1, 2. Obani abathatha uhambo olusuka eFilipi luya eThesalonika, futhi yini okungenzeka isezingqondweni zabo?

UMGWAQO obhudulekile owakhiwa onjiniyela abangongoti baseRoma unqamula ezintabeni ezimazombezombe. Kuye kuzwakale imisindo ehlukahlukene kulo mgwaqo—ukukhala kwezimbongolo, ubukhehlekhehle bamasondo ezinqola zamahhashi nokuchwaza kwabantu, okungenzeka bahlanganisa amasosha, abathengisi nezingcweti zemisebenzi yezandla. Abangane abathathu—uPawulu, uSila noThimothewu—bahamba kulo mgwaqo amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-130, besuka eFilipi beya eThesalonika. Lolu hambo lunzima ikakhulukazi kuPawulu noSila. Basenamanxeba okushaywa ngezinduku abawathole eFilipi.—IzE. 16:22, 23.

² La madoda aluziba kanjani lolu hambo olude olusawamele? Njengoba ehamba, ayaxoxa. Asakhumbula okwenzekile okuvusa amadlingozi kwaseFilipi komgcini wejele nomndeni wakhe ababe amakholwa. Leso senzakalo senze lezi zithunywa zevangeli zazimisela nakakhulu ukuqhubeka zimemezela izwi likaNkulunkulu. Nokho, njengoba zisondela edolobheni laseThesalonika elisogwini, kungenzeka ziyazibuza ukuthi kazi amaJuda akuleli dolobha azoziphatha kanjani. Ingabe zizohlaselwa, zize zishaywe njengaseFilipi?

 3. Isibonelo sikaPawulu sokuqunga isibindi singasisiza kanjani namuhla?

³ Kamuva uPawulu waveza imizwa yakhe encwadini ayibhalela amaKristu eThesalonika: “Nakuba saqale sahlupheka futhi seyiswa eFilipi, njengoba nje nazi, saqunga isibindi ngoNkulunkulu wethu ukuze sinitshele izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu naphezu kokuphikiswa okukhulu.” (1 Thes. 2:2) Kubonakala sengathi uPawulu wayemathintanyawo ukungena edolobheni laseThesalonika, ikakhulukazi ngemva kwesigameko saseFilipi. Ingabe uyayiqonda indlela uPawulu ayezizwa ngayo? Kuke kwenzeke yini ukuthole kunzima ukumemezela izindaba ezinhle? UPawulu wancika kuJehova ukuba amqinise, amsize aqunge isibindi ayesidinga. Ukufunda ngesibonelo sikaPawulu kungakusiza nawe ukuba wenze okufanayo.—1 Kor. 4:16.

 4. Kungani kubonakala sengathi uPawulu wahlala amasonto angaphezu kwamathathu eThesalonika?

⁴ Ukulandisa kusitshela ukuthi lapho uPawulu eseThesalonika, washumayela esinagogeni amaSabatha amathathu. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi wahlala kuleli dolobha amasonto amathathu nje kuphela? Cha. Asazi ukuthi uPawulu waya esinagogeni ngemva kwesikhathi esingakanani ekuleli dolobha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izincwadi zikaPawulu zibonisa ukuthi lapho eseThesalonika, yena nayekanye nabo basebenza ukuze bazisekele. (1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:7, 8) Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, uPawulu wazithola kabili izinto ayezidinga zivela kubazalwane baseFilipi. (Fil. 4:16) Ngakho, cishe wahlala isikhathi esingaphezu kwamasonto amathathu eThesalonika.

 5. UPawulu wabashukumisa kanjani abantu?

⁵ Esequnge isibindi sokushumayela, uPawulu wakhuluma nalabo ababesesinagogeni. Ngokwenqubo yakhe, “wabonisana nabo ngemiBhalo . . . , echaza futhi ebonisa ngezinto ezilotshiwe ukuthi kwakudingekile ukuba uKristu ahlupheke futhi avuke kwabafile, ethi: ‘Lona nguye uKristu, lo Jesu engimmemezela kini.’” (IzE. 17:2, 3) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu wayengafuni ukwenza izilaleli zakhe zithatheke; washukumisa izingqondo zazo. Wayazi ukuthi abantu ababesesinagogeni babeyazi futhi beyihlonipha imiBhalo kodwa bengayiqondi. Ngakho uPawulu wabonisana nabo, wabachazela futhi wafakazela ngemiBhalo ukuthi uJesu waseNazaretha wayenguMesiya othenjisiwe, noma uKristu.

 6. UJesu wayisebenzisa kanjani imiBhalo, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

⁶ UPawulu walandela isibonelo sikaJesu, owasekela izimfundiso zakhe emiBhalweni. Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yasobala, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ngokwemiBhalo, iNdodana yomuntu kumelwe ihlupheke, ife futhi ivuswe kwabafile. (Math. 16:21) Lapho esevusiwe, uJesu wabonakala kubafundi bakhe. Ngokuqinisekile lokho nje kukodwa kwabonisa ukuthi wayekhulume iqiniso. Nokho, uJesu wabanikeza okungaphezu kwalokho. Mayelana nalokho akutshela abanye abafundi, siyafunda: “Eqala kuMose nakubo bonke abaProfethi, wabachazela izinto eziphathelene naye kuyo yonke imiBhalo.” Kwaba namuphi umphumela? Abafundi bathi: “Izinhliziyo zethu bezingavuthi yini njengoba ebekhuluma nathi endleleni, njengoba ebesikhanyisela imiBhalo ngokugcwele?”—Luka 24:13, 27, 32.

 7. Kungani kubalulekile ukusekela izimfundiso zethu emiBhalweni?

⁷ Isigijimi seZwi likaNkulunkulu sinamandla. (Heb. 4:12) Yingakho amaKristu namuhla esekela izimfundiso zawo kulo, njengoba kwenza uJesu, uPawulu nabanye abaphostoli. Nathi sibonisana nabantu, sichaze okushiwo imiBhalo futhi sinikeze ubufakazi balokho esikufundisayo ngokuvula iBhayibheli sibonise abaninikhaya elikushoyo. Phela isigijimi esisishumayelayo akusona esethu. Ngokulisebenzisa njalo iBhayibheli, sisiza abantu baqonde ukuthi simemezela izimfundiso zikaNkulunkulu hhayi imicabango yethu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuhle sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi isigijimi esisishumayelayo sisekelwe eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Sithembeke ngokuphelele. Ukwazi lokhu akukwenzi yini ufune ukusihlanganyela nabanye ngesibindi, njengoba kwenza uPawulu?

8-10. (a) Abantu baseThesalonika basabela kanjani ezindabeni ezinhle? (b) Kungani amanye amaJuda amfela umona uPawulu? (c) Benzani abaphikisi abangamaJuda?

