“Kumi ki he ʻOtuá, . . .  ʻo Maʻu Moʻoni Ia”

1-3. (a) Ko e hā ʻoku hohaʻa lahi ai ʻa e ʻapositolo ko Paulá ʻi ʻAtenisí? (e) Ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako ʻi hono ako ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Paulá?

ʻOKU hohaʻa lahi ʻa Paula. ʻOkú ne ʻi ʻAtenisi, Kalisi, ʻa e senitā ʻo e akó ʻa ia naʻe akoʻi ai ʻi ha taimi ʻa Sōkolotesi, Palato, mo ʻAlisitōtolo. Ko ʻAtenisí ko ha kolo ʻoku manako ʻaupito ʻi he lotú. Ko e ʻū meʻa kotoa ʻoku takatakai mai kia Paulá​—ʻi he ngaahi temipalé, feituʻu ki he kakaí, pea ʻi he ngaahi halá​—ʻoku sio ai ʻa Paula ki he ʻotu mai ʻa e ngaahi ʻaitolí, he naʻe lotu ʻa e kau ʻAtenisí ki ha ngaahi ʻotua lahi. ʻOku ʻiloʻi ʻe Paula ʻa e anga ʻo e vakai ʻa Sihova ko e ʻOtua moʻoní ki he tauhi ʻaitolí. (ʻEki. 20:4, 5) ʻOku maʻu ʻe he ʻapositolo faitōnungá ni ʻa e vakai ʻa Sihová​—ʻokú ne fakaliliʻa ʻi he ngaahi ʻaitolí!

² Ko e meʻa ʻoku sio ki ai ʻa Paula ʻi heʻene hū atu ki he feituʻu faiʻanga fakataú, ʻoku mātuʻaki fakaʻohovale. ʻOku laine mai ʻi he tuliki tokelau-hihifó ʻo ofi ki he hūʻanga tefitó ha ngaahi ʻotu ʻīmisi lahi ʻo e ʻotua ko Heamesí ʻa ia kuo fakafuo ki he ʻōkani fakaefehokotaki fakasino ʻo e tangatá. ʻOku fonu ʻi he feituʻu faiʻanga fakataú ʻa e fanga kiʻi potu toputapú. ʻE anga-fēfē ha malanga ʻa e ʻapositolo faivelengá ʻi he ʻātakai mātuʻaki tauhi ʻaitolí ni? Te ne mapuleʻi ʻene ngaahi ongoʻí pea maʻu ha makatuʻunga ʻoku fai ai ha loto-tatau mo ʻene kau fanongó? Te ne lavameʻa ʻi hono tokoniʻi ha taha ke kumi ki he ʻOtua moʻoní pea maʻu moʻoni Ia?

³ Ko e lea ʻa Paula ki he kau tangata poto ʻo ʻAtenisí, hangē ko ia ʻoku lēkooti ʻi he Ngāue 17:22-31, ko ha sīpinga ia ʻo e pōtoʻi lea, fakapotopoto, mo e ʻiloʻilo. ʻI hono ako ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Paulá, ʻe lava ke tau ako ʻa e meʻa lahi ʻo fekauʻaki mo e founga ke fokotuʻu ai ha makatuʻunga ʻoku fai ai ha loto-tatau, ʻo tokoniʻi ʻa ʻetau kau fanongó ke nau fakaʻuhinga meʻa.

4, 5. Ko fē naʻe malanga ai ʻa Paula ʻi ʻAtenisí, pea ko e hā ʻa e kau fanongo faingataʻa naʻe tali mai kiate iá?

⁴ Naʻe ʻaʻahi ʻa Paula ki ʻAtenisi ʻi heʻene fononga fakamisinale hono uá, ʻi he 50 T.S. nai.a Lolotonga ʻa e talitali ʻa Paula kia Sailosi mo Tīmote ke na aʻu mai mei Pēleá, “naʻe kamata ke ne fakaʻuhinga ʻi he sinakoké mo e kau Siú,” ʻo hangē ko ia naʻá ne angaʻakí. Naʻá ne toe kumi foki ki ha feituʻu ʻe lava ke ne aʻu ai ki he kau tangataʻifonua ʻikai-Siu ʻo ʻAtenisí​—“ʻi he feituʻu faiʻanga fakataú.” (Ngā. 17:17) Naʻe tuʻu ʻa e feituʻu faiʻanga fakatau ʻo ʻAtenisí, ʻa ia ko hono lahí ko e ʻeka ʻe 12 pe ofi ai, ʻi he tokelau-hihifo ʻo e ʻĀkolopolisí. Ko e feituʻu faiʻanga fakataú naʻe ʻikai ko ha feituʻu pē ia ki he fakatau maí mo e fakatau atú; ko e foʻi feituʻu tefito ia ʻo e koló ki he kakaí. ʻOku pehē ʻe ha maʻuʻanga fakamatala ʻe taha ko e feituʻú ni naʻe hoko ia ko e “foʻi mafu fakaʻekonōmika, fakapolitikale mo fakasivilaise ʻo e koló.” Naʻe manako ʻa e kau ʻAtenisí ke nau fakatahataha ai mo fai ai ʻa e talanoa fakapotó.

