Isahluko 5
“ITestamente Elisha”—Umlando Noma Inganekwane?
“Namuhla iTestamente Elisha lingachazwa njengencwadi ehlolisiswe kangcono kunazo zonke ezincwadini zezwe.” Washo kanjalo uHans Küng encwadini yakhe ethi “On Being a Christian.” Futhi wayeqinisile. Phakathi neminyaka engama-300 edlule, imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki iye yahlolisiswa kakhulu. Iye yahlahlelwa ngokuphelele kakhulu futhi yahlaziywa ngokucophelelisisa kunanoma iyiphi enye incwadi.
1, 2. (Hlanganisa nesethulo.) (a) Iyiphi impatho imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki eye yabhekana nayo phakathi neminyaka engama-300 edlule? (b) Iziphi iziphetho ezimangazayo abanye abacwaningi abaye bafinyelela kuzo?
IZIPHETHO ezafinyelelwa abanye abacwaningi ziye zaba yinqaba. Emuva ekhulwini le-19 leminyaka, uLudwig Noack eJalimane waphetha ngokuthi iVangeli LikaJohane lalotshwa ngo-60 C.E. ngumfundi othandekayo—lowo, ngokukaNoack, owayenguJuda! UJoseph Ernest Renan ongumFulentshi wasikisela ukuthi ukuvuswa kukaLazaru cishe kwakuwukukhohlisa okuhlelwe uLazaru ngokwakhe ukuze asekele ukuzisholo kukaJesu kokuba umenzi wezimangaliso, kanti umfundisi ongumJalimane uGustav Volkmar waphikelela ngokuthi uJesu ongokomlando akunakwenzeka ngempela ukuthi weza namazwi okuzisholo ukuthi unguMesiya.1
2 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uBruno Bauer, wanquma ukuthi uJesu akakaze abe khona nhlobo! “Wabambelela ekutheni abantu bangempela abaqamba ubuKristu bokuqala babengoPhilo, uSeneca, namaGnostic. Ekugcineni wagomela ngokuthi wayengekho nhlobo uJesu ongokomlando . . . ukuthi isiqalo senkolo yobuKristu saba kamuva ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka futhi sasivela ebuJudeni obuthile lapho kwakuvelele khona ubuStoyiku.”2
3. Yimuphi umbono ngeBhayibheli abaningi abasenawo?
3 Namuhla, bambalwa ababambelele emiqondweni enjalo eyeqisayo. Kodwa uma ufunda izincwadi zezazi zanamuhla, uyothola ukuthi eziningi zisakholelwa ukuthi imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki iqukethe izinsumansumane, izinganekwane, nokweqisa. Ingabe lokhu kuyiqiniso?
Zalotshwa Nini?
4. (a) Kungani kubalulekile ukwazi ukuthi izincwadi zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki zabhalwa nini? (b) Iyini eminye imibono ngesikhathi sokulotshwa kwemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki?
4 Kuthatha isikhathi ukuba izinganekwane nezinsumansumane zande. Ngakho umbuzo othi, Zalotshwa nini lezincwadi?, ubalulekile. Isazi-mlando, uMichael Grant, uthi izincwadi ezingokomlando zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki zaqalwa “eminyakeni engamashumi amathathu noma amane ngemva kokufa kukaJesu.”4 Isazi semivubukulo yeBhayibheli uWilliam Foxwell Albright sacaphuna uC. C. Torrey ephetha “ngokuthi wonke amaVangeli alotshwa ngaphambi kuka-70 A.D. nokuthi akukho lutho kuwo olwalungenakubhalwa phakathi neminyaka engamashumi amabili yokubethelwa kukaJesu.” Umbono ka-Albright siqu wawuwukuthi ukulotshwa kwayo kwaqedwa “cishe ngaphambi kuka-80 A.D.” Abanye bavela nezilinganiso ezihlukile kancane, kodwa abaningi bayavuma ukuthi ukulotshwa “kweTestamente Elisha” kwaqedwa ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala leminyaka.
5, 6. Kufanele siphethe ngokuthini eqinisweni lokuthi imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ayizange ibhalwe esikhathini eside ngemva kokuba izenzakalo ekhuluma ngazo zenzekile?
