Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-46—1 Korinte

Umlobi: UPawulu

Yalotshelwa: E-Efesu

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-55 C.E.

 1. IKorinte yayiluhlobo luni lomuzi ezinsukwini zikaPawulu?

IKORINTE “yayiwumuzi odumile notamasayo, lapho kwakuhlangana khona izenzo ezimbi zaseMpumalanga nezaseNtshonalanga.”a Njengoba yayisemdweshwini wezwe ophakathi kwePeloponnesus nezwekazi iGrisi, iKorinte yayilawula umzila ohamba ezweni oya ezwekazini. Ezinsukwini zomphostoli uPawulu, inani layo labantu abangaba ngu-400 000 laledlulwa kuphela iRoma, iAlexandria, neAntiyokiya yaseSiriya. Ukuya ngasempumalanga yeKorinte, kwakunoLwandle iAegean, futhi ukuya ngasentshonalanga, kukhona iGulf of Corinth noLwandle i-Ionia. Ngakho iKorinte, inhloko-dolobha yesifundazwe saseAkhaya, namatheku ayo amabili elaseKenikreya nelaseLechaeum, yayisesikhundleni esibalulekile ngokwezentengiselwano. Futhi yayiyisikhungo semfundo yamaGreki. Kuye kwathiwa, “umnotho wayo wawudume kangangokuthi wawuyisaga; ngokunjalo nezenzo ezimbi zezakhamuzi zayo.”b Phakathi kwemikhuba yayo yenkolo yobuqaba kwakunokukhulekelwa kuka-Aphrodite (ofana noVenus wamaRoma). Ukwanelisa inkanuko kwakuwumkhiqizo wokukhulekela kwaseKorinte.

 2. Lamiswa kanjani ibandla laseKorinte, futhi ngalesosizathu isiphi isibopho elalinaso noPawulu?

² Kwakukulomuzi omkhulu wezwe laseRoma ochumayo kodwa obolile ngokokuziphatha lapho umphostoli uPawulu aya khona cishe ngo-50 C.E. Phakathi nokuhlala kwakhe khona izinyanga ezingu-18, kwamiswa ibandla lobuKristu. (IzE. 18:​1-11) Yeka uthando uPawulu ayenalo ngalamakholwa ayeyise kuwo ngokokuqala izindaba ezinhle ngoKristu! Ngencwadi wawakhumbuza ngesibopho esingokomoya esasikhona, ethi: “Noma ninabafundisi abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi kuKristu, nokho oyihlo kababaningi, ngokuba mina nganizala kuKristu Jesu ngevangeli.”​—⁠1 Kor. 4:⁠15.

 3. Yini eyashukumisela uPawulu ukuba alobe incwadi yakhe yokuqala kwabaseKorinte?

³ Ukuyikhathalela okujulile inhlala-kahle yawo engokomoya kwashukumisela uPawulu ukuba alobele amaKristu aseKorinte incwadi yakhe yokuqala lapho esohambweni lwakhe lwesithathu lobuthunywa bevangeli. Kwase kudlule iminyaka embalwa ngemva kokuhlala kwakhe eKorinte. Manje kwase kucishe kube ngu-55 C.E., futhi uPawulu wayese-Efesu. Ngokusobala wayethole incwadi evela kulelibandla eliseKorinte elisha ngokuqhathaniswa, futhi yayidinga impendulo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu wayezwe imibiko ephazamisayo. (7:⁠1; 1:​11; 5:⁠1; 11:​18) Lemibiko yayikhathaza kangangokuthi umphostoli akazange abhekisele nokubhekisela encwadini yabo eyayibuza kwaze kwaba sevesini lokuqala lesahluko 7 sencwadi yakhe. Kwakungenxa ikakhulukazi yemibiko ayeyitholile ukuthi uPawulu wazizwa ephoqelekile ukulobela amaKristu akanye nawo eKorinte.

