Izifundo Ezisekelwe KwiZibhalo Eziphefumlelweyo Nemvelaphi Yazo

Isifundo 4—IBhayibhile Nemibhalo Yayo Engcwele

Imvelaphi yegama elithi “iBhayibhile”; limisela iincwadi ezinelungelo lokuba kwiThala Leencwadi Elingcwele; lizikhuphela ecaleni iiNcwadi Ezingaphefumlelwanga (iiApocrypha).

 1, 2. (a) Yiyiphi intsingiselo eqhelekileyo yegama lesiGrike elithi bi·bliʹa? (b) Eli gama nalawo anxulumene nalo asetyenziswa njani kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike? (c) Igama elithi “Bible” labakho njani kulwimi lwesiNgesi?

EKUBENI ngokuqhelekileyo kubhekiselwa kwiZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo njengeBhayibhile, kubangel’ umdla ukuphanda ngemvelaphi nentsingiselo yegama elithi “iBhayibhile.” Lithatyathwe kwigama lesiGrike elithi bi·bliʹa, elithetha “iincwadi ezincinane.” Nalo eli lithatyathwe kwigama elithi biʹblos, gama elo elichaza umphakathi womzi ekwakusithi, ngamaxesha amandulo, kwenziwe ngawo “iphepha” lokubhala. (Izibuko laseFenike eGebhali, apho umzi wawudlula khona xa uthunyelwa kwezinye iindawo usuka eYiputa, wabizwa ngokuba yiByblos, ngamaGrike. Bona uYoshuwa 13:5, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW.) Iingxelo ezahlukahlukeneyo ezazibhalwe kolu hlobo lwephepha zazibizwa ngegama elithi bi·bliʹa. Ngaloo ndlela, igama elithi bi·bliʹa lasetyenziswa ukuchaza nayiphi na imibhalo, imisongo, iincwadi, amaxwebhu, okanye izibhalo okanye kwanengqokelela yeencwadi ezincinane.

² Okumangalisayo kukuba, igama elithi “iBhayibhile” lona ngokuqhelekileyo alifumaneki kumbhalo wesiNgesi okanye kwiinguqulelo zezinye iilwimi zeZibhalo Ezingcwele. Noko ke, ngenkulungwane yesibini Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ingqokelela yeencwadi eziphefumlelweyo zeZibhalo zesiHebhere zabizwa ngokuthi ta bi·bliʹa ngolwimi lwesiGrike. KuDaniyeli 9:2 lo mprofeti wabhala esithi: “Mna, Daniyeli, ndaqonda ngazo iincwadi . . .  ” Apha iSeptuagint isebenzisa igama elithi biʹblois, injongosenzi engacacanga ekwimo yesininzi yegama elithi biʹblos. Kweyesi-2 kuTimoti 4:13, uPawulos wabhala esithi: “Uze uyiphathe ekuzeni kwakho, neencwadi ezo [bi·bliʹa, ngesiGrike].” Kwiimo zawo ezahlukahlukeneyo ngokomgaqo-ntetho, igama lesiGrike elithi bi·bliʹon nelithi biʹblos abonakala izihlandlo ezingaphezu kwama-40 kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike yaye ngokuqhelekileyo aguqulelwa ngokuthi “umsongo (imisongo)” okanye “incwadi (iincwadi).” Kamva igama elithi bi·bliʹa lasetyenziwa kwisiLatini njengegama elikwisinye, yaye ukusuka kwisiLatini, igama elithi “Bible (iBhayibhile)” lavela kulwimi lwesiNgesi.

 3. Ababhali beBhayibhile banikela buphi ubungqina bokuba iliLizwi likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo?

³ IliLizwi LikaThixo. Ngoxa kwasetyenziswa amadoda awahlukahlukeneyo ukubhala umbhalo wayo ophefumlelweyo ukanti amanye aba nenxaxheba ekuyiguquleleni ukusuka kwiilwimi zantlandlolo eyisa kwiilwimi ezibhaliweyo zanamhlanje, ihlala ihleli yona inyaniso yokuba, iBhayibhile iliLizwi likaThixo, isityhilelo sakhe esiphefumlelweyo asinika abantu. Bona ngokwabo ababhali abaphefumlelweyo babeyigqala ngolu hlobo, njengoko oko kungqinwa kukusebenzisa kwabo amazwi anjengokuthi ‘into yonke iphuma emlonyeni kaYehova’ (Dut. 8:3), “amazwi kaYehova” (Yosh. 24:27), ‘imithetho kaYehova’ (Ezra 7:11), “umyalelo kaYehova” (INdu. 19:7), “ilizwi likaYehova” (Isa. 38:4), “amazwi aphuma emlonyeni kaYehova” (Mat. 4:4), nelithi “ilizwi likaYehova” (1 Tes. 4:15, NW).

ITHALA LEENCWADI ELINGCWELE

 4. IBhayibhile iyilwe ngantoni, yaye ngubani omisele oku?

⁴ Namhlanje into abantu abayazi njengeBhayibhile enyanisweni yingqokelela yamaxwebhu amandulo aphefumlelwe nguThixo. La maxwebhu ayilwa aza ahlanganiswa ayincwadi ebhaliweyo kwixesha elingangeenkulungwane ezili-16. Xa iyonke le ngqokelela yamaxwebhu iyila oko uJerome akuchaza ngokufanelekileyo ngesiLatini ngokuthi yiBibliotheca Divina, okanye Ithala Leencwadi Elingcwele. Eli thala leencwadi linoludwe oluvunyiweyo lweempapasho ezisekelwe kuphela kwezo ncwadi zisetyenziselwa injongo enye ibe nezifanelekayo kweli thala leencwadi. Zonke iincwadi ezingagunyaziswanga aziqukwanga kulo. UYehova uThixo unguMgcini Wethala Leencwadi Omkhulu omisela umgangatho wemibhalo efanele iqukwe. Ngoko iBhayibhile inoludwe lweencwadi olumiselweyo oluqulethe iincwadi ezingama-66, zonke ziyimveliso yokhokelo lomoya oyingcwele kaThixo.