⁸ UPawulu wayesekubonile ukuba yiqiniso kwamazwi kaJesu athi: “Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo. Uma mina bengishushisile, bayonishushisa nani; uma beligcinile izwi lami, bayoligcina nelenu.” (Joh. 15:20) EThesalonika uPawulu wathola lokho kusabela okungefani—abanye babezimisele ukulalela izwi, abanye balenqaba. Mayelana nalabo abasabela kahle, uLuka uyabhala: “Abanye kubo [amaJuda] baba amakholwa [amaKristu], bazihlanganisa noPawulu noSila, kanye noquqaba olukhulu lwamaGreki olwalukhonza uNkulunkulu, nabaningana kwabesifazane abavelele benza kanjalo.” (IzE. 17:4) Ngokuqinisekile laba bafundi abasha bakuthokozela ukuchazelwa imiBhalo.

⁹ Nakuba abanye babewazisa amazwi kaPawulu, abanye bamthukuthelela. Amanye amaJuda eThesalonika amfela umona uPawulu ngenxa yokuphumelela kwakhe ukusiza ‘uquqaba olukhulu lwamaGreki’ ukuba lube amakholwa. Lawo maJuda, ezimisele ukwenza amaJuda angamaproselithe, ayefundise abeZizwe abangamaGreki izimfundiso zemiBhalo yesiHebheru futhi ayesebheka lawo maGreki njengawawo. Nokho, kwabonakala sengathi uPawulu useyabephuca la maGreki, khona kanye esinagogeni! AmaJuda athukuthela agan’ unwabu.

¹⁰ ULuka usitshela okwalandela: “AmaJuda, eba nomona, aqoqela ndawonye amadoda athile akhohlakele ayezulazula emakethe akha iviyo, benza kwaba nesiyaluyalu edolobheni. Bahlasela umuzi kaJasoni befuna ukuba uPawulu noSila balethwe phambi kweviyo. Lapho bengabatholi, bahudulela uJasoni nabanye abazalwane babayisa kubabusi bedolobha, bememeza bethi: ‘La madoda adale izinkinga yonke indawo asefikile nalapha, uJasoni uwamukele aba izivakashi zakhe. Wonke la madoda enza izinto eziphikisana nezinqumo zikaKhesari, ethi kukhona enye inkosi, uJesu.’” (IzE. 17:5-7) Ukuhlaselwa yileli viyo kwakuzomthinta kanjani uPawulu nayehamba nabo?

11. Yimaphi amacala abekwa uPawulu nabamemezeli boMbuso ayekanye nabo, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi abamangaleli babecabanga ngamuphi umthetho? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

¹¹ Iviyo lezixhwanguxhwangu liyingozi. Lithukuthela kuhle komfula odla izindwani—linolaka futhi alinqandeki. AmaJuda asebenzisa lesi sikhali ezama ukubulala uPawulu noSila. Ngemva kokuba amaJuda ebangele ‘isiyaluyalu’ edolobheni, azama ukukholisa ababusi ukuthi amacala ayebekwe la madoda ayemabi kakhulu. Icala lokuqala kwakungelokuthi uPawulu nabamemezeli boMbuso ayekanye nabo ‘badala izinkinga yonke indawo,’ nakuba uPawulu nayehamba nabo bengazange babangele siyaluyalu eThesalonika! Icala lesibili lalilibi nakakhulu. AmaJuda athi izithunywa zevangeli zimemezela enye iNkosi, uJesu, futhi ngokwenza kanjalo zeqa imithetho yombusi.a

12. Yini ebonisa ukuthi amacala ayebekwe amaKristu eThesalonika ayengaba nemiphumela emibi?

¹² Khumbula ukuthi abaholi benkolo babeka uJesu icala elifanayo. Bathi kuPilatu: “Lo muntu simthole edukisa isizwe sakithi . . . ethi yena ngokwakhe unguKristu inkosi.” (Luka 23:2) Mhlawumbe esaba ukuthi umbusi angase aphethe ngokuthi uyakuvuna ukuvukela umbuso, uPilatu wavuma ukuba uJesu abulawe. Ngokufanayo, amacala ayebekwe amaKristu eThesalonika ayengaba nemiphumela emibi ngendlela efanayo. Enye incwadi ithi: “Asenzi ihaba uma sithi lokhu kwawabeka engozini enkulu, ngoba ‘ukusikisela nje ukuvukela abaBusi kwakuvame ukuphumela ekubulaweni komangalelwe.’” Ingabe lokhu kuhlasela okunenzondo kwakuzophumelela?

13, 14. (a) Kungani iviyo lingazange liphumelele ekuhlaseleni kwalo? (b) UPawulu wakubonisa kanjani ukuqapha okunjengokukaKristu, futhi singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?

¹³ Leli viyo lehluleka ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela eThesalonika. Kungani? Phakathi kokunye, alizange limthole uPawulu noSila. Ngaphezu kwalokho, cishe ababusi bedolobha babengagculisekile ngokuba yiqiniso kwalawo macala. Lapho sebethole “imali yebheyili,” bamkhulula uJasoni nabanye abazalwane ababemangalelwe naye. (IzE. 17:8, 9) Elalela iseluleko sikaJesu sokuba ‘abaqaphe njengezinyoka nabamsulwa njengamajuba,’ uPawulu wayibalekela ngokuhlakanipha ingozi ukuze akwazi ukuqhubeka eshumayela kwenye indawo. (Math. 10:16) Ngokusobala, ukuqunga kukaPawulu isibindi kwakungasho ukuba budedengu. AmaKristu namuhla angasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?

¹⁴ Ezikhathini zanamuhla, abaholi beLobukholwa baye baqhatha amaviyo ezixhwanguxhwangu noFakazi BakaJehova. Baye bakhalaza kubabusi ngokuthi oFakazi baphikisana negunya futhi bayavukela. Njengalabo bashushisi bekhulu lokuqala, abaphikisi namuhla baqhutshwa umona. AmaKristu eqiniso awayesheli ingozi. Uma kungenzeka, siyagwema ukuhilizisana nabantu abathukuthele nabangenangqondo, sizame ukuqhubeka sishumayela ngokuthula, mhlawumbe sibuye ngesinye isikhathi lapho isimo sesithé damu.

15. AbaseBhereya basabela kanjani ezindabeni ezinhle?

¹⁵ Ukuze baphephe, uPawulu noSila bathunyelwa eBhereya eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-65. Lapho befika, uPawulu wahamba wayokhuluma nababesesinagogeni. Yeka indlela ajabula ngayo lapho ethola izilaleli ezinesithakazelo! ULuka wabhala ukuthi amaJuda aseBhereya ‘ayenengqondo enhle kunawaseThesalonika, ngoba amukela izwi ngengqondo enokulangazela okukhulu, ehlola ngokucophelela imiBhalo nsuku zonke ukuze athole ukuthi zinjalo yini lezi zinto.’ (IzE. 17:10, 11) Ingabe lawo mazwi ayegxeka abaseThesalonika ababamukele iqiniso? Lutho! Kamuva uPawulu wabalobela: “Simbonga singayeki uNkulunkulu, ngoba ngesikhathi namukela izwi likaNkulunkulu, enalizwa ngathi, anilamukelanga njengezwi labantu kodwa njengezwi likaNkulunkulu, njengoba nje liyilo ngempela, okuyilona elisebenzayo futhi kini nina makholwa.” (1 Thes. 2:13) Yini eyenza lawo maJuda aseBhereya aba nengqondo enhle?

