Kukwethi livulu lya vulombelo lya kulifwa na Mbimbiliya. Ikeyo lika yakwatha vanu kukala na likulahelo lya vuthunga ha myaka yaingi. Cho lalo likelyo lika livulu livanatanda manene vanu, veka cho vanalilwitha mwakama.

Chakumwenako, vaka-kulilongetha vamo, kuvakulahela ngwavo mu viMbimbiliya vya matangwa ano muli mithzimbu yoshe ivathonekele ha kulivanga. Muka-kulilongetha vya vulombelo umo ngwendi: “Kututhzivuka mwamuvwa indi viñanda vivathonekele ku thañulu vikevyo vituli na kutanda matangwa ano. Viñanda vili mu viMbimbiliya vyavingi vya matangwa ano kuvyathungamene vwino, cho lalo vavithonekele munima ya myaka yaingi kutunda havathonekelele mavulu a mbangelo, ngechi vinalithevuka mu vingila vyavingi na vije vya kulivanga.”

Vakwavo kuvakulahela ngwavo Mbimbiliya yapwa ya vuthunga mwafwa ya vulombelo vwavo. Chakumwenako, vaka-nanga ya Faizal vaje kuvapwile vaka-Kilisitu vamulongethele ngwavo Mbimbiliya yapwa livulu lya kujela oloni vaitengulwile. Nendeka ngwendi: “Ovyo vilongetha vyanjilingithile mangana kethi njikulahele ngwange viñanda vya mu Mbimbiliya vivanjileka vanu vyapwa vya vuthunga, mwafwa njalilongethele ngwavo viMbimbiliya vyoshe viliko kethi vya vuthunga. Cho lalo viñanda vilimo vanavitengulula.”

Kwapwa kwa theho kuthzivuka indi viñanda vya mu Mbimbiliya vanavitengulula nambe embwe ndi? Thinganyekeni ha vihula evi: Mwatha kukulahela vyuma vyavivwa vya kulutwe viyakulahetha Mbimbiliya nga kumuthzivuka ngweni muvyakele mu mavulu a kulivanga ndi? (Loma 15:4) Nga viMbimbiliya viliko vyoshe kethi vya vuthunga, mwatha kukavangeya viyendeka mu kwangula vulombelo nambe chipangi cha kupanga nambe mu kwangula vya kulinga mu nanga ndi?

Nameme mikanda ya mbangelo ya mu Mbimbiliya yanyongo, oloni viñanda vyakelemo vavithonekeleko hamo. Vimo twatha kuviwana mu mavulu a kuthzenga a ku thañulu. Awa mavulu anatha vati kukalako ha thimbu yailaha kwa kujeneka kuvihya, cho anovoka vati ku mavoko a vaka-kulwitha na vaje vashakele kutengulula viñanda vyakalamo? Kwovoka kwawo kumikwatha vati mukulahele ngweni viñanda vili mu viMbimbiliya vimo vya matangwa ano vyapwa vya vuthunga? Tandeni viñanda vinatako mangana mumone muvanakumbulwila evi vihula.

VYUMA VINETHI KUIVIYITHA: Viñanda vya mu Mbimbiliya vya kulivanga nevi vivanungulwile vavithonekele ha mavulu vatumbula ngwavo Papyrus nambe ha parchment.a (2 Timateo 4:13) Mwafwa vika kuthoneka viñanda hali evi vyuma kunethi kunyongethele muthzimbu wa mu Mbimbiliya?

Mavulu a Papyrus kuwakolele, atha kutavuka nambe kukwakunyuka na kufutungukwa vwathi. Vaka-kulilongetha vya vaka-Ingito va Richard Parkinson na Stephen Quirke ngwavo: “Livulu lyacho lyatha kuviya na kuthothonyoka na kupwa lika ngwe likungu. Nga muwatulika mu njeke, ashangumuka kukwata mbundu na kuvola, cho nga muwashitika mu livu vantumbi nambe makenyi vatha kuwalya.” Mavulu amo a papyri muvawawanene vawakele hanja, cho omwo athzivile litanya na lime, aviyile vwathi.

Mavulu a kuthzenga a parchment apwa a kukola kutuvakana a papyrus, oloni nawo atha kuviya nga akala hanja haje heta litanya na lime na cheke.b Cho lalo tulongolo vawashaka manene. Mukemwo livulu lya Everyday Writing in the Graeco-Roman East linendeka ngwavo: “kwovoka kwawo kwapwa kuvethzika lika kethi kukola embwe.” Viñanda vya mu Mbimbiliya vyapandele kunyonga laja, mwafwa mavulu havavithoneke kuapwile a kukola.