5 Lokhu kusho ukuthini? UAlbright uyaphetha: “Esingakusho nje ukuthi inkathi ephakathi kweminyaka engamashumi amabili nengamashumi amahlanu incane kakhulu ukuba ivumele noma yikuphi ukonakaliswa okuqaphelekayo komongo oyisisekelo ngisho namazwi aqondile ezinkulumo zikaJesu.”5 UProfesa Gary Habermas uyanezela: “AmaVangeli asondele kakhulu enkathini yesikhathi akhuluma ngayo, kanti imilando yasendulo ngokuvamile ichaza ngezenzakalo ezenzeka emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka ngaphambili. Nokho, izazi-mlando zanamuhla ziyakwazi ukuzithola ngokuphumelelayo lezenzakalo ngisho nezivela kulezinkathi ezindala kakhulu zesikhathi.”6
6 Ngamanye amazwi, izingxenye ezingokomlando zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki kufanele sizikholelwe okungenani ngokufanayo nemilando yezwe. Ngokuqinisekile, emashumini eminyaka ambalwa phakathi kwezenzakalo zobuKristu bokuqala nokulotshwa kwazo ezincwadini, sasingekho isikhathi ngezinganekwane nezinsumansumane ukuba zande futhi zamukeleke emhlabeni wonke.
Ubufakazi Bukafakazi Wokuzibonela
7, 8. (a) Obani ababesaphila lapho imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ilotshwa futhi isakazwa? (b) Kumelwe siphethe ngokuthini ngokuvumelana nokukhulumela kukaProfesa F. F. Bruce?
7 Lokhu kunjalo ikakhulukazi ngokucabangela iqiniso lokuthi eminingi yemilando ikhuluma ngobufakazi obunikezwa ufakazi wokuzibonela. Umlobi weVangeli LikaJohane wathi: “Nguye lomfundi [umfundi uJesu ayemthanda] ofakaza ngalezizinto nokulobile lokhu.” (Johane 21:24) Umlobi wencwadi kaLuka uthi: “Njengalokho basinika zona labo ababekhona kwasekuqaleni, bezibonela ngamehlo, beyizikhonzi zezwi.” (Luka 1:2) Umphostoli uPawulu, ekhuluma ngalabo abafakaza ngokuvuswa kukaJesu, wathi: “Iningi labo lisekhona nakalokhu, kepha abanye sebelele.”—1 Korinte 15:6.
8 Maqondana nalokhu, uProfesa F. F. Bruce uphawula ngokwethembeka: “Kwakungeke neze kube lula kangako njengoba abanye abalobi bebonakala becabanga, ukuqamba amazwi nezenzo zikaJesu kuleyominyaka yokuqala, lapho abaningi kangaka babafundi baKhe babesaphila, ababesakhumbula lokho okwakwenzekile nalokho okwakungenzekanga. . . . Abafundi babengenakulokotha bazame ukufaka imibiko engaqondile (kungasakhulunywa ngokujika amaqiniso ngamabomu), okwakungadalulwa ngaso lesosikhathi yilabo ababeyokujabulela kakhulu ukwenza kanjalo. Ngokuphambene, elinye lamaphuzu anamandla ekushumayeleni kokuqala kwabaphostoli liwukuthinta umzwelo wezilaleli ngolwazi lwazo; abazange nje kuphela bathi, ‘Singofakazi balezizinto,’ kodwa futhi bathi, ‘Njengoba nani nazi’ (IzEnzo 2:22).”7
Ingabe Lombhalo Uthembekile?
9, 10. Mayelana nemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo?
9 Ingabe kungenzeka ukuthi lobufakazi bofakazi bokuzibonela balotshwa ngokunembile kodwa bonakaliswa kamuva? Ngamanye amazwi, ingabe izinganekwane nezinsumansumane zangeniswa ngemva kokuba umbhalo wokuqala usuqediwe? Sesibonile kakade ukuthi umbhalo wemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki usesimweni esingcono kunanoma iyiphi enye incwadi yasendulo. UKurt noBarbara Aland, izazi zombhalo weBhayibheli wesiGreki, banohlu lwemibhalo yesandla cishe eyizi-5 000 eye yasinda kusukela endulo kuze kube namuhla, eminye esukela ekuqaleni kakhulu njengasekhulwini lesibili leminyaka C.E.8 Ubufakazi obuvamile balenqwaba yobufakazi buwukuthi lombhalo ngokuyisisekelo uthembekile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunezinguqulo eziningi zasendulo—eyokuqala kunazo zonke ihlehlela cishe onyakeni ka-180 C.E.—ezisiza ukubonisa ukuthi lombhalo uqondile.9
10 Ngakho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuthiwani, siyaqiniseka ukuthi izinsumansumane nezinganekwane azizange zingene emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki ngemva kokuba abalobi bokuqala sebeqede umsebenzi wabo. Umbhalo esinawo ngokuyisisekelo uyafana nalowo owalotshwa abalobi bokuqala, futhi ukunemba kwawo kuqinisekiswa iqiniso lokuthi amaKristu ayephila ngalesosikhathi awamukela. Khona-ke, singabuhlola yini ubuqiniso bomlando weBhayibheli ngokuwuqhathanisa neminye imilando yasendulo? Ngokwezinga elithile yebo.