 5. Iyintoni imibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile, yaye esi sigqibo safikelelwa njani?

⁵ Le ngqokelela, okanye uludwe, lweencwadi ezamkelwa njengeSibhalo esichanileyo nesiphefumlelweyo ngokufuthi kubhekiselwa kuzo njengemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile. Mandulo, ingcongolo (qa·nehʹ, ngesiHebhere) yayisetyenziswa njengoluthi lokulinganisa ukuba ukhuni lwalungafumaneki. Umpostile uPawulos wasebenzisa igama lesiGrike elithi ka·nonʹ kwibinzana elithi “ngalo mgca [wehambo, NW]” nakwigama elithi ‘umda’ owawumisela ubukhulu bomhlaba osisabelo sakhe. (Gal. 6:16, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW; 2 Kor. 10:13) Ngoko imibhalo engcwele zezo ncwadi zinobunyaniso neziphefumlelweyo nezifanelekele ukusetyenziswa njengomgca owahlulayo nonokuthenjwa wokumisela ukholo, imfundiso nehambo efanelekileyo. Ukuba sisebenzisa iincwadi ‘ezingenakuthenjwa’ njengentambo yokulungelelanisa, “isakhiwo” sethu asisayi kuba sesokwenyaniso, yaye asisayi kuphumelela kuvavanyo Lomhloli Wezakhiwo Omkhulu.

 6. Ziziphi ezinye izibakala ezimisela ukufaneleka kwencwadi ethile njengombhalo ongcwele?

⁶ Ukumisela Ukufaneleka Kwazo Njengemibhalo Engcwele. Ziziphi ezinye zeembonakaliso ezingokobuthixo eziye zamisela ukufaneleka kweencwadi ezingama-66 zeBhayibhile njengemibhalo engcwele? Okokuqala, ezi ncwadi zimele zithethe ngemicimbi kaYehova emhlabeni, zikhokelela abantu ekunquleni yena yaye zikhuthaza intlonelo enzulu ngegama lakhe nemisebenzi yakhe nangeenjongo zakhe emhlabeni. Zimele zibe nobungqina bokuba ziphefumlelwe, okuthetha ukuthi, ziyimveliso yomoya oyingcwele. (2 Pet. 1:21) Azimele zikhuthaze inkolelo okanye ukunqulwa kwezidalwa, kunoko, zifanele zikhuthaze uthando nokukhonza uThixo. Kumele kungabikho nantoni na kule mibhalo yahlukahlukeneyo engqubana nokuvisisana komongo wayo yonke, kodwa, kunoko, ncwadi nganye imele, ngokuvisisana kwayo nezinye, ixhase umyili wayo omnye, uYehova uThixo. Kwakhona besiya kulindela ukuba le mibhalo ingqineke ichanile kwanakwezona nkcukacha zincinane. Ukongezelela kwezi mfuneko zisisiseko, kukho ezinye izinto ezithile ezibonakalisa ukuba iphefumlelwe, ibe ngaloo ndlela iyimibhalo engcwele, ngokohlobo lombandela oqulethwe yincwadi nganye, yaye ezi ngongoma ziye zaxutyushwa apha kwintshayelelo yombandela wencwadi nganye yeBhayibhile. Kwakhona, kukho iimeko ezikhethekileyo ezisebenza kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere nezinye ezisebenza kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike ezinceda ekumiseleni ukufaneleka kwazo njengemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile.

IZIBHALO ZESIHEBHERE

 7. Ziziphi iingongoma ezilandelelanayo ezasetyenziswayo xa kwakusenziwa isigqibo esiphathelele imibhalo engcwele yesiHebhere, yaye bekuya kufuneka livisisane nantoni icandelo ngalinye elitsha?

⁷ Akufanelwe kucingwe ukuba kwafuneka kulindiwe de kugqitywe imibhalo engcwele yesiHebhere ngenkulungwane yesihlanu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ngaphambi kokuba kwamkelwe oko kwayila iSibhalo esiphefumlelweyo. Imibhalo kaMoses awayibhala ngokwalathiswa ngumoya oyingcwele kaThixo kwasekuqaleni yamkelwa ngamaSirayeli njengephefumlelweyo, nebhalwe ngolwalathiso lukaThixo. Ukugqitywa kwayo, iPentantiki yayila imibhalo engcwele de kwalelo xesha. Kwakuya kufuneka ukuba izityhilelo ezingakumbi ezingeenjongo zikaYehova ezazinikwa abantu ngokuphefumlelwa zivumelane ngokungaguquguqukiyo zize zivisisane nemigaqo esisiseko engonqulo lokwenyaniso eyandlalwe kwiPentatiki. Oku sikungqine kuyinyaniso xa besiqwalasela iincwadi ezahlukahlukeneyo zeBhayibhile, ingakumbi ekubeni ezi ngokungqalileyo zinento yokwenza nomxholo oyintloko weBhayibhile, ukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova nokuthethelelwa kolongamo lwakhe ngoBukumkani obuphantsi koKristu, iMbewu Ethenjisiweyo.

