Umbono WamaKristu Ngegunya

“Alikho igunya elingaveli kuNkulunkulu.”—ROMA 13:1, NW.

 1. Kungani kungase kuthiwe uJehova uyiGunya Eliphakeme?

UMUNTU Ophakeme owenza ukuba yonke indalo ibe khona, ephilayo nengaphili, nguJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngokungenakuphikwa uyiGunya Eliphakeme. AmaKristu eqiniso azizwa njengezidalwa zasezulwini ezimemezelayo: “Ufanele wena-Nkosi yethu noNkulunkulu wethu ukwamukela inkazimulo nodumo namandla, ngokuba nguwena owadala izinto zonke, nangenxa yentando yakho zaba-khona, zadalwa.”—IsAmbulo 4:11.

 2. Ngomqondo othile ababusi bokuqala abangabantu bavuma kanjani ukuthi babengenalo ilungelo elingokwemvelo lokubusa abantu ababephila nabo, futhi yini uJesu ayitshela uPontiyu Pilatu?

² Lona kanye iqiniso lokuthi abaningi bababusi bokuqala abangabantu bazama ukwenza igunya labo libe ngokomthetho ngokuzisholo ukuthi bangunkulunkulu noma ukuthi bamelela unkulunkulu othile kwakuwukuvuma buthule ukuthi akekho umuntu onelungelo alizuze njengefa lokubusa phezu kwabanye abantu.a (Jeremiya 10:23) Okuwukuphela komthombo wegunya ongokomthetho uJehova uNkulunkulu. UKristu watshela uPontiyu Pilatu, umbusi waseJudiya ongumRoma ukuthi: “Ngabe awunamandla [awunagunya, NW] neze phezu kwami, ukuba awuwanikwanga ngaphezulu.”—Johane 19:11.

“Alikho Igunya Elingaveli KuNkulunkulu”

 3. Yini eyashiwo umphostoli uPawulu ngokuphathelene ‘neziphathimandla eziphakeme,’ futhi yimiphi imibuzo ephakanyiswa amazwi kaJesu noPawulu?

³ Umphostoli uPawulu wabhalela amaKristu ayephila ngaphansi kokubuswa uMbuso WamaRoma: “Akube-yilowo nalowo azithobe phansi kweziphathimandla eziphakeme, ngokuba alikho igunya elingaveli kuNkulunkulu; leziphathimandla ezikhona zimiswé nguNkulunkulu ezikhundleni zazo.” (Roma 13:1, NW) Wayesho ukuthini uJesu lapho ethi igunya likaPilatu wayelinikwe “ngaphezulu”? Futhi kungayiphi indlela uPawulu asho ngayo ukuthi iziphathimandla zezombangazwe zosuku lwakhe zazibekwe ezikhundleni zazo uNkulunkulu? Ingabe babesho ukuthi uJehova ngokwakhe omisa umbusi ngamunye wezombangazwe walelizwe?

 4. UJesu noPawulu bambiza ngokuthini uSathane, futhi yini eyashiwo uSathane uJesu angazange ayiphike?

⁴ Kwakungenzeka kanjani lokhu, njengoba uJesu abiza uSathane ngokuthi “umbusi walelizwe,” futhi umphostoli uPawulu wambiza ngokuthi “unkulunkulu walelizwe”? (Johane 12:31; 16:11; 2 Korinte 4:4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho elinga uJesu, uSathane wathembisa ukumnika ‘igunya’ phezu ‘kwemibuso yonke yezwe,’ ethi leligunya lalinikezwe yena. UJesu wasenqaba isipho sakhe, kodwa akazange aphike ukuthi lelogunya ayephisana ngalo kwakungelikaSathane.—Luka 4:5-8, qhathanisa ne-NW.

 5. (a) Kufanele siwaqonde kanjani amazwi kaJesu noPawulu aphathelene negunya labantu? (b) Kungamuphi umqondo iziphathimandla eziphakeme ‘zimiswe uNkulunkulu’?

