Kodi Tchalitchi Choyambirira Chinaphunzitsa Kuti Mulungu Ali Utatu?
Gawo 2—Kodi Abambo Autumwi anaphunzitsa chiphunzitso cha Utatu?
Mu Nsanja ya Olonda ya November 1, 1991, Gawo 1 la mpambo uno linafotokoza ngati Yesu ndi ophunzira ake anaphunzitsa chiphunzitso cha Utatu—lingaliro lakuti Atate, Mwana, ndi mzimu woyera ali anthu atatu olingana koma ali Mulungu mmodzi. Umboni wowonekera bwino wa m’Baibulo, wa olemba mbiri, ndipo ngakhale wa akatswiri amaphunziro azaumulungu uli wakuti iwo sanatero. Bwanji nanga za atsogoleri atchalitchi amene anadza pambuyo pake—kodi anaphunzitsa Utatu?
“ABAMBO AUTUMWI” ndi mawu ogwiritsiridwa ntchito kutchula amuna atchalitchi amene analemba za Chikristu kumapeto kwa zaka za zana loyamba ndi kuchiyambi kwa zaka za zana lachiŵiri la Nyengo Yathu ino. Ena a iwo anali Clement wa ku Roma, Ignatius, Polycarp, Hermas, ndi Papias.
Ameneŵa ananenedwa kuti anakhalako m’nthaŵi ya atumwi ena. Choncho, iwo ayenera kuti anadziŵa ziphunzitso za atumwi. Ponena za zimene amuna amenewo analemba, The New Encyclopædia Britannica ikunena kuti:
“Zitaphatikizidwa pamodzi zolembedwa za Abambo Autumwi ziri zaphindu lalikulu m’mbiri kuposa mabuku ena aliwonse Achikristu kunja kwa Chipangano Chatsopano.”1
Ngati atumwi anaphunzitsa chiphunzitso cha Utatu, pamenepo Abambo Autumwi ayenera kuti anachiphunzitsanso. Chikanayenera kukhala chotchuka m’chiphunzitso chawo, popeza kuti palibe china chirichonse chimene chinali chofunika kuposa kuuza anthu za amene Mulungu ali. Choncho kodi iwo anaphunzitsa chiphunzitso cha Utatu?
Ndemanga Yoyambirira ya Chikhulupiriro
Imodzi ya ndemanga zakale kwambiri zosakhala za Baibulo zonena za chikhulupiriro Chachikristu ikupezeka m’bukhu la mitu yaifupi 16 lodziŵika monga The Didache, kapena Teaching of the Twelve Apostles. Olemba mbiri ena amaliika deti la kuchiyambi kapena pafupifupi chaka cha 100 C.E. Mlembi wake sadziŵika.2
Bukhu la The Didache limalongosola zinthu zimene anthu akafunikira kudziŵa kuti akhale Akristu. M’mutu wake wachisanu ndi chiŵiri, likufotokoza ubatizo “m’dzina la Atate ndi la Mwana ndi la Mzimu Woyera,” mawu amodzimodzi amene Yesu anawagwiritsira ntchito pa Mateyu 28:19.3 Koma silikunena kalikonse kuti atatuwo ali olingana muumuyaya, mphamvu, udindo, ndi nzeru. M’mutu wake wakhumi, bukhu la The Didache limaphatikizapo kuvomereza chikhulupiriro kotsatiraku mumpangidwe wa pemphero:
“Tikuyamikani, Atate Woyera, kaamba ka Dzina lanu loyera limene mwaliika m’mitima yathu; ndi chidziŵitso ndi chikhulupiriro ndi kusakhoza kufa kumene mwatidziŵitsa kupyolera mwa Yesu Mtumiki wanu. Ulemerero udze kwa inu kunthaŵi yosatha! Inu, Ambuye Wamphamvuyonse, munalenga zonse kaamba ka Dzina lanu . . . Ndipo mwatipatsa mwachisomo chakudya ndi chakumwa chauzimu, ndi moyo wamuyaya kupyolera mwa Yesu Mtumiki wanu.”4
Mulibemo Utatu m’menemu. M’bukhu la The Influence of Greek Ideas on Christianity, Edwin Hatch akugwira mawu ndemanga yapamwambayi nanena kuti:
“M’Chikristu choyambirira simukuwoneka kuti munali kupita patsogolo kwina pamalingaliro okhweka ameneŵa. Chiphunzitso chomwe chinagogomezeredwa chinali chakuti, Mulungu aliko, Iye ali mmodzi, Iye ali wamphamvuyonse ndi wosatha, Iye anapanga dziko, chifundo Chake chiri pantchito Zake zonse. Iwo sanali kukambitsirana zinthu zopanda pake zanthanthi.”5
Clement wa ku Roma
Clement wa ku Roma, wolingaliridwa kukhala “bishopu” mumzindawo, ali magwero ena oyambirira a zolembedwa Zachikristu. Zikukhulupiriridwa kuti anamwalira pafupifupi 100 C.E. M’nkhani yolingaliridwa kuti inalembedwa ndi iye, sakutchula za Utatu, kaya mwachindunji kapena mosakhala mwachindunji. Mu First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, akulongosola kuti:
“Chisomo chikhale kwa inu, ndi mtendere, wa kwa Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse kupyolera mwa Yesu Kristu, uchuluke.”
