Ukubaneka Kokukhanya Ezikhathini Zabaphostoli

“Ukukhanya [kuye kwabanekela, NW] olungileyo, ukujabula kuhlwanyelelwe abanhliziyo ziqotho.”—IHUBO 97:11.

 1. OFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bawalingisa kanjani amaKristu okuqala?

NJENGAMAKRISTU eqiniso, yeka indlela esiwazisa ngayo amazwi eHubo 97:11! ‘Ukukhanya kuye kwasibanekela’ ngokuphindaphindiwe. Ngempela, abanye bethu sekungamashumi eminyaka bebona ukukhanya kukaJehova okubanekayo. Konke lokhu kusikhumbuza izAga 4:18, ezifundeka kanje: “Umkhondo wabalungileyo unjengokukhanya kokusa okuqhubeka ngokukhanya njalo kuze kube-semini.” Njengoba sazisa imiBhalo kunesiko, thina esingoFakazi BakaJehova silingisa amaKristu okuqala. Isimo sawo sengqondo singabonwa ngokucacile emabhukwini angokomlando emiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki nasezincwadini zayo, ezabhalwa ngaphansi kokuphefumulelwa kwaphezulu.

 2. Yini eyayiphakathi kokubaneka kokukhanya kokuqala abalandeli bakaJesu abakwamukela?

² Okwakuphakathi kokubaneka kokukhanya kokuqala abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu bokuqala abakwamukela kwakuphathelene noMesiya. U-Andreya watshela umfowabo uSimoni Petru: “Simtholile uMesiya.” (Johane 1:41) Esikhathini esithile kamuva, uBaba osezulwini wenza ukuba umphostoli uPetru afakaze ngokuqondene nalokho lapho ethi kuJesu Kristu: “Unguye uKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.”—Mathewu 16:16, 17; Johane 6:68, 69.

Ukukhanya Okuphathelene Nokuthunywa Kwabo Kokushumayela

 3, 4. Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, yikuphi ukukhanya uJesu akunika abalandeli bakhe ngokuphathelene nomsebenzi wabo wesikhathi esizayo?

³ Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu Kristu wenza ukukhanya kwabaneka ngokuphathelene nesibopho sabo bonke abalandeli bakhe. Cishe kwakungabafundi abangu-500 ababehlangene eGalile athi kubo: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina zonke izinto enginiyale ngazo. Futhi, bhekani! Nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (Mathewu 28:19, 20; 1 Korinte 15:6) Ngemva kwalokho, bonke abalandeli bakaKristu kwakumelwe babe abashumayeli, futhi ukuthunywa kwabo kokushumayela kwakungamelwe kugcine “ezimvwini ezilahlekile zendlu ka-Israyeli.” (Mathewu 10:6) Futhi kwakungamelwe benze ubhapathizo lukaJohane oluwuphawu lokubonisa ukuphenduka ukuze kube nokuthethelelwa kwezono. Kunalokho, kwakumelwe babhapathize abantu “egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele.”

⁴ Ngaphambi nje kokuba uJesu anyukele ezulwini, abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile abangu-11 babuza: “Nkosi, ingabe ubuyisela umbuso ku-Israyeli ngalesisikhathi?” Kunokuba aphendule lowombuzo, uJesu wanikeza iziyalezo ezengeziwe ngokuphathelene nokuthunywa kwabo kokushumayela, ethi: “Nizokwamukela amandla lapho umoya ongcwele ufika phezu kwenu, futhi nizoba ofakazi bami kokubili eJerusalema nakulo lonke iJudiya neSamariya nasezingxenyeni eziqhele kakhulu zomhlaba.” Kuze kube yilesosikhathi, babengofakazi bakaJehova kuphela, kodwa manje babezoba futhi ofakazi bakaKristu.—IzEnzo 1:6-8.

 5, 6. Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya abafundi bakaJesu abakwamukela ngePentekoste?

