Isahluko 4

Ukuhlubuka Okukhulu Kuyaqala

“YINYE iNkosi, [lunye ukholo, NW].” (Efe. 4:5) Lapho umphostoli uPawulu ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa eloba lawomazwi (cishe ngo-60-61 C.E.), kwakunokholo olulodwa kuphela lobuKristu. Nokho, namuhla sibona ukwanda kwezinhlangano zenkolo, amahlelo, nezinkolo ezithi zingezobuKristu, nakuba zifundisa izimfundiso eziphikisanayo futhi zibambelela ezindinganisweni zokuziphatha ezihlukile. Yeka indlela ezihluke ngayo ebandleni lobuKristu elilodwa elibumbene elaqala ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E.! Lokhu kuhlukana kwaqala kanjani? Ukuze sithole impendulo, kumelwe siphindele emuva ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka leSikhathi sethu Esivamile.

Kusukela nje ekuqaleni, iSitha, uSathane, sazama ukuvimbela ubufakazi boFakazi BakaJehova abangamaKristu ngokubalethela ukushushiswa okuvela kwabangaphandle kwebandla. (1 Pet. 5:8) Kwaqale kwavela kumaJuda kwase kuvela eMbusweni WamaRoma WabeZizwe. AmaKristu okuqala alukhuthazelela ngokuphumelelayo lonke uhlobo loshushiso. (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 1:9; 2:3, 19.) Kodwa iSitha asizange sidele. Uma sihluleka ukubathulisa ngokucindezela okuvela kwabangaphandle kwebandla, sasingayekelani ukubonakalisa ngaphakathi? Njengoba ibandla lobuKristu lalisafufusa, ukuba khona kwalo ngokwakho kwakusongelwa isitha sangaphakathi—ukuhlubuka.a

Nokho, ukuhlubuka akuzange kungene ebandleni kungazange kumenyezelwe. NjengeNhloko yebandla, uKristu waqikelela ukuthi abalandeli bakhe baxwayiswa kusengaphambili.—Kol. 1:18.

“Kinina Kuzakuba-khona Abafundisi Bamanga”

“Xwayani,” kuxwayisa uJesu, “abaprofethi bamanga abeza kini bembathisé okwezimvu.” (Math. 7:15) UJesu wayazi ukuthi uSathane wayezozama ukuhlukanisa nokonakalisa abalandeli baKhe. Ngakho kusukela ekuqaleni kwenkonzo yakhe, wabaxwayisa ngabafundisi bamanga.

Babezovelaphi labafundisi bamanga? “Phakathi kwenu,” kusho umphostoli uPawulu cishe ngo-56 C.E., lapho ekhuluma nababonisi base-Efesu. Yebo, phakathi ebandleni, ‘kwakuzovuka’ amadoda “akhuluma okudukisayo, ahunge abafundi ukubalandela.” (IzE. 20:29, 30) Izihlubuki ezinjalo ezizifunela okwazo zazingeke zilwele ukuzenzela abafundi bazo siqu; zazizozama ‘ukuhunga abafundi,’ okungukuthi, abafundi bakaKristu.

Umphostoli uPetru (cishe ngo-64 C.E.) naye wabikezela ngokonakala okuvela ngaphakathi waze wachaza ngisho nendlela izihlubuki ezinjalo ezaziyosebenza ngayo: ‘Kinina kuzakuba-khona abafundisi bamanga abazakungenisa ngasese [amahlelo, NW] abhubhisayo nangokufisa bayakuthengiselana ngani ngamazwi obuqili.’ (2 Pet. 2:1, 3) Njengezinhloli noma amambuka ekamu lesitha, abafundisi bamanga, nakuba bevela phakathi ebandleni, babeyongenisa imibono yabo eyonakalisayo ngendlela efihlekile noma engabonakali.

Lezixwayiso zikaJesu nabaphostoli bakhe zazingelona ize. Ukuphikisa okuvela ngaphakathi kwaqala kancane kancane, kodwa kwavela obala zisuka nje ebandleni lobuKristu.

