The social construction of spaces has become a core focus of interdisciplinary study. Malpas argues that “place is perhaps the key term for interdisciplinary research in the arts, humanities and social sciences in the twenty-first century.” Yet often the focus has been on the novel or unique elements of digital place making. I wonder if the construction of social spaces has been an integral part of mass media that can be applied to aid our understanding of pre-digital communication intentions.

In his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul is clear to communicate that he has not visited the church. This letter is written to an unknown audience, with clear expectation of dissemination, and aims to communicate its message as it is applicable to an expected audience. I believe the structure of Paul’s letter may well demonstrate clear archetypes of an intentional construction of what we would now term ‘third -space’. In this paper, we consider that Echchaibi and Hoover’s definition of third-space and its construction can be used as a hermeneutical lens by which we can read the letter to the Colossians, and this reading can shape and contribute to our understanding of Pauls’ structure, purpose, and linguistic choice in writing the epistle. After a careful evaluation of whether this is an effective lens by which to read this text, we then consider what we can learn from this hermeneutic if we are to apply it to the intentional creation of third space for religious communities in digital spaces in the 21st century. Are we able to use the construction and utilisation of third-space as a hermeneutical lens with which to read the Epistle to the Colossians, and how might this apply to the creation of third - spaces for Christian community in digital form?