What Would Jesus Teach – In Laodicea?
All adjectives imagined when one thinks of affluence, could be ascribed to the ancient city of Laodicea. This city, in the area of modern Turkey, was beyond all others in wealth and prosperity. Laodicea was a major banking center, a textile producer, and home of a widely sought after medical eye salve. Following destruction from an earthquake in 17 AD the city refused reconstruction funding from Rome and financed their own recovery efforts. That’s wealth!
Although located on two major trade routes, Laodicea was a city lacking water. An elaborate pipe system brought water from miles away. However, the quality of the mineral-rich water by the time it made the journey was horrendous. The Christians here would have know full well what Jesus meant by the sickening nature of lukewarmness.
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