Ubufakazi Obulotshiwe
11. Ubufakazi obulotshiwe bangaphandle bukusekela ngezinga elingakanani ukulandisa okungokomlando okusemiBhalweni yamaKristu YesiGreki?
11 Eqinisweni, ngezenzakalo ezenzeka ekuphileni kukaJesu nabaphostoli bakhe, ubufakazi obulotshiwe ngaphandle kweBhayibheli bulinganiselwe kakhulu. Lokhu kufanele kulindeleke, ngoba ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka, amaKristu ayeyiqembu elincane uma kuqhathaniswa elingazange lihileleke kwezombangazwe. Kodwa ubufakazi obunikezwa umlando wezwe buyavumelana nalokho esikufunda eBhayibhelini.
12. UJosephus usitshelani ngoJohane uMbhapathizi?
12 Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokuba uHerode Antipase ehlangabezene nokunqotshwa ngokuphelele empini, isazi-mlando esingumJuda uJosephus, sibhala ngo-93 C.E., sathi: “Kwamanye amaJuda ukubhujiswa kwempi kaHerode kwabonakala kuyimpindiselo yaphezulu, futhi ngokuqinisekile impindiselo efanelekile, ngenxa yendlela aphatha ngayo uJohane, obizwa ngokuthi uMbhapathizi. Ngoba uHerode wayembulele, nakuba ayeyindoda elungileyo futhi ayenxuse amaJuda ukuba aphile ukuphila okulungileyo, ukuba enze ukulunga kwabakanye nawo futhi athembeke kuNkulunkulu.”10 Ngalokho uJosephus uqinisekisa ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kokuthi uJohane uMbhapathizi wayeyindoda elungileyo eyashumayela ukuphenduka neyabulawa uHerode.—Mathewu 3:1-12; 14:11.
13. UJosephus ubusekela kanjani ubuqiniso obungokomlando bukaJakobe noJesu ngokwakhe?
13 UJosephus uphawula futhi noJakobe, umfowabo kaJesu ngamzali munye, iBhayibheli elisitshela ukuthi ekuqaleni akazange amlandele uJesu kodwa kamuva owaba umdala ovelele eJerusalema. (Johane 7:3-5; Galathiya 1:18, 19) Uloba ngokuboshwa kukaJakobe ngalamazwi: “[Umpristi omkhulu uAnanus] wahlanganisa abahluleli beSanhedrin futhi waletha phambi kwabo indoda egama layo linguJakobe, umfowabo kaJesu owayebizwa ngokuthi uKristu, nabanye abathile.”11 Lapho ebhala lamazwi, uJosephus futhi uqinisekisa ukuthi ‘uJesu, owayebizwa ngokuthi uKristu’ wayengumuntu ongokoqobo, ongokomlando.
14, 15. Yikuphi ukusekela uTacitus akunikeza umbhalo ogciniwe weBhayibheli?
14 Nabanye abalobi bokuqala babhekisela ezintweni eziphawulwe emiBhalweni YesiGreki. Ngokwesibonelo, amaVangeli asitshela ukuthi ukushumayela kukaJesu endaweni engasePalestina kwahlangabezana nokusabela kwabantu abaningi. Lapho egwetshelwa ukufa nguPontiyu Pilatu, abalandeli bakhe bakhungatheka futhi badangala. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, bona labafundi abafanayo ngesibindi bagcwalisa iJerusalema ngesigijimi sokuthi iNkosi yabo yayivusiwe. Eminyakeni embalwa, ubuKristu babusakazeke kuwo wonke uMbuso WaseRoma.—Mathewu 4:25; 26:31; 27:24-26; IzEnzo 2:23, 24, 36; 5:28; 17:6.