‘Yayisisebenza Kakade’

Eminyakeni engaphansi kwengu-20 ngemva kokufa kukaJesu, umphostoli uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ‘yayisisebenza kakade’ imizamo kaSathane yokubangela ukuhlukana nokuphambukisa abantu okholweni lweqiniso. (2 Thes. 2:7) Emuva kangango-49 C.E., encwadini eyathunyelwa emabandleni, indikimba ebusayo yaphawula: “Sizwile ukuthi abanye abavela kithi banikhathazile ngamazwi, benyakazisa imiphefumulo esingabayalelanga khona.” (IzE. 15:24) Ngakho abanye phakathi ebandleni babekhuluma ngemibono yabo ephambene—kulokhu ngokusobala bekhuluma ngendaba yokuthi amaKristu angabeZizwe kwakudingeka yini ukuba asoke futhi agcine uMthetho kaMose.—IzE. 15:1, 5.

Njengoba ikhulu lokuqala laliqhubeka, ukucabanga okuhlukanisayo kwasakazeka njengesilonda esibhucukayo. (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Thimothewu 2:17.) Cishe ngo-51 C.E., abanye eThesalonika babebikezela ngokungafanele ukuthi “ukuba khona” kweNkosi uJesu kwase kuseduze. (2 Thes. 2:1, 2, NW) Cishe ngo-55 C.E., abanye eKorinte babenqabe imfundiso ecacile yobuKristu ephathelene nokuvuswa kwabafileyo. (1 Kor. 15:12) Cishe ngo-65 C.E., abanye babethi uvuko lwase lwenzekile kakade, olungokomfanekiso olutholwa amaKristu aphilayo.—2 Thim. 2:16-18.

Ayikho imibhalo ephefumlelwe ekhuluma ngalokho okwenzeka ebandleni lobuKristu phakathi neminyaka engu-30 eyalandela. Kodwa ngesikhathi umphostoli uJohane eloba izincwadi zakhe (cishe ngo-98 C.E.), ‘babebaningi abaphikukristu’—abantu ababephika ukuthi “uJesu unguKristu” nokuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu eyafika ‘isenyameni.’—1 Joh. 2:18, 22; 4:2, 3.

Iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-60, abaphostoli babeye baba ‘okubambezelayo,’ bezama ukuvimbela igagasi lokuhlubuka. (2 Thes. 2:7; qhathanisa neyesi-2 Johane 9, 10.) Kodwa njengoba ibandla lobuKristu lase lizongena ekhulwini lesibili, umphostoli wokugcina owayesasele, uJohane, wafa, cishe ngo-100 C.E. Ukuhlubuka okwase kuqalile ukungena kancane kancane ebandleni manje kwase kuzodedeleka ngokungenakuvinjelwa, kube nemiphumela eyonakalisayo ekuhlelweni nasezimfundisweni.

Abefundisi Nabantu Abavamile

UJesu wayethe kubafundi bakhe: “Nina nonke ningabazalelwane. Munye umholi wenu, uKristu.” (Math. 23:8, 10) Ngakho sasingekho isigaba sabefundisi emabandleni obuKristu ekhulu lokuqala. Njengabafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshwe ngomoya, wonke amaKristu okuqala ayenethemba lokuba ngabapristi basezulwini noKristu. (1 Pet. 1:3, 4; 2:5, 9) Ngokuphathelene nokuhlelwa, ibandla ngalinye laliqondiswa indikimba yababonisi, noma abadala abangokomoya.b Bonke abadala babenegunya elilinganayo futhi akekho kubo owayenegunya ‘lokuzenza inkosi phezu’ komhlambi ababewunakekela. (IzE. 20:17; Fil. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Nokho, njengoba ukuhlubuka kwakuqala, izinto zaqala ukushintsha—ngokushesha.

Ekuphambukeni kokuqala impela kwaba khona ukuhlukaniswa kwegama elithi “umbonisi” (ngesiGre., e·piʹsko·pos) namazwi athi “indoda endala,” noma “umdala” (ngesiGre., pre·sbyʹte·ros), ukuze angabe esasetshenziselwa ukubhekisela esikhundleni esisodwa somthwalo wemfanelo. Eminyakeni engacishe ibe yishumi nje ngemva kokufa komphostoli uJohane, u-Ignatius, “umbhishobhi” wase-Antiyokiya, encwadini yakhe eya kwabaseSmirna, wabhala: “Qikelelani ukuthi nonke nilandela umbhishobhi [umbonisi], ngendlela uJesu Kristu alandela ngayo uYise, bese kuthi isigungu samalunga [indikimba yamadoda amadala] silandelwe njengokungathi singabaPhostoli.” Kanjalo u-Ignatius wasekela ukuba ibandla ngalinye liphathwe umbhishobhi oyedwa,c noma umbonisi, owayezobhekwa njengohlukile, nonegunya elikhulu, kunamanye amalunga, noma amadoda amadala.

