicea and to be passed on to Colossae as the Colossian letter was to be sent on to Laodicea. This was done usually by copying and keeping the original. See Ephesians 1:1 for further discussion of this matter.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Colossians 4:16:
1 Corinthians 16:19
Colossians 2:1
2 Peter 3:16
Revelation 3:14
Revelation 13:12
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