⁵ UJehova washiyela ukubuswa kwalelizwe kuSathane ngokumvumela ukuba aphile ngemva kokuhlubuka kwakhe nangemva kokuba elingé u-Adamu no-Eva futhi ebangele ukuba bavukele ubukhosi baKhe. (Genesise 3:1-6; qhathanisa no-Eksodusi 9:15, 16.) Ngakho-ke, amazwi kaJesu noPawulu kumelwe ukuba asho ukuthi ngemva kokuba umbhangqwana wokuqala ongabantu e-Edene wenqabe umbuso ongokwasezulwini, noma ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu, uJehova wavumela ukuba abantu abadediselwe kude naye bakhe izinhlangano zamagunya ezaziyobavumela ukuba baphile emphakathini ohlelekile. Ngezinye izikhathi, ukuze afeze injongo yakhe, uJehova uye wabangela ababusi abathile noma ohulumeni ukuba bawe. (Daniyeli 2:19-21) Abanye uye wabavumela ukuba baqhubeke bebusa. Kulabobabusi uJehova abekezelela ukuba khona kwabo, kungashiwo ukuthi ‘bamiswe uNkulunkulu.’

AmaKristu Okuqala Neziphathimandla ZamaRoma

 6. AmaKristu okuqala ayezibheka kanjani iziphathimandla zamaRoma, futhi ngani?

⁶ AmaKristu okuqala awazange ahlanganyele namahlelo obuJuda ayevukela futhi elwa namaRoma ayehlala kwa-Israyeli. Ngokwezinga elithile njengoba iziphathimandla zamaRoma, nesimiso sazo somthetho esihleliwe, kwakulondoloza ukuhleleka ezweni nasolwandle; zakha imisele eminingi yamanzi, imigwaqo, namabhuloho okwakuwusizo; futhi ngokuvamile zisebenzela inhlalakahle kawonk’ uwonke, amaKristu ayezibheka ‘njengesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu [noma, “inceku,” ngokombhalo waphansi we-NW], kube kuhle kuwo.’ (Roma 13:3, 4) Umthetho nokuhleleka kwaveza isimo esenza ukuba amaKristu akwazi ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle ezindaweni zonke, njengoba uJesu ayala. (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Ngonembeza omsulwa, babengakhokha izintela ezazifunwa amaRoma, ngisho noma enye yalemali yayisetshenziselwa izinjongo ezazingavunyelwa uNkulunkulu.—Roma 13:5-7.

 7, 8. (a) Ukufunda ngokucophelela eyabaseRoma 13:1-7 kwembulani, futhi umongo wayo ubonisani? (b) Kungaphansi kwaziphi izimo lapho iziphathimandla zamaRoma zazingasebenzi khona ‘njengesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu,’ futhi yisiphi isimo sengqondo amaKristu okuqala asamukela kulesisimo?

⁷ Ukufunda ngokucophelela amavesi okuqala ayisikhombisa encwadi yabaseRoma isahluko 13 kuveza ukuthi “amandla ombuso” ezombangazwe ‘ayeyisikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu’ sokubonga labo abenza okuhle nokujezisa labo abenza okubi. Umongo wendaba ubonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu, hhayi iziphathimandla, onquma ukuthi yikuphi okuhle noma okubi. Ngakho-ke, uma umbusi wamaRoma nanoma iliphi elinye igunya lezombangazwe lifuna izinto uNkulunkulu azinqabelayo, noma ngokuphambene, livimbela izinto uNkulunkulu azidingayo, lalingasasebenzi njengesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu. UJesu wathi: “Nikani uKesari okukaKesari noNkulunkulu okukaNkulunkulu.” (Mathewu 22:21) Uma uMbuso WamaRoma wawufuna izinto ezazingezikaNkulunkulu, njengokukhulekela noma ukuphila komuntu, amaKristu eqiniso ayelandela iseluleko sabaphostoli: “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu.”—IzEnzo 5:29.