Nokho, kwenzeka kanjani lokhu kuhlukaniswa? U-Augustus Neander, encwadini yakhe ethi The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries, uchaza okwenzeka: “Ekhulwini lesibili . . . , kumelwe ukuba sase sisunguliwe isikhundla esingashintshi sikamongameli wamalunga, owayenikezwe igama elithi [e·piʹsko·pos], njengoba ikakhulukazi ayephethe zonke izinto, futhi ngaleyondlela wayehlukaniswa kwamanye amalunga.”

Kanjalo kwabekwa isisekelo sokuba isigaba sabefundisi sikhule kancane kancane. Cishe eminyakeni eyikhulu kamuva, uCyprian, “umbhishobhi” waseCarthage, eNyakatho Afrika, wayelisekela kakhulu igunya lababhishobhi—njengeqembu elihlukile kumalunga (kamuva aziwa ngokuthi abapristid), amadiyakoni, nakubantu abavamile. Kodwa akazange akuvumele ukuba kube nombhishobhi omkhulu kunabanye.e

Njengoba ababhishobhi namalunga benyukela ezikhundleni eziphakeme, babashiya ngemuva bonke abanye abakholwayo abasebandleni. Lokhu kwaphumela ekuhlukaneni phakathi kwabefundisi (labo ababehola) nabantu abavamile (iqembu eliphansi labakholwayo). I-Cyclopedia kaMcClintock noStrong iyachaza: “Kusukela esikhathini sikaCyprian [owafa cishe ngo-258 C.E.], umsunguli wesimiso sokuhlela ngokwezigaba, wavela obala umehluko phakathi kwabefundisi nabantu abavamile, futhi ngokushesha okukhulu wamukelwa emhlabeni wonke. Ngempela, kusukela ekhulwini lesithathu kuqhubeke, igama elithi clerus . . . cishe lalisetshenziswa enkonzweni yabo kuphela ukuze ihlukaniswe kweyabantu abavamile. Njengoba ukuhlelwa ngokwezigaba kobuRoma kwakuthuthukiswa, abefundisi abagcinanga nje ngokuba isigaba esihlukile . . . kodwa futhi babhekwa njengabawukuphela kwesigaba sabapristi.”

Ngakho, phakathi neminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-150 ngemva kokufa kowokugcina kubaphostoli, izinguquko ezimbili ezinkulu eziphathelene nokuhlela zangena ebandleni: okokuqala, ukuhlukaniswa kombhishobhi namalunga, umbhishobhi eba sesiqongweni salesigaba; okwesibili, ukuhlukaniswa kwabefundisi nabantu abavamile. Esikhundleni sokuba bonke abakholwayo abazelwe ngomoya bakhe ‘ubupristi bobukhosi,’ manje ngabefundisi abase “bebhekwa njengabawukuphela kwesigaba sabapristi.”f—1 Pet. 2:9.

Izinguquko ezinjalo zaba ukulahla indlela engokomBhalo yokuphatha amabandla ezinsukwini zabaphostoli. Nokho, izinguquko eziphathelene nokuhlela akuzona zodwa ezaba imiphumela yokuhlubuka.

Izimfundiso Zobuqaba Ziyangena

Izimfundiso zikaKristu ezimsulwa zilotshwe phansi—zilondolozwe emiBhalweni Engcwele. Ngokwesibonelo, uJesu wafundisa ngokusobala ukuthi uJehova ‘uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso’ nokuthi umphefumulo womuntu uyafa. (Joh. 17:3; Math. 10:28) Nokho, lapho abaphostoli sebefile futhi isimo sokuhleleka kwenhlangano sintengantenga, izimfundiso ezinjalo ezicacile zonakaliswa njengoba izimfundiso zobuqaba zazingena ebuKristwini. Yayingenzeka kanjani into enjalo?

