Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-45—KwabaseRoma
Umlobi: UPawulu
Yalotshelwa: EKorinte
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-56 C.E.
1. Yini uPawulu axoxa ngayo encwadini yakhe yabaseRoma?
ENCWADINI yezEnzo sibone uPawulu, owayengumshushisi onobudlova wamaKristu angamaJuda, eba umphostoli kaKristu oshisekayo ezizweni ezingewona amaJuda. Ngencwadi yabaseRoma siqala izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezingu-14 umoya ongcwele owaphefumlela lona owayengumFarisi, manje oseyinceku kaNkulunkulu ethembekile, ukuba azilobe. Ngesikhathi eloba incwadi yabaseRoma, uPawulu kakade wayeseqede izinkambo ezimbili ezinde zokushumayela futhi wayesephakathi nolwesithathu. Wayeselobe ezinye izincwadi ezinhlanu eziphefumlelwe: EyokuQala neyesiBili KwabaseThesalonika, eyabaseGalathiya, neyokuQala neyesiBili KwabaseKorinte. Noma kunjalo kubonakala kufanelekile ukuba emaBhayibhelini ethu anamuhla, incwadi eya kwabaseRoma izandulele lezi ezinye, njengoba ixoxa kabanzi ngokulingana okusha phakathi kwamaJuda nabangemaJuda, izigaba ezimbili zabantu uPawulu ashumayela kuzo. Ichaza isikhathi senguquko ekusebenzelaneni kukaNkulunkulu nabantu bakhe futhi ibonisa ukuthi imiBhalo YesiHeberu ephefumlelwe yayikade yabikezela ukuthi izindaba ezinhle ziyomenyezelwa nakwabangemaJuda.
2. (a) Iziphi izinkinga uPawulu axoxa ngazo encwadini yabaseRoma? (b) Yini evezwa ngokucacile yilencwadi?
2 UPawulu, esebenzisa uTertiyu njengonobhala, uhlanganisa amaphuzu asheshayo nenani elimangalisayo lezingcaphuno ezivela emiBhalweni YesiHeberu ekwenza enye yezincwadi ezinamandla kakhulu zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki. Ngolimi oluhle ngokuphawulekayo, ukhuluma ngezinkinga ezaphakama lapho amabandla obuKristu ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka akhiwa amaJuda namaGreki. Ingabe amaJuda ayenelungelo lokuqala ngenxa yokuba inzalo ka-Abrahama? Ingabe amaKristu avuthiwe, lapho esebenzisa ukukhululeka kwawo eMthethweni kaMose, ayenelungelo lokukhuba abafowabo ababuthaka abangamaJuda ababesabambelele emasikweni akudala? Kulencwadi uPawulu wakuveza ngokucacile ukuthi amaJuda nabangemaJuda bayalingana phambi kukaNkulunkulu nokuthi abantu kuthiwa balungile ngenxa yokholo kuJesu Kristu nangomusa kaNkulunkulu ongasifanele, hhayi ngoMthetho kaMose. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uNkulunkulu ufuna ukuba amaKristu abonise ukuzithoba okufanele emagunyeni ahlukahlukene azithola engaphansi kwawo.
3. Laqala kanjani ibandla eRoma, futhi yini engabangela ukuba uPawulu azi abaningi kangako lapho?
3 Laqala kanjani ibandla laseRoma? Kwakunengcosana yomphakathi wamaJuda eRoma okungenani kusukela ngesikhathi sokuthumba kukaPompey iJerusalema ngo-63 B.C.E. KuzEnzo 2:10 kushiwo ngokuqondile ukuthi amanye alawomaJuda ayeseJerusalema ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E., lapho ezwa khona kushunyayelwa izindaba ezinhle. Lezizihambi eziphendukile zahlala eJerusalema ukuze zifunde kubaphostoli, futhi kamuva ababevela eRoma ngokungangabazeki baphindela khona, abanye ngokunokwenzeka ngesikhathi kuqubuka ushushiso eJerusalema. (IzEnzo 2:41-47; 8:1, 4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, abantu bangalesosikhathi babehamba kakhulu, futhi lokhu kungabonisa isizathu sokujwayelana okuseduze kukaPawulu namalungu amaningi kangaka ebandla laseRoma, amanye awo okungenzeka ukuthi ezwa izindaba ezinhle eGrisi noma eAsiya ngenxa yokushumayela kukaPawulu.