⁵ Naʻe fehangahangai ʻa Paula mo ha kau fanongo faingataʻa ʻi he feituʻu faiʻanga fakataú. Naʻe kau ʻi heʻene kau fanongó ʻa e kau ʻEpikuliō mo e kau Sitoiko, ko e kau mēmipa eni ʻo ha ongo kulupu fakafilōsofia feʻauʻauhi.b Naʻe tui ʻa e kau ʻEpikulioó naʻe hokonoa mai pē ʻa e moʻuí. Ko ʻenau vakai ki he moʻuí naʻe fakanounou ia ʻo peheni: “ʻOku ʻikai ha meʻa ia ke manavahē ai ki he ʻOtuá; ʻOku ʻikai ha meʻa ia ʻe ongoʻi ʻi he maté; Ko e leleí ʻe lava ke maʻu; Ko e koví ʻe lava ke kātekina.” Naʻe fakamamafaʻi ʻe he kau Sitoikó ia ʻa e fakaʻuhingá mo e fakakaukau matalá pea naʻe ʻikai te nau tui ko e ʻOtuá ko ha Tokotaha ia. Naʻe ʻikai ke tui ʻa e kau ʻEpikulioó pe ko e kau Sitoikó ki he toetuʻú ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe akoʻi ʻe he kau ākonga ʻa Kalaisí. ʻOku hā mahino, ko e ngaahi vakai fakaefilōsefa ʻa e ongo kulupú ni naʻe kehe ia mei he ngaahi moʻoni māʻolunga ʻa e lotu faka-Kalisitiane moʻoní, ʻa ē naʻe malangaʻi ʻe Paulá.

6, 7. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e fakafeangai ʻa e niʻihi ʻo e kau poto mataotao Kalisí ki he akonaki ʻa Paulá, pea ko e hā ʻa e fakafeangai meimei tatau te tau fetaulaki nai mo ia ʻi he ʻaho ní?

⁶ Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e fakafeangai ʻa e kau poto mataotao Kalisí ki he akonaki ʻa Paulá? Naʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe he niʻihi ha foʻi lea ʻoku ʻuhingá ko ha tokotaha ‘valelau noaʻia.’ (Ngā. 17:18) ʻI he fekauʻaki mo e foʻi lea faka-Kalisi ko ʻení, ʻoku pehē ʻe ha mataotao ʻe taha: “Naʻe muʻaki ngāueʻaki ʻa e foʻi leá ki ha kiʻi foʻi manupuna ʻa ia naʻe ʻalu holo ʻo tufi ʻa e tengaʻi uité, pea naʻe ngāueʻaki ia ki mui ai ki he faʻahinga naʻa nau tufi ʻa e toetoenga meʻakai mo e ngaahi meʻa kehe naʻe laku ʻi he feituʻu faiʻanga fakataú. Ka naʻe ngāueʻaki fakaefakatātā ia ki mui mai ki ha taha pē naʻá ne tufitufi mai ha ngaahi kongokongaʻi fakamatala ʻoku ʻikai ke nau fehoanaki, pea tautautefito ki ha taha naʻe ʻikai te ne lava ke fakafehoanakimālie kinautolu.” Ko ia, naʻe hangē pē naʻe pehē ʻe he kau tangata poto ko iá ko Paulá ko ha tangata vale mo kaihaʻa fakamatala. Neongo ia, hangē ko ia te tau sio ki aí, naʻe ʻikai ke loto-siʻi ʻa Paula ia ʻi he ui hingoa manuki peheé.

⁷ ʻOku ʻikai ke toe kehe ia mo e ʻahó ni. ʻI he tuʻunga ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová, kuo tau faʻa hoko ko e tāketi ʻo hono ui ʻaki ʻa e hingoa manukí koeʻuhí ko ʻetau ngaahi tui makatuʻunga ʻi he Tohi Tapú. Ko e fakatātaá, ʻoku akoʻi ʻe he kau ako ʻe niʻihi ko e ʻevalūsioó ko ha foʻi moʻoniʻi meʻa ia pea ʻoku nau fakamatematē ʻo pehē kapau ʻokú ke poto, kuo pau ke ke tali ia. ʻOku hangē ia ʻoku nau fakakalasi ʻe kinautolu ʻoku vale ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku fakafisi ke tui ki he ʻevalūsioó. Ko e kau tangata poto peheé te nau ʻai ʻa e kakaí ke nau fakakaukau ko kitautolú ko e ‘kau tufitufi mai ʻo e ngaahi kongokongaʻi fakamatala’ ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau fakahaaʻi atu ai ʻa e meʻa ʻoku leaʻaki ʻe he Tohi Tapú pea ʻi heʻetau lave ki he fakamoʻoni ʻi natula ʻo hono tā-palaniʻi ʻo e ngaahi meʻá. Ka ʻoku ʻikai ke tau loto-siʻi ai. ʻI hono kehé, ʻoku tau lea loto-falala ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau taukapoʻi ai ʻetau tui ko e moʻui ʻi he māmaní ko e ola ia ʻo e ngāue ʻa ha Tokotaha Tā-Palani poto, ko Sihova ko e ʻOtuá.​—Fkh. 4:11.