 8. Yintoni emisela ukufaneleka kweencwadi zesiprofeto seBhayibhile njengemibhalo engcwele?

⁸ Ngokukhethekileyo, iZibhalo zesiHebhere zizaliswe sisiprofeto. UYehova, esebenzisa uMoses, wanikela isizinzi sokumisela ubunyaniso besiprofeto, enoba ngokwenene sasivela kuThixo okanye kwakungenjalo, yaye oku kwanceda ukumisela ukufaneleka kwencwadi ethile yesiprofeto njengeyinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele. (Dut. 13:1-3; 18:20-22) Ukuhlolisiswa kwayo nganye yezi ncwadi zesiprofeto zeZibhalo zesiHebhere ndawonye neBhayibhile iphela nembali yehlabathi ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo kubonisa ukuba “ilizwi” abalithethayo lalivela kuYehova, ukuba ngokwenene “labakho, lehla,” ngokupheleleyo okanye ngomlinganiselo omncinane okanye njengesiqalo xa lalithetha ngezinto eziseza kwenzeka, nokuba labaphethulela kuThixo abantu. Ukufikelela ezi mfuneko kwabonisa ukuba isiprofeto eso sasiyinyaniso kwaye siphefumlelwe.

 9. Yiyiphi ingongoma ebalulekileyo emele ikhunjulwe xa ubani eqwalasela umbandela wemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile?

⁹ Oko kwacatshulwa nguYesu nababhali abaphefumlelweyo beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike kukubonisa ngokungqalileyo ukufaneleka kweencwadi ezininzi zeZibhalo zesiHebhere njengemibhalo engcwele, nangona le ndlela yokuhlolisisa ingasebenzi kuzo zonke, ngokomzekelo, kwincwadi kaEstere neyeNtshumayeli. Ngoko, xa kuqwalaselwa umbandela wokumisela ukufaneleka kwencwadi ethile njengenxalenye yemibhalo engcwele, enye yezona ngongoma zibalulekileyo emele ikhunjulwe yileyo isebenza kuyo yonke imibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile. Kanye njengokuba uYehova waphefumlela amadoda athile ukuba abhale izigidimi zakhe ukuwafundisa, ukuwakha, ukuwakhuthazela elunqulweni nasenkonzweni yakhe, ngoko ngokusengqiqweni uYehova wayeya kuyalela aze alathise ukuhlanganiswa ngokufanelekileyo kwemibhalo ephefumlelweyo nokumiselwa koludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile. Wakwenza oku ukuze kungabikho mathandabuzo ngoko kuyila iLizwi lakhe lenyaniso noko kwakuya kumisela indlela yokuhlola unqulo oluyinyaniso eya kuhlala isebenza. Enyanisweni, kuphela kungale ndlela ezinokuthi izidalwa ezisemhlabeni ziqhubeke zifumana ‘ukuzalwa ngokutsha ngelizwi likaThixo’ zize zikwazi ukungqina ukuba “ilizwi leNkosi lihleli ngonaphakade.”—1 Pet. 1:23, 25.

10. Lwamiselwa nini uludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zesiHebhere?

¹⁰ Ukumisela Uludwe Lwemibhalo Engcwele YesiHebhere. Ngokwembali yamaYuda kuthiwa nguEzra owaqala ukuqokelela nokuyila uludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zesiHebhere, yaye kuthiwa oku kwagqityezelwa nguNehemiya. Ngokuqinisekileyo uEzra wayewufanelekele umsebenzi onjalo, ekubeni wayengomnye wababhali beBhayibhile abaphefumlelweyo kwanombingeleli, umphengululi, nombhali ovunyiweyo wemibhalo engcwele. (Ezra 7:1-11) Asikho isizathu sokuyithandabuza ingcamango engokwembali yokuba uludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zesiHebhere lwalusele lumiselwe ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesihlanu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.

11. Uludwe olumiselweyo lwemibhalo engcwele yamaYuda luzidwelisa njani iZibhalo zesiHebhere?

¹¹ Namhlanje sinoludwe lweencwadi ezingama-39 zeZibhalo zesiHebhere; uludwe olumiselweyo lwemibhalo engcwele yamaYuda, ngoxa luquka kwaezi ncwadi zifanayo, luzenza zibe ngama-24. Yimbi imithombo yenkcazelo, ngokuhlanganisa uRute naBagwebi iZililo noYeremiya, izenza ezi ncwadi zibe ngama-22, nakubeni isagcine uludwe olufanayo lweencwadi zemibhalo engcwele.a Oku kwalenza inani leencwadi eziphefumlelweyo lalingana nenani loonobumba kwialfabhethi yesiHebhere. Uludwe olulandelayo lolweencwadi ezingama-24 ngokoludwe olumiselweyo lwemibhalo engcwele yamaYuda:

Incwadi YoMthetho (iPentatiki)

 1. IGenesis

 2. IEksodus

 3. ILevitikus

 4. INumeri

 5. IDuteronomi

EzabaProfeti

 6. UYoshuwa

 7. ABagwebi

 8. USamuweli (owokuQala nowesiBini zihlanganisiwe njengencwadi enye)

 9. OoKumkani (abokuQala nabesiBini behlanganisiwe njengencwadi enye)

10. UIsaya

11. UYeremiya

12. UHezekile

13. EzabaProfeti Abalishumi Elinesibini (uHoseya, uYoweli, uAmosi, uObhadiya, UYona, uMika, uNahum, uHabhakuki, uZefaniya, UHagayi, uZekariya noMalaki, njengencwadi enye)

IMibhalo (i-Hagiographa)

14. IiNdumiso

15. IMizekeliso

16. UYobhi

17. INgoma yazo iiNgoma

18. URute

19. IziLilo zikaYeremiya

20. INtshumayeli

21. UEstere

22. UDaniyeli

23. UEzra (uNehemiya wayequkwe noEzra)

24. IziKronike (ezokuQala nezesiBini ndawonye nje ngencwadi enye)

12. Yintoni ebubungqina obongezelelekileyo bokufaneleka kokudweliswa kwemibhalo engcwele yesiHebhere, yaye kwagqityelwa ngaziphi iincwadi?

