Ingabe Umphefumulo Uyasinda Ekufeni?

“UMPHEFUMULO: Ingxenye yomuntu engumoya ebhekwa njengesindayo ngemva kokufa nanjengeyizwayo injabulo noma usizi esimweni sesikhathi esizayo.” (The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary) Izinkolo eziningi cishe ziyavumelana nalencazelo. INew Catholic Encyclopedia ithi: “Imfundiso yokuthi umphefumulo womuntu awufi futhi uyoqhubeka uphila ngemva kokufa komuntu . . . ingenye yezisekelo zefilosofi yobuKristu nemfundiso yenkolo.”

Khona-ke, mhlawumbe kuzokumangalisa ukwazi ukuthi lenkolelo eyisisekelo isuselwa kuyifilosofi yobuqaba. Esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaJesu, kwakunenkolelo yokuthi umphefumulo uyinto ethile engaphatheki engaphila ngaphandle komzimba. Ngakho wawungasinda ekufeni komzimba, uqhubeke uphila usesimweni sesipoki, noma somoya.

AmaGreki akha lenkolelo ngokwefilosofi. USocrates, isazi esidumile sefilosofi esingumGreki, uye wacashunwa ethi: “Umphefumulo, . . . uma uphuma uhlanzekile, ungahambi nalutho lomzimba, . . . uyahamba uyongena kulokho okufana nawo, okungabonakali, okungokwaphezulu, okungafi, nokuhlakaniphile, futhi uma ufika lapho uyajabula, ukhululiwe emaphutheni nasebuwuleni nasekwesabeni . . . nakuzo zonke ezinye izinkathazo zobuntu, futhi . . . uphila ngeqiniso kuso sonke isikhathi sakamuva unonkulunkulu.”—Phaedo, 80, D, E; 81, A.

Akuyona Imfundiso YeBhayibheli

Khona-ke, kwenzeka kanjani ukuba lenkolelo yobuqaba yokungafi komphefumulo ifundiswe kweLobukholwa nasenkolweni yobuJuda?

INew Catholic Encyclopedia ayikhulumi iqiniso eliphelele uma ithi: “Umqondo womphefumulo osindayo ngemva kokufa awutholakali kalula eBhayibhelini.” Bekuyoba okunembe kakhudlwana ukuthi imfundiso yokungafi komphefumulo ayitholakali neze eBhayibhelini! Leyoencyclopedia iyavuma: “Umqondo womphefumulo womuntu ngokwawo oseT[estamenteni] E[lidala] awufani nalowo okuyifilosofi yamaGreki neyanamuhla.”

Kulokho okuthiwa iTestamente Elidala, igama lesiHeberu elithi neʹphesh, ngokuvamile elihunyushwa ngokuthi “umphefumulo,” livela izikhathi ezingu-754. Kulokho okuthiwa iTestamente Elisha, igama lesiGreki elithi psy·kheʹ, nalo ngokuvamile elihunyushwa ngokuthi “umphefumulo,” livela izikhathi ezingu-102. Lapho sihlola indlela lamagama asetshenziswa ngayo eBhayibhelini, kuvela umfanekiso omangalisayo.

KuGenesise 2:7 sifunda ukuthi uNkulunkulu waphefumlela emakhaleni ka-Adamu umoya wokuphila, futhi uAdamu “waba-kanjalo umphefumulo ophilayo [ngesiHeberu, neʹphesh].” Phawula: UAdamu akazange anikezwe umphefumulo ophilayo; waba yiwo. Ngamanye amazwi, uAdamu owayesanda kudalwa wayengumphefumulo! Akumangalisi ukuthi iNew Catholic Encyclopedia iphetha ngokuthi: “Umphefumulo eT[estamenteni] E[lidala] awusho ingxenye yomuntu, kodwa umuntu ewonke—umuntu njengesidalwa esiphilayo.”

Eminye imiBhalo iyakuqinisekisa lokhu. Ngokwesibonelo, uDuteronomi 12:20 ukhuluma ‘ngomphefumulo ofisa ukudla inyama.’ IzAga 11:25 zithi: “Umphefumulo ophanayo uyakukhuluphaliswa.” IzAga 25:25 zithi: “Njengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo, unjalo umbiko omuhle ovela ezweni elikude.” Futhi iHubo 105:18 (Esd) liyasitshela: “Bona izinyawo zake ngezibopo, umpefumlo wake weza ensimbini.” Khona-ke, yini lena engadla inyama, yenze umsebenzi wokuphana, iqatshulwe amanzi, futhi iboshwe ngensimbi? Ingabe yingxenye yomuntu ehlukile, engokomoya, noma ingabe umuntu ngokwakhe? Impendulo isobala.

