IZwi LikaNkulunkulu Lihlala Phakade
“Izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu limi kuze kube-phakade.”—ISAYA 40:8.
1. (a) Kushiwoni lapha ngokuthi “izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu”? (b) Izithembiso zabantu ziqhathaniseka kanjani nezwi likaNkulunkulu?
ABANTU bathambekele ekubekeni amathemba abo ezithembisweni zamadoda nabesifazane abavelele. Kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zingase zibonakale zifiseleka kanjani lezi zithembiso kubantu abalangazelela intuthuko ekuphileni kwabo, zinjengezimbali ezibunayo uma ziqhathaniswa nezwi likaNkulunkulu wethu. (IHubo 146:3, 4) Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-2 700 edlule, uJehova uNkulunkulu waphefumulela umprofethi u-Isaya ukuba abhale: “Inyama yonke ingutshani, bonke ubuhle bayo bunjengembali yasendle. . . . Utshani buyabuna, imbali iyavuthuluka, kepha izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu limi kuze kube-phakade.” (Isaya 40:6, 8) Liyini lelo ‘lizwi’ elihlala phakade? Liyinkulumo kaNkulunkulu eveza injongo yakhe. Namuhla sinalo lelo ‘lizwi,’ lilotshwe eBhayibhelini.—1 Petru 1:24, 25.
2. UJehova wagcwalisa izwi lakhe mayelana no-Israyeli noJuda wasendulo naphezu kwaziphi izimo zengqondo nezenzo?
2 Abantu ababephila ezinsukwini zika-Israyeli wasendulo babona ukuba yiqiniso kwalokho u-Isaya akuloba. Ngenxa yokungathembeki kuye okwedlulele, uJehova wabikezela ngabaprofethi bakhe ukuthi umbuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi wawuyothunjwa kuqala, bese kulandela umbuso wakwaJuda wezizwe ezimbili. (Jeremiya 20:4; Amose 5:2, 27) Nakuba bashushisa abaprofethi bakaJehova, bababulala nokubabulala, bashisa umqulu owawuqukethe umyalezo kaNkulunkulu oyisixwayiso, futhi bacela usizo lwezempi eGibithe ukuze bavimbele ukugcwaliseka kwalo, izwi likaJehova alizange liwele phansi. (Jeremiya 36:1, 2, 21-24; 37:5-10; Luka 13:34) Ngaphezu kwalokho, isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokubuyisela insali yamaJuda ephendukile ezweni layo, sagcwaliseka ngendlela ephawulekayo.—Isaya, isahluko 35.
3. (a) Yiziphi izithembiso ezalotshwa ngu-Isaya esinesithakazelo ngokukhethekile kuzo? (b) Kungani uqiniseka ukuthi lezi zinto ziyokwenzeka ngempela?
3 Ngo-Isaya, uJehova wabikezela nobubusi bokulunga bukaMesiya phezu kwesintu, ukukhululwa esonweni nasekufeni, nokuguqulwa komhlaba ube yipharadesi. (Isaya 9:6, 7; 11:1-9; 25:6-8; 35:5-7; 65:17-25) Ingabe nalezi zinto zizokwenzeka? Akungatshazwa! ‘UNkulunkulu akanakuqamba amanga.’ Wenza ukuba izwi lakhe lesiprofetho lilotshwe ukuze kuzuze thina, futhi uye waqikelela ukuthi liyalondolozeka.—Thithu 1:2; Roma 15:4.
4. Nakuba imibhalo yeBhayibheli yokuqala ingalondolozwanga, kuyiqiniso ngayiphi indlela ukuthi izwi likaNkulunkulu “liyaphila”?
4 UJehova akalondolozanga imibhalo yokuqala abalobi bakhe basendulo abaloba kuyo lezo ziprofetho. Kodwa “izwi” lakhe, injongo yakhe eyambuliwe, liye labonakala liyizwi eliphilayo. Leyo njongo iqhubekela phambili ngokungenakuvinjelwa, futhi njengoba yenza kanjalo, imicabango nezisusa ezijulile zabantu ebathintayo zibonakala obala. (Heberu 4:12) Ngaphezu kwalokho, umlando ubonisa ukuthi ukulondolozwa nokuhunyushwa kwemiBhalo ephefumulelwe ngokwayo kuye kwenziwa ngokuqondisa kwaphezulu.