⁵ Ezinsukwini eziyishumi nje kamuva, yeka ukuthi abalandeli bakaJesu bamukela ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimula kangakanani! Ngosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E., ngokokuqala ngqá, baqonda incazelo kaJoweli 2:28, 29: ‘[Mina Jehova] ngiyothulula uMoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inyama; amadodana enu namadodakazi enu ayakuprofetha, abadala benu baphuphe amaphupho, izinsizwa zenu zibone imibono; naphezu kwezinceku nezincekukazi ngalezozinsuku ngiyakuthulula uMoya wami.’ Abafundi bakaJesu babona umoya ongcwele, usesimweni samalangabi, uhlezi emakhanda abo bonke—abesilisa nabesifazane abangaba ngu-120—ababehlangene eJerusalema.—IzEnzo 1:12-15; 2:1-4.

⁶ Futhi ngalolosuku lwePentekoste, abafundi baqonda ngokokuqala ngqá ukuthi amazwi eHubo 16:10 asebenza kuJesu Kristu ovusiwe. Umhubi wayethe: “[Jehova Nkulunkulu] awuyikunikela umphefumulo wami endaweni yabafileyo; awuyikuvuma ukuba ongcwele wakho abone ukubola.” Abafundi babeqaphela ukuthi lawomazwi ayengeke asebenze eNkosini uDavide, ngoba ithuna layo lalisekhona kwaze kwaba yilolosuku. Yingakho abangaba ngu-3 000 balabo abezwa lokhu kukhanya okusha kuchazwa babeqiniseke kakhulu kangangokuthi babhapathizwa ngalo lolosuku!—IzEnzo 2:14-41.

 7. Ikuphi ukukhanya okukhazimulayo umphostoli uPetru akwamukela phakathi nokuvakashela kwakhe isikhulu sebutho lamaRoma uKorneliyu?

⁷ Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka, ama-Israyeli ayekwazisa lokho uNkulunkulu ayekushilo ngokuphathelene nawo: “Nginazile nina kuphela emindenini yonke yomhlaba.” (Amose 3:2) Ngakho, ngempela kwakuwukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimulayo okwamukelwa umphostoli uPetru nalabo ayehambisana nabo beya endlini yesikhulu sebutho lamaRoma uKorneliyu lapho umoya ongcwele ngokokuqala ngqá wehlela phezu kwamakholwa abeZizwe angasokiwe. Kufanele kuphawuleke ukuthi lesi kwakuwukuphela kwesikhathi umoya ongcwele owanikezwa ngaso ngaphambi kobhapathizo. Kodwa kwakufanele kube njalo. Ngaphandle kwalokho, uPetru wayengeke azi ukuthi lababeZizwe abangasokiwe babelufanelekela ubhapathizo. Ekuqonda ngokugcwele ukubaluleka kwalesisenzakalo, uPetru wabuza: “Ingabe ukhona ongenqaba namanzi ukuze bangabhapathizwa [lababeZizwe] abamukele umoya ongcwele njengoba nje nathi siwamukele?” Yiqiniso, akekho owayekhona owayengenqaba ngokufanele, ngakho lababeZizwe babe sebebhapathizwa.—IzEnzo 10:44-48; qhathanisa nezEnzo 8:14-17.