 8. (a) Naʻe fēfē ʻa e fakafeangai ʻa e niʻihi naʻa nau fanongo ki he malanga ʻa Paulá? (e) Ko e hā naʻe ʻuhinga nai ki ai ʻa hono taki ʻa Paula ki he ʻAleopeikó? (Sio ki he fakamatala ʻi laló.)

⁸ Ko e niʻihi kehe naʻa nau fanongo ki he malanga ʻa Paula ʻi he feituʻu faiʻanga fakataú naʻe kehe ʻenau fakafeangaí. “ʻOku ngalingali pē ko ha tokotaha talaki ia ʻo e ngaahi ʻotua kehé,” ko ʻenau fakamulitukú ia. (Ngā. 17:18) Naʻe fakafeʻiloaki moʻoni mai nai ʻe Paula ha ngaahi ʻotua foʻou ki he kau ʻAtenisí? Ko ha meʻa eni naʻe mafatukituki, he naʻe meimei tatau eni mo e taha ʻo e ngaahi tukuakiʻi ʻa ia naʻe hopoʻi ai ʻa Sōkolotesi pea fakahalaiaʻi ia ki he mate ʻi he ngaahi senituli ki muʻa atú. ʻOku ʻikai leva ha ofo ʻi hono taki atu ʻa Paula ki he ʻAleopeikó pea fekau ke ne fakamatala ki he ngaahi akonaki naʻe ongo faikehe ki he kau ʻAtenisí.c ʻE fēfē hano taukapoʻi ʻe Paula ʻa ʻene pōpoakí ki he faʻahinga tāutaha ko eni naʻe ʻikai ke nau maheni mo e Folofolá?

9-11. (a) Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e feinga ʻa Paula ke fokotuʻu ha makatuʻunga naʻe fai ai ha loto-tatau mo ʻene kau fanongó? (e) ʻE lava fēfē ke tau faʻifaʻitaki ki he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Paulá ʻi heʻetau ngāue fakafaifekaú?

⁹ Manatuʻi naʻe hohaʻa lahi ʻa Paula ʻi he kotoa ʻo e tauhi ʻaitoli naʻá ne sio aí. Kae kehe, ʻi he ʻikai ke ne kamataʻi fakafokifā hano ʻohofi taʻemapuleʻi ʻa e lotu ʻaitolí, naʻá ne tauhi maʻu pē ʻene nongá. ʻAki ʻa e fakapotopoto taupotu tahá, naʻá ne feinga ke ikunaʻi mai ʻa ʻene kau fanongó ʻaki ʻene fokotuʻu ha makatuʻunga naʻe fai ai ha loto-tatau. Naʻá ne kamata: “Kau tangata ʻo ʻAtenisi, ʻoku ou sio ʻoku ha ngali ʻoku mou anga-fakalotu ʻaupito ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē. ʻI hono fakahoa ki he kakai kehé, ʻoku mou manavahē ange kimoutolu ki he ngaahi ʻotuá.” (Ngā. 17:22) ʻI ha ʻuhinga, naʻe pehē ʻe Paulá, ‘ʻOku ou sio ko kimoutolú ʻoku mou manako ʻaupito ʻi he lotú.’ ʻI ha founga fakapotopoto, naʻe fakaongoongoleleiʻi kinautolu ʻe Paula ʻi heʻenau mahuʻingaʻia ʻi he lotú. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ko e niʻihi ko ia ʻoku fakakuihi ʻe he ngaahi tui halá ʻoku nau maʻu nai ha loto fiefanongo. He ko ē, naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe Paula ko iá tonu naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e taimi naʻá ne tōʻongafai “ʻi he taʻeʻilo pea mo e taʻetui.”​—1 Tīm. 1:13.