4. (a) Ikuphi ukwaziswa incwadi yabaseRoma ekunikezayo ngebandla lakulowomuzi? (b) Yini eboniswa ukuba khona kuka-Akwila noPrisila eRoma?
4 Ukwaziswa kokuqala okunokwethenjelwa ngalelibandla kutholakala encwadini kaPawulu. Kuyacaca kulencwadi ukuthi lelibandla lalakhiwa amaKristu angamaJuda nangewona amaJuda nokuthi intshiseko yawo yayituseka. Uyawatshela: “Ukukholwa kwenu kunconywa ezweni lonke,” futhi, “Ukulalela kwenu kuzwakele kubo bonke.” (Roma 1:8; 16:19) USuetonius, ebhala ngekhulu lesibili leminyaka, ubika ukuthi phakathi nokubusa kukaKlawudiyu (41-54 C.E.), amaJuda axoshwa eRoma. Nokho, kamuva abuya njengoba kuboniswa ukuba khona kuka-Akwila noPrisila eRoma. BabengamaJuda uPawulu ahlangana nawo eKorinte futhi ayehambe eRoma ngesikhathi somyalo kaKlawudiyu kodwa ayesebuyele eRoma ngesikhathi uPawulu ebhalela ibandla lakhona.—IzE. 18:2; Roma 16:3.
5. Yimaphi amaqiniso aveza ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi yabaseRoma?
5 Ubuqiniso balencwadi buvezwe ngokungenakuphikiswa. Njengoba isingeniso sayo sisho, ivela ‘kuPawulu, inceku kaKristu Jesu, umphostoli obiziweyo iya kubo bonke abathandiweyo bakaNkulunkulu abaseRoma, ababiziweyo, abangcwele.’ (Roma 1:1, 7) Iphakathi kwezincwadi zokuqala zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ezigcinwe imithombo yangaphandle. UPetru usebenzisa amazwi amaningi afanayo encwadini yakhe yokuqala, eyabhalwa cishe eminyakeni eyisithupha kuya kweyisishiyagalombili kamuva, kangangokuthi izazi eziningi zicabanga ukuthi kumelwe ukuba wayeseyibonile kakade ikhophi yencwadi eya kwabaseRoma. Ngokusobala incwadi yabaseRoma yayibhekwa njengeyingxenye yezincwadi zikaPawulu futhi kwabhekiselwa kuyo kanjalo uClement waseRoma, uPolycarp waseSmirna, noIgnatius waseAntiyokiya, bonke abaphila ekupheleni kwekhulu leminyaka lokuqala nasekuqaleni kwelesibili C.E.
6. Ipapyrus ethile yasendulo ikufakazela kanjani ukuba kwencwadi yabaseRoma yingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli?
6 Incwadi yabaseRoma itholakala kuyicodex ebizwa ngokuthi iChester Beatty Papyrus No. 2 (P46), kanye nezinye izincwadi zikaPawulu eziyisishiyagalombili. Ngokuqondene nalecodex yakuqala, uSir Frederic Kenyon wabhala: “Khona-ke, lapha sinombhalo wesandla ocishe uphelele weziNcwadi ZikaPawulu, okubonakala sengathi zabhalwa cishe ngasekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu leminyaka.”a Amapapyrus eBhayibheli esiGreki aseChester Beatty madala kunomBhalo Wesandla WaseSinayi nomBhalo Wesandla iVatican No. 1209, yomibili engeyekhulu lesine leminyaka C.E. Nalena futhi iqukethe incwadi yabaseRoma.