Akusekho Ukusoka

 8. Kungani amaKristu athile okuqala akuthola kunzima ukulahla ukusoka?

⁸ Okunye ukubaneka kweqiniso okukhazimulayo kwavela ngokuphathelene nendaba yokusoka. Umkhuba wokusoka waqala ngo-1919 B.C.E. lapho uJehova enza isivumelwano no-Abrahama. Khona-ke uNkulunkulu wayala u-Abrahama ukuthi yena nabo bonke abanye besilisa bendlu yakhe kumelwe basokwe. (Genesise 17:9-14, 23-27) Ngakho ukusoka kwaba uphawu oluhlukanisayo lwenzalo ka-Abrahama. Futhi yeka ukuthi yayiziqhenya kanjani ngalomkhuba! Ngenxa yalokho, igama elithi “ongasokile” laba igama elibonisa indelelo. (Isaya 52:1; 1 Samuweli 17:26, 27) Kulula ukubona ukuthi kungani amanye amaKristu okuqala angamaJuda ayefuna ukululondoloza loluphawu. Amanye awo aba nengxoxo eshubile noPawulu kanye noBarnaba ngalendaba. Ukuze bayixazulule, uPawulu nabanye baya eJerusalema beyofuna isiqondiso sendikimba ebusayo yamaKristu.—IzEnzo 15:1, 2.

 9. Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya okwambuleka endikimbeni ebusayo yokuqala, njengoba kulotshwe kuzEnzo isahluko 15?

⁹ Ngalesisikhathi, lawomaKristu okuqala awazange amukele ukukhanyiselwa kokuthi ukusoka kwakungaseyona imfuneko ezincekwini zikaJehova ngesimangaliso esisobala. Kunalokho, amukela lokho kukhanya okwandayo ngokuhlola imiBhalo, ethembele emoyeni ongcwele ukuba uwaqondise, futhi ezwa okuhlangenwe nakho kukaPetru noPawulu ngokuphathelene nokuguqulwa kwabeZizwe abangasokile. (IzEnzo 15:6-21) Isinqumo sakhishwa encwadini eyayifundeka kanje ngokwengxenye: “Umoya ongcwele nathi ngokwethu sikubone kukuhle ukunganezeli omunye umthwalo osindayo kini, ngaphandle kwalezizinto ezidingekile, ukuba niqhubeke nideda ezintweni ezihlatshelwe izithombe nasegazini nasezintweni eziklinyiwe nasebufebeni.” (IzEnzo 15:28, 29) Ngaleyondlela amaKristu okuqala akhululwa emyalweni wokusoka nakwezinye izimfuneko zoMthetho kaMose. Ngakho, uPawulu wayengatshela amaKristu aseGalathiya: “UKristu wasikhululela inkululeko enjalo.”—Galathiya 5:1.

Ukukhanya EmaVangelini

10. Ikuphi okunye ukubaneka kokukhanya okwambulwa eVangelini likaMathewu?

¹⁰ Akungabazeki ukuthi iVangeli likaMathewu, elabhalwa cishe ngo-41 C.E., liqukethe ukubaneka kokukhanya okuningi ukuze lizuzise abalifundayo. Ambalwa ngokuqhathaniswa amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayezizwele ngokwawo uJesu echaza izimfundiso zakhe. Ngokuyinhloko, iVangeli likaMathewu lagcizelela ukuthi isihloko sokushumayela kukaJesu kwakuwuMbuso. Futhi yeka indlela uJesu ayegcizelele ngayo ngokunamandla ukubaluleka kokuba nesisusa esiqondile! Yeka ukubaneka kokukhanya okwakukhona eNtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, emifanekisweni yakhe (njengaleyo elotshwe esahlukweni 13), nasesiprofethweni sakhe esikhulu ezahlukweni 24 no-25! Konke lokhu kwalethwa ekunakekeleni kwamaKristu okuqala ekulandiseni kweVangeli likaMathewu elabhalwa eminyakeni engaba ngu-8 kuphela ngemva kwePentekoste lika-33 C.E.