¹² Olu yayiluludwe lweencwadi okanye lwemibhalo engcwele eyamkelwa nguKristu Yesu nalibandla lamaKristu lokuqala njengeSibhalo esiphefumlelweyo. Ababhali abaphefumlelweyo beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike bacaphula ngokusuka kwezi ncwadi kuphela, ibe ngokuthi xa becaphula basebenzise amabinzana anjengelithi “njengokuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa,” bazingqina ezi ncwadi njengeziliLizwi likaThixo. (Roma 15:9) UYesu, ethetha ngazo zonke iZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo ezazisele zibhaliwe ngexesha lobulungiseleli bakhe, wabhekisela kwizinto ezazibhalwe “emthethweni kaMoses, nasebaprofetini, nasezindumisweni.” (Luka 24:44) Apha “IiNdumiso,” njengencwadi yokuqala yeHagiographa, isetyenziswe ukubhekisela kulo lonke eli candelo. Incwadi yokugqibela yembali ukuqukwa kuludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yesiHebhere yayiyileyo kaNehemiya. Ukuba oku kwenzeka ngokolwalathiso lomoya kaThixo kubonwa kwisibakala sokuba le ncwadi kuphela ichaza unyaka ekuqalwa kuwo xa kubalwa ixesha lesiprofeto esibalaseleyo sikaDaniyeli sokuba “kuthabathela ekuphumeni kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiswe yakhiwe iYerusalem” de kufike uMesiya kuya kuthabatha ithuba leeveki ezingama-69 zesiprofeto. (Dan. 9:25; Neh. 2:1-8; 6:15) Kwakhona incwadi kaNehemiya ichaza imvelaphi engokwembali yencwadi yokugqibela kwezesiprofeto, uMalaki. Alinakuthandatyuzwa elokuba incwadi kaMalaki iyinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo, ekubeni kwanoYesu, uNyana kaThixo, wacaphula kuye izihlandlo eziliqela. (Mat. 11:10, 14) Ngoxa kucatshulwe ngokufanayo kwinkoliso yeencwadi zemibhalo engcwele yesiHebhere, ezazibhalwe zizonke ngaphambi koNehemiya noMalaki, ababhali beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike abacaphuli kuyo nakwiyiphi na enye yeencwadi ekufane kuthiwe ziphefumlelwe ezabhalwa emva kwexesha likaNehemiya noMalaki ukuza kuthi ga kwixesha likaKristu. Oku kungqina ingcamango emiselweyo yamaYuda nenkolelo yebandla lamaKristu lenkulungwane yokuqala kwiXesha Eliqhelekileyo, yokuba imibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zesiHebhere yaphela ngokubhalwa kukaNehemiya noMalaki.

IINCWADI EZINGAPHEFUMLELWANGA (APOCRYPHA) ZEZIBHALO ZESIHEBHERE

13. (a) Ziziphi iiNcwadi Ezazingaphefumlelwanga? (b) Zamkelwa njani kuludwe lweemibhalo engcwele yamaRoma Katolika?

¹³ Ziziphi ezi Ncwadi Zingaphefumlelwanga? Ezi ziincwadi abathe abathile baziquka kwiiBhayibhile ezithile kodwa eziye zakhutshelwa ecaleni ngabanye ngenxa yokuba zingenabungqina bokuphefumlelwa nguThixo. Igama lesiGrike elithi a·poʹkry·phos libhekisela kwizinto ‘ezifihlakeleyo.’ (Marko 4:22; Luka 8:17; Kol. 2:3) Eli gama lisetyenziswa kwiincwadi ekungaqinisekwanga ngababhali bazo okanye ngomthombo wenkcazelo ekuzo okanye ezo zathi, ngoxa zigqalwa njengokuluncedo ngandlel’ ithile ukuzifundela ngokobuqu, azabi nabo ubungqina bokuba zaphefumlelwa nguThixo. Iincwadi ezinjalo zabekelwa bucala yaye zazingafundwa esidlangalaleni, kungoko kwavela ingcamango yokuba ‘zifihlakele.’ KwiBhunga laseCarthage, ngowama-397 C.E., kwenziwa isicelo sokuba kuqukwe iiNcwadi ezisixhenxe Ezingaphefumlelwanga kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere, ndawonye nokongezelela okuthile kwimibhalo engcwele yencwadi kaEstere nekaDaniyeli. Noko ke, kwaba kuphela ngowe-1546 kamva, kwiBhunga laseTrent, eyathi iCawa yamaRoma Katolika yakwamkela ngokungqalileyo oku kongezelelwa kweencwadi kuludwe lweencwadi zayo zeBhayibhile. Ezi ncwadi zongezelelweyo nguTobit, uJudith, ezongezelwe kuEstere, iWisdom, iEcclesiasticus, iBaruch, ezintathu ezongezelelwe kuDaniyeli, eyokuQala neyesiBini yamaMakhabhi.

14. (a) EyokuQala yamaMakhabhi ibangela umdla ngayiphi indlela? (b) Ngabaphi ababhali abangazange babhekisele kwiiNcwadi Ezingaphefumlelwanga, yaye ngoba?

¹⁴ Incwadi yokuQala yamaMakhabhi, ngoxa nangayiphi na indlela ingenakugqalwa njengencwadi ephefumlelweyo, inenkcazelo ebangel’ umdla engokwembali. Inikela ingxelo ngokuzabalaza kwamaYuda esilwela inkululeko ebudeni benkulungwane yesibini Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ekhokelwa sisizwe sababingeleli samaMakhabhi. Inxalenye eseleyo yeeNcwadi Ezingaphefumlelwanga izaliswe ziintsomi neenkolo yaye ineempazamo ezininzi gqitha. UYesu okanye ababhali beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike abazange babhekisele kuzo okanye bazicaphule.

15, 16. UJosephus noJerome babonisa njani ukuba ziziphi iincwadi ezifanelekele ukuba kuludwe lwemibhalo engcwele?