⁸ Ukwenqaba kwamaKristu okuqala ukukhulekela umbusi nokukhonza izithombe, ukudela imihlangano yawo yobuKristu, nokuyeka ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kwaletha ushushiso. Ngokuvamile kukholelwa ukuthi umphostoli uPawulu wabulawa ngaphansi kweziqondiso zoMbusi uNero. Abanye ababusi, ngokuphawulekayo uDomitian, uMarcus Aurelius, uSeptimius Severus, uDecius, noDiocletian, nabo bawashushisa amaKristu okuqala. Lapho lababusi neziphathimandla ezazingaphansi kwabo beshushisa amaKristu, ngokuqinisekile babengasebenzi ‘njengesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu.’

 9. (a) Yini ehlala iyiqiniso ngokuphathelene neziphathimandla eziphakeme zezombangazwe, futhi isilo sezombangazwe siwathola kubani amandla negunya? (b) Ngokunengqondo yini engase ishiwo ngokuzithoba kwamaKristu kuziphathimandla eziphakeme?

⁹ Konke lokhu kubonisa ukuthi nakuba iziphathimandla eziphakeme zezombangazwe kwezinye izimo zisebenza ‘njengelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu’ lokulondoloza umphakathi wesintu ohlelekile, zihlala ziyingxenye yesimiso sezinto sezwe uSathane angunkulunkulu waso. (1 Johane 5:19) Zingezenhlangano yezombangazwe yezwe lonke efanekiselwa “isilo” sesAmbulo 13:1, 2. Lesosilo sithola amandla negunya laso ‘kudrako omkhulu,’ uSathane uDeveli. (IsAmbulo 12:9) Ngakho-ke, ngokunengqondo, ukuzithoba kwamaKristu kulezoziphathimandla kulinganiselwe, akukhona okuphelele.—Qhathanisa noDaniyeli 3:16-18.

Inhlonipho Efanele Ngegunya

10, 11. (a) UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi kufanele sihloniphe abantu abasegunyeni? (b) “Amakhosi nabo bonke abakhulu” bangathandazelwa kanjani, futhi ngani?

¹⁰ Nokho, lokhu akusho ukuthi amaKristu kufanele abe nesimo sengqondo sokudelela, sokweyisa iziphathimandla eziphakeme zezombangazwe. Yiqiniso, abaningi balababantu abayifanelekeli ngokukhethekile inhlonipho ekuphileni kwabo kwangasese, noma ngisho nokwasobala. Nokho, abaphostoli, ngesibonelo nangeseluleko sabo, babonisa ukuthi abantu abasegunyeni kufanele bahlonishwe. Lapho uPawulu evela phambi kweNkosi uHerode Agripha II eyayishade nesihlobo sayo segazi, wakhuluma nayo ngenhlonipho efanele.—IzEnzo 26:2, 3, 25.

¹¹ UPawulu waze ngisho wathi kufanelekile ukubeka iziphathimandla zezwe emithandazweni yethu, ikakhulukazi lapho zicelwa ukuba zenze izinqumo ezithinta ukuphila kwethu nemisebenzi yobuKristu. Wabhala: “Ngakho-ke kuqala kukho konke ngiyala ukuba ukunxusa, nokukhuleka, nokucela, nokubonga kwenzelwe abantu bonke, amakhosi nabo bonke abakhulu, ukuze sihlale kahle nangokuthula, ngokumesaba uNkulunkulu nangesizotha esipheleleyo. Lokhu kuhle, kuyabongeka emehlweni kaNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu othanda ukuba abantu bonke basindiswe, bafinyelele ekulazini iqiniso.” (1 Thimothewu 2:1-4) Isimo sethu sengqondo nenhlonipho kuziphathimandla ezinjalo singase siholele ekubeni zisivumele ukuba siqhube ngenkululeko umsebenzi wethu wokuzama ukusindisa “abantu bonke.”