¹⁰ ʻI hono langa ʻi he makatuʻunga naʻa nau loto-tatau aí, naʻe pehē ʻe Paula naʻá ne fakatokangaʻi ha fakamoʻoni pau ʻo e anga-fakalotu ʻa e kakai ʻAtenisí​—ko ha ʻōlita naʻe fakatapui “Ki ha ʻOtua Taʻeʻiloa.” Fakatatau ki ha maʻuʻanga fakamatala ʻe taha, “naʻe angaʻaki ʻe he kau Kalisí mo e niʻihi kehé ke nau fakatapui ha ngaahi ʻōlita ki ha ‘ngaahi ʻotua taʻeʻiloa,’ ʻi he manavahē naʻa kuo ʻikai te nau fakakau ʻi heʻenau lotú ha faʻahinga ʻotua ʻa ia ʻe ʻita nai ʻo ka ʻikai ke nau lotu ange.” Fakafou ʻi ha ʻōlita pehē, naʻe fakahaaʻi ai ʻe he kau ʻAtenisí ʻa ʻenau tui ʻoku ʻi ai ha ʻOtua ʻa ia naʻe taʻeʻiloa ia kiate kinautolu. Naʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe Paula ʻa e ʻi ai ʻa e ʻōlita ko ʻení ke ne hiki mei ai ki he ongoongo lelei naʻá ne malangaʻí. Naʻá ne fakamatala: “Ko e meʻa ko ia ʻoku mou lotu taʻeʻilo ki aí, ko eni ia ʻoku ou talaki atu kiate kimoutolú.” (Ngā. 17:23) Ko e fakaʻuhinga ʻa Paulá naʻe pōtoʻi kae mālohi. Naʻe ʻikai ke ne malangaʻi ha ʻotua foʻou pe ngalikehe, ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe tukuakiʻi ki ai ʻe he niʻihi. Naʻá ne fakamatalaʻi pē ʻa e ʻOtua ʻa ia naʻe taʻeʻiloa kiate kinautolú​—ʻa e ʻOtua moʻoní.

¹¹ ʻE lava fēfē ke tau faʻifaʻitaki ki he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Paulá ʻi heʻetau ngāue fakafaifekaú? Kapau ʻoku tau fakatokanga-meʻa, te tau sio nai ai ki ha fakamoʻoni ʻoku mahuʻingaʻia ha taha ʻi he lotú, mahalo ʻi haʻatau fakatokangaʻi nai ha ngaahi meʻa fakalotu ʻokú ne tui mai pe ʻoku ʻasi ʻi hono ʻapí pe ʻi he lotoʻaá. Te tau pehē nai: ‘ʻOku ou sio ko ha tokotaha lotu koe. Naʻá ku ʻamanaki pē te u talanoa ki ha taha ʻoku mahuʻingaʻia ʻi he lotú.’ ʻI hono fakahaaʻi fakapotopoto atu ʻa e ngaahi ongoʻi fakalotu ʻa e tokotahá, te tau fokotuʻu nai ai ha makatuʻunga ʻoku fai ai ha loto-tatau ʻa ia te tau kamata langa hake ai. Manatuʻi ʻoku ʻikai ko ʻetau taumuʻá ke tomuʻa fakamāuʻi ʻa e niʻihi kehé ʻo makatuʻunga ʻi heʻenau ngaahi tui fakalotú. ʻOku kau ʻi hotau ngaahi kaungālotú ʻa e tokolahi ʻa ia naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e taimi naʻa nau pipiki loto-moʻoni ai ki he ngaahi tui fakalotu halá.

12. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e feʻunuʻaki ʻe Paula ʻa ʻene founga malangá ki heʻene kau fanongó?

¹² Naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe Paula ha makatuʻunga naʻe fai ai ha loto-tatau, ka naʻe lava ke ne kei tauhi maʻu ia ʻi hono fai ha fakamoʻoní? ʻI hono ʻiloʻi ko ʻene kau fanongó naʻe akoʻi kinautolu ʻi he filōsofia faka-Kalisí pea naʻe ʻikai te nau maheni mo e Folofolá, naʻá ne feʻunuʻaki ʻa ʻene founga malangá ʻi ha ngaahi founga. ʻUluakí, naʻá ne ʻoatu ʻa e ngaahi akonaki Fakatohitapú ʻo ʻikai te ne toʻo-lea fakahangatonu mei he Folofolá. Ko hono uá, naʻá ne fakakau ʻa ia tonu ki heʻene kau fanongó, ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻi heʻene ngāueʻaki ʻa e ongo foʻi lea ko e “kitautolu” mo e “tau.” Ko hono tolú, naʻá ne toʻo-lea mei he ngaahi tohi faka-Kalisí ke fakahaaʻi ko e ngaahi meʻa ʻe niʻihi naʻá ne faiakoʻakí naʻe hā ia ʻi heʻenau ngaahi tohí. Tau sivisiviʻi angé he taimí ni ʻa e lea mālohi ʻa Paulá. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi moʻoni mahuʻinga naʻá ne fakahaaʻi ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtua ʻa ia naʻe taʻeʻiloa ki he kau ʻAtenisí?

13. Ko e hā naʻe fakamatala ʻe Paula ʻo fekauʻaki mo e tupuʻanga ʻo e ʻunivēsí, pea ko e hā naʻe fakahuʻunga ki ai ʻa ʻene ngaahi leá?

