Isizathu Sokuba IBhayibheli Libe Yisipho SikaNkulunkulu Esiphefumlelwe

IBHAYIBHELI lithi “uNkulunkulu uluthando” futhi lithi ukuhlakanipha namandla kungokwakhe. (1 Johane 4:8; Jobe 12:13; Isaya 40:26) Lisitshela ukuthi “zonke izindlela zakhe zingukulunga.” (Duteronomi 32:4) NgokweBhayibheli, uNkulunkulu futhi ubonisa izimfanelo ezinjengesihe nesihawu.—Eksodusi 34:6; Roma 9:15.

Ngenxa yokuthi iBhayibheli lithi uJehova uNkulunkulu unezimfanelo ezinjalo, lidonsela kuye abantu abamfunayo. Lencwadi ikhuluma ngendalo, imvelaphi yesono nokufa, kanye nendlela yokubuyisana noNkulunkulu. Inikeza ithemba elihlaba umxhwele lePharadesi elibuyiselwe emhlabeni. Kodwa konke lokhu kuba ngokubalulekile kuphela uma kunganikezwa ubufakazi bokuthi iBhayibheli liyisipho esiphefumlelwe esivela kuNkulunkulu.

IBhayibheli Nesayensi

IBhayibheli njalo liye lakunqoba ukugxekwa. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho lifundwa ngomqondo ovulekile, litholakala livumelana nesayensi eyiqiniso. Yebo, iBhayibheli lalungiselelwa njengesiqondiso esingokomoya, hhayi njengencwadi yesayensi. Kodwa ake sibone ukuthi iBhayibheli liyavumelana yini namaqiniso angokwesayensi.

Ezokwelapha: Encwadini yakhe ethi The Physician Examines the Bible, uC. Raimer Smith wabhala: “Kuyangimangaza kakhulu ukuthi iBhayibheli linemba kangaka ngokombono wezokwelapha. . . . Lapho kukhulunywa khona ngendlela yokwelapha, amaqhubu, izilonda, njll. iyasebenza ngisho nangezindinganiso zanamuhla. . . . Abantu abaningi kakhulu basaqhubeka bekholelwa ezeni njengokuthi, imbewu yesihlahla okuthiwa yibuckeye efakwe ephaketheni izovimbela isifo samathambo; ukuthinta onoshobishobi kuzokubangela izinsumpa; ukugqoka indwangu ebomvu izungeze umqala kuzokwelapha umphimbo obuhlungu; ukuphatha isikhwama esinamahlamvu esihlahla okuthiwa iasafetida kuzovimbela izifo; ukuthi njalo lapho ingane igula isuke inezilo; njll., kodwa azikho izinkulumo ezinjalo ezitholakala eBhayibhelini. Lokhu ngokwakho kungokuphawulekayo futhi kimina kungobunye ubufakazi bokuba kwalo nemvelaphi engokwaphezulu.”

Isayensi yemivubukulo: Amakhosi, imizi, nezizwe kwaseBhayibhelini kuye kwaba yizinto ezingokoqobo lapho kutholwa izibhebhe zobumba, izitsha zobumba, imibhalo, nokunye okunjalo. Ngokwesibonelo, abantu okwakuthiwa amaHeti okukhulunywe ngabo emiBhalweni babekhona ngempela. (Eksodusi 3:8) Encwadini yakhe ethi The Bible Comes Alive, uSir Charles Marston wathi: “Labo abaye benza buthakathaka ukholo abaningi abanalo eBhayibhelini, futhi balulaza igunya lalo, nabo ngokwabo balulazwa ubufakazi obuye batholwa, futhi igunya labo liyaphela. Okuvubukuliwe kususa ukugxeka okubhubhisayo emaqinisweni angatshazwayo kugudluzela lokugxeka endabeni eqanjiwe eyamukelwayo.”