15 Ubufakazi bokuba yiqiniso kwalokhu buvela kusazi-mlando esingumRoma uTacitus, esasingeyena umngane wobuKristu. Sibhala ngokushesha ngemva kuka-100 C.E., sikhuluma ngokushushisa kukaNero amaKristu ngonya futhi siyanezela: “UChristus, umsunguli walelogama, wayejeziswe ngokubulawa ekubuseni kukaTiberius, ngesigwebo sombusi ophethe uPontiyu Pilatu, futhi lenkolelo-ze enjengesifo esibhibhayo yanqandwa okwesikhashana, kodwa yabuye yabheduka futhi, hhayi nje eJudiya kuphela, ikhaya lalesifo, kodwa enhloko-dolobha [eRoma] ngokwayo.”12
16. Yisiphi isenzakalo esingokomlando okubhekiselwe kuso eBhayibhelini noSuetonius abhekisela kuso?
16 KuzEnzo 18:2 umlobi weBhayibheli ubhekisela eqinisweni lokuthi ‘[umbusi wamaRoma] uKlawudiyu wayekhiphe isimemezelo sokuba wonke amaJuda amuke eRoma.’ Isazi-mlando esingumRoma sekhulu lesibili leminyaka uSuetonius, naso sibhekisela kulokhu kuxoshwa. Encwadini yaso ethi The Deified Claudius, lesazi-mlando sithi: “Njengoba amaJuda njalo ayedala iziyaluyalu ngokugqugquzelwa uChrestus, yena [uKlawudiyu] wawaxosha eRoma.”13 Uma uChrestus lapha ebhekisela kuJesu Kristu futhi uma lezenzakalo zaseRoma zazilandela isibonelo sakweminye imizi, khona-ke leziyaluyalu ngempela zazingagqugquzelwa uKristu (okungukuthi abalandeli bakaKristu). Kunalokho, zaziwukusabela kwamaJuda kobudlova emsebenzini wamaKristu othembekile wokushumayela.
17. Yimiphi imithombo eyayitholakala kuJustin Martyr ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka eyasekela ukulandisa kweBhayibheli ngezimangaliso zikaJesu nokufa kwakhe?
17 UJustin Martyr, ebhala phakathi nekhulu lesibili leminyaka, wabhala ngokuqondene nokufa kukaJesu: “Ukuthi lezizinto zenzeka ngempela, ungakuqinisekisa ngokufunda iZenzo ZikaPontiyu Pilatu.”14 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokukaJustin Martyr, lemibhalo egciniwe efanayo yaphawula izimangaliso zikaJesu, mayelana nazo athi: “Ukuthi wazenza lezozinto, ungafunda iZenzo ZikaPontiyu Pilatu.”15 Ngempela, ‘leZenzo’ noma imibhalo egciniwe engokomthetho, ayisekho manje. Kodwa ngokusobala yayikhona ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka, futhi uJustin Martyr wabekela abafundi bakhe inselele yokuba bayihlole ukuze baqiniseke ngeqiniso lalokho ayekusho.
Ubufakazi Besayensi Yemivubukulo
18. Yikuphi ukusekela isayensi yemivubukulo ekunikezayo ngokuba khona kukaPontiyu Pilatu?
18 Okutholwe isayensi yemivubukulo nakho kuye kwabonisa noma kwaqinisekisa lokho esikufunda emiBhalweni YesiGreki. Ngakho, ngo-1961 igama likaPontiyu Pilatu latholakala embhalweni oqoshiwe emanxiweni enkundla yomdlalo waseshashalazini yamaRoma eKhesariya.16 Kuze kube yisikhathi okwatholakala ngaso lemivubukulo, kwakunobufakazi obulinganiselwe kuphela, ngaphandle kweBhayibheli ngokwalo, bokuba khona kwalombusi waseRoma.
19, 20. Yibaphi abantu abaseBhayibhelini abaphawulwe uLuka (kuLuka nakuzEnzo) abaye bafakazelwa isayensi yemivubukulo?