Lapho Libhekene Nemizamo Yokulivimbela
5. (a) Yimuphi umzamo wokubhubhisa imiBhalo YesiHeberu ephefumulelwe owenziwa yinkosi yase-Aramu? (b) Kungani yahluleka?
5 Kaningi, ababusi baye bazama ukubhubhisa imibhalo ephefumulelwe. Ngo-168 B.C.E., inkosi yase-Aramu u-Antiochus Epiphanes (eboniswe ekhasini 10) yakha i-altare likaZeus ethempelini elalinikezelwe kuJehova. Yafuna ‘nezincwadi zoMthetho,’ yazishisa, futhi yathi noma ubani onemiBhalo enjalo uyobulawa. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yashisa amakhophi amangaki eJerusalema naseJudiya, ayikwazanga ukuyivimbela ngokuphelele imiBhalo. Ngaleso sikhathi amakoloni amaJuda ayesakazekele emazweni amaningi, futhi isinagoge ngalinye lalineqoqo lalo lemiqulu.—Qhathanisa nezEnzo 13:14, 15.
6. (a) Yimuphi umzamo wokuzikhandla owenziwa ukuze kubhujiswe imiBhalo eyayisetshenziswa amaKristu okuqala? (b) Waba yini umphumela?
6 Ngo-303 C.E., uMbusi WaseRoma uDiocletian ngokufanayo wayala ukuba izindawo zokuhlangana zamaKristu zibhidlizwe futhi ‘imiBhalo yawo idliwe umlilo.’ Lokho kucekela phansi kwaqhubeka iminyaka eyishumi. Nakuba lolu shushiso lwalulubi kangako, uDiocletian akazange aphumelele ekuqothuleni ubuKristu, futhi uNkulunkulu akazange avumele amanxusa alombusi ukuba abhubhise ngokuphelele ngisho nengxenye eyodwa yamakhophi eZwi laKhe eliphefumulelwe. Kodwa ngokusabela kwabo ekusakazweni nasekushunyayelweni kweZwi likaNkulunkulu, abaphikisi babonisa okwakusezinhliziyweni zabo. Bazibonakalisa bengabantu abaphuphuthekiswe uSathane nabafeza intando yakhe.—Johane 8:44; 1 Johane 3:10-12.
7. (a) Yimiphi imizamo eyenziwa ukuze kuvinjelwe ukusakazeka kolwazi lweBhayibheli entshonalanga yeYurophu? (b) Yini eyafezwa ekuhunyushweni nasekunyathelisweni kweBhayibheli?
7 Kwaba nezinye futhi izindlela zokuzama ukuvimbela ukusakazeka kolwazi lweBhayibheli. Lapho isiLatini sifa njengolimi oluvamile, akubona ababusi abangamaqaba, kodwa yilabo ababethi bangamaKristu—uPapa Gregory VII (1073-85) noPapa Innocent III (1198-1216)—abakuphikisa ngamandla ukuhunyushelwa kweBhayibheli ezilimini ezisetshenziswa abantu abavamile. Uzama ukuqeda ukuphikiswa kwegunya lesonto, ngo-1229, uMkhandlu WamaRoma Katolika WaseToulouse, eFrance, wamemezela ukuthi umuntu ongeyena umfundisi wayengenakuba nezincwadi zeBhayibheli ngolimi oluvamile. INkantolo Yamacala Ezihlubuki yasetshenziswa ngesihluku ukuze kuphoqelelwe leso simemezelo. Nokho, ngemva kweminyaka engu-400 yeNkantolo Yamacala Ezihlubuki, abathandi beZwi likaNkulunkulu base belihumushe lonke iBhayibheli futhi babesakaza izinhlelo zalo ezinyathelisiwe ngezilimi ezingaba ngu-20, kanye nezincane ezengeziwe, nezingxenye zalo ezinkulu ngezinye izilimi ezingu-16.