12, 13. (a) Yisiphi iseluleko esinokulinganisela ngokuphathelene negunya uPetru asinikeza? (b) Singakuthulisa kanjani “ukungazi kwabantu abayiziwula” ababangela ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova babandlululwe?

¹² Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Thobelani izimiso zonke zabantu ngenxa yeNkosi, nokuba kuyinkosi njengokuba ingomkhulu, nokuba kungababusi njengokuba bethunywa yiyo, ukuze bajezise abenza okubi, babonge abenza okuhle, ngokuba injalo intando kaNkulunkulu ukuba ngokwenza okuhle nithulise ukungazi kwabantu abayiziwula njengabakhululekileyo, kodwa kungabi-njengabenza ukukhululeka kube-yisigubuzelo sokubi kepha njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu. Baziseni bonke, nithande abazalwane; mesabeni uNkulunkulu, niyazise inkosi.” (1 Petru 2:13-17) Yeka iseluleko esinokulinganisela! Sikweleta uNkulunkulu ukuzithoba okuphelele njengezigqila zakhe futhi sinikeza iziphathimandla zezombangazwe ezithunyelwe ukujezisa abenzi bokubi ukuzithoba okulinganiselwe nokunenhlonipho.

¹³ Kuye kwatholakala ukuthi iziphathimandla eziningi zezwe zinokungaqondi okumangalisayo ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokuvamile lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ziye zatshelwa okungelona iqiniso izitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu ezinenzondo. Noma kungaba ukuthi konke eziye zakuzwa ngathi ziye zakuzwa kwezokusakaza, okungezona ezingakhethi ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho zisakaza. Ngezinye izikhathi singalunqoba lolubandlululo ngesimo sethu sengqondo esinenhlonipho, futhi, lapho kungenzeka khona, ngokunikeza iziphathimandla incazelo enembile yomsebenzi nezinkolelo zoFakazi BakaJehova. Ezikhulwini ezimatasa, incwajana ethi OFakazi BakaJehova Ekhulwini Lamashumi Amabili inikeza incazelo efingqiwe. Ukuze zithole ukwaziswa okugcwele, zinganikezwa incwadi ethi OFakazi BakaJehova—Abamemezeli BoMbuso KaNkulunkulu, ithuluzi elihle elikufanelekelayo ukubekwa emashalofini ezincwadi emitapo yomphakathi neyesizwe.

Igunya Ngaphakathi Emikhayeni YamaKristu

14, 15. (a) Siyini isisekelo segunya emkhayeni wamaKristu? (b) Kufanele sibe yini isimo sengqondo sabafazi abangamaKristu emadodeni abo, futhi ngani?

¹⁴ Kusobala ukuthi uma uNkulunkulu efuna ukuba amaKristu abonise inhlonipho efanele kuziphathimandla zezwe, ngokufanayo kufanele ahloniphe ilungiselelo legunya elimiswe uNkulunkululu ngaphakathi emikhayeni yamaKristu. Umphostoli uPawulu wahlela ngokufingqiwe isimiso sobunhloko esisebenzayo phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova. Wabhala: “Ngithanda ukuba nazi ukuthi inhloko yawo onke amadoda inguKristu, nenhloko yowesifazane iyindoda, nenhloko kaKristu inguNkulunkulu.” (1 Korinte 11:3) Lesi isimiso sombuso ongokwasezulwini, noma ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu. Sihilelani?