Ngokuthakazelisayo, ukuba umphefumulo akugcini ngomuntu. UGenesise 1:20 usitshela ukuthi kwesinye isenzo sokudala, uNkulunkulu wathi: “Amanzi mawagcwale uswebezane lwezilwane [“imiphefumulo,” NW] eziphilayo.” Yebo, ngisho nezinhlanzi ziyimiphefumulo! Kwesinye isenzo sokudala, uNkulunkulu wabonisa ukuthi “izinkomo, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo, nezilo” kuyimiphefumulo!—Genesise 1:24, qhathanisa neNW; qhathanisa noLevitikusi 17:14; IHubo 74:19; Numeri 31:28, (NW); Jobe 41:21; Hezekeli 47:9, (Esd).

Ngakho-ke, “umphefumulo” eBhayibhelini, awubhekiseli entweni ethile ephilayo yomoya eyisithunzi ewushiyayo umzimba ngemva kokufa. Usho umuntu noma isilwane, noma ukuphila okujatshulelwa umuntu noma isilwane.

Kwenzekani Ngemva Kokufa?

Khona-ke, ngokucacile iBhayibheli alivumelani nomqondo wobuqaba wokuthi umuntu unomphefumulo ongafi. Ngubani wena ocabanga ukuthi wafundisa iqiniso kulendaba? Ingabe yizazi zefilosofi zamaGreki ezingamaqaba noma abantu bakaNkulunkulu abasesivumelwaneni naye? Ngokuqinisekile, kwakungabantu bakaNkulunkulu, labo abanikeza iZwi lakhe eliphefumlelwe.

Nokho, umbuzo usasele, Yini eyenzekayo emphefumulweni ngemva kokufa? Njengoba umphefumulo ungumuntu, ngokucacile, umphefumulo uyafa lapho umuntu efa. Ngamanye amazwi, umuntu ofile ungumphefumulo ofile. Imibhalo eminingi iyakuqinisekisa lokhu. “Umphefumulo owonayo uyakufa,” kusho uHezekeli 18:4. KuJoshuwa 2:14 siyafunda: “Athi amadoda kuye: Mayife imiphefumulo yethu esikhundleni senu.” Eminye imiBhalo ibonisa ukuthi imiphefumulo ingabhujiswa (Jobe 33:18), ibulawe ngosiko lwenkemba (IHubo 22:20), iklinywe (Jobe 7:15), futhi iminziswe (IHubo 124:4). Umphefumulo ofile ungumuntu ofile.—Levitikusi 19:28, NW; 21:1, 11.

Khona-ke, siyini isimo semiphefumulo efile? Kalula nje, ukufa kungokuphambene nokuphila. Zonke izinzwa zethu zihlanganiswe nemizimba yethu yenyama. Ikhono lethu lokubona, ukuzwa, nokucabanga lixhomeke ekusebenzeni kahle kwamehlo ethu, izindlebe, nengqondo. Ngaphandle kwamehlo ngeke sikwazi ukubona. Ngaphandle kwezindlebe ngeke sikwazi ukuzwa. Ngaphandle kwengqondo ngeke senze lutho. Lapho umuntu efa, zonke lezizinto ezingokwenyama ziyayeka ukusebenza. Asibe sisaba khona.

Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, umShumayeli 9:5, 10 uthi: “Abafileyo abazi-lutho . . . Akukho-msebenzi, namcabango, nakwazi, nakuhlakanipha endaweni yabafileyo, lapho uya khona.” Ngokufanayo, iHubo 146:3, 4 lithi: “Ningethembi ezikhulwini nasendodaneni yomuntu okungekho kuyo ukusiza. Umoya [amandla okuphila] wakhe uyaphuma, yena abuyele emhlabathini wakhe; ngalona lolosuku amacebo akhe ayaphela.” Ngakho lapho abantu (imiphefumulo) befa, bamane bangabe besaba khona.

Kusukela Emfundisweni Yobuqaba Kuya Emfundisweni Yesonto

Abantu bangase babuze: ‘Kodwa ingabe iTestamente Elisha alikufundisi yini ukungafi komphefumulo?’ Lutho neze. INew Catholic Encyclopedia iyavuma: “IT[estamente] E[lisha] lihlala lithembekile kulendlela yokuqonda ukufa [yeTestamente Elidala].” Ngamanye amazwi, “iTestamente Elisha” lifundisa ukuthi umphefumulo uyafa. UJesu Kristu wabonisa ukuthi wayengakholelwa ukuthi umphefumulo awufi. Wabuza: “Kuwumthetho yini ngesabatha ukwenza isenzo esihle noma isenzo esibi, ukusindisa noma ukubulala umphefumulo?” (Marku 3:4, NW) Ngokufanayo umphostoli uPawulu ongumKristu wavumelana nombono ‘weTestamente Elidala’ womphefumulo ngokuba acaphune uGenesise 2:7: “Kanjalo futhi kulotshiwe ukuthi umuntu wokuqala uAdamu waba-ngumphefumulo ophilayo.”—1 Korinte 15:45.