MUYOVOKELELE MBIMBILIYA:Mu Yunda vashikile ngwavo mwene woshe napande ‘kulithonekela ikeye vavenya livulu lya Mashiko a Njambi’ kulumbununa mavulu 5 a maputukilo mu Mbimbiliya. (Kwituluka mu Mashiko 17:18) Kutundoho, vaje vapwile vitongwe mu kunungulula vathonekele mavulu amangi a kuthzenga aje a kwetele na mu chita cha myaka cha kulivanga. Vanu vathele kuwana awa mavulu mu masinangonge a mu Isalele na ku Masendoniya. (Luka 4:16, 17; Vilinga 17:11) Mavulu amo a kuthzenga a laja manene anatha vati kweta na lelo lino?

Philip W. Comfort, uje walilongetha vya Lithzivathano Lyaliha ngwendi: “VaYunda vashakele manene kwambatela viMbimbiliya vyavo vya kuthzenga mu vinjava mangana kethi viviye. Vaka-Kilisitu navo mukemwo muvakale na kulingila. Mukemwo viMbimbiliya vimo vya kuthzenga vakele na kuviwana mu vinjava, vikwavo vaviwanene mu mamanya a kuchokola na mu tu mambokisi twa mavaya.

VUVWA VUNATUNDU MU KULINGA NGOCHO: Vimbathzuvwila vyavingi vya viMbimbiliya vya kuthzenga vinete mu matangwa etu. Vimo vavithonekele myaka 2,000 kunima. Mbimbiliya ikeyo lika inakala na mavulu akuthzenga a kuthañulu aje anakala thimbu yailaha ngocho.

VANU VASHAKELE KUINYONGETHA: Vantwama va mu vupolitiki na va mu vulombelo vakele na viyongola vya kulwitha muthzimbu wa mu Mbimbiliya. Kakangi vakele na kupangetha ndthzili ivakele nayo mu kushaka kwonowetha vanu kukala na Mbimbiliya na kuipulinta nambe kuinungulula. Kengeni evi vyakumwenako vivali:

• Mu 167 B.C.E., Mwene Antiochus Epiphanes, uje wapwile mwene wa vaSeleucid, washakele ngwendi vaYunda voshe vakale mu vulombelo vwa chiNgiliki, washikile lalo ngwendi Vithoneka vya chiHevelu vyoshe vavinyongethe. Heinrich Graetz, muka-kulilongetha vya mithzimbu ya kuthañulu wathonekele ngwendi vanu va Antiochus “vakele na kutavothzola mavulu a kuthzenga aje akele na Mashiko na kuwenyeka hoshe hoshe havakele na kuwawanena, cho vakele na kuthsiya vaje vashakele kuwanyunga.”

• Myaka ya Kuthañulu: Vantwama va mu Katolika, valuvalele omwo vathzivukile ngwavo vanu vavo vamo vali na kwambulula vyuma viyalongetha Mbimbiliya kutuvakana vivali na kulongetha vakevo, mukemwo vashakele kunyongetha vanu voshe vaje vakele na mavulu eka a Mbimbiliya, na kuthethza lika vaje vakele na livulu lya Myatho mu chiLatin. Vulombelo vumo vwashikile ngwavo vanu vavwo “vatondethethe mwamuvwa vanu vaje vali na Mbimbiliya . . . mu vinjuvo vyavo na kushitwothzola ha myela haje havakelekele vanu va chifwa echi. . . Nga vawana Mbimbiliya mu njuvo ya munu, cho vathsiya vavenya njuvo.”

Ngwe vanu vaje vathzindile Mbimbiliya vathele kuinyongetha, ngwe muthzimbu wa mu Mbimbiliya wanyonga.

MUYOVOKELELEMO MBIMBILIYA: Mwene Antiochus wakelele manene mana ku lifuti lya Isalele, oloni vaYunda vatungile na mu mafuti akwavo. Vaka-kutondethetha ngwavo mu chita cha myaka cha kulivanga, vaYunda va kutuvakana 60 pesenti vakele na kuyoya mu mafuti eka. VaYunda vakele na kutulika mavulu a Vithoneka mu masinangonge avo, cho hanga akewo lalo avapangethele na vanu vaje vayoyele munima yavo, kwambatethelela na vaka-Kilisitu.—Vilinga 15:21.