¹⁵ Inhlonipho ngombuso ongokwasezulwini iqala ekhaya. Umfazi ongumKristu ongabonisi inhlonipho efanele ngegunya lomyeni wakhe—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukholwa kanye naye noma cha—akenzi ngendlela engokwasezulwini. UPawulu waluleka amaKristu: “Nithobelane ngokumesaba uKristu. Abafazi mabathobele amadoda abo kungathi kukuyo iNkosi, ngokuba indoda iyinhloko yomfazi, njengokuba noKristu uyinhloko yebandla, yena engumsindisi womzimba. Kepha njengokuba ibandla lithobela uKristu, kanjalo nabafazi mabathobele amadoda ezintweni zonke.” (Efesu 5:21-24) Njengoba nje amadoda angamaKristu kufanele azithobe ebunhlokweni bukaKristu, abesifazane abangamaKristu kufanele baqaphele ukuhlakanipha kokuzithoba egunyeni lamadoda abo alinikezwe uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kuyobalethela ukwaneliseka okujulile kwangaphakathi, futhi, okubaluleke nangaphezulu, isibusiso sikaJehova.

16, 17. (a) Izingane ezikhuliswe emakhaya amaKristu zingazenza kanjani zihluke kwenye intsha eningi namuhla, futhi zinasiphi isisusa? (b) UJesu waba kanjani isibonelo esihle sentsha namuhla, futhi yini ekhuthazwa ukuba iyenze?

¹⁶ Izingane ezingokwasezulwini ziyakujabulela ukubonisa inhlonipho efanele kubazali bazo. Kwabikezelwa ngokuphathelene nesizukulwane esisha ezinsukwini zokugcina ukuthi sasiyoba ‘esingalaleli abazali.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1, 2) Kodwa ezinganeni ezingamaKristu iZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe lithi: “Bantwana, lalelani abazali benu ezintweni zonke, ngokuba lokho kuyathandeka eNkosini.” (Kolose 3:20) Ukuhlonipha igunya lobuzali kuyamjabulisa uJehova futhi kuletha isibusiso sakhe.

¹⁷ Lokhu kuboniswe endabeni kaJesu. Ukulandisa kukaLuka kuthi: “Wehla nabo [abazali bakhe], wafika eNazaretha, wabathobela. . . . UJesu waqhubeka ekuhlakanipheni, nasekukhuleni, nasemseni kuNkulunkulu nakubantu.” (Luka 2:51, 52) Ngalesosikhathi uJesu wayeneminyaka engu-12, futhi isimo sesenzo sesiGreki esisetshenziswe lapha sigcizelela ukuthi ‘waqhubeka ezithoba’ kubazali bakhe. Ngakho ukuzithoba kwakhe akuzange kuphele lapho engena eminyakeni yakhe yokweva eshumini nambili. Uma nina basha nifuna ukukhula ngokomoya nasemseni kuJehova nakubantu abesaba uNkulunkulu, niyobonisa inhlonipho ngegunya ngaphakathi nangaphandle kwekhaya.

Igunya Ngaphakathi Ebandleni

18. Ubani oyiNhloko yebandla lobuKristu, futhi obani abaphathise igunya?

¹⁸ Ekhuluma ngesidingo sokuhleleka ngaphakathi ebandleni lobuKristu, uPawulu wabhala: “UNkulunkulu kasiye owesiyaluyalu kepha ngowokuthula. . . . Konke makwenziwe ngemfanelo nangenhlelo.” (1 Korinte 14:33, 40) Ukuze zonke izinto zenzeke ngendlela ehlelekile, uKristu, iNhloko yebandla lobuKristu, uye waphathisa amadoda athembekile igunya. Siyafunda: “Nguyena futhi owanika abanye ukuba babe-ngabaphostoli, abanye abaprofethi, abanye abavangeli, abanye abelusi nabafundisi, ukuze abangcwele bapheleliselwe umsebenzi wokukhonza . . . Kodwa sithi sikhuluma iqiniso ngothando, sikhulele ngakho konke kuye oyinhloko, uKristu.”—Efesu 4:11, 12, 15.

19. (a) Ubani uKristu ammise phezu kwakho konke anakho, futhi ubani amnikeze igunya elikhethekile? (b) Yikuphi ukuphathiswa kwegunya okwenzekayo ebandleni lobuKristu, futhi yini lokhu okuyidingayo kithi?