16. Kungani abaseBhereya bechazwa kufanele ngokuthi “babenengqondo enhle”?

¹⁶ Nakuba kwakukusha lokho abaseBhereya ababekuzwa, abazange bakungabaze noma bakugxeke; bengazange futhi bathatheke. Okokuqala, bakulalela ngokucophelela lokho ayekusho uPawulu. Babebe sebekuhlola ababekufundile ngokuvula imiBhalo, leyo uPawulu ayebacacisele yona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, babelitadisha ngenkuthalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu, hhayi nje ngeSabatha kuphela kodwa nsuku zonke. Babetadisha “ngengqondo enokulangazela” okukhulu, bezinikela ekutholeni lokho okushiwo imiBhalo ngale mfundiso entsha. Babethobeke ngokwanele ukuba benze izinguquko, ngoba “abaningi kubo baba amakholwa.” (IzE. 17:12) Yingakho uLuka ethi “babenengqondo enhle”!

17. Kungani isibonelo sabaseBhereya sincomeka kangaka, futhi singaqhubeka kanjani sisilingisa ngisho nangemva kwesikhathi eside singamakholwa?

¹⁷ AbaseBhereya babengazi ukuthi umlando wokusabela kwabo ezindabeni ezinhle wawuzogcinwa eZwini likaNkulunkulu njengesibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuba nengqondo enhle ngezinto ezingokomoya. Benza lokho kanye uPawulu ayethemba ukuthi bazokwenza nalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu ayefuna bakwenze. Ngokufanayo, yilokho nathi esikhuthaza abantu ukuba bakwenze—bahlole iBhayibheli ngokucophelela ukuze ukholo lwabo lusekelwe ngokuqinile eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Nokho, uma sesingamakholwa, ingabe isidingo sokuba nengqondo enhle siyaphela? Cha, kunalokho kubaluleka nakakhulu ukuba silangazelele ukufundiswa uJehova futhi sisheshe ukusebenzisa asifundisa khona. Ngaleyo ndlela, sivumela uJehova ukuba asibumbe futhi asiqeqeshe ngokwentando yakhe. (Isaya 64:8) Kanjalo, uBaba wethu osezulwini uyohlala esisebenzisa futhi ejabula ngathi.

18, 19. (a) Kungani uPawulu ahamba eBhereya, nokho wakubonisa kanjani ukuphikelela okufanelwe ukulingiswa? (b) Obani uPawulu ayesezobashumayeza, futhi kuphi?

¹⁸ UPawulu akahlalanga isikhathi eside eBhereya. Siyafunda: “Lapho amaJuda aseThesalonika ezwa ukuthi uPawulu wayememezela izwi likaNkulunkulu naseBhereya, aya khona ukuze abaxabanise nesixuku. Ngokushesha abazalwane babe sebethumela uPawulu olwandle, kodwa uSila noThimothewu basala lapho. Nokho, labo ababephelezela uPawulu bahamba naye baze bafika e-Athene, bahamba ngemva kokuthola iziqondiso ezithi uSila noThimothewu kufanele beze kuPawulu ngokushesha okukhulu.” (IzE. 17:13-15) Baze bayisicefe labo baphikisi bezindaba ezinhle! Kwakunganele ukuxosha uPawulu eThesalonika; baya naseBhereya bazama ukudala isiyaluyalu esifanayo—kodwa behluleka. UPawulu wayazi ukuthi insimu yakhe ibanzi; wamane wasuka wayoshumayela kwenye indawo. Kwangathi nathi namuhla singazimisela ngendlela efanayo ukubhuntshisa imizamo yalabo abafuna ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela!

¹⁹ Esenikeze ubufakazi obuphelele kumaJuda eThesalonika naseBhereya, ngokuqinisekile uPawulu wayesefunde lukhulu ngokubaluleka kokufakaza ngesibindi nangokubonisana nabantu ngemiBhalo. Nathi sikufundile. Manje uPawulu wayesezoshumayeza izilaleli ezihlukile—abeZizwe base-Athene. Kwakuzomhambela kanjani kulelo dolobha? Sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo.

1, 2. Obani abathatha uhambo olusuka eFilipi luya eThesalonika, futhi yini okungenzeka isezingqondweni zabo?

UMGWAQO obhudulekile owakhiwa onjiniyela abangongoti baseRoma unqamula ezintabeni ezimazombezombe. Kuye kuzwakale imisindo ehlukahlukene kulo mgwaqo—ukukhala kwezimbongolo, ubukhehlekhehle bamasondo ezinqola zamahhashi nokuchwaza kwabantu, okungenzeka bahlanganisa amasosha, abathengisi nezingcweti zemisebenzi yezandla. Abangane abathathu—uPawulu, uSila noThimothewu—bahamba kulo mgwaqo amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-130, besuka eFilipi beya eThesalonika. Lolu hambo lunzima ikakhulukazi kuPawulu noSila. Basenamanxeba okushaywa ngezinduku abawathole eFilipi.—IzE. 16:22, 23.

² La madoda aluziba kanjani lolu hambo olude olusawamele? Njengoba ehamba, ayaxoxa. Asakhumbula okwenzekile okuvusa amadlingozi kwaseFilipi komgcini wejele nomndeni wakhe ababe amakholwa. Leso senzakalo senze lezi zithunywa zevangeli zazimisela nakakhulu ukuqhubeka zimemezela izwi likaNkulunkulu. Nokho, njengoba zisondela edolobheni laseThesalonika elisogwini, kungenzeka ziyazibuza ukuthi kazi amaJuda akuleli dolobha azoziphatha kanjani. Ingabe zizohlaselwa, zize zishaywe njengaseFilipi?

 3. Isibonelo sikaPawulu sokuqunga isibindi singasisiza kanjani namuhla?

³ Kamuva uPawulu waveza imizwa yakhe encwadini ayibhalela amaKristu eThesalonika: “Nakuba saqale sahlupheka futhi seyiswa eFilipi, njengoba nje nazi, saqunga isibindi ngoNkulunkulu wethu ukuze sinitshele izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu naphezu kokuphikiswa okukhulu.” (1 Thes. 2:2) Kubonakala sengathi uPawulu wayemathintanyawo ukungena edolobheni laseThesalonika, ikakhulukazi ngemva kwesigameko saseFilipi. Ingabe uyayiqonda indlela uPawulu ayezizwa ngayo? Kuke kwenzeke yini ukuthole kunzima ukumemezela izindaba ezinhle? UPawulu wancika kuJehova ukuba amqinise, amsize aqunge isibindi ayesidinga. Ukufunda ngesibonelo sikaPawulu kungakusiza nawe ukuba wenze okufanayo.—1 Kor. 4:16.

