Isahluko 3

Umngane WeBhayibheli Wamanga

Kulesahluko, sixoxa ngesizathu esiyinhloko sokuthi kungani abaningi basemazweni angewona awobuKristu benqaba ukwamukela iBhayibheli njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngokomlando, eLobukholwa liye lazisholo ukuthi likholelwa eBhayibhelini nokuthi lingumvikeli walo. Kodwa izinhlangano zenkolo zeLobukholwa ziye zahlanganiswa neziningi zezigigaba ezishaqisayo zomlando, kusukela eziMpini Zenkolo nasekucekeleni phansi abantu kweNkathi Ephakathi kuya ekuQothulweni Kwesizwe kwesikhathi sethu siqu. Ingabe ukuziphatha kweLobukholwa kuyisizathu esihle sokwenqaba iBhayibheli? Iqiniso liwukuthi, eLobukholwa liye labonakala lingumngane wamanga weBhayibheli. Ngempela, lapho eLobukholwa livela ekhulwini lesine leminyaka C.E., ukulwela kweBhayibheli ukusinda kwakungakapheli neze.

 1, 2. (Hlanganisa nesethulo.) (a) Kungani abaningi benqaba ukwamukela iBhayibheli njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu? (b) Yimuphi umsebenzi omuhle owafezwa phakathi nekhulu lokuqala nelesibili leminyaka, nokho isiphi isenzakalo esiyingozi esasisendleleni?

NGASEKUPHELENI kwekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, ukulotshwa kwazo zonke izincwadi zeBhayibheli kwase kuqediwe. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi kuqhubeke, amaKristu ayehola ekukopisheni nasekusakazeni iBhayibheli eliphelele. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ayematasa elihumushela ezilimini ezivame kakhulu zangalesosikhathi. Nokho, lapho ibandla lamaKristu limatasa ngalomsebenzi oncomekayo, kwakuqala ukuvela okuthile okwakuzoba yingozi kakhulu ekusindeni kweBhayibheli.

² Lesisenzakalo sasibikezelwe iBhayibheli ngokwalo. UJesu wake wakhuluma ngomfanekiso wendoda eyahlwanyela insimu yayo ngembewu yamabele yohlobo oluhle. Kodwa ‘lapho abantu besalele,’ isitha sahlwanyela imbewu eyayizoveza ukhula. Zombili izinhlobo zembewu zaqhuma, futhi okwesikhashana ukhula lwasitha amabele. Ngalomfanekiso, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi izithelo zomsebenzi wakhe zaziyokuba amaKristu eqiniso kodwa ngemva kokufa kwakhe, amaKristu amanga ayeyongena ngokunyenya ebandleni. Ekugcineni, kwakuyoba nzima ukuhlukanisa amaKristu eqiniso kwawamanga.—Mathewu 13:24-30, 36-43.

 3. Ngokomphostoli uPetru, laliyoba yini ithonya “lamaKristu” anjengokhula ekukholelweni eBhayibhelini?

³ Umphostoli uPetru waxwayisa ngokungagunciyo ngethonya “lalamaKristu” anjengokhula endleleni abantu ababeyobheka ngayo ubuKristu neBhayibheli. Waxwayisa: “Nakinina kuzakuba-khona abafundisi bamanga abazakungenisa ngasese izifundiso zamanga ezibhubhisayo, bephika noMbusi owabathengayo, bezilethela ukubhujiswa okusheshayo; nabaningi bayakulandela amanyala abo; ngenxa yabo indlela yeqiniso iyakuhlanjalazwa.”—2 Petru 2:1, 2.

 4. Zagcwaliseka kanjani iziprofetho zikaJesu noPetru ngisho nasekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka?

⁴ Ngisho naphakathi nekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, iziprofetho zikaJesu noPetru zazigcwaliseka. Amadoda ahahayo angena ngokunyenya ebandleni lobuKristu futhi ahlwanyela ukwahlukana. (2 Thimothewu 2:16-18; 2 Petru 2:21, 22; 3 Johane 9, 10) Phakathi namakhulu amabili eminyaka alandela, ubumsulwa beqiniso leBhayibheli bangcoliswa ngamafilosofi amaGreki, futhi abaningi baqala ukwamukela ngephutha izimfundiso zobuqaba njengeqiniso leBhayibheli.