¹³ Naʻe fakatupu ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻa e ʻunivēsí. Naʻe pehē ʻe Paula: “Ko e ʻOtua ko ia naʻá ne ngaohi ʻa e māmaní mo e ngaahi meʻa kotoa ʻi aí, ʻi hono tuʻunga ko ia ko e ʻEiki ʻo langi mo māmaní, ʻoku ʻikai ke ne ʻafio ʻi ha ngaahi temipale kuo ngaohi ʻe he nimá.”d (Ngā. 17:24) Naʻe ʻikai ke hokonoa mai ʻa e ʻunivēsí. Ko e ʻOtua moʻoní ʻa e Tokotaha-Fakatupu ʻo e meʻa kotoa pē. (Saame 146:6) ʻI he ʻikai hangē ko ʻĀtena pe ko e ngaahi ʻotua kehe ʻa ia ko honau lāngilangí naʻe fakatuʻunga pē ia ʻi he ngaahi temipalé, fanga kiʻi potu toputapú, mo e ngaahi ʻōlitá, ko e ʻEiki Hau ʻo langi mo māmaní ʻe ʻikai lava ke hao ia ʻi he ngaahi temipale naʻe langa ʻe he nima ʻo e tangatá. (1 Tuʻi 8:27) Ko e fakahuʻunga ʻo e ngaahi lea ʻa Paulá naʻe mahino: Ko e ʻOtua moʻoní ʻoku maʻongoʻonga ange ia ʻi ha faʻahinga ʻaitoli pē kuo faʻu ʻe he tangatá ʻi he ngaahi temipale kuo faʻu ʻe he tangatá.​—ʻAi. 40:18-26.

14. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakahāhā ʻe Paula ʻoku ʻikai ke fakafalala ʻa e ʻOtuá ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá?

¹⁴ ʻOku ʻikai ke fakafalala ʻa e ʻOtuá ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá. Naʻe angaʻaki ʻe he kau tauhi ʻaitolí hono fakakofu ʻenau ngaahi ʻīmisí ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi kofu mahuʻinga ʻaupito, ʻo nau foaki ange ʻa e ngaahi meʻaʻofa totongi mamafa, pe ʻoange kiate kinautolu ʻa e meʻakai mo e inu​—ʻo hangē ia naʻe fiemaʻu ʻe he ngaahi ʻaitolí ʻa e ngaahi meʻa peheé! Kae kehe, ko e niʻihi ʻo e kau filōsefa Kalisi ʻi he kau fanongo ʻa Paulá naʻa nau tui nai ʻe ʻikai fiemaʻu ki ha ʻotua ia ha meʻa ʻe taha mei he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá. Kapau ko ia, ʻoku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻa nau loto-tatau mo e fakamatala ʻa Paula ʻo pehē ko e ʻOtuá ʻoku ʻikai “ke tokangaʻi ia ʻe he nima ʻo e tangatá ʻo hangē ia ʻokú ne fiemaʻu ha meʻá.” Ko e moʻoni, ʻoku ʻikai ʻi ai ha meʻa fakamatelie ia ʻe lava ke ʻoange ʻe he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ki he Tokotaha-Fakatupú! ʻI hono kehé, ʻokú ne ʻoange ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ʻa e meʻa ʻoku fiemaʻu kiate kinautolú​—“ʻa e moʻui mo e mānava pea mo e meʻa kotoa pē,” ʻo kau ai ʻa e laʻaá, ko e ʻuhá, pea mo e kelekele fakatupu fuá. (Ngā. 17:25; Sēn. 2:7) Ko ia ko e ʻOtuá, ʻa e Tokotaha-Foakí, ʻoku ʻikai ke ne fakafalala ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá, ʻa e kau tali ʻo e foakí.

15. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e fakafeangai ʻa Paula ki he tui ʻa e kau ʻAtenisí naʻa nau māʻolunga ange ʻi he faʻahinga ʻikai-Kalisí, pea ko e hā ʻa e lēsoni mahuʻinga ʻe lava ke tau ako mei heʻene faʻifaʻitakiʻangá?

¹⁵ Naʻe ngaohi ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻa e tangatá. Ko e kau ʻAtenisí naʻa nau tui ʻoku nau māʻolunga ange kinautolu ʻi he faʻahinga ʻikai-Kalisí. Ka ko e pōlepole ʻaki hoto fonuá pe matakalí ʻoku fehangahangai ia mo e moʻoni ʻo e Tohi Tapú. (Teu. 10:17) Naʻe fakafeangai ʻa Paula ki he foʻi tuʻunga pelepelengesi ko ʻení ʻaki ʻa e fakapotopoto mo e pōtoʻi. ʻI he taimi naʻá ne pehē ai, “naʻá ne [ʻOtua] ngaohi mei he tangata pē taha ʻa e puleʻanga kotoa pē ʻo e tangatá,” ʻoku pau pē naʻe ʻai ʻe he ngaahi lea ʻa Paulá ʻa ʻene kau fanongó ke nau fakakaukau. (Ngā. 17:26) Naʻá ne lave ai ki he fakamatala ʻi he tohi ʻa Sēnesí ʻo fekauʻaki mo ʻĀtamá, ʻa e tupuʻanga ʻo e matakali ʻo e faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá. (Sēn. 1:26-28) Koeʻuhí ko e maʻu ʻe he faʻahinga kotoa ʻo e tangatá ʻa e kui pē taha, ʻoku ʻikai leva ke ʻi ai ha matakali pe fonua ʻe māʻolunga ange ʻi ha matakali pe fonua kehe. Ko e hā leva ka ʻikai maʻu ai ʻe he kau fanongo ʻa Paulá ʻa e poiní? ʻOku tau ako ha lēsoni mahuʻinga mei heʻene faʻifaʻitakiʻangá. Lolotonga ʻetau loto ke tau fakapotopoto mo fakaʻatuʻi ʻi heʻetau ngāue faifakamoʻoní, ʻoku ʻikai te tau loto ke tau fakavaivaiʻi ʻa e moʻoni ʻo e Tohi Tapú koeʻuhí pē ke ʻai ia ke ala tali ʻe he niʻihi kehé.