“Atumwi alalikira kwa ife Uthenga Wabwino wochokera kwa Ambuye Yesu Kristu; Yesu Kristu wachita zimenezo kuchokera kwa Mulungu. Chifukwa chake Kristu anatumidwa ndi Mulungu, ndipo atumwi anatumidwa ndi Kristu.”
“Mulungu amene amawona zonse, amenenso ali Wolamulira wa mizimu yonse ndi Ambuye wa anthu onse—amene anasankha Ambuye wathu Yesu Kristu ndi ife mwa Iye kukhala anthu ake apadera—apatsetu chamoyo chirichonse choitanira pa Dzina Lake laulemerero ndi loyera, chikhulupiriro, kuwopa, mtendere, kuleza mtima, ndi kupirira.”6
Clement sakunena kuti Yesu kapena mzimu woyera ali olingana ndi Mulungu. Iye akusonyeza Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse (osangoti “Atate”) kukhala wosiyana ndi Mwana. Mulungu akutchulidwa kukhala wamkulu, popeza kuti Kristu “anatumidwa” ndi Mulungu, ndipo Mulungu “anasankha” Kristu. Posonyeza kuti Mulungu ndi Kristu ali anthu aŵiri osiyana ndi osalingana, Clement anati:
“Tidzapempha ndi pemphero lamphamphu ndi pembedzero kuti Mlengi wa chilengedwe chonse adzasungitsa chiŵerengero chenicheni cha osankhidwa ake m’dziko lonse, kupyolera mwa Mwana wake wokondedwa Yesu Kristu. . . . Timazindikira kuti inu nokha [Mulungu] ndinu ‘wapamwamba koposa zapamwamba zonse’ . . . Inu nokha ndinu mwini mizimu ndi Mulungu wa zamoyo zonse.”
“Mitundu yonse idziŵetu kuti inu ndinu Mulungu yekha, kuti Yesu Kristu ali Mwana wanu.”7
Clement akutcha Mulungu (osangoti “Atate”) “wapamwamba koposa,” ndipo akusonya kwa Yesu monga “Mwana” wa Mulungu. Iye akunenanso za Yesu kuti: “Popeza kuti ali chinyezimiro cha ulemerero wa Mulungu, iye ali wamkulu kwa angelo monga momwe dzina lake laulemu limamusiyanitsira ndi maina awo.”8 Yesu amanyezimitsa ulemerero wa Mulungu, koma saali wolingana nawo, monga momwe mwezi umanyezimitsira kuunika kwa dzuŵa koma suli wolingana ndi magwero a kuunikako, dzuŵa.
Ngati Mwana wa Mulungu anali wolingana ndi Mulungu, yemwe ali Atate wakumwamba, sikukanakhala koyenera kwa Clement kunena kuti Yesu anali wamkulu koposa angelo, popeza kuti chimenecho chikanakhala chodziŵikiratu. Ndipo mawu ake akusonyeza kuti anazindikira kuti pamene kuli kwakuti Mwanayo ali wamkulu pa angelo, iye ali wamng’ono kwa Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse.
