Timoteo​—‘Mwana Weniweni m’Chikhulupiriro’

TIMOTEO anali wamng’ono ndithu pamene mtumwi wachikristuyo Paulo anam’sankha kukhala mnzake woyenda naye. Zimenezi zinayambitsa mgwirizano umene unali kudzapitirira kwa zaka ngati 15. Ubwenzi umene unakhala pakati pa amuna aŵiriwo unafika pochititsa Paulo kutchula Timoteo kuti “mwana wanga wokondedwa ndi wokhulupirika mwa Ambuye’’ ndiponso “mwana wanga weniweni m’chikhulupiriro.”​—1 Akorinto 4:17; 1 Timoteo 1:2.

Kodi Timoteo anali ndi umunthu wotani umene unachititsa Paulo kum’konda kwambiri? Kodi Timoteo anakhala bwanji bwenzi lofunika kwambiri motero? Ndipo kodi ndi maphunziro aphindu otani amene tingaphunzire m’malemba ouziridwa ofotokoza za ntchito za Timoteo?

Anasankhidwa ndi Paulo

Paulo anapeza wophunzira wachinyamatayo Timoteo pamene mtumwiyo anakacheza ku Lustra (mu Turkey wamakono) paulendo wake wachiŵiri waumishonale cha mu 50 C.E. Makamaka pamene Timoteo anali atatsala pang’ono kukwanitsa zaka 20 kapena atangopitirira zakazo kumene, Akristu a mu Lustra ndi Ikoniyo anali kum’chitira umboni wabwino. (Machitidwe 16:1-3) Iye anakhala motsanza dzina lake, limene limatanthauza “Wochitira Ulemu Mulungu.” Kuyambira paubwana wake, Agogo wake Loisi, ndi amayi wake Yunike, anakhala akum’phunzitsa Timoteo m’Malemba Opatulika. (2 Timoteo 1:5; 3:14, 15) Mwinamwake iwo analandira Chikristu paulendo woyamba wa Paulo m’mzinda wakwawo zaka zingapo poyambirira. Tsopano, mwa ntchito ya mzimu woyera, ulosi wina unasonyeza mmene tsogolo la Timoteo lidzakhalira. (1 Timoteo 1:18) Mogwirizana ndi malangizo amenewo, Paulo ndi amuna akulu a mpingowo anaika manja awo pa mnyamatayo, ndipo anam’patulira utumiki wapadera, ndiponso mtumwiyo anam’sankha kukhala mmishonale mnzake.​—1 Timoteo 4:14; 2 Timoteo 1:6.

Chifukwa chakuti abambo wake anali Mgiriki (Mhelene) wosakhulupirira, Timoteo anali wosadulidwa. Inde, limeneli sikuti linali lamulo lachikristu. Komabe, pofuna kuchotsa chopunthwitsa cha Ayuda amene anali kupita kukawachezera, Timoteo anagonjera ku mwambo womvetsa ululu umenewu.​—Machitidwe 16:3.

Kodi Timoteo anali kuŵerengeredwa monga Myuda asanadulidwe? Akatswiri ena amati malinga ndi maumboni achirabi, “mwana wobadwira m’banja la makolo a mitundu yosiyana ankatenga mtundu wa amayi wake, osati bambo wake.” Ndiko kuti, “mayi wachiyuda amabala ana achiyuda.” Komabe, mlembi Shaye Cohen anakayikira ngati “lamulo lachirabi lokhudza munthu limenelo linalipo kale m’zaka za zana loyamba C.E.” ndiposo ngati linkatsatidwa ndi Ayuda a ku Asia Minor. Atafufuza umboni wa mmene zinthu zinalili kalelo, iye anafotokoza kuti pamene amuna Akunja anakwatira akazi achiisrayeli, “ana a mabanja ameneŵa ankaonedwa kukhala Aisrayeli kokha ngati banjalo likukhala pakati pa Aisrayeli. Mzera wobadwira unali wa mayi ngati iwo amakhala kwawo kwa mayi. Pamene mkazi wachiisrayeli amakakhala kwawo kwa mwamuna wake Wakunja, ana ake amaonedwa kukhala Akunja.” Mulimonse mmene zinalili, kusakanikira kwa makolo a Timoteo kuyenera kuti kunam’thandiza kwambiri m’ntchito yolalikira. Sakanavutika kulalikira kwa Ayuda kapena kwa Akunja, mwinanso zinam’thandiza kuthetsa kusagwirizana kwa pakati pawo.

Ulendo wa Paulo wa ku Lustra ndiwo unali posinthira zinthu m’moyo wa Timoteo. Kufunitsitsa kwa wachinyamatayo kutsogozedwa ndi mzimu woyera ndiponso kugwirizana modzichepetsa ndi akulu achikristu, kunatsogolera ku madalitso aakulu ndi mwayi wa utumiki. Kaya iye amadziŵa panthaŵiyo kapena ayi, koma molangizidwa ndi Paulo, Timoteo anali kudzagwiritsidwa ntchito kwambiri mu zochitika zofunika zateokalase, kudzam’tengera kutali kwambiri ndi kwawo monga ku Roma, likulu la ufumuwo.