 5. Yikuphi ukushintsha kwesimiso okwasungulwa uConstantine ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesine leminyaka?

⁵ Ekhulwini lesine leminyaka, umbusi ongumRoma uConstantine wamukela “ubuKristu” njengenkolo engokomthetho yoMbuso WaseRoma. Kodwa “ubuKristu” ayebazi babuhluke kakhulu enkolweni eyashunyanyelwa uJesu. Manje, “ukhula” lwaluchuma, njengoba nje uJesu ayebikezele. Noma kunjalo, singaqiniseka ukuthi phakathi naso sonke lesosikhathi, kwakunabathile ababemelela ubuKristu beqiniso futhi bekhandlekela ukulandela iBhayibheli njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe.—Mathewu 28:19, 20.

Ukuhunyushwa KweBhayibheli Kuyaphikiswa

 6. ELobukholwa laqala nini ukwakheka, futhi iyiphi enye indlela inkolo yeLobukholwa eyayihluka ngayo ebuKristwini beBhayibheli?

⁶ Kwakungesikhathi sikaConstantine lapho kwaqala khona ukwakheka kweLobukholwa njengoba silazi namuhla. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi kuqhubeke, isimo esihlazisayo sobuKristu esase sisungulekile sasingaseyona nje kuphela inhlangano yenkolo. Sasiyingxenye yombuso, futhi abaholi baso baba nendima ebalulekile kwezombangazwe. Ekugcineni, isonto lezihlubuki lasebenzisa amandla alo ezombangazwe ngendlela eyayiphikisana ngokuphelele nobuKristu beBhayibheli, iletha olunye usongo oluyingozi eBhayibhelini. Kanjani?

 7, 8. Upapa wakubonisa nini ukuphikisa kwakhe ukuhunyushwa kweBhayibheli, futhi wakwenzelani lokhu?

⁷ Lapho isiLatin sifa njengolimi olusetshenziswa nsuku zonke, kwadingeka izinguqulo ezintsha zeBhayibheli. Kodwa iSonto lamaKatolika lalingasakuthandi lokhu. Ngo-1079 uVratislaus, kamuva owaba inkosi yaseBohemia, wacela imvume kaPapa Gregory VII yokuhumusha iBhayibheli ngolimi lwabantu bakhe. Impendulo kapapa yayingucha. Wathi: “Kusobala kulabo abazindla njalo ngalokhu, ukuthi uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke akumthokozisanga ngaphandle kwesizathu ukuba umbhalo ongcwele ube imfihlo ezindaweni ezithile, ngaphandle kwalokho, ukuba wawusobala kubo bonke abantu, mhlawumbe wawuyohlonishwa kancane futhi ube into yokwedelelwa; noma ungase uqondwe ngokungeyikho yilabo abafunde kancane, futhi kuholele ekuphambukeni.”⁠¹

⁸ Upapa wayefuna ukuba iBhayibheli ligcinwe olimini lwesiLatin olungasasetshenziswa manje. Elikuqukethe kwakuyogcinwa ‘kuyimfihlo,’ kungahunyushelwa ezilimini zabantu abavamile.a IVulgate kaJerome yesiLatin, eyakhiqizwa ekhulwini lesi-5 leminyaka ukuze kwenziwe iBhayibheli litholakale kubo bonke abantu, manje yaba indlela yokuligcina liyimfihlo.

 9, 10. (a) Kwaqala kanjani ukuphikisana kwamaRoma Katolika nokuhunyushwa kweBhayibheli? (b) Yayiyini injongo yokuphikisa kweSonto iBhayibheli?