Lingaliro la Clement liri lomvekera bwino: Mwanayo ali wamng’ono kwa Atate ndipo ali wachiŵiri kwa iye. Clement sanamlingalire konse Yesu kukhala mulungu mmodzi ndi Atate. Iye anasonyeza kuti Mwanayo amadalira pa Atate, ndiko kuti, Mulungu, ndipo akunena motsimikiza kuti Atate ndiye ‘Mulungu yekha,’ wosagaŵana udindo Wake ndi aliyense. Ndipo palibe pena paliponse pamene Clement akulinganiza mzimu woyera ndi Mulungu. Choncho, m’zolembedwa za Clement mulibe lingaliro la Utatu.
Ignatius
Ignatius, bishopu wa ku Antiokeya, anakhalako kuyambira pafupifupi pakati pa zaka za zana loyamba C.E. mpaka kumayambiriro kwa zaka za zana lachiŵiri. Pokhulupirira kuti zolembedwa zonse zimene iye analemba zinali zowona, palibe nchimodzi chonwe m’mene analinganiza Atate, Mwana, ndi mzimu woyera.
Ngakhale ngati Ignatius akananena kuti Mwanayo anali wolingana ndi Atate muumuyaya, mphamvu, udindo, ndi nzeru, sukanakhalabe Utatu, popeza kuti palibe paliponse pamene ananena kuti mzimu woyera unali wolingana ndi Mulungu m’njira zimenezo. Koma Ignatius sananene kuti Mwanayo anali wolingana ndi Mulungu Atate m’njira zimenezo kapena mwanjira ina. Mmalomwake, iye anasonyeza kuti Mwanayo anali wogonjera kwa Uyo amene ali wamkulu, Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse.
Ignatius akutcha Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse “Mulungu yekha wowona, wosabadwa ndi wosafikirika, Ambuye wa onse, Atate ndi Wobala Mwana wobadwa yekha,” kusonyeza kusiyana pakati pa Mulungu ndi Mwana Wake.9 Iye akulankhula za “Mulungu Atate, ndi Ambuye Yesu Kristu.”10 Ndipo akulengeza kuti: “Pali Mulungu mmodzi, Wamphamvuyonse, amene anadzisonyeza Yekha mwa Yesu Kristu Mwana Wake.”11
Ignatius akusonyeza kuti Mwanayo sanali wamuyaya monga munthu koma analengedwa, popeza kuti Mwanayo anati: “Ambuye [Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse] anandilenga Ine, woyamba wa ntchito Zake.”12 Mofananamo, Ignatius anati: “Pali Mulungu mmodzi m’chilengedwe chonse, Atate wa Kristu, ‘amene analenga zinthu zonse;’ ndi Ambuye mmodzi Yesu Kristu, Ambuye wathu, ‘amene zinthu zonse zinalengedwa kupyolera mwa iye.’”13 Analembanso kuti:
“Mzimu Woyera sumalankhula zinthu Zakezake, koma za Kristu, . . . monga momwenso Ambuye analengezera zinthu zimene Analandira kwa Atate. Popeza kuti, Iye [Mwanayo] anati, ‘mawu amene inu mukumva saali Anga, koma a Atate, amene anandituma Ine.’”14
“Pali Mulungu mmodzi amene anadzisonyeza yekha kupyolera mwa Yesu Kristu Mwana wake, amene ali Mawu ake amene anachokera kumalo abata ndipo anamkondweretsa m’zinthu zonse [Mulungu] amene anamtumiza. . . . Yesu Kristu anali wogonjera kwa Atate.”15
Zowonadi, Ignatius anatcha Mwanayo “Mulungu Mawu.” Koma kugwiritsira ntchito liwu lakuti “Mulungu” pa Mwanayo sikumatanthauza kuti ali wolingana ndi Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse. Baibulo limatchanso Mwanayo ‘Mulungu” pa Yesaya 9:6. Yohane 1:18, (NW) amatcha Mwanayo “mulungu wobadwa yekha.” Pokhala anapatsidwa mphamvu ndi ulamuliro ndi Yehova Mulungu, Atate, Mwanayo moyenerera angatchedwe “wamphamvu,” lomwe liri tanthauzo lenileni la liwu lakuti “mulungu.”—Mateyu 28:18; 1 Akorinto 8:6; Ahebri 1:2.