19 EVangelini LikaLuka, sifunda ukuthi uJohane uMbhapathizi waqala inkonzo yakhe lapho “uLisaniya engumtetrarki waseAbilene.” (Luka 3:1) Abanye bawangabaza lawomazwi ngoba uJosephus waphawula uLisaniya othile owabusa eAbilene nowafa ngo-34 B.C.E., esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaJohane. Nokho, izazi zemivubukulo ziye zambulula umbhalo oqoshiwe eAbilene ophawula omunye futhi uLisaniya owayengumtetrarki (umbusi wesifunda) phakathi nokubusa kukaTiberiyu, owayebusa njengoKhesari eRoma lapho uJohane eqala inkonzo yakhe.17 Kalula nje kungenzeka ukuthi yiloLisaniya uLuka ayebhekisele kuye.
20 KuzEnzo sifunda ukuthi uPawulu noBarnaba bathunywa ukuyokwenza umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli eKhupro futhi lapho bahlangana nombusi wezwe ogama lakhe linguSergiyu Pawulu, “umuntu onengqondo enhle.” (IzEnzo 13:7) Phakathi nekhulu le-19 leminyaka, ukuvubukula eKhupro kwambulula umbhalo oqoshiwe ohlehlela emuva kusukela ngo-55 C.E. okhuluma ngayo kanye lendoda. Ngalokhu, isazi semivubukulo uG. Ernest Wright uthi: “Uwukuphela kwesikhombo esinaso esibhekisela kulombusi wezwe ngaphandle kweBhayibheli futhi kuyathakazelisa ukuthi uLuka usinikeza igama lakhe nesiqu sakhe ngokuqondile.”18
21, 22. Yimiphi imikhuba engokwenkolo yombhalo ogciniwe weBhayibheli eye yaqinisekiswa okutholwe isayensi yemivubukulo?
21 Lapho eseAthene, uPawulu wathi wayephawule ialtare elalinikezelwe ‘KuNkulunkulu Ongaziwa.’ (IzEnzo 17:23) Ama-altare anikezelwe ngesiLatin konkulunkulu abangaziwa aye atholakala ezingxenyeni zendawo yoMbuso WaseRoma. Elinye latholakala ePhergamu linombhalo oqoshiwe wesiGreki, njengoba kwakuyoba njalo eAthene.
22 Kamuva, lapho esese-Efesu, uPawulu waphikiswa ngokunamandla abakhandi besiliva, ababethola imali ngokwenza amathempeli nezithombe zikankulunkulukazi uArtemis. IEfesu labizwa ngokuthi “umlondi wethempeli likaDiyana [uArtemis] omkhulu.” (IzEnzo 19:35) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, kuye kwatholakala imifanekiso eminingi eyenziwe ngobumba neqoshwe ngemabula ka-Artemis lapho kwakune-Efesu lasendulo. Phakathi nekhulu lokugcina leminyaka, kwambiwa izinsalela zethempeli elikhulu ngokwalo.
Okuzwakala Njengeqiniso
23, 24. (a) Sibutholaphi ubufakazi obunamandla kakhulu beqiniso lezincwadi zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki? (b) Iyiphi imfanelo etholakala embhalweni ogciniwe weBhayibheli efakazela ubuqiniso bawo? Bonisa.
23 Ngakho, umlando nesayensi yemivubukulo kubonisa, futhi ngezinga elithile kuqinisekisa, izici ezingokomlando zemiBhalo YesiGreki. Kodwa, nakhona futhi, ubufakazi obunamandla kunabo bonke beqiniso lalemibhalo busezincwadini ngokwazo. Lapho uzifunda, azizwakali zinjengezinganekwane. Zizwakala ziyiqiniso.
24 Okokuqala, azigunci. Cabanga ngalokho okulotshwe ngoPetru. Ukwehluleka kwakhe ngokudumazayo ukuhamba phezu kwamanzi kubhalwe ngokuningiliziwe. Khona-ke, uJesu uthi kulomphostoli ohlonishwa kakhulu: “Buyela emva kwami, Sathane.” (Mathewu 14:28-31; 16:23) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngemva kokuphikisa ngokunamandla ngokuthi ngisho noma bonke abanye bengamshiya uJesu, yena wayengasoze enze kanjalo, uPetru walala ngomlindo wakhe wasebusuku futhi wayesephika iNkosi yakhe izikhathi ezintathu.—Mathewu 26:31-35, 37-45, 73-75.
