The Gentile population of Colossae had several false gods and goddesses that they worshipped. One of the goddesses was Cybele.
Cybele was the Phrygian goddess of fertility. She represented the principle of life and reproduction. She was considered by many as the Mother of the Gods. Her crown was a miniature city wall. She was worshipped with cries and shouts associated with clashing cymbals and drums.
The Romans introduced an interesting rite to her worship. An initiate was placed in a pit beneath a wooden floor. A bull was sacrificed on the wooden floor. The blood would run through gaps in the floor and drench the initiate. This was thought to cleanse the initiate of sins and signified a rebirth. Cybele became associated with the endless cycle of life, death and rebirth due to having been involved with resurrecting her lover Attis.
While Paul did not name any false gods in the letter to the Colossians, some of what he wrote does address false beliefs. In 3:16, Paul gave the proper musical worship toward God. In 1:4-6, Paul made the point that the faith, love and hope of Christ and His church is what produces spiritual fruit. In 1:9-10, he stated that it is the knowledge and wisdom of Christ’s will that makes one fruitful.
In 1:14, Paul taught that it is Christ’s blood which gives forgiveness of sins. In 1:16, he said that Christ created the world, and in 1:17, by Christ all things stay together. In 2:12-13, Paul told that it is in baptism in which one is raised from the dead and made alive.
The Bible is amazing. God gave us enough information by which any false religion or belief can be answered. Study your Bible. Learn all you can, and then obey God. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