11. Yini engashiwo ngokuphathelene nokuqukethwe iVangeli likaLuka nelikaMarku?

¹¹ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-15 kamuva, uLuka wabhala iVangeli lakhe. Nakuba ingxenye enkulu yalo ifana nokulandisa kukaMathewu, amaphesenti angu-59 alo anokunye ukwaziswa. ULuka waloba eziyisithupha zezimangaliso zikaJesu nemifanekiso yaKhe engaphezulu ngokuphindwe kabili kulelonani abanye abalobi bamaVangeli abangazange bakhulume ngakho. Ngokusobala eminyakeni embalwa kamuva, uMarku wabhala iVangeli lakhe, egcizelela ukuthi uJesu Kristu uyindoda yesenzo, umenzi wezimangaliso. Nakuba uMarku alandisa ikakhulukazi izenzakalo ezase zihlanganiswe uMathewu noLuka ngaphambili, kunomfanekiso owodwa awubhala abangazange bawubhale. Kulowomfanekiso, uJesu wafanisa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nembewu ehlumayo, ikhule ibe yinde, futhi ithele isithelo kancane kancane.a—Marku 4:26-29.

12. IVangeli likaJohane lakunikeza ngezinga elingakanani ukukhanyiselwa okwengeziwe?

¹² Khona-ke kwabe sekuba neVangeli likaJohane, elabhalwa eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-30 ngemva kokuba uMarku ebhale ukulandisa kwakhe. Yeka umsebe wokukhanya uJohane awuletha ngokuphathelene nenkonzo kaJesu, ikakhulukazi ngokubhekisela kaningi ekuphileni kwaKhe kwangaphambi kobuntu! UJohane kuphela onikeza ukulandisa kokuvuswa kukaLazaru, futhi uyena kuphela osinikeza amazwi amaningi kaJesu amahle awasho kubaphostoli bakhe abathembekile kanye nomthandazo wakhe othinta inhliziyo ngobusuku bokukhashelwa kwakhe, njengoba kulotshwe ezahlukweni 13 kuya ku-17. Eqinisweni, kuthiwa amaphesenti angu-92 eVangeli likaJohane awatholakali kwamanye amaVangeli.

Ukubaneka Kokukhanya Ezincwadini ZikaPawulu

13. Kungani abanye beye babheka incwadi kaPawulu eya kwabaseRoma njengeyiVangeli?

¹³ Umphostoli uPawulu wasetshenziswa ngokukhethekile ukuba alethe ukubaneka kweqiniso kumaKristu ayephila ezikhathini zabaphostoli. Ngokwesibonelo, kunencwadi kaPawulu eya kwabaseRoma, eyabhalwa ngawo-56 C.E.—cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo uLuka abhala ngaso iVangeli lakhe. Kulencwadi uPawulu uqokomisa iqiniso lokuthi kukhona ukulunga ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu ongafanelwe nangokholo kuJesu Kristu. Ukugcizelela kukaPawulu lesisici sezindaba ezinhle kuye kwabangela abanye ukuba babheke incwadi yakhe eya kwabaseRoma njengeyiVangeli lesihlanu.

14-16. (a) Encwadini yakhe yokuqala eya kumaKristu aseKorinte, yikuphi ukukhanya uPawulu akunikeza ngokuphathelene nesidingo sobunye? (b) Ikuphi okunye ukukhanya okuphathelene nokuziphatha okuqukethwe eyokuQala yabaseKorinte?

¹⁴ UPawulu wabhala ngezindaba ezithile ezazikhathaza amaKristu aseKorinte. Incwadi yakhe eya kwabaseKorinte igcwele iseluleko esiphefumulelwe esiye sazuzisa amaKristu kuze kube sosukwini lwethu. Okokuqala, kwakumelwe akhanyisele abaseKorinte ngokuqondene nephutha ababelenza lokwakha amaqembu okukhulekela abantu abathile abavelele. Umphostoli wabaqondisa, ngesibindi ebatshela: “Manje ngiyanikhuthaza, bafowethu, ngegama leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ukuba nonke nikhulume ngokuvumelana, nokuba kungabi nakuhlukana phakathi kwenu, kodwa ukuba nihlangane ngokufanele emqondweni ofanayo nasendleleni efanayo yokucabanga.”—1 Korinte 1:10-15.