25. Yibuphi ubuthakathaka babaphostoli abalobi beBhayibheli ababudalula ngokungagunci?
25 Kodwa akuyena kuphela uPetru okudalulwa ubuthakathaka bakhe. Umbhalo ogciniwe ongagunci awukushalazeleli ukuqophisana kwabaphostoli ngokuthi ubani owayemkhulu phakathi kwabo. (Mathewu 18:1; Marku 9:34; Luka 22:24) Futhi awukugwemi ukusitshela ukuthi unina wabaphostoli oJakobe noJohane wacela uJesu ukuba anikeze amadodana akhe izikhundla ezingcono kakhulu eMbusweni wakhe. (Mathewu 20:20-23) “Ukuphikisana okukhulu” phakathi kukaBarnaba noPawulu nakho futhi kulotshwe ngokwethembeka.—IzEnzo 15:36-39.
26. Yimuphi umniningwane ngokuvuswa kukaJesu owawungafakwa kuphela uma uyiqiniso?
26 Okuphawulekayo futhi, iqiniso lokuthi incwadi kaLuka isitshela ukuthi ‘kwakungabesifazane abeza naye bevela eGalile,’ abezwa kuqala ngokuvuswa kukaJesu. Lokhu kuwumniningwane ongavamile neze emphakathini obuswa amadoda wekhulu lokuqala leminyaka. Ngempela, ngokwalombhalo ogciniwe, okwakushiwo yilaba besifazane ‘kwaba njengokukhuluma okuyize’ kubaphostoli. (Luka 23:55–24:11) Uma umlando wemiBhalo YesiGreki ungelona iqiniso, kumelwe ukuba waqanjwa. Kodwa kungani noma ubani engaqamba indaba eveza abantu abanjalo abahlonishwayo ngendlela engathandeki kangaka? Lemininingwane yayiyofakwa kuphela uma iyiqiniso.
UJesu—Umuntu Ongokoqobo
27. Esinye isazi-mlando sikufakazela kanjani ukuba khona okungokomlando kukaJesu?
27 Abaningi baye babheka uJesu ochazwe eBhayibhelini njengomuntu ocatshangelwe. Kodwa isazi-mlando uMichael Grant uyaphawula: “Uma singasebenzisa eTestamenteni Elisha, njengoba kufanele, uhlobo olufanayo lwendinganiso eyimfuneko njengoba kufanele silusebenzise nakwezinye izincwadi zasendulo eziqukethe ukwaziswa okungokomlando, asinakuqhubeka senqaba ubukhona bukaJesu njengoba singeke sibenqabe ubukhona besixuku esikhulu sabantu abavelele abangamaqaba labo okungangatshazwa nakanye ukuthi bake baba khona ngokomlando.”19
28, 29. Kungani kungokuphawulekayo ukuthi amaVangeli amane aveza umfanekiso ohlangene wobuntu bukaJesu?
28 Akubona kuphela ubukhona bukaJesu kodwa futhi nobuntu bakhe buyavela eBhayibhelini njengeqiniso elizwakala ngokungenakungatshazwa. Akulula ukuqamba umlingiswa ongavamile bese unikeza umfanekiso wakhe ongaguquki kuyo yonke incwadi. Cishe kungokungenakwenzeka ngabalobi abane abahlukene ukuba babhale ngomlingiswa ofanayo futhi ngokungaguquki baveze umfanekiso wakhe ofanayo uma lowomlingiswa engakaze abe khona ngempela. Iqiniso lokuthi uJesu ochazwa kuwo wonke amaVangeli amane ngokusobala ungumuntu ofanayo liwubufakazi obushukumisayo bobuqiniso bamaVangeli.
29 UMichael Grant ucaphuna umbuzo ofaneleke kakhulu: “Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba, kuwo wonke amasiko amaVangeli kungekho nelilodwa elihlukayo, kuvele umfanekiso ogxile ngokuphawulekayo wensizwa ekhangayo ehambahamba ngokukhululeka phakathi kwabesifazane bazo zonke izinhlobo, kuhlanganise nalabo ngokungangabazeki abanedumela elibi, ingenalo noluncane uphawu lokuthinteka ngokomzwelo, ukungakhululeki, noma ukugcizelela isizotha ngokweqile, nokho ngaso sonke isikhathi, elondoloza isimo sokungaxegi esicacile?”20 Ukuphela kwempendulo ukuthi indoda enjalo yaba khona ngokoqobo futhi yenza ngendlela iBhayibheli eliyishoyo.
Isizathu Sokuba Bangakholwa
30, 31. Kungani abaningi bengayamukeli imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki njengenembayo ngokomlando naphezu kwabo bonke ubufakazi?