 4. Yini efakazela ukuthi uPawulu wayiloba ese-Efesu incwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte?

⁴ Sazi kanjani ukuthi uPawulu waloba incwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte ese-Efesu? Ngokwesibonelo, lapho ephetha lencwadi ngemikhonzo, umphostoli ufaka neka-Akwila noPriska (Prisila). (16:​19) IzEnzo 18:​18, 19 zibonisa ukuthi babethuthile eKorinte baya e-Efesu. Njengoba uAkwila noPrisila babehlala lapho futhi uPawulu ababala emikhonzweni yokuphetha incwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte, kumelwe ukuba wayese-Efesu lapho eloba lencwadi. Nokho, iphuzu elingashiyi kungabaza amazwi kaPawulu kweyoku-⁠1 Korinte 16:⁠8: “Kepha ngizakuhlala e-Efesu, kuze kufike iPhentekoste.” Ngakho incwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte yalotshwa uPawulu e-Efesu, ngokusobala ngasekupheleni kokuhlala kwakhe lapho.

 5. Yini eveza ubuqiniso bezincwadi eziya kwabaseKorinte?

⁵ Ubuqiniso bencwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte, nobeyesiBili KwabaseKorinte, abungabazeki. Lezincwadi zazibhekwa njengezingezikaPawulu futhi zamukelwa njengeziyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli ngamaKristu akuqala, lawo azifaka emaqoqweni awo. Eqinisweni, kuthiwa incwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte kubhekiselwa futhi kucashunwe kuyo okungenani izikhathi eziyisithupha encwadini eyayivela eRoma iya eKorinte eyabhalwa cishe ngo-95 C.E. futhi yabizwa ngokuthi uClement wokuQala. Ebhekisela ngokucacile kweyokuQala KwabaseKorinte, umlobi wakhuthaza ababezokwamukela lencwadi ukuba “bamukele incwadi kaPawulu obusisiwe ongumphostoli.”c Futhi eyokuQala KwabaseKorinte icashunwe ngokuqondile nguJustin Martyr, uAthenagoras, uIrenaeus, noTertullian. Kunobufakazi obunamandla bokuthi “eshumini lokugcina lekhulu lokuqala leminyaka kwakhiwa futhi kwasakazwa”d iqoqo lezincwadi zikaPawulu, kuhlanganise eyokuQala neyesiBili KwabaseKorinte.

 6. Iziphi izinkinga ezazisebandleni laseKorinte, futhi yini uPawulu ayenesithakazelo kuyo ngokukhethekile?

⁶ Incwadi kaPawulu yokuqala KwabaseKorinte isinikeza ithuba lokubheka ngaphakathi ebandleni laseKorinte ngokwalo. Kwakunezinkinga lamaKristu okwakumelwe abhekane nazo, futhi ayenemibuzo eyayidinga ukuphendulwa. Kwakunokwahlukana phakathi kwebandla, ngoba abanye babelandela abantu. Kwakuvelé isimo esethusayo sokuziphatha okubi ngokobulili. Abanye babehlala emakhaya ahlukene phakathi ngokwenkolo. Ingabe kwakufanele bahlale nabangane babo bomshado abangakholwa noma bahlale ngokwahlukana nabo? Futhi kuthiwani ngokudla inyama ehlatshelwe izithombe? Ingabe kufanele bahlanganyele kuyo? AbaseKorinte babedinga iseluleko ngokuqondene nokuqhuba imihlangano yabo, kuhlanganise nokugujwa kweSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa. Kufanele sibe yini isikhundla sabesifazane ebandleni? Futhi, kwakukhona nalabo phakathi kwabo ababeluphika uvuko. Izinkinga zaziziningi. Nokho, umphostoli wayethakazelela ikakhulukazi ukubuyisela abaseKorinte ngokomoya.

 7. Kufanele siyicabangele ngasiphi isimo sengqondo incwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte, futhi ngani?

