John Calvin Commentary Colossians 4:16

"And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea." — Colossians 4:16 (ASV)

Let it be read in the Church of the Laodiceans. Therefore, though it was addressed to the Colossians, it was still necessary that it should be profitable to others.

The same view must also be taken of all the Epistles. They were indeed, initially, addressed to particular Churches, but since they contain doctrine that is always in force and common to all ages, it is of no importance what title they bear, for the subject matter belongs to us.

It has been groundlessly supposed that the other Epistle that he mentions was written by Paul, and those who think that it was written by Paul to the Laodiceans make a double mistake. I have no doubt that it was an Epistle sent to Paul, reading which might be profitable to the Colossians, since neighboring towns usually have many things in common. There was, however, an exceedingly gross imposture: some worthless person, I do not know who, had the audacity to forge, using this as a pretext, an Epistle so insipid that nothing can be conceived more foreign to Paul’s spirit.