30 Njengoba kunobufakazi obucindezelayo bokuthi imiBhalo YesiGreki iwumlando oyiqiniso, kungani abanye bethi ayiwona? Kungani abaningi, nakuba bamukela izingxenye zayo njengeziyiqiniso, nokho benqaba ukwamukela konke ekuqukethe? Ngokuyinhloko kungenxa yokuthi iBhayibheli lilotshwe izinto abantu abayizihlakaniphi banamuhla abangafuni ukuzikholelwa. Ngokwesibonelo, lisitshela ukuthi uJesu wagcwalisa iziprofetho wabuye wazibikezela. Lisitshela futhi ukuthi wenza izimangaliso nokuthi ngemva kokufa kwakhe wavuswa.
31 Kulelikhulu lama-20 leminyaka lokungabaza, izinto ezinjalo azikholeki. Ngokuqondene nezimangaliso, uProfesa Ezra P. Gould uyaphawula: “Kunombandela owodwa abanye babagxeki abanomuzwa wokuthi banesizathu sokuwubeka . . . wokuthi izimangaliso azenzeki.”21 Abanye bayakwamukela ukuthi uJesu kungenzeka wakwenza ukuphulukisa okuthile, kodwa okohlobo lwezifo ezibangelwa ukukhathazeka kwengqondo kuphela, ‘ezidinga ukulungisa isimo sengqondo.’ Mayelana nezinye izimangaliso, abaningi bazilulaza ngokuthi ziyizindaba eziqanjiwe noma zezenzakalo ezingokoqobo ezahlanekezelwa lapho zilandiswa.
32, 33. Abanye baye bazama kanjani ukululaza isimangaliso sikaJesu sokusuthisa isixuku esikhulu, kodwa kungani lokhu kungenangqondo?
32 Njengesibonelo salokhu, cabangela isikhathi lapho uJesu asuthisa khona isixuku sabantu abangaphezu kwezi-5 000 ngezinkwa ezimbalwa nje kuphela nezinhlanzi ezimbili. (Mathewu 14:14-22) Isazi sekhulu le-19 leminyaka uHeinrich Paulus sasikisela ukuthi okwenzeka ngempela kwakuyilokhu: UJesu nabaphostoli bakhe bazithola bezungezwe isixuku esikhulu esase silambile. Ngakho wanquma ukubekela abacebileyo ababephakathi kwabo isibonelo esihle. Wathatha lokho kudlana ababenakho yena nabaphostoli bakhe bakuhlanganyela nesixuku. Ngokushesha, abanye ababephethe ukudla balandela isibonelo sakhe bapha abanye ukudla kwabo. Ekugcineni, sonke isixuku sadla sasutha.22
33 Nokho, uma kuyilokhu okwenzeka ngempela, kwakuwubufakazi obuphawulekayo bamandla esibonelo esihle. Kungani indaba enjalo ethakazelisayo nenengqondo ingaphendukezelwa ukuze izwakale njengeyisimangaliso esingavamile? Ngempela, yonke imizamo enjalo yokululaza izimangaliso njengokuthile okungekhona okumangalisayo idala izinkinga ezengeziwe kunalezo ezixazululayo. Futhi yonke isekelwe embonweni ocatshangelwe ongamanga. Baqala ngokucabangela ukuthi izimangaliso zingezingenakwenzeka. Kodwa kungani kufanele kube njalo?
34. Uma iBhayibheli ngempela liqukethe isiprofetho esinembile nokulandisa ngezimangaliso eziyiqiniso, lokhu kufakazelani?
34 Ngokwezindinganiso ezinengqondo kakhulu, kokubili imiBhalo YesiHeberu neyesiGreki ingumlando oyiqiniso, nokho yomibili iqukethe izibonelo zesiprofetho nezimangaliso. (Qhathanisa nawesi-2 Amakhosi 4:42-44.) Khona-ke, kuthiwani uma leziprofetho ziyiqiniso? Futhi kuthiwani uma izimangaliso zenzeka ngempela? Khona-ke uNkulunkulu ngempela nguye owabangela ukulotshwa kweBhayibheli, futhi ngempela liyizwi lakhe, hhayi elomuntu. Kwesinye sezahluko ezizolandela, sizoxoxa ngendaba yesiprofetho, kodwa okokuqala ake sicabangele izimangaliso. Ingabe kunengqondo kulelikhulu lama-20 leminyaka ukukholelwa ukuthi emakhulwini eminyaka angaphambili izimangaliso zenzeka ngempela?