 4. Kungani kubonakala sengathi uPawulu wahlala amasonto angaphezu kwamathathu eThesalonika?

⁴ Ukulandisa kusitshela ukuthi lapho uPawulu eseThesalonika, washumayela esinagogeni amaSabatha amathathu. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi wahlala kuleli dolobha amasonto amathathu nje kuphela? Cha. Asazi ukuthi uPawulu waya esinagogeni ngemva kwesikhathi esingakanani ekuleli dolobha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izincwadi zikaPawulu zibonisa ukuthi lapho eseThesalonika, yena nayekanye nabo basebenza ukuze bazisekele. (1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:7, 8) Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, uPawulu wazithola kabili izinto ayezidinga zivela kubazalwane baseFilipi. (Fil. 4:16) Ngakho, cishe wahlala isikhathi esingaphezu kwamasonto amathathu eThesalonika.

 5. UPawulu wabashukumisa kanjani abantu?

⁵ Esequnge isibindi sokushumayela, uPawulu wakhuluma nalabo ababesesinagogeni. Ngokwenqubo yakhe, “wabonisana nabo ngemiBhalo . . . , echaza futhi ebonisa ngezinto ezilotshiwe ukuthi kwakudingekile ukuba uKristu ahlupheke futhi avuke kwabafile, ethi: ‘Lona nguye uKristu, lo Jesu engimmemezela kini.’” (IzE. 17:2, 3) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu wayengafuni ukwenza izilaleli zakhe zithatheke; washukumisa izingqondo zazo. Wayazi ukuthi abantu ababesesinagogeni babeyazi futhi beyihlonipha imiBhalo kodwa bengayiqondi. Ngakho uPawulu wabonisana nabo, wabachazela futhi wafakazela ngemiBhalo ukuthi uJesu waseNazaretha wayenguMesiya othenjisiwe, noma uKristu.

 6. UJesu wayisebenzisa kanjani imiBhalo, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

⁶ UPawulu walandela isibonelo sikaJesu, owasekela izimfundiso zakhe emiBhalweni. Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yasobala, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ngokwemiBhalo, iNdodana yomuntu kumelwe ihlupheke, ife futhi ivuswe kwabafile. (Math. 16:21) Lapho esevusiwe, uJesu wabonakala kubafundi bakhe. Ngokuqinisekile lokho nje kukodwa kwabonisa ukuthi wayekhulume iqiniso. Nokho, uJesu wabanikeza okungaphezu kwalokho. Mayelana nalokho akutshela abanye abafundi, siyafunda: “Eqala kuMose nakubo bonke abaProfethi, wabachazela izinto eziphathelene naye kuyo yonke imiBhalo.” Kwaba namuphi umphumela? Abafundi bathi: “Izinhliziyo zethu bezingavuthi yini njengoba ebekhuluma nathi endleleni, njengoba ebesikhanyisela imiBhalo ngokugcwele?”—Luka 24:13, 27, 32.

 7. Kungani kubalulekile ukusekela izimfundiso zethu emiBhalweni?

⁷ Isigijimi seZwi likaNkulunkulu sinamandla. (Heb. 4:12) Yingakho amaKristu namuhla esekela izimfundiso zawo kulo, njengoba kwenza uJesu, uPawulu nabanye abaphostoli. Nathi sibonisana nabantu, sichaze okushiwo imiBhalo futhi sinikeze ubufakazi balokho esikufundisayo ngokuvula iBhayibheli sibonise abaninikhaya elikushoyo. Phela isigijimi esisishumayelayo akusona esethu. Ngokulisebenzisa njalo iBhayibheli, sisiza abantu baqonde ukuthi simemezela izimfundiso zikaNkulunkulu hhayi imicabango yethu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuhle sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi isigijimi esisishumayelayo sisekelwe eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Sithembeke ngokuphelele. Ukwazi lokhu akukwenzi yini ufune ukusihlanganyela nabanye ngesibindi, njengoba kwenza uPawulu?

8-10. (a) Abantu baseThesalonika basabela kanjani ezindabeni ezinhle? (b) Kungani amanye amaJuda amfela umona uPawulu? (c) Benzani abaphikisi abangamaJuda?

⁸ UPawulu wayesekubonile ukuba yiqiniso kwamazwi kaJesu athi: “Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo. Uma mina bengishushisile, bayonishushisa nani; uma beligcinile izwi lami, bayoligcina nelenu.” (Joh. 15:20) EThesalonika uPawulu wathola lokho kusabela okungefani—abanye babezimisele ukulalela izwi, abanye balenqaba. Mayelana nalabo abasabela kahle, uLuka uyabhala: “Abanye kubo [amaJuda] baba amakholwa [amaKristu], bazihlanganisa noPawulu noSila, kanye noquqaba olukhulu lwamaGreki olwalukhonza uNkulunkulu, nabaningana kwabesifazane abavelele benza kanjalo.” (IzE. 17:4) Ngokuqinisekile laba bafundi abasha bakuthokozela ukuchazelwa imiBhalo.

⁹ Nakuba abanye babewazisa amazwi kaPawulu, abanye bamthukuthelela. Amanye amaJuda eThesalonika amfela umona uPawulu ngenxa yokuphumelela kwakhe ukusiza ‘uquqaba olukhulu lwamaGreki’ ukuba lube amakholwa. Lawo maJuda, ezimisele ukwenza amaJuda angamaproselithe, ayefundise abeZizwe abangamaGreki izimfundiso zemiBhalo yesiHebheru futhi ayesebheka lawo maGreki njengawawo. Nokho, kwabonakala sengathi uPawulu useyabephuca la maGreki, khona kanye esinagogeni! AmaJuda athukuthela agan’ unwabu.

¹⁰ ULuka usitshela okwalandela: “AmaJuda, eba nomona, aqoqela ndawonye amadoda athile akhohlakele ayezulazula emakethe akha iviyo, benza kwaba nesiyaluyalu edolobheni. Bahlasela umuzi kaJasoni befuna ukuba uPawulu noSila balethwe phambi kweviyo. Lapho bengabatholi, bahudulela uJasoni nabanye abazalwane babayisa kubabusi bedolobha, bememeza bethi: ‘La madoda adale izinkinga yonke indawo asefikile nalapha, uJasoni uwamukele aba izivakashi zakhe. Wonke la madoda enza izinto eziphikisana nezinqumo zikaKhesari, ethi kukhona enye inkosi, uJesu.’” (IzE. 17:5-7) Ukuhlaselwa yileli viyo kwakuzomthinta kanjani uPawulu nayehamba nabo?