8. Phakathi nekhulu le-19, kwakwenzekani emkhakheni wokuhunyushwa nokusakazwa kweBhayibheli eRussia?
8 Akulona iSonto LamaRoma Katolika kuphela elazama ukuvimbela abantu abavamile ukuba bathole iBhayibheli. Ngasekuqaleni kwekhulu le-19, uPavsky, uprofesa waseSt. Petersburg Academy of Divinity, wahumushela iVangeli likaMathewu olimini lwaseRussia elisusela esiGrekini. Kwahunyushelwa nezinye izincwadi zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki olimini lwaseRussia, futhi uPavsky wayengumhleli wazo. Lezi zasakazwa kakhulu, kwaze kwaba ngo-1826 lapho umbusi waseRussia, ngecebo labefundisi, ethonywa ukuba enze iNhlangano YeBhayibheli YaseRussia iphathwe “iSigungu Esingcwele” seSonto Lobu-Orthodox LaseRussia, esabe sesiphumelela ukuvimbela ukusebenza kwayo. Kamuva, uPavsky wahumushela imiBhalo YesiHeberu olimini lwaseRussia eyisusela kolwesiHeberu. Cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo, uMakarios, isikhulu seSonto Lobu-Orthodox, naye wahumushela imiBhalo YesiHeberu olimini lwaseRussia eyisusela kolwesiHeberu. Bobabili bajeziswa ngemizamo yabo, futhi izinguqulo zabo zabekwa enqolobaneni yemilando yesonto. Isonto lalizimisele ukugcina iBhayibheli lisolimini oludala lweSlavonic, ngaleso sikhathi abantu abavamile ababengalufundi futhi bengaluqondi. Kwaze kwaba yilapho imizamo yabantu yokuthola ulwazi lweBhayibheli ingasenakuvinjelwa lapho “iSigungu Esingcwele” saqala khona inguqulo yesigungu uqobo ngo-1856, senza kanjalo sineziqondiso ezihlelwe ngokucophelela ukuze kuqinisekwe ukuthi amagama asetshenziswayo avumelana nemibono yesonto. Ngaleyo ndlela, mayelana nokusakazwa kweZwi likaNkulunkulu, wabonakala umehluko phakathi kokubonakala kwangaphandle kwabaholi benkolo kanye nezinhloso zabo, njengoba wembulwa amazwi nezenzo zabo.—2 Thesalonika 2:3, 4.
Ukulondoloza IZwi Lingonakaliswa
9. Abanye abahumushi beBhayibheli balubonisa kanjani uthando lwabo ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
9 Phakathi kwalabo abahumusha futhi bakopisha imiBhalo kwakunamadoda ayelithanda ngempela iZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi enza imizamo eqotho yokulenza litholakale kuwo wonke umuntu. UWilliam Tyndale wabulawa (ngo-1536) ngenxa yalokho ayekwenza ukuze enze iBhayibheli litholakale ngesiNgisi. UFrancisco de Enzinas waboshwa yiNkantolo Yamacala Ezihlubuki YamaKatolika (ngemva kuka-1544) ngenxa yokuhumusha nokunyathelisa imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngeSpanishi. Ebeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini, uRobert Morrison (ngo-1807 kuya ku-1818) wahumushela iBhayibheli olimini lwesiShayina.