⁷ Ngenxa yokuthi izimo ngaphakathi ebandleni nezimo ezingaphandle ezizungezile eKorinte lasendulo, njengoba lalichumile futhi liyekelela, ziyafana nezanamuhla, iseluleko sikaPawulu sezinga eliphakeme esalotshwa ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa kwaphezulu sidinga ukuba sisinake. Lokho uPawulu akusho kusho okukhulu osukwini lwethu kangangokuthi ukuyicabangelisisa lencwadi yakhe yokuqala eya kubafowabo nodadewabo abathandekayo baseKorinte kuyozuzisa ngempela. Manje khumbula ukuthambekela kwangalesosikhathi nokwakuleyondawo. Cabangisisa, njengoba kumelwe ukuba kwenza amaKristu aseKorinte, njengoba sibukeza amazwi kaPawulu angena ajule, ashukumisayo naphefumlelwe awabhalela akholwa nabo eKorinte lasendulo.

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YOKUQALA KWABASEKORINTE

 8. (a) UPawulu ubudalula kanjani ubuwula bokwakha amahlelo ebandleni? (b) Yini uPawulu abonisa ukuthi idingekile ukuze kuqondwe izinto zikaNkulunkulu?

⁸ UPawulu udalula umkhuba wamahlelo, uyala ukuba kube nobunye (1:1–4:21). UPawulu ubafisela okuhle abaseKorinte. Kodwa kuthiwani ngamaqembu, ukwahlukana, okuphakathi kwabo? “UKristu wahlukanisiwe.” (1:13) Umphostoli uyabonga ngokuthi ubhapathize abambalwa kangaka kubo, ukuze bangasho ukuthi babhapathizelwe egameni lakhe. UPawulu ushumayela uKristu obethelwe. Lokhu kuyisikhubekiso kumaJuda nobuwula kwabezizwe. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wakhetha izinto zezwe eziwubuwula nezibuthaka ukuze ahlazise abahlakaniphile nabanamandla. Ngakho uPawulu akasebenzisi inkulumo ewubuciko kodwa uvumela abazalwane ukuba babone umoya namandla kaNkulunkulu ngamazwi akhe, ukuze ukholo lwabo lungabi sekuhlakanipheni kwabantu kodwa lube semandleni kaNkulunkulu. UPawulu uthi sikhuluma izinto ezambulwe umoya kaNkulunkulu, “ngokuba uMoya uhlolisisa konke, yebo, nokujulileyo kukaNkulunkulu.” Lezizinto azinakuqondwa umuntu ongokwenyama kodwa kuphela umuntu ongokomoya.​—⁠2:⁠10.

 9. UPawulu ukubonisa ngaliphi iphuzu ukuthi akukho muntu okufanele aqhoshe ngabantu?

⁹ Balandela abantu​—⁠abanye uApholo, abanye uPawulu. Kodwa bangobani laba? Bamane nje bayizikhonzi abaseKorinte ababa amakholwa ngazo. Abatshalayo nabaniselayo abalutho, ngoba “uNkulunkulu [wayelokhu ekhulisa, NW],” futhi ‘bayizisebenzi kanye’ naye. Uvivinyo lomlilo luyoveza ukuthi imisebenzi kabani eqinile. UPawulu uyabatshela, “Niyithempeli likaNkulunkulu,” lapho kuhlala khona umoya waKhe. “Ukuhlakanipha kwalelizwe kungubuwula kuNkulunkulu.” Ngakho, makungabikho muntu oqhosha ngabantu, ngoba zonke izinto ezikaNkulunkulu.​—⁠3:​6, 9, 16, 19.

10. Kungani ukuqhosha kwabaseKorinte kungafanele, futhi iziphi izinyathelo uPawulu azithathayo ukuze alungise isimo?

¹⁰ OPawulu noApholo bayizinceku ezithobekile zezimfihlakalo ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu, futhi izinceku kufanele zitholakale zithembekile. Bangobani abazalwane baseKorinte ukuthi bangaqhosha, futhi yini abanayo abangayamukelanga? Ingabe sebecebile, sebeqale ukubusa njengamakhosi, futhi bahlakanipha baba namandla kangako, kuyilapho abaphostoli, abaye baba umbukwane kokubili ezingelosini nakubantu, beseyiziwula futhi bebuthaka, beyizibi? UPawulu uthumela uThimothewu ukuba abasize bakhumbule izindlela zakhe ngokuqondene noKristu futhi babe abalingisi bakhe. Uma uJehova ethanda, uPawulu ngokwakhe uzoza ngokushesha futhi azi, hhayi nje kuphela inkulumo yalabo abakhukhumele, kodwa namandla abo.