11. Yimaphi amacala abekwa uPawulu nabamemezeli boMbuso ayekanye nabo, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi abamangaleli babecabanga ngamuphi umthetho? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

¹¹ Iviyo lezixhwanguxhwangu liyingozi. Lithukuthela kuhle komfula odla izindwani—linolaka futhi alinqandeki. AmaJuda asebenzisa lesi sikhali ezama ukubulala uPawulu noSila. Ngemva kokuba amaJuda ebangele ‘isiyaluyalu’ edolobheni, azama ukukholisa ababusi ukuthi amacala ayebekwe la madoda ayemabi kakhulu. Icala lokuqala kwakungelokuthi uPawulu nabamemezeli boMbuso ayekanye nabo ‘badala izinkinga yonke indawo,’ nakuba uPawulu nayehamba nabo bengazange babangele siyaluyalu eThesalonika! Icala lesibili lalilibi nakakhulu. AmaJuda athi izithunywa zevangeli zimemezela enye iNkosi, uJesu, futhi ngokwenza kanjalo zeqa imithetho yombusi.a

12. Yini ebonisa ukuthi amacala ayebekwe amaKristu eThesalonika ayengaba nemiphumela emibi?

¹² Khumbula ukuthi abaholi benkolo babeka uJesu icala elifanayo. Bathi kuPilatu: “Lo muntu simthole edukisa isizwe sakithi . . . ethi yena ngokwakhe unguKristu inkosi.” (Luka 23:2) Mhlawumbe esaba ukuthi umbusi angase aphethe ngokuthi uyakuvuna ukuvukela umbuso, uPilatu wavuma ukuba uJesu abulawe. Ngokufanayo, amacala ayebekwe amaKristu eThesalonika ayengaba nemiphumela emibi ngendlela efanayo. Enye incwadi ithi: “Asenzi ihaba uma sithi lokhu kwawabeka engozini enkulu, ngoba ‘ukusikisela nje ukuvukela abaBusi kwakuvame ukuphumela ekubulaweni komangalelwe.’” Ingabe lokhu kuhlasela okunenzondo kwakuzophumelela?

13, 14. (a) Kungani iviyo lingazange liphumelele ekuhlaseleni kwalo? (b) UPawulu wakubonisa kanjani ukuqapha okunjengokukaKristu, futhi singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?

¹³ Leli viyo lehluleka ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela eThesalonika. Kungani? Phakathi kokunye, alizange limthole uPawulu noSila. Ngaphezu kwalokho, cishe ababusi bedolobha babengagculisekile ngokuba yiqiniso kwalawo macala. Lapho sebethole “imali yebheyili,” bamkhulula uJasoni nabanye abazalwane ababemangalelwe naye. (IzE. 17:8, 9) Elalela iseluleko sikaJesu sokuba ‘abaqaphe njengezinyoka nabamsulwa njengamajuba,’ uPawulu wayibalekela ngokuhlakanipha ingozi ukuze akwazi ukuqhubeka eshumayela kwenye indawo. (Math. 10:16) Ngokusobala, ukuqunga kukaPawulu isibindi kwakungasho ukuba budedengu. AmaKristu namuhla angasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?

¹⁴ Ezikhathini zanamuhla, abaholi beLobukholwa baye baqhatha amaviyo ezixhwanguxhwangu noFakazi BakaJehova. Baye bakhalaza kubabusi ngokuthi oFakazi baphikisana negunya futhi bayavukela. Njengalabo bashushisi bekhulu lokuqala, abaphikisi namuhla baqhutshwa umona. AmaKristu eqiniso awayesheli ingozi. Uma kungenzeka, siyagwema ukuhilizisana nabantu abathukuthele nabangenangqondo, sizame ukuqhubeka sishumayela ngokuthula, mhlawumbe sibuye ngesinye isikhathi lapho isimo sesithé damu.

15. AbaseBhereya basabela kanjani ezindabeni ezinhle?

¹⁵ Ukuze baphephe, uPawulu noSila bathunyelwa eBhereya eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-65. Lapho befika, uPawulu wahamba wayokhuluma nababesesinagogeni. Yeka indlela ajabula ngayo lapho ethola izilaleli ezinesithakazelo! ULuka wabhala ukuthi amaJuda aseBhereya ‘ayenengqondo enhle kunawaseThesalonika, ngoba amukela izwi ngengqondo enokulangazela okukhulu, ehlola ngokucophelela imiBhalo nsuku zonke ukuze athole ukuthi zinjalo yini lezi zinto.’ (IzE. 17:10, 11) Ingabe lawo mazwi ayegxeka abaseThesalonika ababamukele iqiniso? Lutho! Kamuva uPawulu wabalobela: “Simbonga singayeki uNkulunkulu, ngoba ngesikhathi namukela izwi likaNkulunkulu, enalizwa ngathi, anilamukelanga njengezwi labantu kodwa njengezwi likaNkulunkulu, njengoba nje liyilo ngempela, okuyilona elisebenzayo futhi kini nina makholwa.” (1 Thes. 2:13) Yini eyenza lawo maJuda aseBhereya aba nengqondo enhle?

16. Kungani abaseBhereya bechazwa kufanele ngokuthi “babenengqondo enhle”?

¹⁶ Nakuba kwakukusha lokho abaseBhereya ababekuzwa, abazange bakungabaze noma bakugxeke; bengazange futhi bathatheke. Okokuqala, bakulalela ngokucophelela lokho ayekusho uPawulu. Babebe sebekuhlola ababekufundile ngokuvula imiBhalo, leyo uPawulu ayebacacisele yona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, babelitadisha ngenkuthalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu, hhayi nje ngeSabatha kuphela kodwa nsuku zonke. Babetadisha “ngengqondo enokulangazela” okukhulu, bezinikela ekutholeni lokho okushiwo imiBhalo ngale mfundiso entsha. Babethobeke ngokwanele ukuba benze izinguquko, ngoba “abaningi kubo baba amakholwa.” (IzE. 17:12) Yingakho uLuka ethi “babenengqondo enhle”!

17. Kungani isibonelo sabaseBhereya sincomeka kangaka, futhi singaqhubeka kanjani sisilingisa ngisho nangemva kwesikhathi eside singamakholwa?

¹⁷ AbaseBhereya babengazi ukuthi umlando wokusabela kwabo ezindabeni ezinhle wawuzogcinwa eZwini likaNkulunkulu njengesibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuba nengqondo enhle ngezinto ezingokomoya. Benza lokho kanye uPawulu ayethemba ukuthi bazokwenza nalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu ayefuna bakwenze. Ngokufanayo, yilokho nathi esikhuthaza abantu ukuba bakwenze—bahlole iBhayibheli ngokucophelela ukuze ukholo lwabo lusekelwe ngokuqinile eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Nokho, uma sesingamakholwa, ingabe isidingo sokuba nengqondo enhle siyaphela? Cha, kunalokho kubaluleka nakakhulu ukuba silangazelele ukufundiswa uJehova futhi sisheshe ukusebenzisa asifundisa khona. Ngaleyo ndlela, sivumela uJehova ukuba asibumbe futhi asiqeqeshe ngokwentando yakhe. (Isaya 64:8) Kanjalo, uBaba wethu osezulwini uyohlala esisebenzisa futhi ejabula ngathi.