10. Yiziphi izibonelo ezibonisa ukuthi kwakunabahumushi ababeshukunyiswa amanye amathonya, hhayi uthando ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
10 Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi, umsebenzi wabakopishi nabahumushi wawuthonywa ezinye izithakazelo, hhayi uthando ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Cabangela izibonelo ezine: (1) AmaSamariya akha ithempeli eNtabeni iGerizimu ebangisana nethempeli laseJerusalema. Ekusekeleni lokho, kuyiPentateuch yamaSamariya kwenziwa isijobelelo ku-Eksodusi 20:17. Njengokungathi uyingxenye yeDecalogue, kwanezelwa umyalo wokuba kwakhiwe i-altare lamatshe eNtabeni iGerizimu futhi kunikelwe kulo imihlatshelo. (2) Umuntu wokuqala owahumusha incwadi kaDaniyeli ye-Septuagint yesiGreki wayehumusha ukuthanda kwakhe. Wafaka izinkulumo ayecabanga ukuthi ziyochaza noma zithuthukise okwakusembhalweni wesiHeberu. Wayeka imininingwane ayecabanga ukuthi ngeke yamukeleke kubafundi. Lapho ehumusha isiprofetho esiphathelene nesikhathi sokubonakala kukaMesiya, esitholakala kuDaniyeli 9:24-27, washintsha isikhathi esishiwo wayesenezela, waguqula, futhi washintsha amagama nokulandelana kwawo, ngokusobala enombono wokwenza lesi siprofetho sibonakale sisekela umzabalazo wamaMaccabee. (3) Ekhulwini lesine C.E., embikweni ohlaziyiwe wesiLatini, ummeleli weNkolelo KaZiqu-zintathu oshiseka ngokweqile ngokusobala wafaka amagama athi “ezulwini, uYise, uLizwi, nomoya ongcwele; futhi laba abathathu bamunye” njengokungathi ayingcaphuno ethathwe kweyoku-1 Johane 5:7. Kamuva leyo ndima yafakwa embhalweni weBhayibheli lesiLatini. (4) ULouis XIII (1610-43), eFrance, wagunyaza uJacques Corbin ukuba ahumushele iBhayibheli olimini lwesiFulentshi ukuze alwe nemizamo yamaProthestani. Enaleyo njongo, uCorbin wenza nokujobelela okuthile emibhalweni, kuhlanganise nendawo ebhekisela ‘emhlatshelweni ongcwele weMisa’ kuzEnzo 13:2.
11. (a) IZwi likaNkulunkulu laqhubeka kanjani likhona naphezu kokungathembeki kwabanye abahumushi? (b) Bungakanani ubufakazi bemibhalo yasendulo obukhona obufakazela okwakushiwo yiBhayibheli ekuqaleni? (Bheka ibhokisi.)
11 UJehova akazange akuvimbele lokho kuganga ngeZwi lakhe, futhi akuzange kuyishintshe injongo yakhe. Kwaba namiphi imiphumela? Ukunezela izindawo ezibhekisela eNtabeni iGerizimu akuzange kubangele ukuba inkolo yamaSamariya ibe yithuluzi likaNkulunkulu lokubusisa isintu. Kunalokho, kwanikeza ubufakazi bokuthi, nakuba inkolo yamaSamariya yayithi ikholelwa kuyiPentateuch, kwakungenakuthenjelwa kuyo ukuba ifundise iqiniso. (Johane 4:20-24) Ukuhlanekezelwa kwamazwi kuyi-Septuagint akuzange kuvimbele uMesiya ukuba afike ngesikhathi esabikezelwa ngomprofethi uDaniyeli. Ngaphezu kwalokho, nakuba i-Septuagint yayisetshenziswa ngekhulu lokuqala, ngokusobala amaJuda ayejwayele ukuzwa imiBhalo ifundwa ngesiHeberu emasinagogeni awo. Ngenxa yalokho, “abantu babelindele” lapho isikhathi sokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sisondela. (Luka 3:15) Mayelana nokujobelela okuthile kweyoku-1 Johane 5:7 ukuze kusekelwe uZiqu-zintathu nakuzEnzo 13:2 ukuze kusekelwe iMisa, lokhu akuzange kulishintshe iqiniso. Futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lamacebo adaluleka ngokugcwele. Inqwaba yemibhalo yeBhayibheli ekhona ngezilimi zokuqala inikeza indlela yokuhlola ukuba yiqiniso kwanoma iyiphi indima ehunyushiwe.
12. (a) Yiziphi izinguquko ezingathi sína ezenziwa abanye abahumushi beBhayibheli? (b) Imiphumela yazo yahamba ibanga elingakanani?