Isayensi yemivubukulo iye yasekela iBhayibheli ngezindlela eziningi. Ngokwesibonelo, okutholiwe kuye kwaqinisekisa izindawo namagama atholakala kuGenesise isahluko 10. Abavubukuli baye bavubukula umuzi wamaKaledi waseUri, isikhungo sezentengiselwano nesezenkolo lapho okwazalelwa khona uAbrahama. (Genesise 11:27-31) Ngenhla komthombo waseGihoni engxenyeni eseningizimu-mpumalanga yeJerusalema, abavubukuli bathola umuzi wamaJebusi owathathwa yiNkosi uDavide. (2 Samuweli 5:4-10) UMbhalo WaseSilowama oqoshwe kolunye uhlangothi lomsele wamanzi weNkosi uHezekiya, watholwa ngo-1880. (2 AmaKhosi 20:20) Ukuwela kweBabiloni kuKoresi Omkhulu ngo-539 B.C.E. kulandiswa ngakho eMlandweni KaNabonidasi, owavubukulwa ngekhulu le-19 leminyaka C.E. Imininingwane esencwadini kaEsteri iye yaqinisekiswa yimibhalo evela ePersepolis kanye nokutholwa kwesigodlo seNkosi uAritahishashita (uAhashiveroshi) eShushani, noma eSusa, phakathi kuka-1880 no-1890 C.E. Umbhalo owatholwa ngo-1961 emanxiweni enkundla yezemidlalo yamaRoma eKesariya wafakazela ukuthi wayekhona umbusi waseRoma uPontiyu Pilatu, owanikela uJesu ukuba abethelwe.—Mathewu 27:11-26.

Isayensi yezinkanyezi: Eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 700 edlule—kudala kakhulu ngaphambi kokuba abantu ngokuvamile bazi ukuthi umhlaba uyindilinga—umprofethi uIsaya waloba: “Nguye ohlezi esiyingelezini somhlaba.” (Isaya 40:22) Igama lesiHeberu elithi chugh lapha elihunyushwe ngokuthi ‘isiyingelezi,’ lingase lihunyushwe futhi nangokuthi “imbulunga.” (A Concordance of the Hebrew and Chaldee Scriptures, kaB. Davidson) Futhi-ke, ‘isiyingelezi’ somkhathizwe womhlaba sibonakala ngokucacile lapho usemkhathini ongaphandle nalapho ngezinye izikhathi uhamba ngendiza endizela phezulu kakhulu. Kungalindelekile, uJobe 26:7 uthi uNkulunkulu “uphanyeka umhlaba phezu kweze.” Lokhu kuyiqiniso, ngoba izazi zezinkanyezi ziyazi ukuthi umhlaba awunazo izinto ezibonakalayo eziwusekelayo.

Isayensi yezitshalo: Abanye ngokuyiphutha baphetha ngokuthi iBhayibheli alinembile ngoba uJesu Kristu wakhuluma “ngenhlamvu yesinaphi” wathi “incinyane kunazo zonke izimbewu.” (Marku 4:30-32) Kungenzeka ukuthi uJesu wayesho imbewu yomuthi omnyama wesinaphi (iBrassica nigra noma iSinapis nigra), enengxenye yobubanzi obucishe bube imilimitha elilodwa kuya ku-1,6 kuphela. Nakuba kukhona izimbewu ezincane ngokwengeziwe, njengezimbewu zeorchid ezicoliseke njengempuphu, uJesu wayengakhulumi nabantu ababetshale amaorchid. LawomaJuda aseGalile ayazi ukuthi ezinhlotsheni ezihlukahlukene zezimbewu ezazitshalwe abalimi bendawo, imbewu yesinaphi yayiyincane kunazo zonke. UJesu wayekhuluma ngoMbuso, wayengafundisi isifundo ngesayensi yezitshalo.

Isayensi yokwakheka komhlaba: Ngokuphathelene nokulandisa kweBhayibheli ngendalo, isazi esaziwayo sesayensi yokwakheka komhlaba uWallace Pratt sathi: “Uma mina njengesazi sesayensi yokwakheka komhlaba bengingacelwa ukuba ngizochaza kafushane imiqondo yethu yanamuhla ngemvelaphi yomhlaba nangokuvela kokuphila phezu kwawo, ngichazele abantu abathobekile, basemaphandleni, abanjengesizwe esasibhalelwe iNcwadi KaGenesise, ngingamane ngilandele ngokuseduze ulimi olusetshenziswe esahlukweni sokuqala sikaGenesise.” UPratt waphawula ukuthi ukulandelana kwezenzakalo kuGenesise—imvelaphi yezilwandle, ukuvela kwezwe, bese kuba ukuvela kwezinto eziphila emanzini, izinyoni, nezilwane ezincelisayo—ngokuyisisekelo kuwukulandelana kokwehlukana okuyinhloko kwenkathi ende yokwakheka komhlaba.