18, 19. (a) Kungani uPawulu ahamba eBhereya, nokho wakubonisa kanjani ukuphikelela okufanelwe ukulingiswa? (b) Obani uPawulu ayesezobashumayeza, futhi kuphi?

¹⁸ UPawulu akahlalanga isikhathi eside eBhereya. Siyafunda: “Lapho amaJuda aseThesalonika ezwa ukuthi uPawulu wayememezela izwi likaNkulunkulu naseBhereya, aya khona ukuze abaxabanise nesixuku. Ngokushesha abazalwane babe sebethumela uPawulu olwandle, kodwa uSila noThimothewu basala lapho. Nokho, labo ababephelezela uPawulu bahamba naye baze bafika e-Athene, bahamba ngemva kokuthola iziqondiso ezithi uSila noThimothewu kufanele beze kuPawulu ngokushesha okukhulu.” (IzE. 17:13-15) Baze bayisicefe labo baphikisi bezindaba ezinhle! Kwakunganele ukuxosha uPawulu eThesalonika; baya naseBhereya bazama ukudala isiyaluyalu esifanayo—kodwa behluleka. UPawulu wayazi ukuthi insimu yakhe ibanzi; wamane wasuka wayoshumayela kwenye indawo. Kwangathi nathi namuhla singazimisela ngendlela efanayo ukubhuntshisa imizamo yalabo abafuna ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela!

¹⁹ Esenikeze ubufakazi obuphelele kumaJuda eThesalonika naseBhereya, ngokuqinisekile uPawulu wayesefunde lukhulu ngokubaluleka kokufakaza ngesibindi nangokubonisana nabantu ngemiBhalo. Nathi sikufundile. Manje uPawulu wayesezoshumayeza izilaleli ezihlukile—abeZizwe base-Athene. Kwakuzomhambela kanjani kulelo dolobha? Sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo.

1, 2. Obani abathatha uhambo olusuka eFilipi luya eThesalonika, futhi yini okungenzeka isezingqondweni zabo?

UMGWAQO obhudulekile owakhiwa onjiniyela abangongoti baseRoma unqamula ezintabeni ezimazombezombe. Kuye kuzwakale imisindo ehlukahlukene kulo mgwaqo—ukukhala kwezimbongolo, ubukhehlekhehle bamasondo ezinqola zamahhashi nokuchwaza kwabantu, okungenzeka bahlanganisa amasosha, abathengisi nezingcweti zemisebenzi yezandla. Abangane abathathu—uPawulu, uSila noThimothewu—bahamba kulo mgwaqo amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-130, besuka eFilipi beya eThesalonika. Lolu hambo lunzima ikakhulukazi kuPawulu noSila. Basenamanxeba okushaywa ngezinduku abawathole eFilipi.—IzE. 16:22, 23.

² La madoda aluziba kanjani lolu hambo olude olusawamele? Njengoba ehamba, ayaxoxa. Asakhumbula okwenzekile okuvusa amadlingozi kwaseFilipi komgcini wejele nomndeni wakhe ababe amakholwa. Leso senzakalo senze lezi zithunywa zevangeli zazimisela nakakhulu ukuqhubeka zimemezela izwi likaNkulunkulu. Nokho, njengoba zisondela edolobheni laseThesalonika elisogwini, kungenzeka ziyazibuza ukuthi kazi amaJuda akuleli dolobha azoziphatha kanjani. Ingabe zizohlaselwa, zize zishaywe njengaseFilipi?

 3. Isibonelo sikaPawulu sokuqunga isibindi singasisiza kanjani namuhla?

³ Kamuva uPawulu waveza imizwa yakhe encwadini ayibhalela amaKristu eThesalonika: “Nakuba saqale sahlupheka futhi seyiswa eFilipi, njengoba nje nazi, saqunga isibindi ngoNkulunkulu wethu ukuze sinitshele izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu naphezu kokuphikiswa okukhulu.” (1 Thes. 2:2) Kubonakala sengathi uPawulu wayemathintanyawo ukungena edolobheni laseThesalonika, ikakhulukazi ngemva kwesigameko saseFilipi. Ingabe uyayiqonda indlela uPawulu ayezizwa ngayo? Kuke kwenzeke yini ukuthole kunzima ukumemezela izindaba ezinhle? UPawulu wancika kuJehova ukuba amqinise, amsize aqunge isibindi ayesidinga. Ukufunda ngesibonelo sikaPawulu kungakusiza nawe ukuba wenze okufanayo.—1 Kor. 4:16.

 4. Kungani kubonakala sengathi uPawulu wahlala amasonto angaphezu kwamathathu eThesalonika?

⁴ Ukulandisa kusitshela ukuthi lapho uPawulu eseThesalonika, washumayela esinagogeni amaSabatha amathathu. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi wahlala kuleli dolobha amasonto amathathu nje kuphela? Cha. Asazi ukuthi uPawulu waya esinagogeni ngemva kwesikhathi esingakanani ekuleli dolobha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izincwadi zikaPawulu zibonisa ukuthi lapho eseThesalonika, yena nayekanye nabo basebenza ukuze bazisekele. (1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:7, 8) Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, uPawulu wazithola kabili izinto ayezidinga zivela kubazalwane baseFilipi. (Fil. 4:16) Ngakho, cishe wahlala isikhathi esingaphezu kwamasonto amathathu eThesalonika.

 5. UPawulu wabashukumisa kanjani abantu?

⁵ Esequnge isibindi sokushumayela, uPawulu wakhuluma nalabo ababesesinagogeni. Ngokwenqubo yakhe, “wabonisana nabo ngemiBhalo . . . , echaza futhi ebonisa ngezinto ezilotshiwe ukuthi kwakudingekile ukuba uKristu ahlupheke futhi avuke kwabafile, ethi: ‘Lona nguye uKristu, lo Jesu engimmemezela kini.’” (IzE. 17:2, 3) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu wayengafuni ukwenza izilaleli zakhe zithatheke; washukumisa izingqondo zazo. Wayazi ukuthi abantu ababesesinagogeni babeyazi futhi beyihlonipha imiBhalo kodwa bengayiqondi. Ngakho uPawulu wabonisana nabo, wabachazela futhi wafakazela ngemiBhalo ukuthi uJesu waseNazaretha wayenguMesiya othenjisiwe, noma uKristu.