Isici esiyinhloko kwakuyithonya elingabonakali lefilosofi yamaGreki. I-New Encyclopædia Britannica iyachaza: “Kusukela phakathi nekhulu lesibili AD amaKristu ayeqeqeshwe ngefilosofi yamaGreki aqala ukuzwa isidingo sokuchaza ukholo lwawo ngolimi lwayo, kokubili ukuze anelise izingqondo zawo siqu nokuba aguqule amaqaba afundile.” Lapho nje abantu abanengqondo ethonywe yifilosofi beba amaKristu, akuzange kuthathe isikhathi eside ngaphambi kokuba ifilosofi yamaGreki ‘nobuKristu’ kuhlanganiswe ngokungenakuhlukaniswa.

Ngenxa yalokhu kuhlanganiswa, izimfundiso zobuqaba ezinjengoZiqu-zintathu nokungafi komphefumulo zangena ngokunyenya ebuKristwini obase bungcolisiwe. Nokho, lezimfundiso zihlehlela emuva kakhulu kunezazi zefilosofi ezingamaGreki. Eqinisweni amaGreki azithola emasikweni amadala, ngoba kunobufakazi bokuthi izimfundiso ezinjalo zazikhona ezinkolweni zasendulo zaseGibithe naseBabiloni.

Njengoba izimfundiso zobuqaba zaziqhubeka zingena ebuKristwini, ezinye izimfundiso ezingokomBhalo nazo zasontwa noma zalahlwa.

Ithemba LoMbuso Liyafiphala

Abafundi bakaJesu babekwazi kahle ukuthi kwakumelwe baqhubeke belindele “ukuba khona” kukaJesu okwakuthenjisiwe nokuza koMbuso wakhe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwaqondakala ukuthi loMbuso uyobusa phezu komhlaba iminyaka eyinkulungwane futhi uwuguqule ube ipharadesi. (Math. 24:3, NW; 2 Thim. 4:18; IsAm. 20:4, 6) Abalobi beBhayibheli abangamaKristu banxusa ofakazi bekhulu lokuqala ukuba bahlale bephapheme ngokomoya futhi bahlale behlukile ezweni. (Jak. 1:27; 4:4; 5:7, 8; 1 Pet. 4:7) Kodwa lapho nje abaphostoli befa, ithemba lamaKristu lokuba khona kukaKristu nokuza koMbuso wakhe lafiphala. Ngani?

Esinye isici sasiwukungcoliswa okungokomoya okwabangelwa imfundiso yamaGreki yokungafi komphefumulo. Njengoba yayigxila phakathi kwamaKristu, ithemba leminyaka eyinkulungwane lalahlwa kancane kancane. Ngani? I-New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology iyachaza: “Imfundiso yokungafi komphefumulo yangena yathatha isikhundla se-eschatology [imfundiso ephathelene ‘neZinto Zokugcina’] yeTE [iTestamente Elisha] nethemba layo lokuvuka kwabafileyo nokudala okusha (IsAm. 21 umbh. waph.), ukuze umphefumulo uthole ukwahlulelwa ngemva kokufa futhi ufinyelele epharadesi manje okwakucatshangwa ukuthi lingelinye izwe.” Ngamanye amazwi, amaKristu ayizihlubuki ayecabanga ukuthi umphefumulo uyasinda lapho umzimba ufa nokuthi ngenxa yalokho kumelwe ukuba izibusiso zokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane zihlobene nendawo yomoya. Ngaleyondlela asusa iPharadesi emhlabeni aliyisa ezulwini, lelo ayekholelwa ukuthi umphefumulo osindayo ufinyelela kulo ekufeni. Khona-ke, sasingekho isidingo sokulindela ukuba khona kukaKristu nokuza koMbuso wakhe, ngoba wonke ayethemba ukuthi lapho efa ayohlangana noKristu ezulwini.g

Nokho, esinye isici eqinisweni sakwenza kwabonakala kungenangqondo ukulindela ukuza koMbuso kaKristu. I-New Encyclopædia Britannica iyachaza: “Lokho [okwakubonakala sengathi] ukulibala kweParousia kwaphumela ekudambiseni ukulindela ukugcwaliseka ngokushesha kwalokhu ebandleni lokuqala. Phakathi nalenqubo ye-‘de-eschatology’ [ukwenziwa buthaka kwemfundiso ephathelene ‘neZinto Zokugcina’], isonto elimisiwe lathatha isikhundla soMbuso kaNkulunkulu olindelwe ngezinga elandayo. Ukwakhiwa kweSonto lamaKatolika njengenhlangano ehlelwe ngokwezigaba kuhlobene ngokuqondile nokufiphala kokulindela ukugcwaliseka ngokushesha.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.) Ngakho akugcinanga nje ngokuba izibusiso zeminyaka eyinkulungwane zisuswe emhlabeni ziyiswe ezulwini kodwa uMbuso wasuswa ezulwini wagudlulelwa emhlabeni. Lokhu “kubekwa kwenye indawo” kwaqedelwa u-Augustine waseHippo (354-430 C.E.). Encwadini yakhe edumile ethi The City of God, wathi: “Manje iSonto elisemhlabeni seliyikho kokubili umbuso kaKristu, nombuso wezulu.”