16. Ko e hā ʻa e taumuʻa ʻa e Tokotaha-Fakatupú ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá?

¹⁶ Naʻe fakataumuʻa ʻe he ʻOtuá ke ofi ange kiate ia ʻa e faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá. Neongo kapau naʻe fuoloa hano fakakikihiʻi ʻe he kau filōsefa ʻi he kau fanongo ʻa Paulá ʻa e taumuʻa ʻo e ʻi ai ʻa e faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá, naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito pē mei lava ke nau fakamatalaʻi ia ʻi ha tuʻunga fakafiemālie. Kae kehe, naʻe fakahaaʻi mahino ʻe Paula ʻa e taumuʻa ʻa e Tokotaha-Fakatupú ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá, ʻa ia ke nau “kumi ki he ʻOtuá, heiʻilo te nau tautaufā kiate ia ʻo maʻu moʻoni ia, neongo ko hono moʻoní, ʻoku ʻikai te ne mamaʻo mei ha taha ʻo kitautolu.” (Ngā. 17:27) Ko e ʻOtua naʻe taʻeʻiloa ki he kau ʻAtenisí ʻoku ʻikai ʻaupito ke taʻealaʻiloʻi ia. ʻI hono kehé, ʻoku ʻikai te ne mamaʻo mei he faʻahinga ʻoku nau loto moʻoni ke nau maʻu ia pea ako ʻo fekauʻaki mo iá. (Saame 145:18) Fakatokangaʻi ange naʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe Paula ʻa e foʻi lea ko e “kitautolu,” ʻo ne fakakau ai ʻa ia tonu ʻi he faʻahinga naʻe fiemaʻu ke nau “kumi” mo “tautaufā” ke maʻu ʻa e ʻOtuá.

17, 18. Ko e hā ʻoku totonu ai ke ongoʻi ʻe he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ʻoku tohoakiʻi kinautolu ki he ʻOtuá, pea ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako mei he anga ʻo e feinga ʻa Paula ke ʻai ke maongo ki heʻene kau fanongó?

¹⁷ ʻOku totonu ke ongoʻi ʻe he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ʻoku tohoakiʻi kinautolu ki he ʻOtuá. Koeʻuhí ko Ia, naʻe pehē ʻe Paula, “ʻoku tau maʻu ai ʻa e moʻuí mo ngaue holo ai mo tau ʻi aí ni.” ʻOku pehē ʻe he kau mataotao ʻe niʻihi ko e lave eni ʻa Paula ki he ngaahi lea ʻa ʻEpimenitesi, ko ha tokotaha faʻu-maau Kēliti ʻo e senituli hono ono K.M. pea “ko ha tokotaha mahuʻinga ʻi he tukufakaholo fakalotu faka-ʻAtenisí.” Naʻe ʻoange ʻe Paula ha toe ʻuhinga ʻe taha ki he ʻuhinga ʻoku totonu ke ongoʻi ai ʻe he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ʻoku tohoakiʻi kinautolu ki he ʻOtuá: “Kuo leaʻaki ʻe he niʻihi ʻo hoʻomou kau faʻu māú ʻo pehē, ‘He ko ʻene fānau foki mo kitautolu.’” (Ngā. 17:28) ʻOku totonu ke ongoʻi vāofi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ki he ʻOtuá; naʻá ne fakatupu ʻa e tangata ʻe taha ʻa ia naʻe tukuʻau mai mei ai ʻa e faʻahinga kotoa ʻo e tangatá. Ke ʻai ke maongo ki heʻene kau fanongó, naʻe toʻo-lea hangatonu pōtoʻi ai ʻa Paula mei he ngaahi tohi faka-Kalisi ʻa ia ʻoku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻe tokaʻi ʻe heʻene kau fanongó.e ʻI he fehoanaki mo e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Paulá, ʻe lava ke tau ngāueʻaki fakangatangata ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻa e ngaahi toʻo-lea fakahangatonu mei he hisitōlia ʻo e māmaní, ʻenisaikolopētiá, pe ha maʻuʻanga fakamatala kehe ʻoku ala tali. Ko e fakatātaá, ko ha toʻo-lea hangatonu feʻungamālie mei ha maʻuʻanga fakamatala ʻoku tokaʻi ʻe lava ke tokoni ia ke fakatuipauʻi ha tokotaha ʻikai ko e Fakamoʻoni ʻo fekauʻaki mo e tupuʻanga ʻo ha ngaahi tōʻonga pe ngaahi kātoanga fakalotu loi.