Khona-ke, kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umqondo kaPlato ube imfundiso yesonto? IEncyclopædia of Religion and Ethics, kaJames Hastings, iyachaza: “Lapho ivangeli lobuKristu liphuma ngesango lesinagoge lamaJuda liyongena enkundleni yoMbuso wamaRoma, umqondo womphefumulo ngokuyisisekelo oyisiHeberu wadluliselwa esimweni somqondo wamaGreki, kwaba nemiphumela emikhulu phakathi nenkathi yokuwuvumelanisa naso.” Abefundisi bamasonto bazama ukwenza isigijimi sabo “siqondakale emphakathini onomcabango wamaGreki” ngokusebenzisa “amagama nemiqondo emisiwe yesayensi yamaGreki yokusebenza kwengqondo.” Ngokufanayo izazi zenkolo ezingamaJuda zaqala ukubonisa “amathonya aqinile enkolelo kaPlato” emibhalweni yazo.—Encyclopædia Judaica.

Kanjalo imfundiso engokweBhayibheli ngomphefumulo yalahlwa futhi yathathelwa indawo imfundiso eyayicacile ukuthi ingeyobuqaba. Lokhu akunakuvunyelwa nanganoma iyiphi indlela ngezisekelo zokuthi ukwenza kanjalo kwenza ubuKristu bamukeleka ngokwengeziwe kwabaningi. Lapho eshumayela eAthene, sona kanye isizinda sesiko lamaGreki, umphostoli uPawulu akazange afundise imfundiso kaPlato yomphefumulo. Ngokuphambene, washumayela imfundiso yobuKristu yovuko ngisho nakuba abaningi ezilalelini zakhe ezingamaGreki bakuthola kunzima ukwamukela lokho akusho.—IzEnzo 17:22-32.

Ngempela, umphostoli uPawulu waxwayisa nganoma yikuphi ukuhlanganisa iqiniso elisekelwe eBhayibhelini nobuqaba lapho ethi: “Kunabudlelwane buni ukukhanya nobumnyama na? Unakuzwana kuni uKristu noBeliyali na?” (2 Korinte 6:14, 15) Akungabazeki ukuthi ngokuvumela imfundiso yobuqaba ukuba ibe ngesinye sezisekelo zefilosofi nemfundiso yalo yenkolo, eLobukholwa liye laletha isihlamba kuNkulunkulu ngokwakhe!

Ithemba Ngabafileyo

Abantu bakhululekile ukukholelwa kulokho abakukhethayo. Nokho, akunakuphikwa ukuthi imfundiso yokungafi komphefumulo ayikho ngokombhalo. Khona-ke, ingabe abantu abanalo ithemba lokuphila ngemva kokufa?

Ngemva kokuba uJobe ebuze umbuzo othi, “[Umuntu] uyakubuye aphile na?” waqhubeka wanikeza impendulo ephefumlelwe. Wathi: “Ubuyakubiza [Jehova], mina ngiphendule; ubuyakulangazelela umsebenzi wezandla zakho.” (Jobe 14:14, 15) Yebo, iBhayibheli linikeza ithemba lovuko ngabo bonke labo abasenkumbulweni kaNkulunkulu. Ulangazelela ukubuyisela izikhonzi zakhe ezithembekile, njengoJobe, ekuphileni! UKristu Jesu waqinisekisa ukuba ngokoqobo kwalelithemba, ethi: “Ningamangali ngalokho, ngokuba isikhathi siyeza, lapho bonke abasemathuneni beyakulizwa izwi layo, abenzé ukulunga baphumele ekuvukeni kokuphila, abenzé okubi ekuvukeni kokulahlwa.”—Johane 5:28, 29.

Lapho isikhathi sifika sokuba lesosiprofetho sigcwaliseke, uIsaya 25:8 uyathembisa, uNkulunkulu “uyakugwinya ukufa kuze kube-phakade.” Lokhu kusho izwe lapho, njengoba isAmbulo 21:4 sikubeka, ‘ukufa kungasayikuba-khona.’ Ubungathanda yini ukuphila ezweni elingenayo imingcwabo noma abangcwabi, elingenawo amatshe amathuna noma amangcwaba, elingasenazo izinyembezi zosizi kodwa izinyembezi zenjabulo kuphela?

Yiqiniso, kungenzeka ukuthi wakhuliswa ukuba ukholelwe emfundisweni yomphefumulo ongafi. Kodwa ngokutadisha iBhayibheli, ungaba nokholo ezithembisweni zeBhayibheli ezikhululayo.a Futhi ungafunda lokho okumelwe ukwenze ukuze udle ifa lesithembiso seBhayibheli, hhayi sokusinda njengomphefumulo ongafi, kodwa sokuthola “ukuphila okuphakade” ePharadesi emhlabeni!—Johane 17:3; Luka 23:43.

[Umbhalo waphansi]