¹⁵ Ukuziphatha okubi kakhulu kwakubekezelelwa ebandleni lobuKristu laseKorinte. Indoda ethile lapho yayithathe umkayise, ngaleyondlela yenza ‘ubufebe obungazange butholakale ngisho naphakathi kwezizwe.’ Ngokungagunci, uPawulu wabhala: “Susani umuntu omubi phakathi kwenu.” (1 Korinte 5:1, 11-13) Leyo kwakuyinto entsha ebandleni lobuKristu—ukususa ekuhlanganyeleni. Enye indaba ibandla laseKorinte elalidinga ukukhanyiselwa kuyo yayiphathelene neqiniso lokuthi amanye amalungu alo ayemangalela abafowabo abangokomoya ezinkantolo zezwe ukuze axazulule izikhalo. UPawulu wabakhuza ngokuqinile ngokwenza kanjalo.—1 Korinte 6:5-8.

¹⁶ Kanti enye indaba eyayihlupha ibandla laseKorinte yayiphathelene nobuhlobo bobulili. Kweyoku-1 Korinte isahluko 7, uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ngenxa yokudlanga kokuziphatha okubi ngokobulili, kwakuyoba kuhle ukuba indoda ngayinye ibe nomkayo siqu nowesifazane ngamunye abe nomyeni wakhe siqu. UPawulu waphinde wabonisa ukuthi nakuba abantu abangashadile bekwazi ukukhonza uJehova ngaphandle kweziphazamiso, akubona bonke ababenesiphiwo sokungashadi. Futhi uma kwakungenzeka ukuba umyeni wowesifazane othile afe, owesifazane wayeyokhululeka ukuba aphinde ashade kodwa “kuphela eNkosini.”—1 Korinte 7:39.

17. Ikuphi ukukhanya uPawulu akunikeza ngokuphathelene nemfundiso yovuko?

¹⁷ Yeka ukubaneka kokukhanya iNkosi eyasebenzisa uPawulu ukuba akunikeze ngokuphathelene novuko! AmaKristu agcotshiwe ayovuswa enaluhlobo luni lomzimba? “Kuhlwanyelwa kuwumzimba ongokwenyama, kuvuswa kuwumzimba ongokomoya,” kubhala uPawulu. Ayikho imizimba yenyama eyoyiswa ezulwini, ngoba “inyama negazi akukwazi ukuwuzuza njengefa umbuso kaNkulunkulu.” UPawulu wanezela ukuthi akubona bonke abagcotshiwe abayolala ekufeni kodwa phakathi nokuba khona kukaJesu abanye bayovuselwa ekuphileni kokungafi ngokuphazima kweso lapho befa.—1 Korinte 15:43-53.

18. Ikuphi ukukhanya ngokuphathelene nekusasa okuqukethwe incwadi kaPawulu yokuqala eya kwabaseThesalonika?

¹⁸ Encwadini yakhe eya kumaKristu aseThesalonika, uPawulu wasetshenziswa ukuba anikeze ukukhanya ngokuphathelene nekusasa. Usuku lukaJehova lwaluyoza njengesela ebusuku. UPawulu wabuye wachaza: “Noma nini lapho bethi khona: ‘Ukuthula nokulondeka!’ khona-ke imbubhiso engazelelwe iyofika ngaso lesosikhathi phezu kwabo njengomhelo wokucindezeleka phezu kowesifazane okhulelweyo; futhi abasoze baphunyuka nganoma iyiphi indlela.”—1 Thesalonika 5:2, 3.

19, 20. Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya amaKristu aseJerusalema naseJudiya akwamukela encwadini kaPawulu eya kumaHeberu?