Ukuphila kwezilwane: NgokweBhayibheli, ‘unogwaja uyetshisa.’ (Levitikusi 11:6) UFrançois Bourlière (The Natural History of Mammals, 1964, ikhasi 41) uthi: “Umkhuba ‘wokudla,’ noma ukudlulisa ukudla ethunjini kabili esikhundleni sokuba kube kanye kuphela, ubonakala uyisenzakalo esivamile konogwaja. Onogwaja abafuywayo ngokuvamile badla futhi bagwinye ngaphandle kokuhlafunisisa amasimba abo asebusuku, okuthi ekuseni abe yingxenye yakho konke obekusesiswini. Unogwaja wasendle udla kabili nsuku zonke, futhi kubikwa umkhuba ofanayo nakunogwaja waseYurophu.” Kulokhu, incwadi ethi Mammals of the World (ka-E. P. Walker, 1964, Umqulu II, ikhasi 647) ithi: “Lokhu kungase kufane ‘nokwetshisa’ ezilwaneni ezetshisayo.”

Ukwakheka komzimba: IBhayibheli ngokunembile lithi ‘zonke izitho’ zombungu womuntu ‘zilotshiwe.’ (IHubo 139:13-16, qhathanisa neNW.) Ubuchopho, inhliziyo, amaphaphu, amehlo—lezi kanye nazo zonke ezinye izitho zomzimba ‘zilotshiwe’ ezakhini zofuzo zeqanda elivuthiwe elisesibelethweni sikamama. Kulezizakhi kukhona izinhlelo zesikhathi zangaphakathi zokuvela kwesitho ngasinye salezi ngokulandelana okufanele. Futhi cabanga nje! Leliqiniso elimayelana nokukhula komzimba womuntu lalotshwa eBhayibhelini eminyakeni engu-3 000 ngaphambi kokuba ososayensi bathole izakhi zofuzo.

Linokwethenjelwa Emininingwaneni Engokomlando

Encwadini yakhe ethi A Lawyer Examines the Bible, ummeli uIrwin H. Linton waphawula: “Nakuba izincwadi ezifundwayo, izinganekwane nobufakazi bamanga kuqikelela ukubeka izenzakalo ezilandiswayo endaweni ethile ekude nasesikhathini esingacacile, ngaleyo ndlela kwaphule imithetho yokuqala thina bameli esiyifundayo ngokufaneleka kokuqulwa kwecala, ukuthi ‘lokho okushiwoyo kumelwe kunikeze isikhathi nendawo,’ izindaba zeBhayibheli zisinikeza usuku nendawo kwezinto ezilandiswa ngokunemba okukhulu.”

Ekufakazeleni leliphuzu, uLinton wacaphuna uLuka 3:1, 2. Lapho umlobi weVangeli wakhuluma ngezikhulu eziyisikhombisa ukuze abonise isikhathi uJesu Kristu aqala ngaso inkonzo yaKhe. Phawula imininingwane uLuka ayinikeza kulamazwi: “Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nanhlanu wokubusa kukaTiberiyu Kesari, uPontiyu Pilatu engumbusi waseJudiya, uHerode engumtetrarki waseGalile, uFiliphu umfowabo engumtetrarki wezwe laseItureya nelaseTrakhoniti, uLisaniya engumtetrarki waseAbilene, uAnase engumpristi omkhulu noKayafase, kwafika izwi likaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakariya ehlane.”