Komabe, kodi makalata 15 onenedwa kuti analembedwa ndi Ignatius amavomerezedwa kukhala owona? Mu The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volyumu I, mkonzi Alexander Roberts ndi James Donaldson ananena kuti:
“Tsopano liri lingaliro lofala la osuliza, kuti makalata asanu ndi atatu oyambirira onenedwa kuti analembedwa ndi Ignatius ali achinyengo. Amasonyeza okha umboni wosakaikirika wakuti analembedwa m’nyengo yapambuyo pake . . . ndipo tsopano amalingaliridwa mofala kukhala achinyengo.”
“Pa Makalata asanu ndi aŵiri amene amavomerezedwa ndi Eusebius . . . , tiri ndi makalata aŵiri Achigiriki okonzedwanso ndi osuliza, yaifupi ndi yaitali. . . . Ngakhale kuti yaifupiyo . . . imavomerezedwa mofala kuposa yaitaliyo, akatswiri ambiri amalingalirabe kuti, ngakhale iyo singalingaliridwe kukhala yosaipitsidwa kotheratu, kapena kuti ingavomerezedwe mosakaikiridwa.”16
Ngati tilivomereza kope lalifupi la zolembedwa zake kukhala lowona, limafafanizadi mawu ŵena (m’kope lalitalilo) amene amamsonyeza Kristu kukhala wamng’ono kwa Mulungu, koma zosiidwa m’kope lalifupilo sizimasonyezabe Utatu. Ndipo mosasamala kanthu za zolembedwa zake zimene ziri zowona, izo zimasonyeza bwino lomwe kuti Ignatius anakhulupirira uŵiri wa Mulungu ndi Mwana wake. Uwutu sunali uŵiri wa anthu olingana, popeza kuti nthaŵi zonse Mwanayo anasonyezedwa kukhala wamng’ono koposa Mulungu ndiponso wogonjera kwa iye. Chotero, mosasamala kanthu za mmene munthu amalingalira zolembedwa za Ignatius, chiphunzitso cha Utatu sichikupezekamo.
Polycarp
Polycarp wa ku Smurna anabadwira m’chomalizira cha zigawo zitatu za zaka za zana loyamba ndipo anamwalira pakati pa zaka za zana lachiŵiri. Kukunenedwa kuti iye analankhulapo ndi mtumwi Yohane, ndipo kuti ndiye analemba Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians.
Kodi m’zolembedwa za Polycarp muli chirichonse chimene chikasonyeza Utatu? Ayi, iwo sunatchulidwemo. Ndithudi, zimene iye ananena ziri zogwirizana ndi zimene Yesu ndi ophunzira ake ndi atumwi anaphunzitsa. Mwachitsanzo, mu Epistle yake, Polycarp anati:
“Mulungu ndi Atate wa Ambuye wathu Yesu Kristu, ndi Yesu Kristu Iyemwini, amene ali Mwana wa Mulungu, . . . akumangirireni m’chikhulupiriro ndi chowonadi.”17
Onani kuti, mofanana ndi Clement, Polycarp sakulankhula za unansi wa Utatu wa “Atate” ndi “Mwana” olingana mwa mulungu mmodzi. Mmalomwake, iye akulankhula za “Mulungu ndi Atate” wa Yesu, osangoti ‘Atate wa Yesu.’ Chotero iye akupatula Mulungu kwa Yesu, monga momwedi olemba Baibulo anachitira mobwerezabwereza. Paulo ananena pa 2 Akorinto 1:3 kuti: “Wolemekezeka Mulungu ndi Atate wa Ambuye wathu Yesu Kristu.” Iye sakungonena kuti, ‘Wolemekezeka Atate wa Yesu’ koma “Wolemekezeka Mulungu ndi Atate” wa Yesu.
Ndiponso, Polycarp anati: “Mtendere wa kwa Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse, ndi wa kwa Ambuye Yesu Kristu, Mpulumutsi wathu.”18 Panonso, Yesu ali wosiyana ndi Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse, osati munthu mmodzi wolingana muutatu wa Mulungu mmodzi.