¹⁹ Kulesikhathi sokuphela, uKristu uye wamisa “isigqila esithembekile nesiqaphile” njengeqembu phezu ‘kwakho konke anakho,’ noma izithakazelo zoMbuso emhlabeni. (Mathewu 24:45-47, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Njengasekhulwini lokuqala, lesigqila simelelwa indikimba ebusayo yamadoda agcotshiwe angamaKristu uKristu aye wayinikeza igunya lokwenza izinqumo nokumisa abanye ababonisi. (IzEnzo 6:2, 3; 15:2) Bese kuthi iNdikimba Ebusayo iphathise amaKomiti Egatsha, ababonisi besigodi nabesifunda, nabadala ebandleni ngalinye loFakazi BakaJehova kwangaphezu kuka-73 000 emhlabeni wonke igunya. Wonke lamadoda angamaKristu azinikele afanelwe ukusekela kwethu nenhlonipho.—1 Thimothewu 5:17.

20. Yisiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi uJehova akajatshuliswa yilabo abantula inhlonipho ngamaKristu akanye nabo asegunyeni?

²⁰ Ngokuphathelene nenhlonipho okufanele siyibonise labo abasegunyeni ebandleni lobuKristu, ukuqhathanisa okuthakazelisayo kungenziwa ngokuphathelene nokuzithoba okufanele sikubonise iziphathimandla zezwe. Lapho umuntu ephula umthetho womuntu, uNkulunkulu awuvumelayo, isijeziso esikhishwa “ababusi,” eqinisweni, siwukubonakaliswa kolaka lukaNkulunkulu ngendlela engaqondile ngqó “kowenza okubi.” (Roma 13:3, 4) Uma uJehova ethukuthela lapho umuntu ephula imithetho yabantu futhi entula inhlonipho efanele ngeziphathimandla zezwe, yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba udumala kangakanani uma umKristu ozinikezele ezishaya indiva izimiso zeBhayibheli futhi ebonisa ukungawahloniphi amaKristu akanye nawo asegunyeni!

21. Yisiphi iseluleko esingokomBhalo esiyokujabulela ukusilandela, futhi yini eyocatshangelwa esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²¹ Kunokuba sidumaze uNkulunkulu ngokwamukela isimo sengqondo sokuvukela noma sokuzibusa, siyolandela iseluleko sikaPawulu kumaKristu aseFilipi: “Ngakho-ke, bathandiweyo bami, njengalokho nilalele ngezikhathi zonke, kungesikho nxa ngikhona kuphela, kodwa ikakhulu manje nxa ngingekho, fezani ukusindiswa kwenu ngokwesaba nangokuthuthumela, ngokuba nguNkulunkulu osebenza kini nokuthanda nokwenza njengentando yakhe. Yenzani konke ngokungakhononi nokungangabazi, ukuze nibe-ngabangasolekiyo nabangenacala, abantwana bakaNkulunkulu abangenasici phakathi kwesizukulwane esiyisigwegwe nesiphambeneyo, enikhanya phakathi kwaso njengezinkanyiso ezweni.” (Filipi 2:12-15) Ngokungafani nesizukulwane sanamuhla esiyisigwegwe nesiphambeneyo esiye sazilethela izinkinga ngegunya, abantu bakaJehova bazithoba ngokunganqikazi egunyeni. Ngakho bavuna izibusiso ezinkulu, njengoba sizobona esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ukubukeza

◻ Lingubani iGunya Eliphakeme, futhi kungani igunya lakhe lingokomthetho?

◻ Kungamuphi umqondo iziphathimandla eziphakeme ‘zimiswe uNkulunkulu’?

◻ Kunini lapho iziphathimandla eziphakeme ziyeka khona ukuba ‘isikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu’?

◻ Yiliphi ilungiselelo legunya elikhona emikhayeni yamaKristu?

◻ Yikuphi ukuphathiswa igunya okukhona ebandleni lobuKristu?

[Izithombe ekhasini 18]

UJesu wathi: “Nikani uKesari okukaKesari”