IBhayibheli ligcwele imininingwane efana nalena. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izingxenye zalo ezinjengamaVangeli zalotshwa phakathi nenkathi yesiko elithuthuke kakhulu lamaJuda, amaGreki, nelamaRoma. Kwakuyisikhathi sabameli, abalobi, abaphathi, nabanye abanjalo. Khona-ke ngokuqinisekile uma imininingwane etholakala emaVangelini nakwezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli yayingewona amaqiniso, yayiyodalulwa njengeyinkohliso. Kodwa izazi-mlando zezwe zafakazela amaphuzu anjengokuba khona kukaJesu Kristu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngokuphathelene noJesu nabalandeli baKhe isazi-mlando esingumRoma uTacitus sabhala: “UChristus [uKristu], elavela kuye igama elithi [amaKristu], wabhekana nesijeziso esikhulu phakathi nokubusa kukaTiberiyu ezandleni zomunye wababusi bethu, uPontiyu Pilatu.” (Annals, Book XV, 44) Ukunemba kweBhayibheli okungokomlando kusiza ekufakazeleni ukuthi liyisipho sikaNkulunkulu asinikeza isintu.

Ubufakazi Obukhulu Kunabo Bonke

Nakuba isayensi yemivubukulo, isayensi yezinkanyezi, umlando, neminye imikhakha yolwazi kusekela iBhayibheli, ukuba nokholo kulo akuxhomekile ebufakazini obunjalo. Phakathi kobufakazi obuningi bokuthi iBhayibheli liyisipho esiphefumlelwe sikaNkulunkulu asinikeze sona, abukho ubufakazi obunganikezwa obukhulu ukwedlula ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zalo.

UJehova uNkulunkulu unguMthombo wesiprofetho seqiniso. Ngomprofethi wakhe uIsaya, wathi: “Izinto zakuqala zifikile, sengimemezela izinto ezintsha; zingakaqhamuki, ngiyanizwisa zona.” (Isaya 42:9) Ngaphezu kwalokho, iBhayibheli lithi abalobi balo babephefumlelwe uNkulunkulu ngomoya wakhe ongcwele, noma amandla ayisiphekupheku. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uPawulu ongumKristu wabhala: “Yonke imibhalo iphefumulelwe nguNkulunkulu.” (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Kasikho isiprofetho sombhalo esingachasiselwa ngumuntu ngokwakhe; ngokuba akuzange kuvezwe isiprofetho ngentando yomuntu, kepha abantu beqhutshwa nguMoya oNgcwele bakhuluma okukaNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 1:20, 21) Ngakho ake sihlole isiprofetho seBhayibheli.

Phakathi kwamakhulukhulu eziprofetho eziseBhayibhelini kukhona lezo eziphathelene nenhlokodolobha yaseAsiriya, iNineve, “umuzi wezingazi” owabangela ingebhe kulo lonke elaseMpumalanga Ephakathi lasendulo amakhulu angaphezu kuka-15 eminyaka. (Nahume 3:1) Nokho, lapho umbuso waseNineve usunamandla kakhulu, iBhayibheli labikezela: “[UNkulunkulu] alenze iNineve libe-yincithakalo, lome njengehlane. Imihlambi iyakubuthisa phakathi kwalo, zonke izilwane zesizwe, ivuba nonondwebu kuhlale ebusuku ezihlokweni zezinsika zalo, isikhova sikhale emafasiteleni, kube-khona incithakalo emigulugulwini, ngokuba wambulile okwemisedari.” (Zefaniya 2:13, 14) Namuhla, izivakashi zibona indunduma yenhlabathi kuphela ewuphawu lwendawo eyincithakalo okwakukhona kuyo iNineve lasendulo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imihlambi yezimvu iyaklaba lapho, njengoba kwakubikezelwe.