¹⁵ Umbhali-mbali ongumYuda uFlavius Josephus, wenkulungwane yokuqala kwiXesha Eliqhelekileyo, kwincwadi yakhe ethi Against Apion (I, 38-41 [8]), ubhekisela kuzo zonke iincwadi ezazigqalwa ngamaHebhere njengezingcwele. Wabhala oku: “Azininzi kangako iincwadi ezingangqinelaniyo nezingqubanayo esinazo. Iincwadi zethu, ezamkelwa ngokusesikweni, zingamashumi amabini anesibini [oko kulingana nezethu zanamhlanje ezingama-39, njengoko kuboniswe kwisiqendu 11], yaye zinengxelo ebaluleke gqitha. Kwezi, ezintlanu zazo ziincwadi zikaMoses, eziqulethe imithetho nembali engokwesithethe esusela ekuzalweni komntu ukusa ekufeni komniki-mithetho. . . . Ukususela ekufeni kukaMoses ukuya kuArtashashta owangena esikhundleni sika-Ahaswerosi njengokumkani wasePersi, abaprofeti abalandela emva kwexesha likaMoses babhala imbali yeziganeko zamaxesha abo kwiincwadi ezilishumi elinesithathu. Iincwadi ezine eziseleyo zineendumiso eziya kuThixo nemiyalelo engehambo kubomi babantu.” Ngaloo ndlela uJosephus ubonisa ukuba imibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zesiHebhere yamiselwa kude lee ngaphambi kwenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo.

¹⁶ Umphengululi weBhayibhile uJerome, owagqibezela inguqulelo yeBhayibhile eyiVulgate yesiLatini malunga nowama-405 C.E., wayeqiniseke ngokupheleleyo ngembono awayenayo ngokuphathelele iiNcwadi Ezingaphefumlelwanga. Emva kokudwelisa iincwadi eziphefumlelweyo, esebenzisa indlela yokubala kaJosephus, ebala iincwadi eziphefumlelweyo ezingama-39 zeZibhalo zesiHebhere njengezingama-22, ubhala oku kwisandulela sakhe ngokuphathelele incwadi kaSamuweli neyooKumkani kwiVulgate: “Ngaloo ndlela sineencwadi ezingamashumi amabini anesibini . . . Esi sandulela seZibhalo sinokusebenza njengendlela eluqilima esimele sizijonge ngayo zonke iincwadi esiziguqulela zisuka kwisiHebhere zisiya kwisiLatini; ukuze sazi ukuba nayiphi na engeyiyo enye yezi imele ibalelwe kwiincwadi ezingaphefumlelwanga.”

IZIBHALO ZAMAKRISTU ZESIGRIKE

17. ICawa yamaRoma Katolika ithi yintoni eyayenzayo, kodwa ngubani ngenene owamisela iincwadi ezazifaneleka kuludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile?

¹⁷ ICawa yamaRoma Katolika ithi yiyo eyenza isigqibo sokuba ziziphi iincwadi ezifanele ziqukwe kwimibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile, yaye kuthiwa oku kwenziwa kwiBhunga laseCarthage (ngowama-397 C.E.), apho kwaye kwaqulunqwa uludwe lwezi ncwadi. Noko ke, oku akuyonyaniso, kuba imibhalo engcwele, kuquka noludwe lweencwadi ezenza iZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, yayisele igqityiwe ngelo xesha, nto leyo engazange yenziwe ngesigqibo salo naliphi na ibhunga, kodwa ngokhokelo lomoya oyingcwele kaThixo—kwalo moya owaphefumlela ukubhalwa kwezo ncwadi kwasekuqaleni. Ubungqina boludwe olungaphefumlelwanga lwamva buxabiseke kuphela nje ukungqina ukufaneleka kwemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile, eyamiselwa ngomoya kaThixo.

18. Ziziphi izigqibo ezibalulekileyo ekunokufikelwa kuzo ngokusuka kwisicangca esibonisa uludwe lwamandulo lweencwadi zeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike?

¹⁸ Ubungqina Boludwe Lweencwadi Zamandulo. Xa ukrwaqula nje isicangca esilapha uya kubona ukuba inani leencwadi ezidwelisiweyo zeZibhalo zamaKristu zenkulungwane yesine zeminyaka yangaphambi kwebhunga elikhankanywe ngasentla, livumelana ngokupheleleyo noludwe lwanamhlanje lwemibhalo engcwele, yaye ezinye zishiya kuphela incwadi yeSityhilelo. Ngaphambi kokuphela kwenkulungwane yesibini, zamkelwa zwenibanzi iincwadi zeVangeli ezine, IZenzo, neencwadi ezili-12 zompostile uPawulos. Kuphela yimibhalo embalwa emincinane eyayithandatyuzwa kwimimandla ethile. Kunokwenzeka ukuba oku kwakungenxa yokuba ekuqaleni kwapapashwa inani eliqingqiweyo lale ngenxa yezizathu ezithile yaye ngaloo ndlela yathabatha ixesha elide ukuze yamkelwe njengemibhalo engcwele.

19. (a) Luluphi uxwebhu olukhethekileyo olwafunyanwa eItali, yaye lwabhalwa nini? (b) Olu xwebhu luyichaza njani imibhalo engcwele eyayamkelwe yelo xesha?