7. Kunabuphi ubufakazi ngokuqondene nendawo nesikhathi sokulotshwa kwencwadi yabaseRoma?
7 Yalotshelwaphi futhi nini incwadi yabaseRoma? Akukho ukungavumelani phakathi kwabahlaziyi beBhayibheli ngokuthi lencwadi yalotshelwa eGrisi, ngokunokwenzeka kakhulu eKorinte, ngesikhathi uPawulu evakashele khona izinyanga ezithile ngasekupheleni kohambo lwakhe lwesithathu lobuthunywa bevangeli. Ubufakazi obukuyo bukhomba iKorinte. UPawulu waloba lencwadi esemzini kaGayu, owayeyilungu lebandla lakhona, futhi utusa uFebe wasebandleni eliseduze laseKenikreya, itheku laseKorinte. Ngokusobala uFebe owayisa lencwadi eRoma. (Roma 16:1, 23; 1 Kor. 1:14) KwabaseRoma 15:23 uPawulu wabhala: ‘Angisenandawo kulamazwe,’ futhi uyabonisa evesini elilandelayo ukuthi uhlose ukwandisela umsebenzi wakhe wobuthunywa bevangeli ngasentshonalanga, eSpaniya. Wayengabhala ngalendlela ngasekupheleni kohambo lwakhe lwesithathu, ekuqaleni kuka-56 C.E.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YABASEROMA
8. (a) Yini uPawulu ayishoyo ngokuthunywa kwakhe? (b) Ubonisa kanjani ukuthi kokubili amaJuda namaGreki afanelwe ulaka lukaNkulunkulu?
8 Ukungakhethi kukaNkulunkulu kumaJuda nabeZizwe (1:1–2:29). UPawulu ophefumlelwe ubatshelani abaseRoma? Emazwini akhe esethulo, uzibiza ngokuthi ungumphostoli okhethwe uKristu ukuba afundise ‘ukulalela ngokukholwa’ phakathi kwezizwe. Uzwakalisa isifiso sakhe esikhulu sokuvakashela abangcwele eRoma, ukujabulela ‘ukududuzana’ nabo, nokuba amemezele kubo izindaba ezinhle ‘ezingamandla kaNkulunkulu, kube-yinsindiso kulowo nalowo okholwayo.’ Njengoba kwalotshwa kudala, olungile uyaphila “ngokukholwa.” (1:5, 12, 16, 17) Ubonisa ukuthi kokubili amaJuda namaGreki afanelwe ulaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ukungamesabi komuntu uNkulunkulu akunakuthethelelwa ngoba “okungabonwayo [kukaNkulunkulu] . . . kubonakala kwasekudalweni kwezwe.” (1:20) Nokho izizwe ngobuwula zenza onkulunkulu ngezinto ezidaliwe. Nokho, amaJuda akufanele ahlulele izizwe ngonya, njengoba nawo enecala lezono. Zombili lezigaba ziyokwahlulelwa ngokwezenzo zazo, ngoba uNkulunkulu akakhethi buso bamuntu. Ukusokwa okungokwenyama akusona isici esinqumayo; “umJuda yilowo onguye ngaphakathi, nokusoka kungokwenhliziyo.”—2:29.
9. (a) AmaJuda abadlula ngani abanye, kodwa imiphi imibhalo uPawulu ayicaphunayo ukuze abonise ukuthi bonke bangaphansi kwesono? (b) Khona-ke umuntu kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi ulungile, futhi isiphi isibonelo esisekela leliphuzu?
