Eastern Phrygia, on the other hand, was Christianised from Iconium and Pisidian Antioch, and was therefore
not included in the early Asian system which we have described. Doubtless, during the second century, a
complete provincial organisation came into existence; and all Christian Asia was then united. But, as great
part of Phrygia had for a long time been outside of the Asian system of the Seven Churches, it was
sometimes even in the second century thought necessary for the sake of clearness to mention Phrygia along
with Asia in defining the Church of the whole Province. Hence we have the phrase "the Churches (or
Brethren) of Asia and Phrygia" in Tertullian, adv. Prax 1, and in the letter of the Gallic Christians.
In the case of Laodicea it seems natural and probable that two secondary circuits must be admitted. One
would include the Lycus and the Upper Meander Valleys: the messenger would go along the great Central
Highway and trade route through Colossae to Apameia, and thence through the Pentapolis and back by
Eumeneia to Laodicea. Hierapolis, being so close to Laodicea, would share in any Laodicean communication
without any special messenger. Another secondary circuit would follow the important Pamphylian Road (to
Perga and Attalia), as far as Cibyra, and then perhaps keep along the frontier of the Province to Lake
Ascania; but this road was rather a rustic byway, and it is hardly probable that the frontier region was
Christianised so early as the first century. The Cibyra district, on the Pamphylian Road, was more likely to be
penetrated early by the new thought; and the name Epaphras in an inscription of this district may be a sign
that the impulse came from Colossae.
Thus we find that the Seven Letters are directed to a well-marked district embracing the greater part of the
Province Asia; and natural features, along with indubitable epigraphic and monumental evidence, make it
probable that the district of the Seven Letters contained the entire Asian Church as it was organised about
the end of the first century. The importance of the Seven Letters becomes evident even in such a small
though interesting matter as this.