Mu myaka ya kuthañulu, vanu vaje vathzema Mbimbiliya vakanyamenene mapaketho, cho vatwaleleleho kunungulula Vithoneka. Nameme ha thimbu kwajenekele makina a kupulintisa mu chiita cha myaka cha vu 15, mitamba imo ya Mbimbiliya mpamo yakeleko mu vindaka 33. Kutundoho, Mbimbiliya vainungulwile na kuipulinta mu vwingi.

VYUMA VYATUNDILEMO: Nameme ngwavo vimyene va ndthzili na vakulunu va mu malombelo vashakele kunyongetha Mbimbiliya, oloni Mbimbiliya likelyo livulu livali na kunungulula na kupangethzela manene mu kaye. Ili na kukwatha vanu va mu mafuti a kulithethzathethza na vindaka vya kulithethzathethza mu kuyoya kwavo.

VANU VASHAKELE KUTHZIMBALETHA MUTHZIMBU: Kujeneka kukola kwa mavulu avapangethele na vaka-kulwitha kuvathele kunyongetha Mbimbiliya. Oloni vaka-kunungulula vamo vashakele kuthzimbaletha muthzimbu wa mu Mbimbiliya. Thimbu imo vethekele kulingitha Mbimbiliya ilitombole na vilongetha vyavo kutuvakana kulongetha viyendeka Mbimbiliya. Vyakumwenako evi:

• Mitambela ya kulemethela: Thimbu kanda chita cha myaka cha mu chivali nechi cha mu chiwana chishangumuke, vaka-kuthoneka mavulu atanu a maputukilo a mu Mbimbiliya vavwethzeleleleko majwi a kwendeka ngwavo: “Mukatungila mutula ku Aargaareezem” ku mukanda wa Kutuhuka 20:17. VaSamaliya vashakele ngwavo Vithoneka vikundwiye chipangi chavo cha kutunga tembele ha “Aargaareezem,” nambe ngwetu ha Munkinda wa Ngelizime.

• Chilongetha cha vinjambi vatatu: Munima ya myaka ya kweta ku 300 kutunda havamanethelele kuthoneka Mbimbiliya, Muka-kuthoneka vya vinjambi vatatu wavwethzelelele majwi amo ku mukanda wa 1 Yowano 5:7. Wathonekele ngwendi: “Mwilu mwakala Tate na Lijwi na Mundthzindthzime wa Kujela. Vyoshe evi vitatu vyapwa chuma chimo”. Ou mukana kuwakelemo mu vithoneka vya kulivanga. Muka-kulilongetha vya Mbimbiliya Bruce Metzger ngwendi: “Kushwa mu chita cha myaka cha vu 6,” awa majwi “vawathonekele lwalwingi mu mavulu akuthzenga amu chiLatin chalaja ne chi chivanathiwithako.”

• Lithzina lya Njambi: Vaka-kunungulula Mbimbiliya vavangi vatundithile lithzina lya Njambi mu Vithoneka mwafwa ya vilinga vya vulothzi vya vaYunda. Vengithilemo majwi a kufwa ngwe “Njambi” nambe “Shukulu.” Awa majwi avanapangetha mu Mbimbiliya kuvawapangethele lika kuli Ishamatanga, oloni vanawapangetha na kuli vanu nkala na ku tumponya va mu vulombelo vwa makuli na kuli Liyavolo vene.—Yowano 10:34, 35; 1 Kolinte 8:5, 6; 2 Kolinte 4:4.a

MUYOVOKELELEMO MBIMBILIYA: Chakulivanga, nameme vivanunglulwile vaka-kunungulula Mbimbiliya vamo kuvyaswile, oloni kwakele vamo vaje vapwile vitongwe mu kutondethetha viñanda. Mukati ka chita cha myaka cha vu 6 na cha vu 10, vaMasoretes vanungulwile Vithoneka vya chiHevelu na kupanga mavulu a kuthzenga aje vatumbula ngwavo Masoretic. Vakele na kulava majwi na vithona mangana kethi mukale tupenga mu viñanda vivathonekele. Nga kuvakulahela ngwavo ñanda imo ya mu livulu muvatundithile viñanda yathungama, vakele na kuifundika. Ava vaMasoretes kuvashakele kuthzimbaletha muthzimbu wa mu Mbimbiliya. Muka-kulilongetha Moshe Goshen-Gottstein, wathonekele ngwendi: “Kutengulula viñanda vya mu Mbimbiliya, wapwile mulonga wakama manene.”