¹⁹ Olunye lolona ludwe lwamandulo lweencwadi olubangel’ umdla sisiqwenga esafunyanwa nguL. A. Muratori kuMzi Weencwadi waseAmbrose, eMilan, eItali, nesapapashwa nguye ngowe-1740. Nangona inxalenye yaso esekuqaleni ingasekho, ukubhekisela kwaso kuLuka njengencwadi yesithathu yeVangeli kubonisa ukuba kuqala sikhankanye uMateyu noMarko. IsiQwenga esafunyanwa nguMuratori, esibhalwe ngesiLatini, sabhalwa ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Silolona xwebhu lubangela umdla ngokugqithiseleyo njengoko le nxalenye yenguqulelo ilandelayo ibonisa: “Incwadi yesithathu yeVangeli yileyo ibhalwe nguLuka. ULuka, ugqirha owaziwayo, wayibiza ngegama lakhe . . . Incwadi yesine yeVangeli yileyo kaYohane, omnye wabafundi. . . . Yaye ngokuphathelele ukholo lwamakholwa akukho kungavisisani, nangona kukhethwe iingongoma ezahlukahlukeneyo kwincwadi nganye yeVangeli, ngenxa yokuba [kuzo] zonke phantsi kokhokelo loMoya omnye kuye kwavakaliswa zonke izinto eziphathelele imvelaphi, iintlungu ngobusuku bokufa kwakhe, uvuko, nokufika kwakhe okuntlu-mbini, okokuqala esenziwa intlekisa okwakubangelwa kukunyeliswa, nto leyo eyenzekayo, yaye okwesibini ekuzuko lwamandla obukumkani nto leyo eseza kwenzeka. Ngoko, akumele kube yinto engumnqa, xa uYohane ezingqinisisa ngokuvisisana kangaka ezi zinto zahlukahlukeneyo kwiincwadi zakhe, aze ngokwakhe athi: ‘ezo zinto siye sazibhala, sizibone ngamehlo ethu, saziva ngeendlebe zethu, saza saziphatha ngezandla zethu.’ Kuba ngenxa yoko akathi kuphela ulingqina lokuzibonela kodwa kwakhona uthi wazivela waza wabalisa ngazo zonke izinto ezimangalisayo zeNkosi, ngokulandelelana kwazo. Ngaphezu koko, izenzo zabo bonke abapostile zibhalwe kwincwadi enye. [Ngoko] uLuka wazibhalela uTiyofilo odumileyo . . . Ngoko oko zikuko iincwadi zikaPawulos, nesizathu esabangela zithunyelwe, zona ngokwazo zikwenza kucace oko kuye nabani na oya kuqonda. Okokuqala wawabhalela amaKorinte ewalumkisa ngowexuko, wandula ke wabhalela amaGalati ethetha [ngokuchasene] nolwaluko, waza wabhalela amaRoma ewayala ngokweZibhalo, kwakhona ebonisa ukuba uKristu uza kuqala kuwo—ngongoma ezo ekuyimfuneko kuthi ukuba sixubushe ngazo, ekubeni uMpostile uPawulos osikelelekileyo, elandela umzekelo kaYohane owayengaphambi kwakhe, ebhalela amabandla asixhenxe ewabiza ngamagama ngokulandelelana kwawo: kwabaseKorinte (elokuqala), kwabase-Efese (elesibini), kwabaseFilipi (elesithathu), kwabaseKolose (elesine), kumaGalati (elesihlanu), kwabaseTesalonika (elesithandathu), kwabaseRoma (elesixhenxe). Kodwa nangona ebabhalela kabini abaseKorinte nabaseTesalonika ukuze abaluleke, kodwa isibakala sokuba kukho ibandla elinye kuwo wonke umhlaba sidandalazisiwe [mhlawumbi kubhekiselwa kwezi ncwadi zisixhenxe]; yaye kwakhona uYohane kwiSityhilelo sakhe nangona ebhalela amabandla asixhenxe sekunjalo uthetha nawo onke. Kodwa ngenxa yobubele nothando [wabhala] eya kuFilemon, enye kuTito, nezimbini zisiya kuTimoti; [yaye ezi] zigqalwa njengeencwadi ezingcwele nezizukileyo zeBandla. . . . Ukongezelela, sinencwadi kaYuda nezimbini ezibizwa ngegama likaYohane . . . Sifumana izityhilelo zikaYohane nezikaPetros kuphela, abanye bethu abangathandiyo ukuba ezi [zamva] zifundwe ecaweni.”—IThe New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, yowe-1956, Umqu. VIII, iphepha 56.

20. (a) Kunokuchazwa njani ukungabikho kwenye yeencwadi zikaYohane nenye kaPetros? (b) Ngoko, olu hlobo loludwe lweencwadi luhambisana njani ngokusondeleyo noludwe lwanamhlanje?

²⁰ Kuphawulwa ukuba ngasekupheleni kwesiQwenga esafunyanwa nguMuratori, kukhankanywa iincwadi ezimbini kuphela zikaYohane. Noko ke, kule ngongoma intyilalwazi ekhankanywe ngasentla, kwiphepha 55, ibonisa ukuba ezi ncwadi zimbini zikaYohane, “zisenokuba kuphela yeyesibini neyesithathu, umbhali wazo ozibiza njengokuthi ‘uyindoda enkulu.’ Ekubeni ngokuzenzekelayo umbhali wolu xwebhu sele kakade ethethe ngeVangeli Yesine njengencwadi yokuqala, ibe apho ekuvakalisile ukuyikholelwa kwakhe ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo into yokuba yabhalwa nguYohane, wakubona kufanelekile ukuba athethe kuphela ngeencwadana ezimbini.” Ngokuphathelele isibakala sokuba ingakhankanywanga konke konke incwadi yokuqala kaPetros, lo mthombo uhlabela mgama usithi: “Eyona ngcamango enokwamkelwa yeyokuduka kwamagama ambalwa, mhlawumbi umgca, ochaza ngokufunyanwa kweyoku-I kaPetros neSityhilelo sikaYohane.” Ngoko ke, ngokutsho kwesiQwenga sikaMuratori, le ntyilalwazi, kwiphepha 56, iqukumbela ngokuthi: “ITestamente Entsha igqalwa ngokuqinisekileyo njengaleyo iyilwe ziincwadi ezine zeVangeli, IZenzo, iincwadi ezilishumi elinesithathu zikaPawulos, iSityhilelo sikaYohane mhlawumbi neencwadi zakhe ezintathu, ekaYuda, mhlawumbi neyoku-I kaPetros, ngoxa sasisaphikiswa isibakala sokuba uPetros wayebhale enye incwadi.”