Phakathi nalesosikhathi, cishe ngo-313 C.E., phakathi nokubusa koMbusi waseRoma uConstantine, ubuKristu baqashelwa ngokomthetho, ingxenye enkulu yabo ngalesikhathi yase inemicabango yokuhlubuka. Abaholi benkolo babezimisele ukuba basebenzele uMbuso, futhi ekuqaleni uMbuso walawula izindaba zenkolo. (Ngokushesha nje, inkolo yayizolawula izindaba zoMbuso.) Kanjalo kwaqala eLobukholwa,h ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ingxenye yalo (inkolo yamaKatolika) eyaba inkolo engokomthetho yoMbuso waseRoma. Manje, kwakungasekhona nje ukuthi “umbuso” usezweni kodwa futhi wawusuyingxenye yezwe. Yeka indlela owawuhluke ngayo eMbusweni uKristu ashumayela ngawo!—Joh. 18:36.

Inkathi Yezinguquko—Ingabe Yayiwukuphindela Ekukhulekeleni Kweqiniso?

Njengokhula oluhluma phakathi kwamabele aminyene, iSonto laseRoma, ngaphansi kombusi walo wobupapa, labusa izindaba zezwe amakhulu amaningi eminyaka. (Math. 13:24-30, 37-43) Njengoba laliqhubeka liba ingxenye yezwe, isonto laqhubeka lihlehla ngokwengeziwe ebuKristwini bekhulu lokuqala. Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka amahlelo “ahlubukayo” afuna ukuba kube nezinguquko esontweni, kodwa isonto laqhubeka liwasebenzisa kabi amandla futhi liqongelela ingcebo. Khona-ke, ngekhulu le-16, yaqalisa ngezinkani iNkathi Yezinguquko YamaProthestani, ukuvukela okungokwenkolo.

Abagqugquzeli bezinguquko abanjengoMartin Luther (1483-1546), u-Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531), noJohn Calvin (1509-64) bahlasela isonto ezindabeni ezihlukahlukene: ULuther wagxila ekuthengisweni kwentethelelo yezono, uZwingli wagxila ebumpohlweni babefundisi nasekuhlonishweni kweNcasakazi uMariya, futhi uCalvin wagxila esidingweni sokuba isonto libuyele ezimisweni zokuqala zobuKristu. Yini eyafezwa imizamo enjalo?

Kuyavunywa, iNkathi Yezinguquko yenza izinto ezithile ezinhle, okuphawuleka kakhulu ukuhunyushelwa kweBhayibheli ezilimini zabantu abavamile. Umoya wenkululeko weNkathi Yezinguquko waholela ekuhlolweni kweBhayibheli okunenjongo ngokwengeziwe nokuqondwa okuthé xaxa kwezilimi zeBhayibheli. Nokho, iNkathi Yezinguquko ayizange ibe ukubuyela ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso nasemfundisweni.i Ngani?

Imiphumela yokuhlubuka yase ingene yajula, kuzo kanye izisekelo zeLobukholwa. Ngakho, nakuba amaqembu ahlukahlukene amaProthestani agqashula egunyeni likapapa eRoma, ahamba namanye amaphutha ayisisekelo eSonto lamaRoma Katolika, izici ezabangelwa ukulahlwa kobuKristu beqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba ukuphathwa kwamasonto amaProthestani kwathi ukuhluka kancane, kwalondolozwa ukuhlukana okuyisisekelo kwesonto kokuba kube nesigaba sabefundisi esibusayo kanye nabantu abavamile ababuswayo. Okunye okwalondolozwa, yizimfundiso ezingekho ngokombhalo njengoZiqu-zintathu, umphefumulo ongafi, nokuhlushwa phakade ngemva kokufa. Futhi njengeSonto laseRoma, amasonto amaProthestani aqhubeka eyingxenye yezwe, ehileleke kakhulu ezimisweni zezombangazwe nasezigabeni ezivelele ezibusayo.

