A wealthy city in the [[Lycus valley]] in [[Asia Minor]], located near [[Colossae]] and [[Hierapolis]]. [[Laodicea]] was one of the seven churches addressed by [[Christ]] in [[Revelation]], receiving the famous rebuke for being "lukewarm" - neither hot nor cold ([[Revelation 3#14-22|Revelation 3:14-22]]). The city was known for its banking industry, black wool textile production, and renowned medical school that produced eye salve, making the spiritual warnings in [[Revelation]] particularly pointed: despite their material wealth, the believers were spiritually "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." [[Paul]] also references [[Laodicea]] in his letter to the [[Colossians]], instructing that his letter be read in [[Laodicea]] and that the Colossians should read the letter from [[Laodicea]] ([[Colossians 4#16|Colossians 4:16]]), suggesting active communication between these neighboring churches. This letter is potentially the same as [[Ephesians]], or it could just be lost to us. The church's struggle with complacency serves as a timeless warning against allowing material prosperity to diminish spiritual fervor.