Timoteo Anachirikiza Zinthu za Ufumu

Tili ndi zolembedwa zochepa kwambiri ponena za zochita za Timoteo, koma iye anayenda kwambiri kuti achirikize zinthu za Ufumu. Paulendo woyamba pamodzi ndi Paulo ndi Sila mu 50 C.E. Timoteo anadutsa mu Asia Minor mpaka anakaloŵa mu Ulaya. Kumeneko anachita nawo ntchito yolalikira mu Filipi, Tesalonika, ndi Bereya. Pamene chitsutso chinachititsa Paulo kupita ku Atene, Timoteo ndi Sila anatsalira mu Bereya kuti ayang’anire kagulu ka ophunzira kamene kanali katakhazikitsidwa kumeneko. (Machitidwe 16:6–17:14) Pambuyo pake, Paulo anatumiza Timoteo ku Tesalonika kuti akalimbikitse mpingo watsopano kumeneko. Timoteo anabweretsa uthenga wabwino wa kupita patsogolo kwa mpingowo pamene anakumana ndi Paulo ku Korinto.​—Machitidwe 18:5; 1 Atesalonika 3:1-7.

Malemba safotokozapo za kutalika kwa nthaŵi imene Timoteo anakhala ndi Akorinto. (2 Akorinto 1:19) Komabe, kukuoneka kuti cha mu 55 C.E., Paulo anaganiza zomutumizanso kwa Akorinto chifukwa chakuti iye anamva nkhani yoipa yokhudza Akorintowo. (1 Akorinto 4:17; 16:10) Pambuyo pake, Timoteo anatumizidwa ku Makedoniya pamodzi ndi Erasto kuchokera ku Efeso. Ndipo pamene Paulo ku Korinto analembera kalata Aroma, Timoteo anali nayenso pamodzi.​—Machitidwe 19:22; Aroma 6:21.

Timoteo ndi anzake anachoka mu Korinto pamodzi ndi Paulo pamene anayamba ulendo wopita ku Yerusalemu, ndipo anatsagana ndi mtumwiyo mpaka kukafika ku Turo. Sizidziŵika ngati Timoteo anapitirira mpaka ku Yerusalemu. Koma iye akutchulidwa m’makalata atatu amene Paulo analemba ali m’ndende ku Roma m’zaka za 60-61 C.E.a (Machitidwe 20:4; Afilipi 1:1; Akolose 1:1; Filemoni 1) Paulo amakonza zotumiza Timoteo kupita ku Filipi kuchokera ku Roma. (Afilipi 2:19) Paulo atatulutsidwa m’ndende, analangiza Timoteo kuti akhalebe ku Efeso.​—1 Timoteo 1:3.

Popeza kuti maulendo a m’zaka za zana loyamba anali ovuta komanso osasangalatsa, kulolera kwa Timoteo kuyenda maulendo ambirimbiri kaamba ka ubwino wa mipingo kunalidi koyamikirika. (Onani Nsanja ya Olonda, August 15, 1996, tsamba 29, bokosi.) Talingalirani za ulendo umodzi wokha umene Timoteo anali kuuyembekezera ndi zimene ukutiuza za iye.

Kudziŵa Umunthu wa Timoteo

Timoteo anali ndi Paulo ku Roma pamene mtumwi wandendeyo analemba kalata kwa Akristu ozunzidwa ku Filipi kuti: “Ndiyembekeza mwa ambuye Yesu kuti ndidzatumiza Timoteo kwa inu msanga, kuti inenso nditonthozeke bwino pozindikira za kwa inu. Pakuti ndilibe wina wa mtima womwewo, amene adzasamalira za kwa inu ndi mtima woona. Pakuti onseŵa atsata za iwo okha, si za Yesu Kristu. Koma muzindikira matsimikizidwe ake, kuti, monga mwana achitira atate wake, anatumikira pamodzi ndi ine Uthenga Wabwino.”​—Afilipi 1:1, 13, 28-30; 2:19-22.

Mawu amenewo anasonyeza bwino lomwe nkhaŵa ya Timoteo pa okhulupirira anzake. Pokhapokha ngati anayenda paboti, koma ulendo woterowo unali wa masiku 40 kuyenda pansi kuchoka ku Roma kupita ku Filipi, kudutsa Nyanja ya Adriatic penapake, ndi masiku enanso 40 kubwerera ku Roma. Timoteo anali wokonzeka kuchita zonsezo kuti atumikire abale ndi alongo ake.