 6. UJesu wayisebenzisa kanjani imiBhalo, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

⁶ UPawulu walandela isibonelo sikaJesu, owasekela izimfundiso zakhe emiBhalweni. Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yasobala, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ngokwemiBhalo, iNdodana yomuntu kumelwe ihlupheke, ife futhi ivuswe kwabafile. (Math. 16:21) Lapho esevusiwe, uJesu wabonakala kubafundi bakhe. Ngokuqinisekile lokho nje kukodwa kwabonisa ukuthi wayekhulume iqiniso. Nokho, uJesu wabanikeza okungaphezu kwalokho. Mayelana nalokho akutshela abanye abafundi, siyafunda: “Eqala kuMose nakubo bonke abaProfethi, wabachazela izinto eziphathelene naye kuyo yonke imiBhalo.” Kwaba namuphi umphumela? Abafundi bathi: “Izinhliziyo zethu bezingavuthi yini njengoba ebekhuluma nathi endleleni, njengoba ebesikhanyisela imiBhalo ngokugcwele?”—Luka 24:13, 27, 32.

 7. Kungani kubalulekile ukusekela izimfundiso zethu emiBhalweni?

⁷ Isigijimi seZwi likaNkulunkulu sinamandla. (Heb. 4:12) Yingakho amaKristu namuhla esekela izimfundiso zawo kulo, njengoba kwenza uJesu, uPawulu nabanye abaphostoli. Nathi sibonisana nabantu, sichaze okushiwo imiBhalo futhi sinikeze ubufakazi balokho esikufundisayo ngokuvula iBhayibheli sibonise abaninikhaya elikushoyo. Phela isigijimi esisishumayelayo akusona esethu. Ngokulisebenzisa njalo iBhayibheli, sisiza abantu baqonde ukuthi simemezela izimfundiso zikaNkulunkulu hhayi imicabango yethu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuhle sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi isigijimi esisishumayelayo sisekelwe eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Sithembeke ngokuphelele. Ukwazi lokhu akukwenzi yini ufune ukusihlanganyela nabanye ngesibindi, njengoba kwenza uPawulu?

8-10. (a) Abantu baseThesalonika basabela kanjani ezindabeni ezinhle? (b) Kungani amanye amaJuda amfela umona uPawulu? (c) Benzani abaphikisi abangamaJuda?

⁸ UPawulu wayesekubonile ukuba yiqiniso kwamazwi kaJesu athi: “Inceku ayinkulu kunenkosi yayo. Uma mina bengishushisile, bayonishushisa nani; uma beligcinile izwi lami, bayoligcina nelenu.” (Joh. 15:20) EThesalonika uPawulu wathola lokho kusabela okungefani—abanye babezimisele ukulalela izwi, abanye balenqaba. Mayelana nalabo abasabela kahle, uLuka uyabhala: “Abanye kubo [amaJuda] baba amakholwa [amaKristu], bazihlanganisa noPawulu noSila, kanye noquqaba olukhulu lwamaGreki olwalukhonza uNkulunkulu, nabaningana kwabesifazane abavelele benza kanjalo.” (IzE. 17:4) Ngokuqinisekile laba bafundi abasha bakuthokozela ukuchazelwa imiBhalo.

⁹ Nakuba abanye babewazisa amazwi kaPawulu, abanye bamthukuthelela. Amanye amaJuda eThesalonika amfela umona uPawulu ngenxa yokuphumelela kwakhe ukusiza ‘uquqaba olukhulu lwamaGreki’ ukuba lube amakholwa. Lawo maJuda, ezimisele ukwenza amaJuda angamaproselithe, ayefundise abeZizwe abangamaGreki izimfundiso zemiBhalo yesiHebheru futhi ayesebheka lawo maGreki njengawawo. Nokho, kwabonakala sengathi uPawulu useyabephuca la maGreki, khona kanye esinagogeni! AmaJuda athukuthela agan’ unwabu.

¹⁰ ULuka usitshela okwalandela: “AmaJuda, eba nomona, aqoqela ndawonye amadoda athile akhohlakele ayezulazula emakethe akha iviyo, benza kwaba nesiyaluyalu edolobheni. Bahlasela umuzi kaJasoni befuna ukuba uPawulu noSila balethwe phambi kweviyo. Lapho bengabatholi, bahudulela uJasoni nabanye abazalwane babayisa kubabusi bedolobha, bememeza bethi: ‘La madoda adale izinkinga yonke indawo asefikile nalapha, uJasoni uwamukele aba izivakashi zakhe. Wonke la madoda enza izinto eziphikisana nezinqumo zikaKhesari, ethi kukhona enye inkosi, uJesu.’” (IzE. 17:5-7) Ukuhlaselwa yileli viyo kwakuzomthinta kanjani uPawulu nayehamba nabo?

11. Yimaphi amacala abekwa uPawulu nabamemezeli boMbuso ayekanye nabo, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi abamangaleli babecabanga ngamuphi umthetho? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

¹¹ Iviyo lezixhwanguxhwangu liyingozi. Lithukuthela kuhle komfula odla izindwani—linolaka futhi alinqandeki. AmaJuda asebenzisa lesi sikhali ezama ukubulala uPawulu noSila. Ngemva kokuba amaJuda ebangele ‘isiyaluyalu’ edolobheni, azama ukukholisa ababusi ukuthi amacala ayebekwe la madoda ayemabi kakhulu. Icala lokuqala kwakungelokuthi uPawulu nabamemezeli boMbuso ayekanye nabo ‘badala izinkinga yonke indawo,’ nakuba uPawulu nayehamba nabo bengazange babangele siyaluyalu eThesalonika! Icala lesibili lalilibi nakakhulu. AmaJuda athi izithunywa zevangeli zimemezela enye iNkosi, uJesu, futhi ngokwenza kanjalo zeqa imithetho yombusi.a

12. Yini ebonisa ukuthi amacala ayebekwe amaKristu eThesalonika ayengaba nemiphumela emibi?

¹² Khumbula ukuthi abaholi benkolo babeka uJesu icala elifanayo. Bathi kuPilatu: “Lo muntu simthole edukisa isizwe sakithi . . . ethi yena ngokwakhe unguKristu inkosi.” (Luka 23:2) Mhlawumbe esaba ukuthi umbusi angase aphethe ngokuthi uyakuvuna ukuvukela umbuso, uPilatu wavuma ukuba uJesu abulawe. Ngokufanayo, amacala ayebekwe amaKristu eThesalonika ayengaba nemiphumela emibi ngendlela efanayo. Enye incwadi ithi: “Asenzi ihaba uma sithi lokhu kwawabeka engozini enkulu, ngoba ‘ukusikisela nje ukuvukela abaBusi kwakuvame ukuphumela ekubulaweni komangalelwe.’” Ingabe lokhu kuhlasela okunenzondo kwakuzophumelela?

13, 14. (a) Kungani iviyo lingazange liphumelele ekuhlaseleni kwalo? (b) UPawulu wakubonisa kanjani ukuqapha okunjengokukaKristu, futhi singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?