12 Eminye imizamo yokushintsha imiBhalo yayihilela okungaphezu nje kokushintsha amagama emavesini ambalwa. Lena yayihlanganisa ukufihla ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso ungubani. Uhlobo nezinga lezinguquko kwanikeza ubufakazi obucacile bethonya elivela emandleni angaphezu kwawanoma yimuphi umuntu noma inhlangano yabantu—yebo, ithonya elivela esitheni esikhulu sikaJehova, uSathane uDeveli. Bevumela lelo thonya, abahumushi nabakopishi—abanye ngokuzimisela, abanye bemadolonzima—baqala ukukhipha igama likaNkulunkulu elithi Jehova, eZwini lakhe eliphefumulelwe ezinkulungwaneni zezindawo elalivela kuzo. Kusukela kudala, ezinye izinguqulo ezisuselwe olimini lwesiHeberu zesiGreki, isiLatini, isiJalimane, isiNgisi, isiNtaliyane, nesiDashi, zaliyeka ngokuphelele igama laphezulu noma zaligcina ezindaweni ezimbalwa nje. Lakhishwa nasemakhophini emiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki.
13. Kungani umzamo wokushintsha iBhayibheli owawudlangile ungazange uphumele ekususweni ngokuphelele kwegama likaNkulunkulu ezinkumbulweni zabantu?
13 Nokho, lelo gama elikhazimulayo alizange likhishwe ngokuphelele ezinkumbulweni zabantu. Izinguqulo eziningi zemiBhalo YesiHeberu zeSpanishi, isiPutukezi, isiJalimane, isiNgisi, isiFulentshi, nezinye eziningi, zalifaka ngobuqotho igama likaNkulunkulu. Ngekhulu le-16, igama likaNkulunkulu laphinde laqala ukubonakala ezinguqulweni ezihlukahlukene zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki; ngekhulu le-18 ngesiJalimane; ngekhulu le-19 ngesiCroat nangesiNgisi. Ngisho noma abantu bengase bazame ukufihla igama likaNkulunkulu, lapho “usuku lukaJehova” lufika, khona-ke, njengoba uNkulunkulu esho, ‘izizwe ziyokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova.’ Leyo njongo kaNkulunkulu emenyezelwe ngeke ingafezeki.—2 Petru 3:10; Hezekeli 38:23; Isaya 11:9; 55:11.
Isigijimi Sifinyelela Embulungeni Yonke
14. (a) Ngekhulu lama-20, iBhayibheli lase linyatheliswe ngezilimi zaseYurophu ezingaki, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela? (b) Ngasekupheleni kuka-1914, iBhayibheli lalitholakala ngezilimi ezingaki zase-Afrika?
14 Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20, iBhayibheli lase linyatheliswa ngezilimi zaseYurophu ezingu-94. Laxwayisa abafundi beBhayibheli ababekuleyo ngxenye yomhlaba ngeqiniso lokuthi kwakuyoba nezenzakalo ezishukumisa umhlaba lapho kuphela iZikhathi Zabezizwe ngo-1914, futhi zaba khona ngempela! (Luka 21:24) Ngaphambi kokuba unyaka oyingqopha-mlando, u-1914, uphele, iBhayibheli eliphelele noma izincwadi ezithile zalo, lalinyatheliswa ngezilimi zase-Afrika ezingu-157, ngaphandle kwezisetshenziswa kabanzi, isiNgisi, isiFulentshi nesiPutukezi. Ngakho kwabekwa isisekelo sokufundisa amaqiniso eBhayibheli akhululayo ngokomoya kwabathobekile bezizwe namaqembu ezizwe amaningi ahlala lapho.
15. Lapho kuqala izinsuku zokugcina, iBhayibheli lalitholakala ngezinga elingakanani ngezilimi zabantu basemazweni aseMelika?
