Laodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early Church
Calcified pipes, the Hierapolis hot springs, and a 4th-century church in the city that was 'neither hot nor cold'
Found 2010 — Pamukkale University excavations under Celal Şimşek (since 2003); church located by ground-penetrating radar in 2010 and excavated from January 2011
Where Laodicea on the Lycus, near Denizli (Turkey)
Dates from 1st century CE (city); church c. 313–330 CE · Roman–Late Roman · Message to Laodicea (Revelation 3); Colossians 4
Now at In situ, Laodicea archaeological site (church covered by a protective roof), Turkey
How Laodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early Church was found
Şimşek's team found a large basilica with baptistery and mosaics north of the Syria Street, dated by coins to the years just after the Edict of Milan. The city's aqueduct terminal and stone pressure pipes, choked with lime deposits, had long been visible on the south side.
What it is
A plateau city with two theaters, a stadium, colonnaded streets, and a water system fed by an inverted siphon of stone pipes from springs about 6 km south. The church is a three-aisled basilica about 38 by 34 metres with a cross-shaped baptismal pool, opus sectile floors, and a marble ambo.
Why it matters for the Bible
Revelation 3:15–16 rebukes Laodicea for being 'lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.' Across the valley, Hierapolis had famous hot mineral springs and Colossae cold mountain water; Laodicea's piped water arrived tepid and lime-laden, useful for neither healing nor refreshing. The image comes straight from local geography. The church, one of the earliest purpose-built basilicas in Asia, shows the assembly the letter addressed grew into a strong community, and a 2015 water-law inscription confirms how carefully the city guarded its supply.
The Hebrew word: po-SHER
פּוֹשֵׁר
פּוֹשֵׁר is pronounced po-SHER and means lukewarm (Greek chliaros) (Strong's G5513).
People this discovery connects to
- John — יוֹחָנָן (yo-chah-NAHN) — YHVH is gracious (Greek Ioannes)
- Epaphras — אֶפַּפְרָס (eh-pah-FRAHS) — Greek Epaphras, worker for the three Lycus cities
Places
- Laodicea — לָאוֹדִיקֵיָא (lah-o-dee-KAY-ah) — Greek Laodikeia
- Hierapolis — הִירַפּוֹלִיס (hee-RAH-po-lees) — Greek Hierapolis, 'holy city'
Events
Message to Laodicea · Paul's letter to Laodicea (lost) and greetings in Colossians
Laodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early Church in Scripture
Colossians 2:1 First mention of Laodicea in Scripture.
Colossians 4:13-16 Epaphras' work for Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae; the letter to be read at Laodicea.
Revelation 3:15-16 'Neither cold nor hot' — the city's tepid, mineral-heavy piped water.
Questions people ask
What is Laodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early Church?
A plateau city with two theaters, a stadium, colonnaded streets, and a water system fed by an inverted siphon of stone pipes from springs about 6 km south. The church is a three-aisled basilica about 38 by 34 metres with a cross-shaped baptismal pool, opus sectile floors, and a marble ambo.
When was Laodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early Church discovered?
It was found in 2010 by Pamukkale University excavations under Celal Şimşek (since 2003); church located by ground-penetrating radar in 2010 and excavated from January 2011, at Laodicea on the Lycus, near Denizli.
Where is Laodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early Church today?
In situ, Laodicea archaeological site (church covered by a protective roof), Turkey.
Which Bible verses does Laodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early Church relate to?
Colossians 2:1, Colossians 4:13-16, Revelation 3:15-16.
Related discoveries
- פּוּךְLaodicea: Temple A, the Western Theatre and the StadiumThe Şimşek excavations that turned a bare hill into a city of Revelation
- סְפָרַדSardis SynagogueThe largest ancient synagogue ever found, in the heart of a city of Revelation
- כִּסֵּא הַשָּׂטָןGreat Altar of Pergamon ('Satan's Throne')The monumental Zeus altar many link to Revelation's 'where Satan's throne is'
- אַרְגָּמָןThyatira Dyers' Guild InscriptionsStones naming the purple-dyers of Lydia's home city
- הִתְגַּלּוּתPatmos and the Cave of the ApocalypseThe exile island of Revelation and its traditional grotto of vision
- אֱלִילִיםRed Basilica (Temple of the Egyptian Gods), PergamonHadrian's giant brick temple to Serapis and Isis, later a church of St John
Sources
- C. Şimşek, Laodikeia (Laodicea ad Lycum) (2013)
- Wikipedia, 'Laodicea on the Lycus'
- Biblical Archaeology Society, "Laodicea Columns Reveal the Grandeur of an Early Christian Center" (church found by GPR, Şimşek, Constantinian date)
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