21. (a) Yintoni ebangel’ umdla kumagqabaza kaOrigen ngemibhalo ephefumlelweyo? (b) Yintoni abayivumayo ababhali bamva?

²¹ Malunga nonyaka wama-230 C.E., uOrigen wamkelela kwiZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo incwadi yamaHebhere nekaYakobi, ncwadi ezo zingekhoyo kwisiQwenga esafunyanwa nguMuratori. Ngoxa ebonisa ukuba bambi babekuthandabuza ukufaneleka kwazo njengemibhalo engcwele, oku kukwabonisa ukuba ngeli xesha, inkoliso yeZibhalo zesiGrike yayisamkelwa njengemibhalo engcwele, bebambalwa kuphela ababethandabuza iincwadi ezingaziwa kangako. Kamva, uAthanasius, uJerome noAugustine bayamkela indlela ekwakugqitywe ukuba zidweliswe ngayo iincwadi ngaphambilana ngokuvakalisa iincwadi ezingama-27 esinazo ngoku njengeziyimibhalo engcwele.b

22, 23. (a) Uludwe lweencwadi ezidweliswe kwisicangca lwalungiselelwa njani? (b) Kutheni kubonakala ukuba kwakungekho ludwe lunjalo ngaphambi kokubakho kwesiQwenga esafunyanwa nguMuratori?

²² Inkoliso yeencwadi ezidweliswe kwisicangca zezoludwe olukhethekileyo olubonisa ukuba ziziphi iincwadi ezazamkelwe njengemibhalo engcwele. Ezo zikaIrenaeus, uClement wakwa-Alesandire, uTertullian no-Origen zigqityezelwa kwizicatshulwa zabo, ezityhila indlela ababeyigqala ngayo imibhalo ekubhekiselwa kuyo. Oku kongezelelwa ngokungakumbi ziingxelo zombhali-mbali wangaphambili uEusebius. Noko ke, isibakala sokuba aba babhali bengazikhankanyi ezinye iincwadi zemibhalo engcwele akusikhanyeli isibakala sokuba ziyimibhalo engcwele. Kuphela kungenxa yokuba bengazange nje babhekisele kuzo kwiincwadi zabo bekwenza oko ngabom okanye ngenxa yemibandela ekwakuxutyushwa ngayo. Kodwa kutheni singalufumani uludwe lweencwadi lwangaphambili kunesiQwenga esafunyanwa nguMuratori?

²³ Kude kwangexesha lokufika kwabahlalutyi abanjengoMarcion phakathi kwinkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo ekwathi kwavuka imbambano engeencwadi afanele amaKristu azamkele. UMarcion wayila olwakhe uludwe lwemibhalo engcwele ukuze axhase iimfundiso zakhe, ethabatha kuphela iincwadi ezithile zompostile uPawulos nohlobo oluthile lwencwadi yeVangeli kaLuka olwaluzaliswe ziimpazamo. Olu ludwe, ndawonye nenkitha yeencwadi ezingaphefumlelwanga ezazisasazwa ngelo xesha ehlabathini lonke, lwakhokelela koko abadwelisi beencwadi bakugqala njengeencwadi ezamkelekileyo zemibhalo engcwele.

24. (a) Yintoni ephawula iiNcwadi Ezingaphefumlelwanga ‘zeTestamente Entsha’? (b) Bathini abaphengululi ngezi ncwadi?

²⁴ Iincwadi Ezingaphefumlelwanga. Ubungqina obukuzo bubonisa umahluko ocacileyo owenziwayo phakathi kweencwadi eziphefumlelweyo zamaKristu neencwadi ezazingaphefumlelwanga zamaKristu. Umgangatho weeNcwadi Ezingaphefumlelwanga uphantsi gqitha yaye ngokufuthi zizaliswe yinkcazelo eqikelelwayo nengekho ngqiqweni. Isoloko iyengachananga.c Phawula iinkcazelo ezilandelayo ezivela kubaphengululi ngezi ncwadi zingeyiyo imibhalo engcwele:

“Akukho sizathu sakubuza lowo wazikhuphayo ezi ncwadi kwiTestamente Entsha: zazikhupha ngokwazo.”—nguM. R. James, kwiThe Apocryphal New Testament, iphepha xi, xii.

“Kuphela nje kufuneka sithelekise iincwadi zethu zeTestamente Entsha zizonke nezinye iincwadi ezilolu hlobo ukuze sifumanise indlela omkhulu ngayo umahluko ophakathi kwazo. Iincwadi zevangeli ezingeyiyo imibhalo engcwele, ngokufuthi kuthiwa, zizo kanye ezinikela ubungqina bokufaneleka kwezo ziyimibhalo engcwele.”—nguG. Milligan, kwiThe New Testament Documents, iphepha 228.

“Akukho namnye umbhalo ongazange ufakwe kwiTestamente Entsha ngaphambi kokusekwa kweCawa ekunokufuneka ngokufanelekileyo wongezelelwe kuludwe lweMibhalo Engcwele.”—nguK. Aland, kwiThe Problem of the New Testament Canon, iphepha 24.

25. Ziziphi izibakala ezingombhali ngamnye weZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike ezingqina ukuba ezi zibhalo ziphefumlelwe?