¹³ Leli viyo lehluleka ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela eThesalonika. Kungani? Phakathi kokunye, alizange limthole uPawulu noSila. Ngaphezu kwalokho, cishe ababusi bedolobha babengagculisekile ngokuba yiqiniso kwalawo macala. Lapho sebethole “imali yebheyili,” bamkhulula uJasoni nabanye abazalwane ababemangalelwe naye. (IzE. 17:8, 9) Elalela iseluleko sikaJesu sokuba ‘abaqaphe njengezinyoka nabamsulwa njengamajuba,’ uPawulu wayibalekela ngokuhlakanipha ingozi ukuze akwazi ukuqhubeka eshumayela kwenye indawo. (Math. 10:16) Ngokusobala, ukuqunga kukaPawulu isibindi kwakungasho ukuba budedengu. AmaKristu namuhla angasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?

¹⁴ Ezikhathini zanamuhla, abaholi beLobukholwa baye baqhatha amaviyo ezixhwanguxhwangu noFakazi BakaJehova. Baye bakhalaza kubabusi ngokuthi oFakazi baphikisana negunya futhi bayavukela. Njengalabo bashushisi bekhulu lokuqala, abaphikisi namuhla baqhutshwa umona. AmaKristu eqiniso awayesheli ingozi. Uma kungenzeka, siyagwema ukuhilizisana nabantu abathukuthele nabangenangqondo, sizame ukuqhubeka sishumayela ngokuthula, mhlawumbe sibuye ngesinye isikhathi lapho isimo sesithé damu.

15. AbaseBhereya basabela kanjani ezindabeni ezinhle?

¹⁵ Ukuze baphephe, uPawulu noSila bathunyelwa eBhereya eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-65. Lapho befika, uPawulu wahamba wayokhuluma nababesesinagogeni. Yeka indlela ajabula ngayo lapho ethola izilaleli ezinesithakazelo! ULuka wabhala ukuthi amaJuda aseBhereya ‘ayenengqondo enhle kunawaseThesalonika, ngoba amukela izwi ngengqondo enokulangazela okukhulu, ehlola ngokucophelela imiBhalo nsuku zonke ukuze athole ukuthi zinjalo yini lezi zinto.’ (IzE. 17:10, 11) Ingabe lawo mazwi ayegxeka abaseThesalonika ababamukele iqiniso? Lutho! Kamuva uPawulu wabalobela: “Simbonga singayeki uNkulunkulu, ngoba ngesikhathi namukela izwi likaNkulunkulu, enalizwa ngathi, anilamukelanga njengezwi labantu kodwa njengezwi likaNkulunkulu, njengoba nje liyilo ngempela, okuyilona elisebenzayo futhi kini nina makholwa.” (1 Thes. 2:13) Yini eyenza lawo maJuda aseBhereya aba nengqondo enhle?

16. Kungani abaseBhereya bechazwa kufanele ngokuthi “babenengqondo enhle”?

¹⁶ Nakuba kwakukusha lokho abaseBhereya ababekuzwa, abazange bakungabaze noma bakugxeke; bengazange futhi bathatheke. Okokuqala, bakulalela ngokucophelela lokho ayekusho uPawulu. Babebe sebekuhlola ababekufundile ngokuvula imiBhalo, leyo uPawulu ayebacacisele yona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, babelitadisha ngenkuthalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu, hhayi nje ngeSabatha kuphela kodwa nsuku zonke. Babetadisha “ngengqondo enokulangazela” okukhulu, bezinikela ekutholeni lokho okushiwo imiBhalo ngale mfundiso entsha. Babethobeke ngokwanele ukuba benze izinguquko, ngoba “abaningi kubo baba amakholwa.” (IzE. 17:12) Yingakho uLuka ethi “babenengqondo enhle”!

17. Kungani isibonelo sabaseBhereya sincomeka kangaka, futhi singaqhubeka kanjani sisilingisa ngisho nangemva kwesikhathi eside singamakholwa?

¹⁷ AbaseBhereya babengazi ukuthi umlando wokusabela kwabo ezindabeni ezinhle wawuzogcinwa eZwini likaNkulunkulu njengesibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuba nengqondo enhle ngezinto ezingokomoya. Benza lokho kanye uPawulu ayethemba ukuthi bazokwenza nalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu ayefuna bakwenze. Ngokufanayo, yilokho nathi esikhuthaza abantu ukuba bakwenze—bahlole iBhayibheli ngokucophelela ukuze ukholo lwabo lusekelwe ngokuqinile eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Nokho, uma sesingamakholwa, ingabe isidingo sokuba nengqondo enhle siyaphela? Cha, kunalokho kubaluleka nakakhulu ukuba silangazelele ukufundiswa uJehova futhi sisheshe ukusebenzisa asifundisa khona. Ngaleyo ndlela, sivumela uJehova ukuba asibumbe futhi asiqeqeshe ngokwentando yakhe. (Isaya 64:8) Kanjalo, uBaba wethu osezulwini uyohlala esisebenzisa futhi ejabula ngathi.

18, 19. (a) Kungani uPawulu ahamba eBhereya, nokho wakubonisa kanjani ukuphikelela okufanelwe ukulingiswa? (b) Obani uPawulu ayesezobashumayeza, futhi kuphi?

¹⁸ UPawulu akahlalanga isikhathi eside eBhereya. Siyafunda: “Lapho amaJuda aseThesalonika ezwa ukuthi uPawulu wayememezela izwi likaNkulunkulu naseBhereya, aya khona ukuze abaxabanise nesixuku. Ngokushesha abazalwane babe sebethumela uPawulu olwandle, kodwa uSila noThimothewu basala lapho. Nokho, labo ababephelezela uPawulu bahamba naye baze bafika e-Athene, bahamba ngemva kokuthola iziqondiso ezithi uSila noThimothewu kufanele beze kuPawulu ngokushesha okukhulu.” (IzE. 17:13-15) Baze bayisicefe labo baphikisi bezindaba ezinhle! Kwakunganele ukuxosha uPawulu eThesalonika; baya naseBhereya bazama ukudala isiyaluyalu esifanayo—kodwa behluleka. UPawulu wayazi ukuthi insimu yakhe ibanzi; wamane wasuka wayoshumayela kwenye indawo. Kwangathi nathi namuhla singazimisela ngendlela efanayo ukubhuntshisa imizamo yalabo abafuna ukumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela!

¹⁹ Esenikeze ubufakazi obuphelele kumaJuda eThesalonika naseBhereya, ngokuqinisekile uPawulu wayesefunde lukhulu ngokubaluleka kokufakaza ngesibindi nangokubonisana nabantu ngemiBhalo. Nathi sikufundile. Manje uPawulu wayesezoshumayeza izilaleli ezihlukile—abeZizwe base-Athene. Kwakuzomhambela kanjani kulelo dolobha? Sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo.