‘Funani UNkulunkulu, Nimthole Ngempela’

1-3. (a) Yini ephazamisa umphostoli uPawulu kangaka e-Athene? (b) Singafundani ngokutadisha isibonelo sikaPawulu?

UPAWULU uphazamiseke kakhulu. Use-Athene, eGrisi, iziko lemfundo abake bafundisela kulo oSocrates, uPlato no-Aristotle. I-Athene iyidolobha elinabantu abathanda inkolo. UPawulu ube esaqalaze—emathempelini, ezindaweni zomphakathi nasezitaladini—abone inqwaba yezithombe ngoba abase-Athene bakhulekela onkulunkulu abaningi. Uyazi ukuthi uJehova, uNkulunkulu weqiniso, ukubheka kanjani ukukhulekela izithombe. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Lo mphostoli othembekile uzizwa njengoJehova—uyazenyanya izithombe!

² Lokho uPawulu akubonayo njengoba engena esigcawini kushaqisa ngokukhethekile. Inqwaba yezithombe zezitho zobulili zabesilisa zikankulunkulu uHermesi ziklele ekhoneni elisenyakatho-ntshonalanga, eduze kwesango elikhulu. Esigcawini kugcwele izindawo zokukhulekela izithombe. Lo mphostoli oshisekayo uzoshumayela kanjani kule ndawo ecwile ekukhulekeleni izithombe okungaka? Ingabe uzozibamba futhi afune iphuzu abazovumelana ngalo nezilaleli zakhe? Ingabe uzophumelela ukusiza abanye bafune uNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi bamthole ngempela?

³ Inkulumo uPawulu ayethula emadodeni afundile ase-Athene, njengoba ilotshwe encwadini yezEnzo 17:22-31, iyisibonelo sokuqephuza, ukuba nesu nokuba oqondayo. Ngokutadisha isibonelo sikaPawulu, singafunda okuningi ngokuthi singalithola kanjani iphuzu esivumelana ngalo nezilaleli zethu ukuze sizisize zicabange.

4, 5. UPawulu washumayela kuphi e-Athene, futhi ngokuqondene nezilaleli zakhe, iziphi izinselele ezazimlindele?

⁴ UPawulu wavakashela e-Athene ohambweni lwakhe lwesibili eyisithunywa sevangeli, cishe ngo-50 C.E.a Ngesikhathi esalinde uSila noThimothewu ukuba bafike bevela eBhereya, uPawulu “wabonisana namaJuda esinagogeni” njengoba kwakungumkhuba wakhe. Waphinde waya “emakethe” lapho ayezothola khona izakhamuzi zase-Athene ezingewona amaJuda. (IzE. 17:17) Isigcawu sase-Athene sasisenyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Acropolis, singamahektare angaba mahlanu. Sasingaphezu nje kokuba indawo yokuthenga nokudayisa; sasiyindawo umphakathi owawubuthanela kuyo. Enye incwadi ithi le ndawo yayiyiziko “lezohwebo, ezombusazwe nezamasiko.” Abase-Athene babekuthokozela ukuhlangana khona bacobelelane ulwazi.

⁵ Esigcawini uPawulu wathola abantu okunzima ukubonisana nabo. Phakathi kwezilaleli zakhe kwakukhona ama-Epikhuru namaStoyiku, amalungu ayenemibono yefilosofi engqubuzanayo.b Ama-Epikhuru ayekholelwa ukuthi ukuphila kwavela ngengozi. Umbono wawo ngokuphila wawusongwe ngale ndlela: “Akukho lutho ongalwesaba kuNkulunkulu; Akukho lutho oluzwayo uma usufile; Ubuhle bungatholakala; Ububi bungakhuthazelelwa.” AmaStoyiku ayegcizelela ukuba okukholelwayo kube nengqondo futhi engakholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu unguMuntu. Kokubili ama-Epikhuru namaStoyiku babengakholelwa ovukweni olwalufundiswa abafundi bakaKristu. Ngokusobala imibono yefilosofi yala maqembu amabili yayingahambisani namaqiniso aphakeme obuKristu beqiniso ayefundiswa uPawulu.

6, 7.Zasabela kanjani ezinye zezihlakaniphi ezingamaGreki ekufundiseni kukaPawulu, futhi yikuphi ukusabela okufanayo esingakuthola namuhla?

⁶ Zasabela kanjani izihlakaniphi ezingamaGreki ekufundiseni kukaPawulu? Ezinye zasebenzisa igama elisho ‘umuntu okhulumela safuthi’ noma “umcoshi wembewu.” (IzE. 17:18) Maqondana naleli gama lesiGreki, esinye isazi sithi: “Ekuqaleni leli gama lalibhekisela enyonini encane eyayihambahamba icosha okusanhlamvu, kamuva lasetshenziswa kumuntu ohambe ecosha izikhokho nezinto ezilahlwe ezigcawini. Kamuva futhi lasetshenziswa kunoma ubani owola izinto azizwayo, futhi ikakhulukazi owayengakwazi ukuzihlanganisa kahle izinto azizwile.” Empeleni lawo madoda afundile ayethi uPawulu wayeyisiwula eseba imiqondo yabanye bese silokhu siyiphindaphinda. Nokho, njengoba sizobona, uPawulu akuzange kumesabise ukubizwa ngalawo magama ayiziswana.

⁷ Kusenjalo nanamuhla. NjengoFakazi BakaJehova, sivame ukuba izisulu zokubizwa ngamagama ayiziswana ngenxa yezinkolelo zethu ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye abafundisi bafundisa ukuthi ukuziphendukela kwemvelo kuyiqiniso futhi bagcizelele ukuthi uma uhlakaniphile, kumelwe uyamukele le mfundiso. Empeleni bababheka njengabangahlakaniphile abantu abangafuni ukuyikholelwa. Lezo zifundiswa zenza abantu bacabange ukuthi ‘singabacoshi bembewu’ lapho siveza lokho okushiwo yiBhayibheli nalapho sibonisa ukuthi indalo yaklanywa. Kodwa asesabi. Kunalokho, sikhuluma ngesibindi lapho sivikela inkolelo yethu yokuthi ukuphila emhlabeni kuvela kuMklami ohlakaniphile, uJehova uNkulunkulu.—IsAm. 4:11.

 8. (a) Abanye abezwa uPawulu eshumayela basabela kanjani? (b) Kungase kusho ukuthini ukuthi uPawulu wayiswa e-Areyophagu? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi ekhasini 142.)

⁸ Abanye abezwa uPawulu eshumayela esigcawini basabela ngendlela ehlukile. Baphetha ngokuthi: “Kubonakala sengathi umemezela onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe.” (IzE. 17:18) Ingabe ngempela uPawulu wayememezela onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe e-Athene? Kwakuwudaba olubalulekile lolu, lwalufuze elinye lamacala uSocrates amangalelwa ngawo waze wagwetshelwa ukufa emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili. Akumangalisi ukuthi uPawulu wayiswa e-Areyophagu, wacelwa nokuba achaze izimfundiso ezazibaxaka abase-Athene.c UPawulu wayezosivikela kanjani isigijimi sakhe kubantu ababengayazi imiBhalo?

9-11. (a) UPawulu wazama kanjani ukuthola iphuzu abavumelana ngalo nezilaleli zakhe? (b) Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaPawulu enkonzweni yethu?

⁹ Khumbula ukuthi uPawulu wayephazanyiswe kakhulu ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe ayekubonile. Kunokuba akuhlabe akuhlikize, wazibamba. Ngekhono, wazama ukuzuza izilaleli zakhe ngokuthola iphuzu abavumelana ngalo. Wathi: “Madoda ase-Athene, ngiyabona ukuthi kukho konke nibonakala nesaba onkulunkulu kakhulu kunabanye abantu.” (IzE. 17:22) Ngamanye amazwi uPawulu wayethi, ‘Ngiyabona ukuthi niyithanda ngempela inkolo.’ Ngokuhlakanipha, uPawulu wabancoma ngokuthanda inkolo. Wayeqaphela ukuthi abanye ababephuphuthekiswe izinkolelo zamanga kungenzeka babenezinhliziyo ezinhle. Phela uPawulu wayazi ukuthi kwayena wayeke ‘wangazi futhi wenza ngenxa yokuntula ukholo.’—1 Thim. 1:13.

¹⁰ Akhela phezu kwephuzu abavumelana ngalo, uPawulu wathi wayebone ubufakazi obucacile bokuthi abase-Athene bathanda inkolo—i-altare elinikezelwe “Kunkulunkulu Ongaziwa.” Ngokusho kwenye incwadi, “kwakuyisiko kumaGreki nakwabanye ukunikezela ama-altare ‘konkulunkulu abangaziwa’ besaba ukuthi uma kukhona abangamkhulekeli angase abacasukele.” Ngalelo altare, abase-Athene babevuma ukuthi ukhona uNkulunkulu abangamazi. UPawulu wasebenzisa ukuba khona kwaleli altare ukuze angenise izindaba ezinhle ayezishumayela. Wachaza: “Lokho eningakwazi enikukhonzayo, yikho engikumemezela kini.” (IzE. 17:23) Nakuba uPawulu engakhwelanga wazehlela lapho ebonisana nabo, indlela yakhe yayinamandla. Wayengashumayeli ngonkulunkulu omusha noma ongaziwa, njengoba abanye babemmangalela kanjalo. Wayechaza uNkulunkulu ababengamazi—uNkulunkulu weqiniso.

¹¹ Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaPawulu enkonzweni yethu? Uma sinakisisa, singase sibubone ubufakazi bokuthi umuntu uzinikele enkolweni, mhlawumbe singaphawula izinto ezithile zenkolo azigqokile, ezisendlini noma egcekeni. Singase sithi: ‘Ngiyabona ukuthi uyayithanda inkolo. Bengifisa ukuthola umuntu othanda inkolo.’ Ngokumkhombisa ngesu ukuthi siyabona ukuthi uyayithanda inkolo, singase sithole iphuzu esivumelana ngalo esingakhela kulo. Khumbula ukuthi akuwona umgomo wethu ukwahlulela abanye ngezinkolelo zabo. Phakathi kwesikholwa nabo, kunabaningi abake bazishisekela izinkolelo zamanga.

12. UPawulu wayishintshashintsha kanjani indlela anikeza ngayo ubufakazi yavumelana nezilaleli zakhe?

¹² UPawulu wayeselitholile iphuzu abavumelana ngalo, kodwa ingabe wayezokwazi ukwakhela kulo lapho enikeza ubufakazi? Njengoba ayazi ukuthi izilaleli zakhe zazifunde ifilosofi yamaGreki futhi zingayazi imiBhalo, wayishintsha kaningana indlela ayenikeza ngayo ubufakazi. Okokuqala, wethula izimfundiso zeBhayibheli ngaphandle kokucaphuna ngokuqondile emiBhalweni. Okwesibili, wazihlanganisa nezilaleli zakhe, ngezinye izikhathi esebenzisa igama elithi “kithi” nesivumelwano esithi “si-.” Okwesithathu, wacaphuna ezincwadini zesiGreki ukuze abonise ukuthi izinto ezithile ayezifundisa zazikhona nakwezabo izincwadi. Manje ake sihlole inkulumo kaPawulu enamandla. Yimaphi amaqiniso abalulekile awasho ngoNkulunkulu ababengamazi abase-Athene?

13. Yini uPawulu ayichaza ngemvelaphi yezulu nomhlaba, futhi laliyini iphuzu lakhe?

¹³ UNkulunkulu wadala izulu nomhlaba. UPawulu wathi: “UNkulunkulu owenza umhlaba nakho konke okukuwo, iNkosi yezulu nomhlaba, akahlali emathempelini enziwe ngezandla.”d (IzE. 17:24) Izulu nomhlaba akuvelanga ngephutha. UNkulunkulu weqiniso unguMdali wazo zonke izinto. (IHu. 146:6) Ngokungafani no-Athena noma abanye onkulunkulu bona abadinga izindawo zokukhulekela izithombe nama-altare ukuze bathole udumo, iNkosi EnguMbusi yezulu nomhlaba ayinakuhlala emathempelini enziwe ngezandla. (1 AmaKh. 8:27) Iphuzu likaPawulu lalicacile: UNkulunkulu weqiniso mkhulu kakhulu kunanoma yisiphi isithombe esenziwe umuntu esitholakala emathempelini enziwe umuntu.—Isaya 40:18-26.

14. UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uNkulunkulu akancikile kubantu?

¹⁴ UNkulunkulu akancikile kubantu. Kwakungumkhuba wabantu abakhulekela izithombe ukuzigqokisa izingubo zikanokusho, bazigidlabeze ngezipho ezibizayo noma bazilethele ukudla neziphuzo—njengokungathi zazizidinga lezi zinto! Nokho, ezinye izazi zefilosofi yamaGreki ezaziphakathi kwezilaleli zikaPawulu kungenzeka zazikholelwa ukuthi unkulunkulu akadingi lutho kubantu. Uma kunjalo, cishe zavumelana namazwi kaPawulu athi uNkulunkulu “akakhonzwa ngezandla zabantu njengokungathi kukhona akudingayo.” Ngempela akukho lutho oluphathekayo abantu abangalunika uMdali! Kunalokho, uyena onika abantu lokho abakudingayo—“ukuphila nomoya nazo zonke izinto,” kuhlanganise ilanga, imvula nomhlabathi othelayo. (IzE. 17:25; Gen. 2:7) Ngakho uNkulunkulu, onguMuphi, akancikile kubantu, bona abamukelayo.

15. UPawulu wayisingatha kanjani indaba yenkolelo yabase-Athene yokuthi bangcono kunabangewona amaGreki, futhi yisiphi isifundo esibalulekile esisifunda esibonelweni sakhe?

¹⁵ UNkulunkulu wadala umuntu. Abase-Athene babekholelwa ukuthi bangcono kunabangewona amaGreki. Kodwa ukuqhosha ngobuzwe noma ngohlanga kuphambene neqiniso leBhayibheli. (Dut. 10:17) UPawulu wethula le ndaba ebucayi ngendlela engacasuli nangekhono. Lapho ethi, ‘ngomuntu oyedwa [uNkulunkulu] wenza zonke izizwe zabantu,’ ngokungangabazeki amazwi kaPawulu enza izilaleli zacabanga. (IzE. 17:26) Wayebhekisela emlandweni ka-Adamu okuGenesise, okuvela kuye lonke uhlanga lwesintu. (Gen. 1:26-28) Njengoba sonke isintu sinokhokho oyedwa, alukho uhlanga noma isizwe esingcono kunesinye. Izilaleli zikaPawulu zazingalahlekelwa kanjani nje yileli phuzu? Sifunda isifundo esibalulekile esibonelweni sakhe. Nakuba sifuna ukubacabangela abanye futhi sifuna ukukhuluma nabo ngendlela engabacasuli lapho sishumayela, asifuni ukuthambisa iqiniso leBhayibheli ukuze silenze lamukeleke kangcono kwabanye.

16. Iyini injongo yoMdali ngesintu?

¹⁶ UNkulunkulu wayefuna ukuba abantu basondele kuye. Ngisho noma kwase kuyisikhathi eside izazi zefilosofi ezazisezilalelini zikaPawulu ziphikisana ngenjongo yokuba khona komuntu, zazingasoze zakwazi ukuyichaza ngokugculisayo. Nokho, uPawulu wayembula ngokucacile injongo yoMdali ngesintu, engukuthi ‘sifune uNkulunkulu, uma singamfunisisa futhi simthole ngempela, nakuba eqinisweni engekude kulowo nalowo kithi.’ (IzE. 17:27) UNkulunkulu ababengamazi abase-Athene akayena ongenakwaziwa. Kunalokho, akakude kulabo abafuna ngempela ukumthola futhi bafunde ngaye. (IHu. 145:18) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu wasebenzisa igama elithi “kithi” naye ezihlanganisa kulabo okufanele ‘bafunisise’ uNkulunkulu.

17, 18. Kungani kafanele abantu bazizwe besondelene noNkulunkulu, futhi yini esiyifundayo endleleni uPawulu adonsa ngayo izilaleli zakhe?

¹⁷ Abantu kufanele bazizwe besondele kuNkulunkulu. UPawulu wathi ngenxa kaNkulunkulu “siyaphila, siyanyakaza futhi sikhona.” Ezinye izazi zithi uPawulu wayebhekisela emazwini ka-Epimenides, imbongi engumKrethe yekhulu lesithupha B.C.E. futhi “engumuntu oqavile enkolweni yabase-Athene.” UPawulu wanikeza esinye isizathu sokuba abantu bazizwe besondele kuNkulunkulu: “Njengoba nje nezinye izimbongi zakini zishilo zathi, ‘Sonke siyizingane zakhe.’” (IzE. 17:28) Abantu kufanele bazizwe behlobene noNkulunkulu; wadala umuntu oyedwa okwavela kuye bonke abanye. Ukuze adonse izilaleli zakhe, ngokuhlakanipha uPawulu wacaphuna ngokuqondile emibhalweni yesiGreki leyo cishe izilaleli zakhe ezaziyihlonipha.e Silandela isibonelo sikaPawulu, nathi ngezinye izikhathi singawucaphuna ngokusesilinganisweni umlando wezwe, ama-encyclopedia noma ezinye izincwadi ezamukelekayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ukucaphuna ingcaphuno efanelekayo encwadini eyethenjwayo kungase kugculise umuntu ongeyena uFakazi ngemvelaphi yemikhuba noma imigubho ethile yenkolo yamanga.

¹⁸ Kuze kube kuleli qophelo enkulumweni yakhe, uPawulu wayesho amaqiniso ayisisekelo ngoNkulunkulu, ngekhono evumelanisa akushoyo nezilaleli zakhe. Umphostoli wayefuna izilaleli zakhe zase-Athene zenzeni ngalolu lwazi olusemqoka? Ngaphandle kokuchitha isikhathi, wazitshela njengoba eqhubeka nenkulumo yakhe.

19, 20. (a) UPawulu wakuveza kanjani ukuthi ukukhonza izithombe akuzuzisi ngalutho? (b) Yisiphi isinyathelo okwakudingeka sithathwe izilaleli zikaPawulu?

¹⁹ UPawulu wayesekulungele ukunxusa izilaleli zakhe ukuba zithathe isinyathelo. Ephinde ecaphuna emibhalweni yesiGreki, wathi: “Ngakho njengoba siyizingane zikaNkulunkulu, akufanele sicabange ukuthi uMuntu Waphezulu unjengegolide noma isiliva noma itshe, njengokuthile okuqoshwe ngobuciko noma okuthile okwenziwe umuntu.” (IzE. 17:29) Ngempela, uma abantu bengumsebenzi wezandla zikaNkulunkulu, kungenzeka kanjani-ke ukuba uNkulunkulu athathe isimo sezithombe, eziwumkhiqizo wabantu? Ikhono likaPawulu lokubonisana nabantu ngendlela engacasuli ladalula ukuthi ukukhulekela izithombe ezenziwe abantu akuzuzisi ngalutho. (IHu. 115:4-8; Isaya 44:9-20) Ngokuthi athi “akufanele si- . . . ,” ngokungangabazeki uPawulu wenza iseluleko sakhe sangantinyela kakhulu.

²⁰ Umphostoli wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi kwakudingeka isinyathelo: “UNkulunkulu uye wangazinaka izikhathi zokungazi okunjalo [zokucabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu angajatshuliswa abantu abakhulekela izithombe]; kodwa manje umemezela kubo bonke abantu kuyo yonke indawo ukuthi kufanele baphenduke.” (IzE. 17:30) Kungenzeka ezinye zezilaleli zikaPawulu zashaqeka ngokuzwa elokuthi kufanele ziphenduke. Kodwa inkulumo yakhe enamandla yabonisa ngokucacile ukuthi zazikweleta uNkulunkulu ngokuphila kwazo futhi ngenxa yalokho ziyolandisa kuYe. Kwakudingeka zifune uNkulunkulu, zifunde iqiniso ngaye bese zivumelanisa konke ukuphila kwazo nalelo qiniso. Kwabase-Athene, lokhu kwakusho ukusibona isono sabo sokukhonza izithombe bese besifulathela.

21, 22. UPawulu waphetha inkulumo yakhe ngamaphi amazwi anamandla, futhi amazwi akhe anayiphi incazelo kithi namuhla?

²¹ UPawulu waphetha inkulumo yakhe ngamazwi anamandla: “[UNkulunkulu] umise usuku ahlose ukwahlulela ngalo abantu abasemhlabeni ngokulunga ngomuntu ammisile, wamvusa lo muntu kwabafile, ngokwenza kanjalo eqinisekisa bonke abantu ukuthi lolo suku luzofika nakanjani.” (IzE. 17:31) USuku Lokwahlulela oluzayo—yeka isizathu esisangulukisayo sokufuna uNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi simthole! UPawulu akazange alisho igama loMahluleli ozayo. Kunalokho, washo okuthile okumangalisayo ngaye: Wayephile njengomuntu, wafa, futhi wavuswa uNkulunkulu kwabafileyo!

²² Leso siphetho esishukumisayo sisho okuthile kithi namuhla. Siyazi ukuthi uMahluleli omiswe uNkulunkulu nguJesu Kristu ovusiwe. (Joh. 5:22) Siyazi nokuthi uSuku Lokwahlulela luyoba iminyaka eyinkulungwane futhi lusondela ngokushesha. (IsAm. 20:4, 6) Asilwesabi uSuku Lokwahlulela ngoba siyaqonda ukuthi luzoletha izibusiso ezingenakubalwa kulabo abatholakale bethembekile. Ukugcwaliseka kwethemba lethu lekusasa elikhazimulayo kuqinisekiswa isimangaliso esikhulu kunazo zonke—ukuvuswa kukaJesu Kristu!

23. Yikuphi ukusabela okuhlukahlukene okwalandela inkulumo kaPawulu?

²³ Kwaba nokusabela okuhlukahlukene enkulumweni kaPawulu. “Abanye baqala ukuhleka usulu” lapho bezwa ngovuko. Abanye baba nomusa kodwa bangafuna ukuzibopha, bethi: “Sizobuye sikulalele ngesinye isikhathi.” (IzE. 17:32) Abambalwa nokho basabela kahle: “Abanye abantu bazihlanganisa naye baba amakholwa. Kubo kwakukhona noDiyonisiyu, owayengumahluleli wenkantolo yase-Areyophagu, nowesifazane ogama lakhe linguDamari, kanye nabanye ngaphandle kwabo.” (IzE. 17:34) Nathi sithola ukusabela okufanayo ensimini yethu. Abanye abantu bangase basiklolodele, abanye babe nomusa kodwa bazithele ngabandayo. Noma kunjalo, siyajabula lapho abathile bamukela isigijimi soMbuso futhi beba amakholwa.

24. Singafundani enkulumweni uPawulu ayinikeza njengoba ayephakathi kwe-Areyophagu?

²⁴ Njengoba sicabanga ngenkulumo kaPawulu, singafunda okuningi ngendlela yokuthuthukisa amaphuzu ngokunengqondo, ukwethula inkulumo ngendlela egculisayo nangokuzivumelanisa nezilaleli zethu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, singafunda ngesidingo sokuba nesineke nesokungabacasuli labo abakhohliswe inkolo yamanga. Singafunda nalesi sifundo esibalulekile: Akumelwe nanini sithambise iqiniso leBhayibheli ukuze sizincengele ezilalelini zethu. Kodwa ngokulingisa isibonelo sikamphostoli uPawulu, singaba abafundisi abaphumelela ngokwengeziwe ensimini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ababonisi bangaba abafundisi abafaneleka kangcono ebandleni. Ngaleyo ndlela siyoba abakuhlomele kahle ukusiza abanye ‘bafune uNkulunkulu futhi bamthole ngempela.’—IzE. 17:27.