15 Lapho izwe lingena ezinsukwini zokugcina ezabikezelwa, iBhayibheli lalitholakala kabanzi emazweni aseMelika. Izifiki ezivela eYurophu zazifike nalo ngezilimi zazo ezihlukahlukene. Kwakuqhubeka isimiso esibanzi semfundo yeBhayibheli, kunezinkulumo zeningi nokusakazwa okukhulu kwezincwadi zeBhayibheli ezinyatheliswa yi-International Bible Students, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kakade ukunyatheliswa kweBhayibheli kwase kwenziwa yizinhlangano zeBhayibheli ngezinye izilimi ezingu-57 ukuze kugcwaliswe izidingo zezakhamuzi zezizwe ezihlukahlukene zaseNtshonalanga.
16, 17. (a) IBhayibheli lase litholakala ngezinga elingakanani lapho kufika isikhathi sokushumayela embulungeni yonke? (b) IBhayibheli liye labonakala kanjani liyincwadi ehlala njalo ngempela nenethonya kakhulu?
16 Lapho kufika isikhathi sokuba kushunyayelwe izindaba ezinhle embulungeni yonke ngaphambi kokuba ‘ukuphela kufike,’ iBhayibheli lalingasaqabukwa e-Asia naseziqhingini zePacific. (Mathewu 24:14) Lase linyatheliswa ngezilimi ezingu-232 zakuleyo ngxenye yembulunga. Amanye kwakungamaBhayibheli aphelele; amaningi kuyizinguqulo zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki; amanye kuyincwadi eyodwa yemiBhalo Engcwele.
17 Ngokucacile, iBhayibheli laliqhubeka likhona, hhayi nje njengombukwane wasemnyuziyamu. Kuzo zonke izincwadi ezikhona, laliyincwadi ehunyushwe nesakazwe kabanzi kunazo zonke. Ngokuvumelana nalobo bufakazi bokwamukelwa ngokwaphezulu, okulotshwe kuleyo ncwadi kwakwenzeka. Izimfundiso zayo nokuphefumulelwa kwayo ngumoya nakho kwakuba nethonya elihlala njalo ekuphileni kwabantu emazweni amaningi. (1 Petru 1:24, 25) Kodwa kwakuseza okwengeziwe—okuningi kakhulu.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Liyini “izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu” elihlala phakade?
◻ Yimiphi imizamo yokuvimbela iBhayibheli eye yenziwa, kwaba namiphi imiphumela?
◻ Kuye kwalondolozwa kanjani ukwethenjelwa kweBhayibheli?
◻ Inkulumo kaNkulunkulu eveza injongo yakhe iye yabonakala kanjani iyizwi eliphilayo?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 12]
Ingabe Siyakwazi Ngempela Okwakushiwo YiBhayibheli Ekuqaleni?
Imibhalo yesandla yesiHeberu engaba ngu-6 000 ifakazela okuqukethwe yimiBhalo YesiHeberu. Embalwa yayo eyenkathi yangaphambi kobuKristu. Okungenani imibhalo engu-19 esekhona yemiBhalo YesiHeberu ephelele eyenkathi engaphambi kokusungulwa kwendlela yokunyathelisa ngezinhlamvu ezihlelwa ngesandla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kukhona izinguqulo zezinye izilimi ezingu-28 zaleyo nkathi efanayo.
EmiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki, kuye kwagcinwa imibhalo yesiGreki engaba ngu-5 000. Omunye wayo kuye kwathiwa owangaphambi kuka-125 C.E., iminyaka embalwa ngemva kwesikhathi sokulotshwa kwayo kokuqala. Futhi ezinye izingcezu kucatshangwa ukuthi ezakudala nakakhulu. Ezincwadini eziphefumulelwe ezingu-22 kwezingu-27, kunemibhalo yesandla ephelele esukela ku-10 kuya ku-19. Inani elincane kunawo wonke lemibhalo yesandla ephelele yanoma iyiphi kulezi zincwadi zalengxenye yeBhayibheli yimibhalo emithathu—yesAmbulo. Omunye umbhalo wemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ephelele owangekhulu lesine C.E.
Ayikho enye incwadi yasendulo eqinisekiswa inqwaba engaka yobufakazi basendulo obugciniwe.