⁹ Njengoba iNkathi Ephakathi iqhubeka, ukumelana kweSonto namaBhayibheli olimi lwabomdabu kwaqina. Ngo-1199 uPapa Innocent III wabhalela umbhishobhi omkhulu waseMetz, eJalimane, incwadi enamandla kangangokuba umbhishobhi omkhulu washisa wonke amaBhayibheli olimi lwesiJalimane ayengawathola.⁠³ Ngo-1229 umkhandlu waseToulouse, eFrance, wanquma ukuthi “abantu abavamile” abanakukwazi ukuba nanoma yiziphi izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngolimi oluvamile.⁠⁴ Ngo-1233 umkhandlu wesifundazwe waseTarragona, eSpain, wayaleza ukuba kulethwe zonke izincwadi ‘zeTestamente Elidala noma Elisha’ ukuze zishiswe.⁠⁵ Ngo-1407 umkhandlu wabefundisi owabizelwa eOxford, eNgilandi, nguMbhishobhi Omkhulu uThomas Arundel wakunqabela ngokusobala ukuhunyushelwa kweBhayibheli esiNgisini noma kunoma yiluphi olunye ulimi lwanamuhla.⁠⁶ Ngo-1431, khona eNgilandi, uMbhishobhi Stafford waseWells wanqabela ukuhunyushelwa kweBhayibheli esiNgisini nokuba nezinguqulo ezinjalo.⁠⁷

¹⁰ Leziphathimandla zenkolo zazingazami ukubhubhisa iBhayibheli. Zazizama ukuligcina lingashintshiwe, ukuligcina olimini olungafundwa abambalwa kuphela. Ngalendlela, zazithemba ukuvimbela lokho ezazikubiza ngokuthi ukwambuka kodwa eqinisweni okwakufana nezinselele egunyeni lazo. Ukuba zaziphumelele, iBhayibheli laliyoba yinto nje evusa ilukuluku lokwazi lengqondo, linethonya elincane noma lingabi nalo nhlobo ekuphileni kwabantu abavamile.

Amaqhawe EBhayibheli

11. Yini eyaba umphumela lapho uJulián Hernández engenisa ngomgunyathi amaBhayibheli olimi lwesiPanishi eSpain?

¹¹ Nokho, ngokujabulisayo abantu abaningi abaqotho benqaba ukulandela leziyalezo. Kodwa ukwenqaba okunjalo kwakuyingozi. Abantu bahlushwa kakhulu ‘ngecala’ lokuba neBhayibheli. Cabangela, njengesibonelo indaba yomuntu waseSpain okuthiwa uJulián Hernández. NgokweHistory of Christian Martyrdom kaFoxe, uJulián (noma, uJuliano) “waqala ukuthumela inani elikhulu lamaBhayibheli ezweni lakubo esuka eJalimane, efihlwe emiphongolweni, futhi epakishwe njengewayini lasesigodini saseRhine.” Wakhashelwa futhi wabanjwa iNkantolo Yamacala Enkolo yamaRoma Katolika. Labo lamaBhayibheli ayethunyelwa kubo “bahlushwa bonke ngaphandle kwesizathu, futhi abaningi babo bathola izigwebo ezihlukahlukene. UJuliano washiswa, abangamashumi amabili bagazingwa bechonywe ezintini, abaningana bagwetshelwa ukudilikelwa ijele, abanye babhaxabulwa ngemvubu obala, abaningi bathunyelwa ukuyogwedla imikhumbi yempi.”⁠⁸

12. Sazi kanjani ukuthi iziphathimandla zenkolo zeNkathi Ephakathi azizange zibumelele ubuKristu beBhayibheli?

¹² Yeka ukusetshenziswa kabi kwamandla! Ngokusobala, leziphathimandla zenkolo zazingameleli neze ubuKristu beBhayibheli! IBhayibheli ngokwalo lembula ukuthi zingezikabani lapho lithi: “Ngalokho kubonakala abantwana bakaNkulunkulu nabantwana bakaSathane; lowo ongenzi ukulunga akasiye okaNkulunkulu, naye ongamthandi umzalwane wakhe. Nanti izwi enalizwayo kwasekuqaleni lokuba sithandane, kungabi-njengoKayini owaba-ngowomubi, wabulala umfowabo.”—1 Johane 3:10-12.