11. Ikuphi ukuziphatha okubi osekuye kwavela phakathi kwabo, yini okumelwe yenziwe ngakho, futhi ngani?

¹¹ Ngokuqondene nokugcina ibandla licocekile (5:1–6:20). Kubikwé indaba eyethusayo yokuziphatha okubi phakathi kwabaseKorinte! Umuntu othile uthathe umkayise. Kumelwe anikelwe kuSathane ngoba imvubelo encane yonakalisa yonke inhlama. Kumelwe bayeke ukuhlangana nanoma ubani obizwa ngokuthi umzalwane kodwa owonakele.

12. (a) Yini uPawulu aphikisa ngayo ngokuyisana enkantolo? (b) Kungani uPawulu ethi, “Balekelani ubufebe”?

¹² Phela, abaseKorinte bebeyisana ngisho nasenkantolo! Bekungebe ngcono ukuba bavume ukoniwa? Njengoba beyokwahlulela izwe lonke nezingelosi, abanakuthola yini othile phakathi kwabo ukuba ahlulele phakathi kwabazalwane? Ngaphezu kwalokho, kufanele bahlanzeke, ngoba izifebe, abakhonza izithombe, nabanjalo ngeke balidle ifa loMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Yilokho abanye babo ababeyikho, kodwa baye bahlanzwa futhi bangcweliswa. “Balekelani ubufebe,” kusho uPawulu. “Ngokuba nathengwa ngenani elikhulu. Ngakho-ke mbongeni uNkulunkulu emzimbeni wenu.”​—⁠6:​18, 20.

13. (a) Kungani uPawulu eluleka abanye ukuba bashade? Kodwa lapho sebeshadile, yini okufanele bayenze? (b) Kukanjani ukuthi umuntu ongashadile “wenza kahle”?

¹³ Iseluleko ngokungashadi nangomshado (7:​1-40). UPawulu uphendula umbuzo othile ngomshado. Ngenxa yokwanda kobufebe, kungakuhle ukuba owesilisa noma owesifazane ashade, futhi labo abashadile akufanele bancishane izimfanelo zasemshadweni. Kuhle ngabangashadile nabafelokazi ukuba bahlale bengashadile, njengoPawulu; kodwa uma behluleka ukuzithiba, mabashade. Uma sebeshadile, kufanele bahlale ndawonye. Ngisho noma umngane womuntu womshado engakholwa, okholwayo akufanele ahlukane naye, ngoba ngaleyondlela okholwayo angase asindise umngane ongakholwa. Ngokuqondene nokusoka nobugqila, ngamunye makaneliswe isimo abizwa ekuso. Ngokuqondene nomuntu oshadile, uhlukene phakathi ngoba ufuna ukuthokozisa umngane wakhe, kuyilapho umuntu ongashadile ekhathazeka kuphela ngezinto zeNkosi. Labo abashadayo aboni, kodwa labo abangashadi “benza kahle.”​—⁠7:⁠38.

14. Uthini uPawulu ‘ngawonkulunkulu,’ ‘nangamakhosi,’ nokho kunini lapho kuwukuhlakanipha khona ukugwema ukudla okunikelwe ezithombeni?

¹⁴ Ukwenza konke ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle (8:1–9:27). Kuthiwani ngokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni? Isithombe asilutho! Baningi “onkulunkulu” “namakhosi” ezweni, kodwa kumaKristu kukhona “uNkulunkulu munye, uYise,” “nenkosi inye, uJesu Kristu.” (8:​5, 6) Nokho omunye angase akhubeke uma ekubona udla inyama ehlatshelwe isithombe. UPawulu weluleka ukuthi kulezizimo uyiyeke ukuze ungabangeli ukuba umfowenu akhubeke.

15. UPawulu uziphatha kanjani enkonzweni?

¹⁵ UPawulu uzincisha izinto eziningi ngenxa yenkonzo. Njengomphostoli, unelungelo ‘lokuphila ngevangeli,’ kodwa akenzanga kanjalo. Nokho, kunesidingo sokuba ashumayele; eqinisweni, uthi, “Maye kimina uma ngingalishumayeli ivangeli!” Ngakho uzenzé isigqila sabo bonke, eba “yikho konke kubo bonke,” ukuze ‘asindise abanye,’ enza konke “ngenxa yevangeli.” Ukuze anqobe kulomncintiswano futhi azuze umqhele ongonakali, utuba umzimba wakhe ukuze kuthi ngemva kokushumayeza abanye, ‘angaliwa yena uqobo.’​—⁠9:​14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 27.

16. (a) Isiphi isixwayiso amaKristu okufanele asithathe ‘kokhokho’? (b) Ngokuqondene nokukhonza izithombe, amaKristu angakwenza kanjani konke ngenxa yodumo lukaNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Isixwayiso ngezinto ezilimazayo (10:​1-33). Kuthiwani “ngokhokho”? Labo babengaphansi kwefu futhi babhapathizelwa kuMose. Abaningi babo abakutholanga ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu kunalokho babulawa ehlane. Ngani? Bafisa izinto ezilimazayo. AmaKristu kufanele axwaye ngalokhu futhi agweme ukukhonza izithombe nobufebe, agweme ukuvivinya uJehova, nokukhononda. Ocabanga ukuthi umile kufanele aqaphele angawi. Ukulingwa kuyofika, kodwa uNkulunkulu ngeke avumele izinceku zakhe zilingwe ngaphezu kwalokho ezingakumela; uyonikeza indlela yokuphepha ukuze zikwazi ukukukhuthazelela. “Ngalokho-ke,” kuloba uPawulu, “kubalekeleni ukukhonza izithombe.” (10:​1, 14) Asinakuba abahlanganyeli etafuleni likaJehova nasetafuleni lamademoni. Nokho, uma udla ekhayeni elithile, musa ukubuza imvelaphi yenyama. Kodwa, uma othile ekutshela ukuthi ibihlatshelwe izithombe, ungayidli ngenxa kanembeza walowo. “Konke kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu.”​—⁠10:⁠31.

17. (a) Isiphi isimiso uPawulu asibekayo ngokuqondene nobunhloko? (b) Uyihlanganisa kanjani indaba yokwahlukana ebandleni nengxoxo yeSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa?

¹⁷ Ubunhloko; iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa (11:​1-34). “Yibani-ngabalingisi bami, njengokuba nami ngilingisa uKristu,” kusho uPawulu, khona-ke ube esebeka isimiso saphezulu sobunhloko: Inhloko yowesifazane indoda, inhloko yendoda uKristu, inhloko kaKristu uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, owesifazane kufanele abe “nophawu lwesithunzi” ekhanda lakhe uma ethandaza noma eprofetha ebandleni. UPawulu akanakubatusa abaseKorinte, ngoba kunokwahlukana phakathi kwabo lapho behlangana ndawonye. Bekulesimo, bangahlanganyela kanjani ngokufanele eSidlweni SeNkosi Sakusihlwa? Ubukeza lokho okwenzeka lapho uJesu emisa iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe. Ngamunye kumelwe azihlolisise ngaphambi kokuba ahlanganyele, funa azilethele ukwahlulelwa ngenxa yokuhluleka ukuqonda “umzimba.”​—⁠11:​1, 10, 29.

18. (a) Nakuba kunezipho nezinkonzo ezihlukahlukene, kungani kungafanele kube khona ukwahlukana emzimbeni? (b) Kungani uthando luvelele kangaka?

¹⁸ Izipho ezingokomoya; uthando nemisebenzi yalo (12:1–14:40). Kunezipho ezihlukahlukene ezingokomoya, kodwa kunomoya owodwa; kunezinkonzo nemisebenzi ehlukahlukene, kodwa kuneNkosi eyodwa noNkulunkulu oyedwa. Ngokufanayo kunamalungu amaningi emzimbeni owodwa obumbene kaKristu, ilungu ngalinye lidinga elinye, njengasemzimbeni womuntu. UNkulunkulu uye wabeka ilungu ngalinye emzimbeni njengokuthanda kwaKhe, futhi ngalinye linomsebenzi eliwenzayo, ngakho ‘akufanele kube nokwahlukana emzimbeni.’ (12:​25) Abasebenzisa izipho ezingokomoya abalutho ngaphandle kothando. Uthando luyabekezela futhi lumnene, alunamhawu, aluzigabisi. Lujabulela iqiniso kuphela. “Uthando alusoze lwaphela.” (13:⁠8) Izipho ezingokomoya, njengokuprofetha nezilimi, ziyoqedwa, kodwa ukholo, ithemba, nothando kuyasala. Kulezi, esikhulu kunazo zonke uthando.

19. Isiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikezayo sokwakha ibandla nokuhlelwa kwezinto?

¹⁹ “Jongani uthando,” kuyala uPawulu. Izipho ezingokomoya kumelwe zisetshenziswe ngothando ngenjongo yokwakha ibandla. Ngenxa yalesizathu, kumelwe kukhethwe ukuprofetha kunokukhuluma ngezilimi. Ukhetha ukukhuluma amagama ayisihlanu aqondakalayo ukuze afundise abanye kunayizinkulungwane eziyishumi ngolimi olungaziwa. Izilimi ziyisibonakaliso kwabangakholwa, kodwa ukuprofetha kungokwabakholwayo. Akufanele babe “ngabantwana” ekuqondeni kwabo lezinto. Ngokuqondene nabesifazane, kufanele bazithobe ebandleni. “Konke makwenziwe ngemfanelo nangenhlelo.”​—⁠14:​1, 20, 40.

20. (a) Ibuphi ubufakazi uPawulu abunikezayo ngokuqondene nokuvuka kukaKristu? (b) Luhlelwe kanjani uvuko, futhi iziphi izitha eziyonqotshwa?

²⁰ Ukuqiniseka kwethemba lovuko (15:⁠1–16:​24). UKristu ovusiwe wabonakala kuKhefase, kwabangu-12, kubazalwane abangaphezu kuka-500 ngesikhathi esisodwa, kuJakobe, kubo bonke abaphostoli, futhi ekugcineni kuPawulu. ‘Uma uKristu engavuswanga kwabafileyo,’ kubhala uPawulu, ‘ukushumayela nokukholwa kwethu kuyize.’ (15:​14) Yilowo nalowo uvuswa ngesikhathi sakhe, uKristu ulibo, kamuva kube yilabo abangabakhe phakathi nokuba khona kwakhe. Ekugcineni unika uYise uMbuso ngemva kokuba zonke izitha sezibekwe ngaphansi kwezinyawo zakhe. Ngisho nokufa, isitha sokugcina, kuyokwenziwa ize. Kusiza ngani ukubhekana kukaPawulu nezingozi zokufa ngokuqhubekayo uma lungekho uvuko?

21. (a) Bavuswa kanjani labo abayodla ifa loMbuso kaNkulunkulu? (b) Iyiphi imfihlakalo engcwele uPawulu ayembulayo, futhi yini ayishoyo ngokunqoba ukufa?

²¹ Kodwa abafileyo bayovuswa kanjani? Ukuze isithombo sikhule, imbewu etshaliwe kumelwe ife. Kungokufanayo nangokuvuswa kwabafile. “Kuhlwanyelwa kungumzimba wemvelo, kuvuswa kungumzimba womoya. . . . Inyama negazi akunakulidla ifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu.” (15:​44, 50) UPawulu udalula imfihlakalo engcwele: Akubona bonke abayolala ekufeni, kodwa ngecilongo lokugcina, bayoguqulwa ngokuphazima kweso. Lapho lokhu okufayo kwembatha ukungafi, ukufa kuyogwinywa phakade. “Kufa, kuphi ukunqoba kwakho na? Kufa, luphi udosi lwakho na?” UPawulu ubabaza ngokusuka enhliziyweni: “Kepha makabongwe uNkulunkulu osinika ukunqoba ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.”​—⁠15:​55, 57.