Phakathi nalesosikhathi, kuthiwani ngokulindelwe amaKristu—ukulindela ukuba khona kukaJesu nokuza koMbuso wakhe? Emakhulwini eminyaka ngemva kweNkathi Yezinguquko, amasonto—kokubili awamaKatolika nawamaProthestani—ayengene shí emibusweni yezwe futhi ethambekele ekufiphazeni amathemba okuza koMbuso kaKristu.

Izimvuselelo Zokuqapha

Nokho, ekhulwini le-19 isimo senkolo saholela ezimvuselelweni zokuqapha kobuKristu. Njengomphumela wokucwaningwa kweBhayibheli okwakwenziwa abefundisi abathile nezazi zeBhayibheli, kwaphinde kwahlolwa izimfundiso ezinjengeyomphefumulo ongafi, ukuhlushwa phakade ngemva kokufa, ukudalelwa, kanye noZiqu-zintathu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abanye abafundi beBhayibheli babehlolisisa iziprofetho zeBhayibheli eziphathelene nezinsuku zokugcina. Ngakho, amaqembu ahlukahlukene abantu aqala ukucabanga ngokungathi sína ngokubuya kweNkosi okwakuthenjisiwe.—Math. 24:3.

E-United States, uWilliam Miller wabikezela ukuthi ukubuya kukaKristu ngesimo esibonakalayo kuyokwenzeka ngo-1843 noma ngo-1844. Isazi semfundiso yenkolo esingumJalimane uJ. A. Bengel samisa unyaka ka-1836; abalandeli bakaIrving eNgilandi baqale babheka u-1835, kamuva kwaba u-1838, 1864, kwase kuba u-1866. Kwakuneqembu lamaMennonite eRussia elaqale labheka u-1889, kamuva kwaba u-1891.

Imizamo enjalo yokuhlala beqaphile yabangela abaningi ukuba babe nethemba lokubuya kweNkosi. Nokho, lemizamo yokuqapha kobuKristu yaphela ngendumalo. Ngani? Ngokuyinhloko, ngenxa yokuthi lamaqembu ayethembele kakhulu kubantu futhi engathembele ngokwanele emiBhalweni. Ngemva kwamashumi ambalwa eminyaka, amaningi alawomaqembu anyamalala.

Kusenjalo, phakathi nalenkathi ezinye izenzakalo zathinta amathemba abantu nalokho ababekulindele.

Inkathi ‘Yokukhanyiselwa’ Nokuqala Kwezimboni

Ngo-1848, uKarl Marx noFriedrich Engels banyathelisa incwadi ethi The Communist Manifesto. Esikhundleni sokusekela inkolo, uMarx ayibiza ngokuthi “umlaliso wabantu,” basekela imfundiso yokungakholelwa ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu. Nakuba babemelene ngokusobala nayo yonke inkolo, eqinisweni bakhuthaza inkolo, noma ukukhulekelwa koMbuso nabaholi bawo.

Cishe eminyakeni eyishumi kamuva, ngo-1859, kwakhishwa incwadi ethi Origin of Species kaCharles Darwin; yakuthonya ngokujulile ukucabanga kwangalesosikhathi kwabezesayensi nabezenkolo. Imibono yokuziphendukela kwemvelo yaholela ekubekelweni inselele kobuqiniso bokulandisa kweBhayibheli ngendalo nobokungena kwesono ngokungalaleli kombhangqwana wokuqala ongabantu. (Gen., izahl. 1-3) Ngenxa yalokho, kwalulaza ukukholelwa kwabaningi eBhayibhelini.

Phakathi nalesosikhathi, ukuguqukela kwezezimboni kwakuqhubeka futhi kuba namandla. Kwayekwa ukugcizelela ezolimo kwagcizelelwa izimboni nokusungulwa kwemishini. Ukwakhiwa kwesitimela samalahle (ekuqaleni kwekhulu le-19) kwakuholela ekwandisweni kwemizila yesitimela eyayizohamba kulo lonke izwe. Engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19 kwasungulwa ucingo (1876), igilamafoni (1877), isibani sikagesi (1878-79), kanye nokusetshenziwa kwe-Linotype ekukhiqizeni imigqa yamagama omthofu yokunyathelisa (1884).

