Jesus, the Apostles, and the New Testament — Circulation and Collection

Apostolic Letters Are Read and Exchanged

c. AD 49-67
A Visit With Jesus

Churches read apostolic letters publicly and shared them with neighboring congregations.

Full Account

Paul instructed that his letters be read to the whole church. Colossians was to be exchanged with a letter associated with Laodicea, and First Thessalonians was to be read to all the brothers. Revelation likewise blesses the public reader and hearers.

These commands encouraged copying and circulation beyond a document's original destination. Public reading placed apostolic writings within a worship setting already shaped by the reading of Old Testament Scripture.

Historical Significance

Public reading and exchange explain how local apostolic documents quickly acquired wider use and began to form recognizable collections.

People, Places and Sources