22. UPawulu unikeza siphi iseluleko nesiyalo sokuphetha?

²² Ekuphetheni uPawulu ululeka ngokuhleleka lapho kuqoqwa iminikelo ezothunyelwa eJerusalema ukuze kusizwe abazalwane abaswele. Ukhuluma ngokuvakasha kwakhe okuzayo ezodlula eMakedoniya futhi ubonisa ukuthi uThimothewu noApholo nabo bangase bavakashe. “Lindani,” kuyala uPawulu. “Nigxile ekukholweni, nibe-ngamadoda, nibe-namandla. Konke enikwenzayo akwenziwe ngothando.” (16:​13, 14) UPawulu uthumela imikhonzo evela emabandleni aseAsiya, abese ebhala umkhonzo wokugcina ngesandla sakhe siqu, ethumela uthando lwakhe.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

23. (a) UPawulu uyifanekisa kanjani imiphumela eyinhlekelele yesifiso esingalungile nokuzethemba? (b) UPawulu ubhekisela kuliphi igunya lapho eluleka ngeSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa nangokudla okufanele?

²³ Lencwadi yomphostoli uPawulu inenzuzo enkulu ekwandiseni ukuqonda kwethu imiBhalo YesiHeberu, ecaphuna kaningi kuyo. Esahlukweni seshumi, uPawulu uveza ukuthi amaIsrayeli ngaphansi kukaMose aphuza edwaleni elingokomoya, elalifanekisela uKristu. (1 Kor. 10:⁠4; Num. 20:​11) Khona-ke uqhubeka abhekisele emiphumeleni eyinhlekelele yokufisa izinto ezilimazayo, njengoba kwaboniswa amaIsrayeli ngaphansi kukaMose, abese enezela: “Kepha lezozinto zabehlela bona kube-yisibonelo; kulotshelwe ukusiyala thina, osekufikile kithi ukugcina kwezikhathi.” Masingalokothi sizethembe thina, sicabange ukuthi asinakuwa! (1 Kor. 10:​11, 12; Num. 14:⁠2; 21:⁠5; 25:⁠9) Uyaphinda futhi, wenza umfanekiso ethathela eMthethweni. Ubhekisela eminikelweni yokuthula kwaIsrayeli ukuze abonise indlela abahlanganyela eSidlweni SeNkosi Sakusihlwa okufanele bahlanganyele ngayo ngokufanelekile etafuleni likaJehova. Khona-ke, ukuze asekele iphuzu lakhe lokuthi kufanelekile ukudla noma yini ethengiswa esilaheni, ucaphuna iHubo 24:⁠1, ethi, “Umhlaba ungoweNkosi, nakho konke okukuwo.”​—⁠1 Kor. 10:​18, 21, 26; Eks. 32:⁠6; Lev. 7:​11-⁠15.

24. Iziphi ezinye izindawo uPawulu akhomba kuzo emiBhalweni YesiHeberu lapho esekela amaphuzu akhe?

²⁴ Ekuboniseni ubukhulu ‘balokho uNkulunkulu akulungisela abamthandayo’ nobuze ‘bezizindlo zabahlakaniphile’ balelizwe, uPawulu uyaphinda futhi ucaphuna emiBhalweni YesiHeberu. (1 Kor. 2:⁠9; 3:​20; Isaya 64:⁠4; IHu. 94:​11) Ucaphuna umthetho kaJehova wokuba ‘kukhishwe ububi phakathi kwakho,’ njengegunya lemiyalo yakhe esahlukweni 5 ngokuqondene nokususa ekuhlanganyeleni umenzi wobubi. (Dut. 17:⁠7) Ekukhulumeni ngelungelo lakhe lokuphila ngenkonzo, uPawulu uyaphinda ubhekisela eMthethweni kaMose, owawuthi izilwane ezisebenzayo akumelwe zifakwe isifonyo ukuze zivinjwe ukuba zingadli nokuthi amaLevi asenkonzweni yasethempelini kwakumelwe athole isabelo sawo ealtare.​—⁠1 Kor. 9:​8-14; Dut. 25:⁠4; 18:⁠1.