¹⁸ ʻI heʻene aʻu mai ki he taimi ko ʻení ʻi heʻene leá, naʻe fakahā ai ʻe Paula ʻa e ngaahi moʻoni tefito ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtuá, ʻo ne feʻunuʻaki pōtoʻi ʻene ngaahi leá ki heʻene kau fanongó. Ko e hā naʻe loto ʻa e ʻapositoló ke fai ʻe heʻene kau fanongo ʻAtenisí ʻo fekauʻaki mo e fakamatala mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ko ʻení? Naʻe ʻikai toe toloi, naʻá ne tala kiate kinautolu ʻi he hoko atu ʻene leá.

19, 20. (a) Naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakaeʻa fakapotopoto ʻe Paula ʻa e fakavalevale ʻo e lotu ki he ngaahi ʻaitoli kuo faʻu ʻe he tangatá? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e ngāue naʻe fiemaʻu ke fai ʻe he kau fanongo ʻa Paulá?

¹⁹ Naʻe mateuteu ʻa Paula ke ekinaki ki heʻene kau fanongó ke nau fai ha meʻa. ʻI heʻene toe lave ki he toʻo-lea hangatonu mei he ngaahi tohi faka-Kalisí, naʻá ne pehē: “Ko ia ai, koeʻuhi ko e fānau kitautolu ʻa e ʻOtuá, ʻoku ʻikai totonu ke tau fakakaukau ʻoku hangē ʻa ʻEne ʻAfió, ʻa e ʻOtuá, ko ha koula pe siliva pe maka, ʻo hangē ko ha meʻa kuo tongi ʻe he poto mo e filioʻi ʻa e tangatá.” (Ngā. 17:29) Ko e moʻoni, kapau ko e faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá ko e faʻu kinautolu ʻe he ʻOtuá, ʻe lava fēfē leva ke maʻu ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻa e fōtunga ʻo e ngaahi ʻaitolí, ʻa ia ko e faʻu ʻe he tangatá? Ko e fakaʻuhinga fakapotopoto ʻa Paulá naʻá ne fakaeʻa ʻa e fakavalevale ʻo e lotu ki he ngaahi ʻaitoli kuo faʻu ʻe he tangatá. (Saame 115:4-8; ʻAi. 44:9-20) ʻI he pehē ko ia “ʻoku ʻikai totonu ke tau . . . ,” naʻe ʻai nai ai ʻe Paula ke siʻisiʻi ʻa e mamahi naʻe mei lava ke fakatupunga ʻe heʻene valokí.

²⁰ Naʻe fakamahino ʻe he ʻapositoló ʻa e ngāue naʻe fiemaʻu ke faí: “Kuo fakaʻatā pē ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻa e ngaahi taimi ʻo e taʻeʻilo peheé [ʻo e fakakaukau ʻe hōifua ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi he faʻahinga ʻo e tangata ʻoku nau lotu ki he ngaahi ʻaitolí]; ka ʻi he taimí ni ʻokú ne talaki ki he kakai ʻi he feituʻu kotoa pē ke nau fakatomala.” (Ngā. 17:30) Ko e niʻihi ʻo e kau fanongo ʻa Paulá naʻa nau moʻutāfuʻua nai ʻi he fanongo ki he fiemaʻu ko ʻeni ke fakatomalá. Ka ko ʻene lea mālohí naʻe fakahaaʻi mahino ai naʻa nau moʻuaʻaki ʻenau moʻuí ki he ʻOtuá pea naʻe pau ai ke nau fai ha fakamatala kiate Ia. Naʻe fiemaʻú ke nau kumi ki he ʻOtuá, ako ʻa e moʻoni ʻo fekauʻaki mo iá, pea ʻomi ʻenau founga moʻuí kātoa ke fehoanaki mo e moʻoni ko iá. Ki he kau ʻAtenisí, naʻe ʻuhinga iá ki hono ʻiloʻi pea tafoki mei he angahala ko e tauhi ʻaitolí.

21, 22. Naʻe fakaʻosi ʻe Paula ʻene leá ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi lea mālohi ko e hā, pea ko e hā ʻa e ʻuhinga ʻo ʻene ngaahi leá kiate kitautolu he ʻaho ní?

²¹ Naʻe fakaʻosi ʻe Paula ʻene leá ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi lea mālohi: “Kuó ne [ʻOtua] ʻosi fokotuʻu ha ʻaho ʻa ia ʻokú ne fakataumuʻa ke fakamāuʻi ai ʻi he māʻoniʻoni ʻe ha tangata kuó ne ʻosi fakanofo ʻa e māmani kuo nofoʻí, pea kuó ne ʻomi ha fakapapauʻiʻanga ki he tangata kotoa pē ʻaki hono fokotuʻu hake ia mei he maté.” (Ngā. 17:31) Ko ha ʻAho Fakamaau ʻoku ene ke hoko​—ko ha ʻuhinga mafatukituki moʻoni ē ke kumi ai ʻo maʻu ʻa e ʻOtua moʻoní! Naʻe ʻikai ke tala mai ʻe Paula ia ʻa e hingoa ʻo e Fakamaau kuo fakanofó. ʻI hono kehé, naʻe leaʻaki ʻe Paula ha meʻa fakaʻohovale ʻo fekauʻaki mo e Fakamaau ko ʻení: Naʻá ne moʻui ko ha tangata, pekia, pea naʻe fokotuʻu hake ia ʻe he ʻOtuá mei he maté!