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 66]
Kungani iBhayibheli lingabika ukuthi ukuvuswa kukaJesu kwaziwa okokuqala ngabesifazane uma lokhu kwakungazange kwenzeke ngempela?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 56]
Ukucusumbula Kwanamuhla Kutholakale Kuntula
Njengesibonelo sesimo sokungaqiniseki sokucusumbulwa kweBhayibheli kwanamuhla, cabangela lamazwi aphawulwe uRaymond E. Brown ngeVangeli LikaJohane: “Ekupheleni kwekhulu leminyaka elidlule naseminyakeni yokuqala yalelikhulu leminyaka, ukucwaninga kuye kwadlula enkathini yokungabaza okukhulu ngaleliVangeli. Incwadi kaJohane yahlehliselwa emuva kakhulu, ngisho nasengxenyeni yesibili yekhulu le-2 leminyaka. Njengomkhiqizo wezwe lamaGreki, yacatshangelwa njengengenayo ngokuphelele inzuzo engokomlando nokuthi ayihlobene nakancane nePalestina likaJesu waseNazaretha . . .
“Akukho nowodwa umbono onjalo ongazange uthintwe uchungechunge lwemivubukulo engalindelekile yesayensi yemivubukulo, ubufakazi obulotshiwe, nobungokombhalo. Lemivubukulo iye yasiholela ekubeni siyihlasele ngobuhlakani imibono yokugxeka eyacishe yaba eyamukelekayo futhi siqaphele ukuthi sasintengantenga kangakanani isisekelo esasisekela ukuhlaziywa kwencwadi kaJohane okwakugxeka kakhulu. . . .
“Usuku lokulotshwa kwaleliVangeli luye lwabuyiselwa emuva ngasekupheleni kwekhulu loku-1 leminyaka noma ngisho nangaphambidlana. . . . Mhlawumbe okumangaza kunakho konke, ezinye izazi zilinga ukusikisela ngisho nokuthi uJohane indodana kaZebedewu kungenzeka wayehlangene ngandlela-thile naleliVangeli”!3
Kungani kufanele kubonakale kumangaza ukukholelwa ukuthi uJohane wabhala lencwadi ngokujwayelekile okuthiwa yalotshwa nguye? Ngenxa nje yokuthi akufanelani nemibono yabagxeki ecatshangwe kusengaphambili.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 70]
Okunye Nje Ukuhlaselwa KweBhayibheli
UTimothy P. Weber uyabhala: “Okutholwe ukucusumbula imibhalo kwaphoqelela abantu abaningi abavamile ukuba bangabaze ikhono labo lokuqonda noma yini [eseBhayibhelini]. . . . UA. T. Pierson wabonisa ukukhungatheka kwabavangeli abaningi lapho ephawula ukuthi ‘njengobuRoma, [ukucusumbula imibhalo] kulisusa ngokoqobo iZwi likaNkulunkulu kubantu abavamile ngokuthatha ngokuthi izazi kuphela ezingalichaza; lapho ubuRoma bubeka umpristi phakathi komuntu neZwi, ukucusumbula kubeka umhlaziyi oyisifundiswa phakathi kwekholwa neBhayibheli lalo.’”23 Ngakho, ukucusumbula imibhalo kwanamuhla kudalulwa njengokunye nje ukuhlaselwa kweBhayibheli.
[Isithombe ekhasini 62]
Lelialtare elisePhergamu ngokusobala lalinikezelwe “konkulunkulu abangaziwa”
[Isithombe ekhasini 63]
Amanxiwa ethempeli lika-Artemis elake lababazeka abase-Efesu ababeziqhenya kakhulu ngalo
[Isithombe ekhasini 64]
IBhayibheli libika ngokwethembeka ukuthi uPetru waphika ukuthi uyamazi uJesu
[Isithombe ekhasini 67]
IBhayibheli libika ngokwethembeka ‘ngokuphikisana okukhulu’ phakathi kukaPawulu noBarnaba
[Isithombe ekhasini 68]
Ukuvumelana emfanekisweni wobuntu bukaJesu emaVangelini amane kuwubufakazi obunamandla bobuqotho bawo
[Isithombe ekhasini 69]
Abagxeki abaningi banamuhla bakuthatha kalula ukuthi izimangaliso azenzeki