25. Imaphi amanye amaphuzu avelele esiyalo esinenzuzo aqukethwe incwadi yokuQala KwabaseKorinte?

²⁵ Yeka izinzuzo zemfundo ephefumlelwe esizithole encwadini yokuqala kaPawulu eya kumaKristu aseKorinte! Zindla ngeseluleko esinikezwe ngokumelene nokwahlukana kanye nokulandela abantu. (Izahluko 1-⁠4) Khumbula indaba yokuziphatha okubi nendlela uPawulu asigcizelela ngayo isidingo sokuziphatha kahle nokuhlanzeka phakathi kwebandla. (Izahluko 5, 6) Cabangela iseluleko sakhe esiphefumlelwe esihlobene nokungashadi, umshado, ukuhlala ngokwahlukana. (Isahluko 7) Cabanga ngokukhuluma komphostoli ngokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni nangendlela esaqokonyiswa ngokunamandla ngayo isidingo sokuqaphela ukukhuba abanye nokuwela ekukhonzeni izithombe. (Izahluko 8-10) Isiyalo esiqondene nokuzithoba okufanele, ukucatshangelwa kwezipho ezingokomoya, leyongxoxo ewusizo ngobuhle bemfanelo yothando ekhuthazelayo, nengahluleki​—⁠lezizinto nazo zithintiwe ekubukezeni. Futhi yeka indlela umphostoli asiqokomisa kahle ngayo isidingo sokuhleleka emihlanganweni yobuKristu! (Izahluko 11-14) Yeka amazwi amahle avikela uvuko awaloba ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa! (Isahluko 15) Konke lokhu nokwengeziwe sesikubonile ngeso lengqondo​—⁠futhi kubaluleke kakhulu kumaKristu osukwini lwethu!

26. (a) Imuphi umsebenzi owabikezelwa kudala uKristu ovusiwe awufezayo lapho esebusa njengeNkosi? (b) Ngesisekelo sethemba lovuko, isiphi isikhuthazo esinamandla uPawulu asinikezayo?

²⁶ Lencwadi inezela ngokuphawulekayo ekuqondeni kwethu isihloko seBhayibheli esikhazimulayo soMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Inikeza isixwayiso esinamandla sokuthi abangalungile ngeke bangene eMbusweni, futhi ibala eziningi zezenzo ezimbi ezingenza umuntu angafaneleki. (1 Kor. 6:​9, 10) Kodwa okubaluleke kunakho konke, ichaza ukuhlobana kovuko noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ibonisa ukuthi uKristu, “ulibo” lovuko, umelwe “ukubusa, aze abeke izitha zonke phansi kwezinyawo zakhe.” Khona-ke, lapho esebeke phansi zonke izitha, kuhlanganise nokufa, ‘unikela umbuso kuNkulunkulu uYise, ukuze uNkulunkulu abe yikho konke kukho konke.’ Ekugcineni, ekugcwalisekeni kwesithembiso soMbuso esenziwa e-Edene, uKristu, kanye nabafowabo abavusiwe abangokomoya, ulichoboza ngokuphelele ikhanda leNyoka. Lihle ngempela ithemba lovuko lalabo abazohlanganyela ukungaboli noKristu Jesu eMbusweni wasezulwini. UPawulu uyala ngesisekelo sethemba lovuko ukuthi: “Ngakho-ke, bazalwane bami abathandekayo, yibani-ngabagxilile, abangaxegiyo, abavamé njalo emsebenzini weNkosi, nazi ukuthi ukusebenza kwenu akusilo ize eNkosini.”​—⁠1 Kor. 15:​20-28, 58; Gen. 3:15; Roma 16:⁠20.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]