13, 14. (a) Yiliphi iqiniso eliphawulekayo ngeBhayibheli phakathi neNkathi Ephakathi elibonisa umsuka walo waphezulu? (b) Sashintsha kanjani isimo mayelana neBhayibheli eYurophu?

¹³ Nokho, yeka ukuthi kumangalisa kanjani ukuthi amadoda nabesifazane babezimisele ukuzifaka engozini yempatho enjalo eshaqisayo ukuze nje babe neBhayibheli! Futhi izibonelo ezinjalo ziye zaphindaphindwa izikhathi eziningi kuze kube sosukwini lwethu. Ukuzinikela okujulile iBhayibheli eliye lakubangela kubantu, ukuzimisela ukuhlupheka ngokubekezela nokuvuma ngokungakhonondi ukufa okwesabekayo ngaphandle kokuziphindiselela kubahluphi babo, kuwubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi iBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu.—1 Petru 2:21.

¹⁴ Ekugcineni, ngemva kokuhlubuka kwamaProthestani embusweni wamaRoma Katolika ekhulwini le-16 leminyaka, iSonto LamaRoma Katolika ngokwalo laphoqeka ukuba likhiqize izinguqulo zeBhayibheli ngezilimi zaseYurophu ezisetshenziswa nsuku zonke. Kodwa ngisho nalapho, iBhayibheli lahlanganiswa kakhulu nobuProthestani kunobuKatolika. Njengoba umpristi ongumRoma Katolika uEdward J. Ciuba abhala: “Umuntu kungadingeka avume ngokwethembeka ukuthi omunye wemiphumela edabukisa kakhulu yeNguquko YobuProthestani wawuwukudebeselela iBhayibheli phakathi kwamaKatolika athembekile. Nakuba lingazange lilibaleke ngokuphelele, iBhayibheli laliyincwadi evaliwe kumaKatolika amaningi.”⁠⁹

Ukucusumbulwa Kwemibhalo

15, 16. Kungani ubuProthestani nabo busoleka ngokuphathelene nokuphikiswa kweBhayibheli?

¹⁵ Kodwa amasonto amaProthestani awakhululekile ekusolweni mayelana nokuphikiswa kweBhayibheli. Njengoba iminyaka iqhubeka, izazi ezithile zamaProthestani zaphakamisa olunye uhlobo lokuhlaselwa kwalencwadi: ukuhlasela kobuhlakani. Phakathi nekhulu le-18 nele-19 leminyaka, zaqalisa indlela yokutadisha iBhayibheli eyaziwa ngokuthi ukucusumbulwa kwemibhalo. Abacusumbuli bafundisa ukuthi okuningi okuseBhayibhelini kwakuhlanganisa izinsumansumane nezinganekwane. Abanye basho nokuthi uJesu akakaze abe khona. Esikhundleni sokuba libizwe njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli labizwa yilezazi zamaProthestani njengezwi lomuntu, futhi kunjalo nje liyizwi elixovekile.

¹⁶ Nakuba eminingi yalemiqondo eyeqisa kakhulu ingasakholeki, ukucusumbulwa kwemibhalo kusafundiswa ezikoleni zokufundela ubufundisi, futhi akukhona okungavamile ukuzwa abefundisi bamaProthestani bephika obala izingxenye ezinkulu zeBhayibheli. Ngakho, omunye umfundisi waseSheshi wacashunwa ephephandabeni laseAustralia ethi okuningi okuseBhayibhelini “kumane nje akulungile. Omunye womlando awulungile. Eminye imininingwane ngokusobala ihlanekezelwe.” Lokhu kucabanga kuwumkhiqizo wokucusumbula imibhalo.

‘Liyahlanjalazwa’

17, 18. Ukuziphatha kweLobukholwa kuye kwasiletha kanjani isihlamba eBhayibhelini?