¹⁹ Ngokubhalela amaHeberu incwadi, uPawulu wadlulisela ukubaneka kokukhanya kumaKristu okuqala eJerusalema naseJudiya. Yeka indlela enamandla abonisa ngayo ukuphakama kwesimiso sokukhulekela samaKristu ngaphezu kwesimiso sokukhulekela sikaMose! Kunokuba alandele uMthetho owadluliselwa ngezingelosi, amaKristu anokholo ensindisweni iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ephakeme kakhulu kunalezozithunywa eziyizingelosi eyaba ngeyokuqala ukukhuluma ngayo. (Heberu 2:2-4) UMose wayeyisikhonzi nje endlini kaNkulunkulu. Nokho, uJesu Kristu wengamele yonke lendlu. UKristu ungumpristi ophakeme ngokuvumelana nohlelo lukaMelkisedeki, enesikhundla esiphakeme kakhulu kunesobupristi buka-Aroni. UPawulu waveza nokuthi ama-Israyeli awakwazanga ukungena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuntula ukholo nokungalaleli, kodwa amaKristu ayangena kukho ngenxa yokwethembeka kwawo nokulalela.—Heberu 3:1–4:11.

²⁰ Futhi isivumelwano esisha siphakeme kakhulu kunesivumelwano soMthetho. Njengoba kwakuprofethiwe eminyakeni engu-600 ngaphambili kuJeremiya 31:31-34, labo abasesivumelwaneni esisha banomthetho kaNkulunkulu olotshwe ezinhliziyweni zabo futhi bajabulela ukuthethelelwa kwezono kwangempela. Kunokuba abe nompristi omkhulu okumelwe anikele imihlatshelo minyaka yonke ngenxa yezono zakhe nezabantu, amaKristu anoJesu Kristu njengomPristi wawo Omkhulu, ongenasono futhi owanikela umhlatshelo wezono kanye kwaba kuphela. Kunokuba angene endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla ukuze alethe umnikelo wakhe, wangena ezulwini ngokwalo, ukuze abonakale phambi kobuso bukaJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imihlatshelo yezono ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho kaMose yayingenakuzisusa ngokuphelele izono, uma kungenjalo yayingenakunikelwa minyaka yonke. Kodwa umhlatshelo kaKristu, owanikelwa kanye kwaba kuphela, uyazisusa izono. Konke lokhu kunikeza ukukhanya ethempelini elikhulu elingokomoya, insali egcotshiwe “nezinye izimvu” abakhonza emagcekeni alo namuhla.—Johane 10:16; Heberu 9:24-28.

21. Yini eye yaboniswa yilengxoxo ngokuphathelene nokugcwaliseka kweHubo 97:11 nezAga 4:18 ezikhathini zabaphostoli?

²¹ Asinayo indawo eyanele yokunikeza izibonelo ezengeziwe, njengokubaneka kokukhanya okutholakala ezincwadini zomphostoli uPetru nezabafundi oJakobe noJuda. Kodwa lokhu esesixoxe ngakho kwanele ukubonisa ukuthi iHubo 97:11 nezAga 4:18 zaba nokugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo ezikhathini zabaphostoli. Iqiniso laqala ukuthuthuka lisuka emifuziselweni nasezithunzini zalokho okwakuzokwenzeka liya ekugcwalisekeni nasezintweni ezingokoqobo.—Galathiya 3:23-25; 4:21-26.

22. Yini eyenzeka ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, futhi isihloko esilandelayo siyobonisani?

²² Ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bakaJesu nokuqala kokuhlubuka okwabikezelwa, ukukhanya kweqiniso kwakulokoza. (2 Thesalonika 2:1-11) Nokho, ngokuvumelana nesithembiso sikaJesu, ngemva kwamakhulu amaningi eminyaka iNkosi yabuya futhi yathola “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo” sinika “abendlu” ukudla kwabo ngesikhathi esifanele. Ngenxa yalokho, uJesu Kristu wamisa lesosigqila ‘phezu kwakho konke okungokwakhe.’ (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya okwalandela? Lokhu kuzoxoxwa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Uyakhumbula?

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◻ Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya okuqukethwe izincwadi zikaPawulu?