²⁵ Ababhali Abaphefumlelweyo. Le ngongoma yongezelelekileyo ibangela umdla. Bonke ababhali beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike ngandlel’ ithile babenxulumene ngokusondeleyo nequmrhu elilawulayo lamandulo lebandla lamaKristu elaliquka abapostile ababekhethwe nguYesu ngokwakhe. UMateyu, uYohane noPetros babephakathi kwabapostile bamandulo abali-12, yaye uPawulos wanyulwa kamva njengompostile kodwa akazange agqalwe njengomnye wabali-12.d Nangona uPawulos wayengekho ngexesha lokuthululwa okukhethekileyo komoya ngePentekoste, uMateyu, uYohane noPetros babekho, ndawonye noYakobi noYuda mhlawumbi noMarko. (IZe. 1:13, 14) UPetros ngokukhethekileyo uzibalela iincwadi zikaPawulos ndawonye “nezinye izibhalo.” (2 Pet. 3:15, 16) UMarko noLuka babezizinxulumani ezisondeleyo namaqabane ahambahambayo kaPawulos noPetros. (IZe. 12:25; 1 Pet. 5:13; Kol. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11) Bonke aba babhali babejizekwe amandla okwenza imimangaliso ngomoya oyingcwele, ngokuthululwa kwawo okukhethekileyo njengoko kwenzeka ngePentekoste nangexesha lokuguqulwa kukaPawulos (IZe. 9:17, 18) okanye, alithandabuzeki elokuba njengakwimeko kaLuka, ngokubekwa izandla ngabapostile. (IZe. 8:14-17) Ukubhalwa kwazo zonke iZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike kwagqitywa ebudeni bexesha lokusebenza kwezipho ezikhethekileyo zomoya.

26. (a) Yintoni esiyamkela njengeLizwi likaThixo, yaye ngoba? (b) Sinokulubonakalisa njani uxabiso ngeBhayibhile?

²⁶ Ukuba nokholo kuThixo usomandla, onguMphefumleli noMlondolozi weLizwi lakhe, kusenza siqiniseke ukuba nguye oye walathisa ukuhlanganiselwa ndawonye kwamacandelo ayo ahlukahlukeneyo. Ngoko sinentembelo samkela iincwadi ezingama-27 zeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike ndawonye nezingama-39 zeZibhalo zesiHebhere njengeBhayibhile enye, enoMyili omnye, uYehova uThixo. ILizwi lakhe elikuhlobo lweencwadi ezingama-66 lilukhokelo lwethu, yaye ukuvisisana kwalo lilonke nolungelelwano lwalo kubonisa ukuphelela kwalo. Yonke indumiso iya kuYehova uThixo, uMyili wale ncwadi ingenakuthelekiswa nanto! Inokusixhobisa ngokupheleleyo ize izikhokelele iinyawo zethu kwindlela yobomi. Masiyisebenzise ngobulumko ngawo onke amathuba.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 303]

Uludwe Lwamandulo Lweencwadi Ezibalaseleyo ZeZibhalo ZamaKristu ZesiGrike

Y - Yamkelwa ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo njengenxalenye yeZibhalo neyemibhalo engcwele

I - Iyathandatyuzwa kwiindawo ezithile

Igama Nendawo

Mateyu Y Y Y Y

Marko Y Y Y Y

Luka Y Y Y Y

Yohane Y Y Y Y

IZenzo Y Y Y Y

Roma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

Galati Y Y Y Y

Efese Y Y Y Y

Filipi Y Y Y Y

Kolose Y Y Y Y

1 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Timoti Y Y Y Y

2 Timoti Y Y Y Y

Tito Y Y Y Y

Filemon Y Y

Hebhere I IY IY

Yakobi ?

1 Petros Y? Y Y Y

2 Petros I? Y

1 Yohane Y Y IY Y

2 Yohane Y Y IY

3 Yohane Y?

Yuda Y IY Y

ISityhilelo Y Y Y Y

Igama Nendawo

Mateyu Y Y Y Y

Marko Y Y Y Y

Luka Y Y Y Y

Yohane Y Y Y Y

IZenzo Y Y Y Y

Roma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

Galati Y Y Y Y

Efese Y Y Y Y

Filipi Y Y Y Y

Kolose Y Y Y Y

1 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Timoti Y Y Y Y

2 Timoti Y Y Y Y

Tito Y Y Y Y

Filemon Y Y Y Y

Hebhere IY IY Y

Yakobi IY IY Y

1 Petros IY IY Y I

2 Petros IY IY

1 Yohane Y Y Y Y

2 Yohane IY IY Y I

3 Yohane IY IY Y I

Yuda IY IY Y

ISityhilelo Y IY Y

Igama Nendawo

Mateyu Y Y Y Y

Marko Y Y Y Y

Luka Y Y Y Y

Yohane Y Y Y Y

IZenzo Y Y Y Y

Roma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

Galati Y Y Y Y

Efese Y Y Y Y

Filipi Y Y Y Y

Kolose Y Y Y Y

1 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Timoti Y Y Y Y

2 Timoti Y Y Y Y

Tito Y Y Y Y

Filemon Y Y Y Y

Hebhere Y Y Y IY

Yakobi Y Y Y Y

1 Petros Y Y Y Y

2 Petros Y Y Y Y

1 Yohane Y Y Y Y

2 Yohane Y Y Y I

3 Yohane Y Y Y I

Yuda Y Y Y I

ISityhilelo Y IY I

Igama Nendawo

Unyaka Oqikelelwayo

C.E. 383 394 397 397

Mateyu Y Y Y Y

Marko Y Y Y Y

Luka Y Y Y Y

Yohane Y Y Y Y

IZenzo Y Y Y Y

Roma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

Galati Y Y Y Y

Efese Y Y Y Y

Filipi Y Y Y Y

Kolose Y Y Y Y

1 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Tesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Timoti Y Y Y Y

2 Timoti Y Y Y Y

Tito Y Y Y Y

Filemon Y Y Y Y

Hebhere IY IY Y Y

Yakobi Y IY Y Y

1 Petros Y Y Y Y

2 Petros Y IY Y Y

1 Yohane Y Y Y Y

2 Yohane Y IY Y Y

3 Yohane Y IY Y Y

Yuda Y IY Y Y

ISityhilelo IY IY Y Y