¹⁷ Nokho, mhlawumbe kuwukuziphatha kweLobukholwa okuye kwaba isithiyo esikhulu kunazo zonke ekwamukeleni kwabantu iBhayibheli njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu. ELobukholwa lizisholo ukuthi lilandela iBhayibheli. Nokho, ukuziphatha kwalo kuye kwaletha isihlamba esikhulu eBhayibhelini nakulo kanye igama elithi umKristu. Njengoba umphostoli uPetru abikezela, indlela yeqiniso iye ‘yahlanjalazwa.’—2 Petru 2:2.

¹⁸ Ngokwesibonelo, lapho isonto lalivimbela ukuhunyushwa kweBhayibheli, upapa wayexhasa imizamo emikhulu yezempi emelene namaSulumane eMpumalanga Ephakathi. Lezi zabizwa ngokuthi iziMpi Zenkolo “ezingcwele,” kodwa akukho lutho olwalungcwele ngazo. Eyokuqala—eyabizwa ngokuthi “iMpi Yabantu Yenkolo”—yahlahla indlela yalokho okwakuzolandela. Ngaphambi kokuba ashiye iYurophu, amabutho angalawuleki, egqugquzelwe abashumayeli, aphendukela amaJuda eJalimane, ewabulala emadolobheni ngamadolobha. Kwakungani? Isazi-mlando uHans Eberhard Mayer sithi: “Impikiswano yokuthi amaJuda njengezitha zikaKristu, ayefanelwe ukujeziswa yayimane nje iwumzamo obuthaka wokufihla isisusa sangempela: ukuhaha.”⁠¹⁰

19-21. IMpi Yeminyaka Engamashumi Amathathu, kuhlanganise nemizamo yabavangeli baseYurophu nokwandiswa kwamakoloni, kwasetshenziswa kanjani ekuletheni isihlamba eBhayibhelini?

¹⁹ Ukuhlubuka kwamaProthestani ekhulwini le-16 leminyaka kwakhipha ubuRoma Katolika emandleni okubusa emazweni amaningi aseYurophu. Omunye umphumela waba iMpi Yeminyaka Engamashumi Amathathu (ka-1618-48)—“enye yezimpi ezisabeka kakhulu emlandweni waseYurophu,” ngokweUniversal History of the World. Yayiyini imbangela eyinhloko yalempi? “Inzondo yamaKatolika ngamaProthestani, neyamaProthestani ngamaKatolika.”⁠¹¹

²⁰ Ngalesikhathi, eLobukholwa lase liqale ukunwebekela ngalé kweYurophu, lithwele impucuko “yobuKristu” liya nayo kwezinye izingxenye zomhlaba. Lokho kunwebeka kwezempi kwakugcwele unya nokuhaha. EMelika, abaholi baseSpain abanqoba iMelika bayilahla ngokushesha impucuko yaseMelika yomdabu. Enye incwadi yomlando yaphawula: “Sekukonke, ababusi baseSpain bachitha impucuko yomdabu, ngaphandle kokungenisa impucuko yaseYurophu. Ukomela igolide kwakuyisisusa esiyinhloko esabadonsela eZweni Elisha.”⁠¹²

²¹ Abavangeli bamaProthestani nabo futhi baphuma eYurophu baya kwamanye amazwekazi. Omunye wemiphumela yomsebenzi wabo kwakuwukuthuthukisa ukwandiswa kwamakoloni. Umbono osakazeke kabanzi namuhla ngomzamo wabavangeli bamaProthestani yilona: “Ezikhathini eziningi iqembu labavangeli liye lasetshenziswa njengezaba nesembozo sokubuswa ngobushiqela kwabantu. Ubuhlobo phakathi kokuthunywa kwabavangeli, isayensi yezobuchwepheshe, nombuso baziwa kahle kakhulu.”⁠¹³