9 Bonke kuthiwa balungile ngenxa yokholo (3:1–4:25). “Ngalokho kuyini umJuda adlula abanye ngakho na?” Kukhulu, ngoba amaJuda ayephathiswe amazwi kaNkulunkulu angcwele. Noma kunjalo, “abaJuda namaGreki . . . bonke baphansi kwesono,” futhi akukho muntu “olungile” emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Kucashunwa izindawo eziyisikhombisa emiBhalweni YesiHeberu ukuze kufakazelwe leliphuzu. (Roma 3:1, 9-18; IHu. 14:1-3; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; IzAga 1:16; Isaya 59:7, 8; IHu. 36:1) UMthetho uveza ukuba nesono komuntu, ngakho “ngemisebenzi yomthetho akukho-nyama [okuyothiwa ilungile, NW].” Nokho, ngomusa kaNkulunkulu ongabafanele nangokukhululwa ngesihlengo, kokubili amaJuda namaGreki kuthiwa alungile “ngokukholwa ngaphandle kwemisebenzi yomthetho.” (Roma 3:20, 28) UPawulu usekela leliphuzu ngokuphawula isibonelo sika-Abrahama, okwathiwa ulungile, hhayi ngenxa yemisebenzi noma ukusoka, kodwa ngenxa yokholo lwakhe oluyisibonelo. Kanjalo uAbrahama akabanga uyise wamaJuda kuphela kodwa “wabo bonke abakholwayo.”—4:11.
10. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ukufa kubuse njengenkosi? (b) Yini eye yaba umphumela wokulalela kukaKristu, kodwa isiphi isixwayiso esikhishwayo ngokuqondene nesono?
10 Abasezona izigqila zesono kodwa ezokulunga ngoKristu (5:1–6:23). Ngomuntu oyedwa, uAdamu, kwangena isono ezweni, futhi isono saletha ukufa, “ngokunjalo ukufa kwafikela abantu bonke, lokhu bonke bonile.” (5:12) Ukufa kwabusa njengenkosi kusukela kuAdamu kuze kuyofika kuMose. Lapho kunikezwa uMthetho ngoMose, isono sanda, futhi ukufa kwaqhubeka kubusa. Kodwa umusa kaNkulunkulu ongasifanele manje wande ngisho nangaphezulu, futhi ngokulalela kukaKristu abaningi kuthiwa balungile ukuze bamukele ukuphila okuphakade. Nokho lokhu akunikezi igunya lokuphila esonweni. Abantu ababhapathizelwe kuKristu kumelwe bafe esonweni. Ubuntu babo obudala buyabethelwa, futhi bayaphila kuNkulunkulu. Isono asisababusi, kodwa baba izigqila zokulunga, ngenjongo yokuba ngcwele. “Inkokhelo yesono ingukufa, kepha isipho somusa sikaNkulunkulu singukuphila okuphakade kuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.”—6:23.
11. (a) UPawulu ukufanekisa kanjani ukukhululwa kwamaJuda angamaKristu eMthethweni? (b) Yini uMthetho owayenza yacaca, ngakho iziphi izinto ezilwisanayo kumKristu?
11 Bafile eMthethweni, bayaphila ngomoya kanye noKristu (7:1–8:39). UPawulu usebenzisa isibonelo somfazi, obophekile kumyeni wakhe uma nje esaphila kodwa okhululekile ukushada nomunye uma efa, ukuze abonise indlela amaKristu angamaJuda afa ngayo eMthethweni ngomhlatshelo kaKristu nayekhululeke ngayo ukuba abe ngakaKristu futhi athelele uNkulunkulu izithelo. UMthetho ongcwele wenza isono sabonakala kakhulu, futhi isono saletha ukufa. Isono, esihlala emizimbeni yethu yenyama, silwa nezinhloso zethu ezinhle. Njengoba uPawulu esho: “Ngokuba okuhle engikuthandayo angikwenzi, kodwa okubi engingakuthandiyo lokho ngiyakwenza.” Kanjalo, “akuseyimi engenza lokho, kodwa yisono esihlala kimi”—7:19, 20.