Hermas ndi Papias
Hermas ndiye Bambo wina Wautumwi amene analemba m’mbali yoyamba ya zaka za zana lachiŵiri. M’bukhu lake lakuti Shepherd, kapena Pastor, kodi iye amanena kalikonse kamene kakachititsa munthu kukhulupirira kuti anamlingalira Mulungu kukhala Utatu? Tawonani zitsanzo zina za zimene ananena:
“Ndipo mzimu sulankhula pamene munthu afuna kuti Mzimu Woyera ulankhule, koma umalankhula pamene Mulungu afuna kuti ulankhule. . . . Mulungu anabzala munda wampesa, kutanthauza kuti, Iye analenga anthu, ndipo anawapatsa Mwana Wake; ndipo Mwanayo anaika angelo Ake kuti awayang’anire.”19
“Mwana wa Mulungu ali wamkulu kuposa zolengedwa zake zonse.”20
Panopa Hermas akunena kuti pamene Mulungu (osangoti Atate) afuna kuti mzimu ulankhule, iwo umalankhula, kusonyeza ukulu wa Mulungu pa mzimu. Ndipo ananena kuti Mulungu anapatsa munda wake wampesa Mwana wake, kusonyeza ukulu wa Mulungu pa Mwanayo. Iye ananenanso kuti Mwana wa Mulungu ali wamkulu pa zolengedwa za Mwanayo, kutanthauza zimene Mwana wa Mulungu analenga monga Mmisiri wa Mulungu, “pakuti mwa iye zinalengedwa zonse za m’mwamba ndi za padziko.” (Akolose 1:15, 16) Mfundo njakuti Mwanayo saali wamuyaya. Analengedwa monga cholengedwa chauzimu chaudindo wapamwamba, zolengedwa zina zauzimu zisanalengedwe, monga angelo, amene analengedwa mwa iye.
J. N. D. Kelly, analemba m’bukhu lake lakuti Early Christian Doctrines ponena za lingaliro la Hermas lonena za Mwana wa Mulungu kuti:
“M’ndime zambiri timaŵerenga za mngelo amene ali wamkulu kuposa angelo asanu ndi mmodzi opanga bungwe lamkati la Mulungu, amene nthaŵi zonse amafotokozedwa kukhala ‘wolemekezeka kwambiri’, ‘woyera’, ndi ‘waulemerero’. Mngelo ameneyo anapatsidwa dzina la Mikayeli, ndipo sitingapeŵe chitsimikiziro chakuti Hermas anamulingalira kukhala Mwana wa Mulungu ndipo anamulinganiza ndi Mikayeli mkulu wa angelo.”
“Palinso umboni . . . wa zoyesayesa zakumasulira Kristu kukhala mtundu wa mngelo wamkulu koposa . . . Ponena za chiphunzitso cha Utatu m’lingaliro lake lenileni palibiretu umboni uliwonse.”21
Kukunenedwanso kuti Papias anamdziŵa mtumwi Yohane. Mwachidziŵikire iye analemba kuchiyambi kwa zaka za zana lachiŵiri, koma zidutswa zokha za zolembedwa zake ndizo ziripo lerolino. Iye samanenamo kalikonse ponena za chiphunzitso cha Utatu.
Chiphunzitso Chogwirizana
M’nkhani yonena za ukulu wa Mulungu ndi unansi wake ndi Yesu, chiphunzitso cha Abambo Autumwi chiri chogwirizana ndi chiphunzitso cholembedwa m’Baibulo cha Yesu, ophunzira, ndi atumwi. Onse amalankhula za Mulungu, osati Utatu, koma monga Munthu wosiyana, wamuyaya, wamphamvuyonse, Wodziŵa zonse. Ndipo analankhula za Mwana wa Mulungu monga wosiyana, wamng’ono, cholengedwa chauzimu chogonjera chomwe chinalengedwa ndi Mulungu kuti chimtumikire Iye m’kukwaniritsa chifuniro Chake. Ndipo palibe pamene mzimu woyera ukuphatikizidwa monga wolingana ndi Mulungu.
Choncho, m’zolembedwa za Abambo Autumwi za kumapeto kwa zaka za zana loyamba ndi kuchiyambi kwa zaka za zana lachiŵiri, mulibe chichilikizo cha Utatu wa Chikristu Chadziko. Izo zimalankhula za Mulungu, Yesu, ndi mzimu woyera monga momwe Baibulo limachitira. Mwachitsanzo, tawonani pa Machitidwe 7:55, 56:
“Stefano, pokhala wodzala ndi Mzimu Woyera, anayang’ana kumwamba ndipo anawona ulemerero wa Mulungu, ndi Yesu alikuimirira kudzanja lamanja la Mulungu. ‘Ndiwona miyamba yotseguka,’ iye anatero, ‘ndi Mwana wa Munthu alikuimirira kudzanja lamanja la Mulungu.’”—Jerusalem Bible Yachikatolika.