Ngakhale Timoteo anayenda maulendo ataliatali, iye nthaŵi zina anali ndi mavuto athanzi. Zikuoneka kuti, anali ndi vuto la m’mimba ndipo anali ndi ‘zofooka zobwera kaŵirikaŵiri.’ (1 Timoteo 5:23) Komabe iye anadzipereka kaamba ka uthenga wabwino. Ndi posadabwitsa kuti Paulo anali paubwenzi wathithithi ndi iye!

Mwachitsogozo cha Paulo ndi zokumana nazo ali pamodzi, Timoteo anafika pa kukhala ndi umunthu wa Paulo. Motero Paulo anamuuza kuti: “Iwe watsatatsata chiphunzitso changa, mayendedwe, chitsimikizo mtima, chikhulupiriro, kuleza mtima, chikondi, chipiriro, mazunzo, kumva zoŵaŵa; zotere zonga anandichitira m’Antiokeya, m’Ikoniya, m’Lustra, mazunzo otere onga ndawamva.” Timoteo analira pamodzi ndi Paulo, anali m’mapemphero ake, ndipo anadziphatika ku mbali ya Paulo kuti alimbikitse zinthu za Ufumu.​—2 Timoteo 1:3, 4; 3:10, 11.

Paulo analimbikitsa Timoteo kuti ‘munthu asapeputse ubwana wake.’ Zimenezi zingasonyeze kuti Timoteo anali wamanyazi pang’ono, mwina ankaopa kuchita udindo wake. (1 Timoteo 4:12; 1 Akorinto 16:10, 11) Komabe, amatha kutumikira payekha, ndipo Paulo mom’khulupirira amam’tuma kukachita ntchito zikuluzikulu. (1 Atesalonika 3:1, 2) Pamene Paulo anazindikira za kufunika kwa uyang’aniro wamphamvu wateokalase mumpingo wa ku Efeso, iye analimbikitsa Timoteo kuti akhalebe kumeneko kuti ‘akalamulire ena ajawa asaphunzitse kanthu kena.’ (1 Timoteo 1:3) Komabe, Timoteo anali wosamala ngakhale kuti anapatsidwa maudindo ambiri. Ndipo mosasamala kanthu kuti anali wamanyazi, iye anali wolimba mtima. Mwachitsanzo, anapita ku Roma kukathandiza Paulo, pamene anali kuzengedwa mlandu chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chake. Ndipotu Timoteo mwiniyo anaponyedwapo m’ndende mwinanso pa chifukwa chofananacho.​—Ahebri 13:23.

Mosakayikira, Timoteo anaphunzira zambiri kuchokera kwa Paulo. Ulemu umene mtumwiyo anali nawo kwa wantchito mnzakeyu, ukuonekera bwino pamene anam’lembera makalata aŵiri ouziridwa ndi Mulungu amene amapezeka m’Malemba Achigiriki. Cha mu 65 C.E., Paulo atazindikira kuti ali pafupi kufa chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chake, anaitananso Timoteo. (2 Timoteo 4:6, 9) Kaya Timoteo anatha kuonana ndi Paulo mtumwiyo asanaphedwe, Malemba sanena.

Dziperekeni!

Tingaphunzire zambiri m’chitsanzo chabwino cha Timoteo. Iye anapindula kwambiri pogwira ntchito ndi Paulo, ndipo anakula kuchoka pa wachinyamata wamanyazi kufika pa kukhala woyang’anira. Akristu achinyamata, amuna ndi akazi, angapindule kwambiri pogwira ntchito ndi anthu ngati amenewo lerolino. Ndipo ngati apanga kutumikira Yehova kukhala ntchito yawo yanthaŵi zonse, adzakhala ndi ntchito yambiri yofunika kwambiri yoti achite. (1 Akorinto 15:58) Akhoza kukhala apainiya, kapena kuti alaliki a nthaŵi zonse, m’mipingo yakwawo, kapena angathe kukatumikira kumalo kumene kukufunika olalikira Ufumu ochuluka. Pakati pa mautumiki ambiri palinso mwayi wokachita ntchito yaumishonale kudziko lina kapena kutumikira pa likulu ladziko lonse la Watch Tower Society kapena pa imodzi ya nthambi zake. Komanso, Akristu onse angaonetse mzimu umodzimodziwo womwe Timoteo anasonyeza, mwa kutumikira Yehova ndi mtima wonse.

Kodi mukufuna kupitirizabe kukula mwauzimu, kuti mugwiritsidwe ntchito m’gulu la Yehova pantchito iliyonse imene angaione kukhala yoyenera? Chitani monga anachitira Timoteo. Dziperekeni, mulimonse mmene mungathere. Ndani amene akudziŵa kuti ndi mwayi wa utumiki wotani umene ungakutsekukireni m’tsogolo?

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Chithunzi patsamba 31]

“Ndilibe wina wa mtima womwewo”