12. Abanye baba kanjani izindlalifa kanye noKristu, futhi yini laba abanqoba kuyo ngokuphelele?
12 Yini engasindisa umuntu kulesimo esidabukisayo? Ngomoya waKhe uNkulunkulu angenza labo abangabakaKristu baphile! Bamukelwa njengamadodana, kuthiwa balungile, baba izindlalifa zikaNkulunkulu nezindlalifa ezikanye noKristu, futhi bayakhazinyuliswa. Kubo uPawulu uthi: “Uma uNkulunkulu emi ngakithi, ngubani ongamelana nathi na? Ngubani ozakusahlukanisa nothando lukaKristu na?” Akekho! Ngokunqoba uthi: “Siyanqoba nokunqoba ngowasithandayo. Ngiyakholwa ukuthi nakufa, nakuphila, nazingelosi, nababusi, nakho okukhona, nakho okuzayo, namandla, nakuphakama, nakujula, nanto enye edaliweyo akuyikuba-namandla okusahlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.”—8:31, 35, 37-39.
13. (a) Ngokwesiprofetho, obani abahlanganiswa kuIsrayeli wangempela kaNkulunkulu, futhi lokhu kuvumelana nasiphi isimiso saphezulu? (b) Kungani uIsrayeli ongokwenyama ahluleka, kodwa yini edingekile ukuze umuntu asindiswe?
13 “UIsrayeli” usindiswa ngokholo nangomusa kaNkulunkulu (9:1–10:21). UPawulu uzwakalisa ‘ukudabuka okukhulu’ ngamaIsrayeli akubo, kodwa uyaqaphela ukuthi akuwona wonke uIsrayeli ongokwenyama ‘onguIsrayeli’ ngempela, njengoba uNkulunkulu enegunya lokukhetha noma ubani athanda ukumkhetha ukuba abe indodana. Njengoba kuboniswa ukusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu noFaro nawumfanekiso wombumbi, “akuyi ngentando nangokuzikhathaza komuntu, kodwa kuya ngokuhawukela kukaNkulunkulu.” (9:2, 6, 16) Ubiza amadodana “kungesikho kubaJuda kuphela kodwa nakwabezizwe,” njengoba uHoseya abikezela kudala. (Hos. 2:23) UIsrayeli wasilela ngenxa yokufuna ukuthola umusa kaNkulunkulu, “[hhayi] ngokukholwa kodwa . . . ngemisebenzi,” nangenxa yokuqhuzuka kuKristu, ‘itshe.’ (Roma 9:24, 32, 33) “Ba[be]shisekela uNkulunkulu” kodwa “kungengokuqonda.” UKristu uyisiphetho soMthetho kulabo ababonisa ukholo ekulungeni, futhi ukuze umuntu azuze ukusindiswa kumelwe amemezele obala “ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi” futhi akholelwe “ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo.” (10:2, 9) Kuthunyelwa abashumayeli ukuba benze abantu bazo zonke izizwe bezwe, babe nokholo, nokuba babize egameni likaJehova ukuze basindiswe.
14. Ufanekiselani uPawulu ngomuthi womnqumo?
14 Umfanekiso womuthi womnqumo (11:1-36). Ngenxa yomusa ongasifanele, kuye kwakhethwa insali kaIsrayeli wemvelo, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi iningi lakhubeka, “insindiso ifikile kwabezizwe.” (11:11) Esebenzisa umfanekiso womuthi womnqumo, uPawulu ubonisa indlela abangemaJuda abaxhunyelelwa ngayo, ngenxa yokuntula ukholo kukaIsrayeli ongokwenyama. Noma kunjalo, abangemaJuda akumelwe bathokoze ngokwenqatshwa kukaIsrayeli, ngoba uma uNkulunkulu engawayekanga amagatsha emvelo angathembekile, ngeke awayeke amagatsha omnqumo wasendle axhunyelelwe avela kwabezizwe.
15. Yini ehilelekile ekunikeleni iminikelo ephilile kuNkulunkulu?
15 Ukuguqula ingqondo; amagunya aphakeme (12:1–13:14). Nikelani ngemizimba yenu njengeminikelo ephilayo kuNkulunkulu, kweluleka uPawulu. Ningabe ‘nisalingisa lelizwe,’ kodwa “niguqulwe isimo ngokwenziwa ibentsha ingqondo yenu.” Ningaqhoshi. Umzimba kaKristu, njengomzimba womuntu, unamalunga amaningi, anemisebenzi ehlukahlukene, kodwa asebenza ndawonye ngobunye. Ningaphindiseli muntu okubi ngokubi. Shiyelani impindiselo kuJehova. Nqobani “okubi ngokuhle.”—12:2, 21.