Embonweni, umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uDaniyeli wabona inqama enezimpondo ezimbili kanye nempongo enophondo olukhulu phakathi kwamehlo ayo. Impongo yahlaba inqama yayilahla phansi, yephula izimpondo zayo ezimbili. Ngemva kwalokho, uphondo olukhulu lwalempongo lwephuka, futhi kwavela izimpondo ezine esikhundleni salo. (Daniyeli 8:1-8) Ingelosi uGabriyeli yachaza: “Inqama oyibonileyo inezimpondo ezimbili, zingamakhosi aseMediya nasePheresiya. Impongo iyinkosi yaseJavani; uphondo olukhulu olusemkhathini wamehlo ayo luyinkosi yokuqala. Kepha olwaphukileyo, esikhundleni salo okwavela ezine, kuyakuvela imibuso emine esizweni salo, ingenamandla alo kodwa.” (Daniyeli 8:20-22) Njengoba umlando uye wabonisa, inqama enezimpondo ezimbili—uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya—wagumbuqelwa “yinkosi yaseJavani [iGreece].” Leyompongo engokomfanekiso ‘yayinophondo olukhulu’ olwalumelele uAlexander Omkhulu. Ngemva kokufa kwakhe, ojenene bakhe abane baluthathela indawo ‘lolophondo olukhulu’ ngokuzimisa ngokwabo embusweni baba “imibuso emine.”

Iziprofetho eziningi emiBhalweni YesiHeberu (“iTestamente Elidala”) ziye zagcwaliseka ngokuhlobene noJesu Kristu. Ezinye zalezi zasetshenziswa kuye ngabalobi ababephefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki (“iTestamente Elisha”). Ngokwesibonelo, umlobi weVangeli uMathewu waveza ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ezingokomBhalo ekuzalweni kukaJesu yincasakazi, ekubeni kwaKhe nomanduleli, nasekungeneni kwaKhe eJerusalema egibele ithole lembongolo. (Qhathanisa uMathewu 1:18-23; 3:1-3; 21:1-9 noIsaya 7:14; 40:3; Zakariya 9:9.) Iziprofetho ezinjalo ezagcwaliseka zisiza ekufakazeleni ukuthi ngempela iBhayibheli liyisipho sikaNkulunkulu esiphefumlelwe.

Ukugcwaliseka kwamanje kwesiprofetho seBhayibheli kufakazela ukuthi siphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Izimpi, ukuntuleka kokudla, ubici lwezifo, nokuzamazama komhlaba okungenakuqhathaniswa kuyingxenye ‘yesibonakaliso [“sokuba khona,” NW]’ kukaJesu emandleni oMbuso. Lesosibonakaliso sihlanganisa futhi nomsebenzi womhlaba wonke woFakazi BakaJehova abangaphezu kwezigidi ezine, abashumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso omisiwe. (Mathewu 24:3-14; Luka 21:10, 11) Isiprofetho seBhayibheli esigcwalisekayo manje sisiqinisekisa nangokuthi uhulumeni wasezulwini kaNkulunkulu ngaphansi kukaJesu Kristu ngokushesha uzoletha izwe elisha lenjabulo yaphakade esintwini esilalelayo.—2 Petru 3:13; IsAmbulo 21:1-5.

Ishadi elikulesihloko elinesihloko esithi “Iziprofetho ZeBhayibheli Ezigcwalisekile” linikeza ezimbalwa nje kwezingamakhulukhulu eziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezingase zifakwe ohlwini. Ukugcwaliseka kwezinye zalezi kwaphawulwa emiBhalweni ngokwayo, kodwa iziprofetho ezigcwalisekayo namuhla ziphawuleka ngokukhethekile.

Cishe, uyazibona izenzakalo ezithile emhlabeni wonke ezabikezelwa eBhayibhelini. Kodwa kungani ungahloli ngokwengeziwe? OFakazi BakaJehova ngenjabulo bayokunikeza imininingwane eyengeziwe uma ubacela. Futhi kwangathi ukufuna kwakho okuqotho ulwazi ngoPhezukonke nezinjongo zakhe kungakuqinisekisa ukuthi iBhayibheli ngempela liyisipho sikaNkulunkulu esiphefumlelwe.

[Ishadi ekhasini 7]

IZIPROFETHO ZEBHAYIBHELI EZIGCWALISEKILE

ISIPROFETHO UKUGCWALISEKA

Zefaniya 2:13, 14 INineve laba incithakalo cishe ngo-632 B.C.E.

[Isithombe ekhasini 8]

Impi, indlala, ubici lwezifo, nokuzamazama komhlaba kubulala abantu abaningi namuhla, kodwa izwe elisha lokuthula nenjabulo liseduze kakhulu