22. ELobukholwa liye lasiletha kanjani isihlamba egameni lobuKristu phakathi nekhulu lama-20 leminyaka?

²² Ubudlelwane obuseduze phakathi kwezinkolo zeLobukholwa nombuso buye baqhubeka kuze kube sosukwini lwethu. Izimpi zezwe ezimbili zokugcina zalwiwa ngokuyinhloko phakathi kwezizwe “ezingamaKristu.” Abefundisi kuzo zombili izinhlangothi bakhuthaza izinsizwa zabo ukuba zilwe futhi zizame ukubulala isitha—ngokuvamile esasingesenkolo efanayo. Njengoba kwaphawulwa encwadini ethi If the Churches Want World Peace: “Ngokuqinisekile akulona udumo [emasontweni] ukuthi isimiso sempi sanamuhla sakhula futhi siye senza umonakalo waso omkhulu kunayo yonke phakathi kwemibuso ezinikele ebuKristwini.”⁠¹⁴

IZwi LikaNkulunkulu Liyasinda

23. Umlando weLobukholwa ubonisa kanjani ukuthi iBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu?

²³ Silandisa kabusha lomlando omude, odabukisayo weLobukholwa ukuze siqokomise amaphuzu amabili. Okokuqala, izenzakalo ezinjalo ziwukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Kwakubikezelwe ukuthi abaningi abazisholo ukuba amaKristu babeyoletha isihlamba eBhayibhelini nasegameni lobuKristu, futhi iqiniso lokuthi lokhu kuye kwenzeka lilwela iBhayibheli njengelineqiniso. Noma kunjalo, akufanele silahlekelwe umbono weqiniso lokuthi ukuziphatha kweLobukholwa akumeleli ubuKristu obusekelwe eBhayibhelini.

24. Yini ebonakalisa amaKristu eqiniso futhi kanjalo ililahle ngokucacile eLobukholwa njengelingebona ubuKristu?

²⁴ Indlela amaKristu eqiniso angabonakala ngayo yachazwa uJesu ngokwakhe: “Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.” (Johane 13:35) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu wathi: “Abasibo abezwe, njengalokhu nami angisiye owezwe.” (Johane 17:16) Kukho kokubili lokhu, eLobukholwa lizidalula njengalelo ngokusobala elingabumeleli ubuKristu beBhayibheli. Lizisholo ukuthi liwumngane weBhayibheli, kodwa liye laba umngane wamanga.

25. Kungani iBhayibheli lasinda kuzo zonke izinsizi zalo kuze kube sesikhathini sethu?

²⁵ Iphuzu lesibili liwukuthi: Uma sicabangela iqiniso lokuthi eLobukholwa lilonke liye lenza ngokuphambene kakhulu nezithakazelo zeBhayibheli, kungokuphawuleka ngempela ukuthi lencwadi iye yasinda kuze kube namuhla futhi isenethonya elihle ekuphileni kwabantu abaningi. IBhayibheli liye lasinda ekuphikisweni okunzima kokulihumusha, ekuhlaselweni izazi zanamuhla, nasekuziphatheni okungekhona okobuKristu komngane walo wamanga, eLobukholwa. Ngani? Ngoba iBhayibheli lihlukile kunoma iyiphi incwadi elotshiwe. IBhayibheli alinakufa. LiyiZwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi iBhayibheli ngokwalo liyasitshela: “Utshani buyabuna, imbali iyavuthuluka, kepha izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu limi kuze kube-phakade.”—Isaya 40:8, bheka neNew English Bible.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 34]

Amasonto obuProthestani amakhulu aye ahlanganyela ekuhlaselweni kweBhayibheli okukhulu kobuhlakani

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Umlando weLobukholwa ngempela waqala lapho uConstantine emukela ngokomthetho “ubuKristu” bosuku lwakhe

[Isithombe ekhasini 29]

OPapa Gregory VII noInnocent III babevelele emzabalazweni weSonto LamaKatolika wokuvimbela iBhayibheli ukuba lihunyushwe ngolimi lwabantu oluvamile

[Isithombe ekhasini 33]

Ukuziphatha okushaqisayo kweLobukholwa kuye kwaholela abaningi ukuba bangabaze ukuthi iBhayibheli ngempela liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu

[Isithombe ekhasini 35]

Phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, lamabutho aseRashiya akhothamela umfanekiso wenkolo odwetshiwe ngaphambi kokuba aphume ayobulala “amaKristu” akanye nawo