16. AmaKristu kumelwe ahambe kanjani phambi kwabanegunya nakwabanye?
16 Thobelani amagunya aphakeme; kuyilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu. Qhubekani nenza okuhle futhi ningakweleti muntu nanto yinye ngaphandle kokuthandana. Ukusindiswa kuyasondela, ngakho ‘lahlani imisebenzi yobumnyama’ ‘nihlome izikhali zokukhanya.’ (13:12) Hambani ngokuziphatha okuhle, hhayi ngezinkanuko zenyama.
17. Siyini iseluleko ngokuqondene nokwahlulela nokwakha ababuthaka?
17 Yamukelani bonke ngokungakhethi nangaphandle kokwahlulela (14:1–15:33). Babekezeleleni labo abayeka ukudla okuthile noma bagcine izinsuku zemikhosi ngenxa yobuthaka bokholo lwabo. Ningamahluleli umfowenu noma nimkhube ngokudla nokuphuza kwenu, njengoba uNkulunkulu ahlulela bonke. Phishekelani ukuthula nezinto ezakhayo, futhi nithwale ubuthaka babanye.
18. (a) Iziphi ezinye izindawo uPawulu azicaphunayo ekuboniseni ukwamukela kukaNkulunkulu abangemaJuda? (b) UPawulu ngokwakhe uwusebenzisa kanjani umusa kaNkulunkulu ongasifanele?
18 Umphostoli uyabhala: “Konke okwalotshwa ngaphambili kwalotshelwa ukufundiswa kwethu,” futhi unikeza izingcaphuno ezine ezengeziwe ezivela emiBhalweni YesiHeberu njengobufakazi bokugcina bokuthi abaprofethi abaphefumlelwe bakubikezela kudala ukuthi izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu zaziyofinyelela ezizweni ezingewona amaJuda. (Roma 15:4, 9-12; IHu. 18:49; Dut. 32:43; IHu. 117:1; Isaya 11:1, 10) “Ngalokho,” kuyala uPawulu, “yamukelanani, njengalokho noKristu wasamukela, ukuze kudunyiswe uNkulunkulu.” (Roma 15:7) UPawulu uzwakalisa ukwazisa ngomusa ongamfanele awunikwe uNkulunkulu wokuba isikhonzi sasobala kwabezizwe, ‘ekhonza ivangeli likaNkulunkulu.’ Ngaso sonke isikhathi ufuna ukuvula amasimu amasha kunokuba ‘akhe phezu kwesisekelo somunye.’ Futhi akakaqedi, ngoba uceba ukuba, ngemva kokuyisa iminikelo eJerusalema, athathe uhambo lokushumayela olude ngisho nangaphezulu oluya eSpaniya ekude, nokuba endleleni eya lapho, alethele abafowabo abangokomoya eRoma ‘ukugcwala kwesibusiso sikaKristu.’—15:16, 20, 29.
19. Imiphi imikhonzo nesiyalo okuphetha lencwadi?
19 Imikhonzo yokuphetha (16:1-27). UPawulu uthumela imikhonzo yakhe siqu emalungwini angu-26 ebandla laseRoma ewabiza ngamagama, nakwabanye, futhi uwayala ukuba agweme abantu ababanga ukwahlukana nokuba ‘ahlakaniphe kokuhle, abe ngangahlakaniphile kokubi.’ Konke kwenzelwa udumo lukaNkulunkulu “ngoJesu Kristu kuze kube-phakade. Amen.”—16:19, 27.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
20. (a) Isiphi isizathu esinengqondo incwadi yabaseRoma esinikezayo sokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu? (b) Kuboniswe kanjani ukulunga nobubele bukaNkulunkulu, futhi lokhu kuholela ukuba uPawulu ababaze athini?