²² Ko e fakaʻosi fakaueʻiloto ko iá ʻoku mohu ʻuhinga ia kiate kitautolu he ʻaho ní. ʻOku tau ʻiloʻi ko e Fakamaau kuo fakanofo ʻe he ʻOtuá ko Sīsū Kalaisi kuo toetuʻú. (Sione 5:22) ʻOku tau ʻiloʻi foki ko e ʻAho Fakamāú ʻe feʻunga ia mo e taʻu ʻe taha afe pea ʻoku vavé ni ke hoko mai. (Fkh. 20:4, 6) ʻOku ʻikai ke tau manavahē ki he ʻAho Fakamāú, he ʻoku tau mahinoʻi ʻe ʻomi ai ʻa e ngaahi tāpuaki taʻefaʻalaua ki he faʻahinga kuo fakamāuʻi ʻoku faitōnungá. Ko hono fakahoko ʻo ʻetau ʻamanaki ki ha kahaʻu lāngilangiʻiá ʻoku fakapapauʻi ia ʻe he mana lahi taha ʻo e ngaahi maná​—ko e toetuʻu ʻa Sīsū Kalaisí!

23. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi fakafeangai kehekehe ki he lea ʻa Paulá?

²³ Naʻe kehekehe pē ʻa e ngaahi fakafeangai ki he lea ʻa Paulá. “Naʻe kamata ke fakaʻaluma ʻa e niʻihi” ʻi heʻenau fanongo ʻo kau ki ha toetuʻú. Ko e niʻihi leva naʻa nau anga-lelei ka naʻe ʻikai ke nau fai ha fili, ʻo nau pehē: “Te mau toe fanongo pē kiate koe ʻo fekauʻaki mo e meʻá ni.” (Ngā. 17:32) Kae kehe, ko ha kiʻi tokosiʻi, naʻa nau tali lelei: “Ko e kau tangata ʻe niʻihi naʻa nau kau mo ia ʻo nau hoko ko e kau tui. Naʻe kau ʻiate kinautolu ʻa Taionisio, ʻa ia ko ha fakamaau ʻi he fakamaauʻanga ʻo e ʻAleopeikó, pea mo ha fefine ko hono hingoá ko Temalisi, pea mo e niʻihi kehe tuku kehe kinaua.” (Ngā. 17:34) ʻOku tau hokosia ʻa e ngaahi fakafeangai meimei tatau ʻi heʻetau ngāue fakafaifekaú. ʻE manumanukiʻi nai kitautolu ʻe he kakai ʻe niʻihi, neongo ia ʻe fakafeangai anga-lelei mai ʻa e niʻihi kehe ia kae ʻikai mahuʻingaʻia. Kae kehe, ʻoku tau fiefia ʻi he taimi ʻoku tali ai ʻe ha niʻihi ʻa e pōpoaki ʻo e Puleʻangá pea nau hoko ko e kau tuí.

24. Ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako mei he lea naʻe fai ʻe Paula ʻi heʻene tuʻu ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e ʻAleopeikó?

²⁴ ʻI heʻetau fakakaukauloto ki he lea ʻa Paulá, ʻe lava ai ke tau ako ʻa e meʻa lahi ʻo fekauʻaki mo e fakaʻuhinga totonu hokohoko leleí pea mo e fakaʻuhinga fakatupu tuipaú pea pehē foki ki he founga ke tau feʻunuʻaki ai ki heʻetau kau fanongó. ʻIkai ko ia pē, ʻe lava ke tau ako ai ʻo fekauʻaki mo e fiemaʻu ke hoko ʻo kātaki pea fakapotopoto ʻi he fakafeangai ki he faʻahinga kuo fakakuihi ʻe he ngaahi tui fakalotu loí. ʻE toe lava foki ke tau ako ʻa e lēsoni mahuʻinga ko ʻení: Kuo pau ke ʻoua ʻaupito naʻa tau fakangaloku ʻa e moʻoni ʻo e Tohi Tapú koeʻuhí pē ke fakahōhōʻiaʻi ʻetau kau fanongó. Ka neongo ia, ʻi he faʻifaʻitaki ki he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa e ʻapositolo ko Paulá, ʻe lava ke tau hoko ai ko e kau faiako ola lelei ange ʻi he malaʻe malangá. ʻIkai ngata aí, ʻe lava ke hoko ai ʻa e kau ʻovasiá ko e kau faiako taau ange ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. Te tau hoko leva ai ʻo mateuteu lelei ke tokoniʻi ʻa e niʻihi kehé ke nau “kumi ki he ʻOtuá . . . ʻo maʻu moʻoni ia.”​—Ngā. 17:27.