Stefano anawona masomphenya a Mulungu m’mwamba ndi Yesu akuimirira kumbali Kwake. Mwanayo anaima kumbali kwa Uyo amene watchulidwa, osangoti “Atate,” koma “Mulungu,” wosiyana kotheratu ndi Yesu. Ndipo palibe munthu wachitatu woloŵetsedwamo amene Stefano anawona. Mzimu woyera sunawonedwe kumwamba limodzi ndi Yesu ndi Atate ŵake.
Zimenezo nzofanana ndi Chivumbulutso 1:1, chimene chimanena kuti: “Ichi ndichivumbulutso chimene chinaperekedwa ndi Mulungu kwa Yesu Kristu.” (The Jerusalem Bible) Kachiŵirinso, Kristu woukitsidwayo kumwambako akusonyezedwa ali wosiyana kotheratu ndi Mulungu, ndipo mzimu woyera sunatchulidwe. Ngati Yesu anali munthu wachiŵiri wa Utatu, wodziŵa zinthu zonse, kodi chivumbulutso ‘chikanaperekedwa’ motani kwa iye?
Malemba oterowo amasonyeza bwino lomwe kuti palibe Utatu. Ndipo palibe lemba lirilonse m’Baibulo lonse lomwe limalankhula za Mulungu kukhala Utatu. Zolembedwa za Abambo Autumwi zimasonyeza chimenechi. Ndithudi sizimaphunzitsa Utatu wa Chikristu Chadziko.
Gulu lina lofunika koposa la zolembedwa Zachikristu linabwera pambuyo pake m’zaka za zana lachiŵiri. Izo zinali mabuku a amuna atchalitchi otchedwa achilikizi. Kodi anaphunzitsa Utatu? M’kope lamtsogolo, Gawo 3 la mpambo uno lidzathirira ndemanga pa ziphunzitso zawo.
Zilozero:
1. The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Kope la 15, 1985, Micropædia, Volyumu 1, tsamba 488.
2. A Dictionary of Christian Theology, lokonzedwa ndi Alan Richardson, 1969, tsamba 95; The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Kope la 15, 1985, Micropædia, Volyumu 4, tsamba 79.
3. The Apostolic Fathers, Volyumu 3, lolembedwa ndi Robert A. Kraft, 1965, tsamba 163.
4. Bukhu lapamwambali, masamba 166-7.
5. The Influence of Greek Ideas on Christianity, lolembedwa ndi Edwin Hatch, 1957, tsamba 252.
6. The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Alexander Roberts ndi James Donaldson, akonzi, Kope la Edinburgh Losindikizidwanso ku Amereka, 1885, Volyumu I, masamba 5, 16, 21.
7. The Library of Christian Classics, Volyumu 1, Abambo Oyambirira Achikristu, lotembenuzidwa ndi kukonzedwa ndi Cyril C. Richardson, 1953, masamba 70-1.
8. Bukhu lapamwambali, tsamba 60.
9. The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volyumu I, tsamba 52.
10. Bukhu lapamwambali, tsamba 58.
11. Bukhu lapamwambali, tsamba 62.
12. Bukhu lapamwambali, tsamba 108.
13. Bukhu lapamwambali, tsamba 116.
14. Bukhu lapamwambali, tsamba 53.
15. The Apostolic Fathers, Volyumu 4, lolembedwa ndi Robert M. Grant, 1966, tsamba 63.
16. The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volyumu I, masamba 46-7; Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, lolembedwa ndi John McClintock ndi James Strong, losindikizidwanso ndi Baker Book House Co., 1981, Volyumu IV, masamba 490-3; The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1910, Volyumu VII, masamba 644-7.
17. The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volyumu I, tsamba 35.
18. Bukhu lapamwambali, tsamba 33.
19. The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volyumu II, masamba 27, 35.
20. The Apostolic Fathers (Loeb’s Classical Library) lokhala ndi Matembenuzidwe Achingelezi lolembedwa ndi Kirsopp Lake, 1976, tsamba 249.
21. Early Christian Doctrines, lolembedwa ndi J. N. D. Kelly, Kope Lachiŵiri, 1960, masamba 94-5.