Isintu sasingena enkathini yentuthuko enkulu kunazo zonke emlandweni wezokuthutha nezokuxhumana okusheshayo. Nakuba lezinzuzo zazizosetshenziselwa ukuthuthukisa imigomo yezentengiselwano neyezombangazwe, zazizotholakalela futhi umkhakha wezenkolo. Kanjalo iqembu elincane labafundi beBhayibheli labekelwa isisekelo sesinyathelo sokuzithoba esasizoba nethonya emhlabeni wonke.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 33]

Lapho lisafufusa, ibandla lobuKristu lalisongelwa ukuhlubuka

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Ukuphikisa okuvela ngaphakathi kwaqala kancane kancane

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Izihlubuki azigcinanga nje ngokususa izibusiso zeminyaka eyinkulungwane emhlabeni zaziyisa ezulwini kodwa zasusa uMbuso ezulwini zawugudlulela emhlabeni

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 36]

UPlato ‘NobuKristu’

Isazi sefilosofi esingumGreki uPlato (esazalwa cishe ngo-428 B.C.E.) sasingazi ukuthi izimfundiso zaso ekugcineni zaziyongena ebuKristwini bezihlubuki. Izinto eziyinhloko uPlato azifaka ‘ebuKristwini’ zazihlobene nezimfundiso zikaZiqu-zintathu kanye nokungafi komphefumulo.

Imiqondo kaPlato ngoNkulunkulu nangendalo yathonya imfundiso yeLobukholwa kaZiqu-zintathu. I-“Nouveau Dictionnaire Universel” iyachaza: “Uziqu-zintathu kaPlato, ngokwawo owawumane uwukuhlelwa kabusha koziqu-zintathu bakudala abahlehlela emuva emiphakathini yakuqala, kubonakala sengathi unguziqu-zintathu onengqondo ngokwezici ezingokwefilosofi wezici ezabangela kwaba nabantu abathathu noma abantu baphezulu okufundiswa ngabo emasontweni obuKristu. . . . Lombono kaziqu-zintathu waphezulu walesisazi sefilosofi esingumGreki . . . ungatholakala kuzo zonke izinkolo [zobuqaba] zasendulo.”—Umqulu 2, ikhasi 1467.

Ngokuphathelene nemfundiso yomphefumulo ongafi, i-“New Catholic Encyclopedia” ithi: “Umbono wobuKristu womphefumulo ongokomoya owadalwa uNkulunkulu futhi ofakwa emzimbeni ekukhulelweni ukuze wenze umuntu abe isidalwa esiphilayo uyisithelo sento ebiqhubeka isikhathi eside kufilosofi yobuKristu. Ngu-Origen [owafa cishe ngo-254 C.E.] eMpumalanga noSt. Augustine [owafa ngo-430 C.E.] eNtshonalanga abenza umphefumulo wabhekwa njengento ethile engokomoya futhi kwakhiwa nombono ongokwefilosofi ngesimo sawo. . . . Okuningi (kuhlanganise namanye amaphutha) . . . kwemfundiso [ka-Augustine] kwathathwa emfundisweni kaPlato yamuva.”—Umqulu XIII, amakhasi 452, 454.

[Isithombe ekhasini 35]

UCyprian, “umbhishobhi” waseCarthage, wabheka ababhishobhi njengabayisigaba esihlukile kumalunga, amadiyakoni, nakubantu abavamile

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“Manje iSonto elisemhlabeni seliyikho kokubili umbuso kaKristu, nombuso wezulu” (U-Augustine waseHippo)

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Abagqugquzeli benguquko abahlasela isonto ezindabeni ezihlukahlukene

UMartin Luther

UJohn Calvin

U-Ulrich Zwingli

[Izithombe ekhasini 40]

Incwadi kaKarl Marx ethi “Communist Manifesto” eqinisweni yakhuthaza ukukhulekelwa koMbuso. Incwadi kaCharles Darwin ethi “Origin of Species” yakuthonya ngokujulile ukucabanga kwangalesosikhathi kwabezesayensi nabezenkolo

[Isithombe ekhasini 41]

Isitimela samalahle

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Isibani sikagesi

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Ucingo lokuqala

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I-Linotype yokuqala

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Igilamafoni