20 Incwadi yabaseRoma inikeza isisekelo esinengqondo sokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu, ithi “okungabonwayo kwakhe, kuthi amandla akhe aphakade nobuNkulunkulu bakhe kubonakala kwasekudalweni kwezwe, ngokuba kuqondakala ngezenzo zakhe.” Kodwa ngaphezu kwalokhu, iyaqhubeka iphakamisa ukulunga kwakhe futhi yenze baziwe ububele bakhe obukhulu nomusa wakhe ongasifanele. Lokhu kulethwa kahle ekunakekeleni kwethu ngomfanekiso womuthi womnqumo, okuxhunyelelwa kuwo amagatsha asendle lapho kugawulwa amagatsha emvelo. Lapho ecabanga ngokuba nesandla esiqinile kukaNkulunkulu nokuba kwakhe nomusa, uPawulu uyababaza: “Yeka ukujula kwengcebo, nokuhlakanipha, nokwazi kukaNkulunkulu! Yeka izahlulelo zakhe ezingaphenyekiyo, nezindlela zakhe ezingaqondakaliyo!”—1:20; 11:33.
21. Incwadi yabaseRoma ikubonisa kanjani ukuqhubeka kwemfihlakalo engcwele kaNkulunkulu?
21 Yilokhu okubangela ukuba incwadi yabaseRoma ichaze izenzakalo eziqhubekayo zemfihlakalo engcwele kaNkulunkulu. Ebandleni lobuKristu, awusekho umahluko phakathi komJuda noweZizwe, kodwa abantu bazo zonke izizwe bangahlanganyela emseni kaJehova ongasifanele ngoJesu Kristu. “Akukho ukukhetha umuntu kuNkulunkulu.” “UmJuda yilowo onguye ngaphakathi, nokusoka kungokwenhliziyo, ngomoya kungengegama.” “Akukho-mahluko phakathi komJuda nomGreki, lokhu yena uyiNkosi yabo bonke, ubacebele bonke abakhuleka kuye.” Kubo bonke laba ukholo, hhayi imisebenzi, olubalelwa kubo ngokuthi ukulunga.—2:11, 29; 10:12; 3:28.
22. Isiphi iseluleko esiwusizo incwadi yabaseRoma esinikezayo ngokuqondene nobuhlobo nalabo abangaphandle kwebandla?
22 Iseluleko esiwusizo esiqukethwe yilencwadi eyayiya kumaKristu aseRoma siyinzuzo ngokufanayo kumaKristu namuhla, okumelwe ahlangabezane nezinkinga ezifanayo ezweni ayizihambi kulo. UmKristu uyalwa ukuba ‘ahlalisane ngokuthula nabantu bonke,’ kuhlanganise nalabo abangaphandle kwebandla. Yonke imiphefumulo kumelwe ‘izithobe emandleni ombuso,’ ngoba lawa ayilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu futhi akumelwe esatshwe yilabo abagcina umthetho, kodwa yilabo abenza izenzo ezimbi. AmaKristu kumelwe azithobe ngokugcina umthetho hhayi nje kuphela ngenxa yokwesaba ukujeziswa kodwa ngenxa kanembeza wobuKristu, ngalesosizathu akhokhe izintela, enze imisebenzi elindeleke kuwo, afeze izibopho zawo, angakweleti muntu lutho, ‘kuphela ukuthandana.’ Uthando lugcwalisa uMthetho.—12:17-21; 13:1-10.
23. UPawulu ukugcizelela kanjani ukubaluleka kokumemezela obala, futhi isiphi isibonelo asinikezayo ngokuqondene nokulungiselela inkonzo?
