Four chapters of the Bible 'confirmed' true in major discovery
A major discovery in Turkey has 'confirmed' that four chapters of the Bible are likely true.
Archaeologists uncovered over 60 ancient tombs in Colossae, the city immortalised in Saint Paul’s letters in the New Testament.
This follows other discoveries that shed light on Biblical passages, including at the Nahal Qomem archaeological site in Israel
The bulk of tombs at Colossae date back over 2,200 years and the discoveries were reported by the country’s state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) back on 6 October.
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It sheds a new light on Colossae, the place known well as the home of an early Christian community Saint Paul addressed his Epistle to the Colossians to (the 12th book of the New Testament).
St Paul’s letter spans a whopping 95 verses across four chapters as he warns the people against false teachings and emphasises Jesus as supreme over all things.
The ancient city of Colossae is said to have lost prominence after an earthquake in the 1st century AD severely damaged it. It was rebuilt again eventually but ended up being abandoned following another earthquake.
Archaeologist Baris Yener said: “After removing the surface soil, we identified around 65 tombs, of which we excavated 60.”
He described the area as the ‘largest necropolis in Anatolia featuring rock-cut, trough-shaped tombs’. The excavators were surprised to find so many side-by-side tombs when the area is so confined as they also contained an impressive array of artefacts.
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Among the items discovered, there were the likes of coins, personal belongings of the dead, terracotta ceramics, glass bottles, sandals and oil lamps.
It’s thought these lamps in the graves were believed to be to help illuminate people’s journey into the afterlife.
Yener also added that there were numerous charms, stones and amulets uncovered that were ‘thought to possess healing qualities’.
With the findings like this, it’s said the ‘pre-Christian’ tombs offer a new insight into the religious beliefs from the ancient people there.
And it’s therefore suggested that the people of Colossae had strong spiritual beliefs before St. Paul’s famed letter was actually written.
Paul was an early Christian missionary and dedicated his life to preaching Jesus’ teachings while establishing Christian communities. He addressed the people’s influence from local spiritual practices and beliefs in his letters.
“The findings reveal how much the people of Colossae valued magic, talismans and objects believed to offer protection," Yener explained.
“These pre-Christian practices provide essential context for understanding the religious environment in which the early Christian community emerged.”
It is believed that continued excavation will help give more understanding of how early Christianity built its foundations.
Topics: Archaeology, Religion
Jess Battison