23 UPawulu ugcizelela indaba yokufakaza obala. Nakuba umuntu elubonisa ngenhliziyo ukholo ekulungeni, umuntu umemezela obala ngomlomo ukuze asindiswe. “Bonke abayakukhuleka egameni leNkosi bayakusindiswa.” Kodwa ukuze lokhu kwenzeke, kudingekile ngabashumayeli ukuba baphume ‘bashumayele izindaba ezinhle.’ Siyajabula uma siphakathi kwalabashumayeli abalizwi labo manje ‘seliphumele emhlabeni wonke’! (10:13, 15, 18) Futhi lapho silungiselela lomsebenzi wokushumayela, sengathi singazama ukujwayelana nemiBhalo ephefumlelwe njengoba ayenjalo uPawulu, ngoba kulendima yodwa (10:11-21) ucaphuna ecaphunile emiBhalweni YesiHeberu. (Isaya 28:16; Joweli 2:32; Isaya 52:7; 53:1; IHu. 19:4; Dut. 32:21; Isaya 65:1, 2) Wayengasho kahle ukuthi: “Konke okwalotshwa ngaphambili kwalotshelwa ukufundiswa kwethu, ukuze ngokubekezela nangenduduzo yemibhalo sibe-nethemba.”—Roma 15:4.
24. Isiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikezayo ngenjongo yokwakha intshiseko nobuhlobo obujabulisayo ebandleni?
24 Kunikezwa iseluleko esiwusizo oluhle ngokuqondene nobuhlobo babantu phakathi ebandleni lobuKristu. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bebenasiphi isizinda sobuzwe, sohlanga, noma sezenhlalo, bonke kumelwe baguqule izingqondo zabo ukuze banikele kuNkulunkulu inkonzo engcwele ngokuvumelana ‘nentando yakhe enhle, ethandekayo, nepheleleyo.’ (11:17-22; 12:1, 2, qhathanisa neNW.) Yeka ukuthi sinengqondo kangakanani sonke iseluleko sikaPawulu esikumaRoma 12:3-16! Ngempela lesi isiyalo esihle ngokwedlulele sokwakha intshiseko, ukuthobeka, nothando olufudumele kubo bonke ebandleni lobuKristu. Ezahlukweni zokuphetha, uPawulu unikeza isiyalo esinamandla sokuqaphela nokugwema labo ababanga ukwahlukana, kodwa futhi ukhuluma ngenjabulo nokuqabuleka kwethu sonke okuvela ebunganeni obuhlanzekile ebandleni.—16:17-19; 15:7, 32.
25. (a) Imuphi umbono ofanele nokuqonda okwengeziwe incwadi yabaseRoma ekunikezayo ngokuqondene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu? (b) Kufanele kusizuzize ngaziphi izindlela ukutadisha incwadi yabaseRoma?
25 NjengamaKristu, kumelwe siqhubeke siqaphela ubuhlobo bethu ngomunye nomunye. “Ngokuba umbuso kaNkulunkulu awusikho ukudla nokuphuza kepha ungukulunga, nokuthula, nokuthokoza eMoyeni oNgcwele.” (14:17) Lokhu kulunga, ukuthula, nenjabulo kuyisabelo ikakhulukazi ‘sabayizindlalifa kanye noKristu,’ ‘abayokhazinyuliswa kanye naye’ eMbusweni wasezulwini. Futhi, phawula indlela incwadi yabaseRoma ebhekisela ngayo esinyathelweni esiqhubekayo ekugcwalisekeni kwesithembiso soMbuso esanikezwa e-Edene, ithi: “UNkulunkulu wokuthula uzakumchoboza masinyane uSathane phansi kwezinyawo zenu.” (Roma 8:17; 16:20; Gen. 3:15) Njengoba sikholelwa yilamaqiniso amakhulu, sengathi singaqhubeka sigcwala yonke injabulo nokuthula futhi sichichima ithemba. Masizimisele ukunqoba kanye neMbewu yoMbuso, ngoba siyaqiniseka ukuthi akukho lutho ezulwini phezulu noma emhlabeni phansi ‘nanto enye edaliweyo eyoba namandla okusahlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.’—Roma 8:39; 15:13.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts, 1958, ikhasi 188.