Cha mu chivali, kulithala kwa mavulu a kuthzenga a kuthañulu, kunalingitha vaka-kulilongetha manene vya mbimbiliya vakwate tupenga. Chakumwenako, ha myaka yaingi, vantwama va mu vulombelo valongethele ngwavo vithoneka vyavo vya chiLatin vyatundile mu Mbimbiliya ya kulivanga. Oloni ku mukanda wa 1 Yowano 5:7, navo vavwethzeleleleko majwi a makuli aje atunavanga kwendeka mu ñanda eyi. Aka kapenga vakathonekele na mu Mbimbiliya ya Vundele ivakulahela manene vanu ya King James Version. Oloni mavulu akwavo a kuthzenga a kuthañulu amwethele vyuma muka? Bruce Metzger wathonekele ngwendi: “Ñanda ya makuli ivanavwethzelela ku [1 Yowano 5:7] kuyakele mu mavulu akwavo a kulivanga (Syriac, na Coptic, na Armenian, na Ethiopic, na Arabic, na Slavonic), kuvanga lika mu chiLatin.” Ngechi mu Mbimbiliya yaiha ya King James Version na viMbimbiliya vikwavo vanatundithamo aje majwi avavwethzelelelemo.

Mavulu a kuthzenga a kuthañulu amwetha ngwavo muthzimbu wa mu Mbimbiliya kuwathzimbalele ndi? Omwo vawanene mavulu a kuthzenga a kuthañulu a Dead Sea Scrolls mu 1947, vaka-kulilongetha vya Mbimbiliya vakele na kwetheketha na vithoneka vya chiHevelu vya Masoretic na vije vyakele mu livulu lya kuthzenga vije vivathonekele myaka 1000 kunima. Umo hali ava vaka-kutondethetha vya mavulu a kuthzenga a Dead Sea Scrolls ngwendi livulu limo lya kuthzenga “limwetha mwamuvwa ngwavo vaje valingile chipangi cha kunungulwila viñanda vya Mbimbiliya vya chiYunda vya kulivanga mu mavulu eka a kuthzenga kupangetha mavoko ha myaka ya kutuvakana 1000, kuvavwethzeleleko nambe kutundithako majwi amo.”

Mu Layimbulali ivatumbula ngwavo Chester Beatty ya ku Dublin, Ireland mwakele mavulu a kuthzenga a kuthañulu a papyri muje mwakele mikanda yaingi ya Vithoneka vya chiNgiliki vya vaka-Kilisitu, na mavulu akwavo a kuthzenga a kuthañulu a mu chita cha mu chivali.—Munima ya myaka 100 kutunda havamanethelele kuthoneka Mbimbiliya. Ndikishinali ya The Anchor Bible Dictionary ngwayo: “Nameme mithzimbu yakala mu mavulu vatumbula ngwavo Papyri ikakwatha vanu vathzivithithe mwamuvwa vithoneka, oloni nayo imwetha vuthunga vwa vyuma vivanathoneka mu Mbimbiliya.”

VUVWA VUNATUNDUMO: Vwingi vwa mavulu a kuthzenga a laja kuwaviyithile vivanathoneka mu Mbimbiliya, oloni anakwatha vanu vathoneke vyuma vya kuthungama. Frederic Kenyon wendekele ha Vithoneka vya ChiNgiliki vya Vaka-Kilisitu ngwendi: “Kukwethi livulu lili na vukaleho vwavungi vwa viñanda vya kuthañulu ngwe Mbimbiliya, cho lalo kukwethi muka-kulilongetha wa vuthunga atha kuvyana ngwendi yapwa ya vuthunga.” Muka-kulilongetha William Henry Green nendi wendekele ha Vithoneka vya chiHevelu ngwendi: “Kwendeka lika vuthunga, kukwethi viñanda vya kuthañulu vivathoneka mu kuthungama ngwe vya mu Mbimbiliya.”

Mbimbiliya inovoka. Mukemwo mwatha kutanda nambe kukala na Mbimbiliya yeni. Nga mwangula Mbimbiliya ivananungulula mwamuvwa, mwatha kukulahela ngweni muli na Mbimbiliya ije ili na viñanda vya vuthunga.a Oloni vika vyalingitha muthzimbu wa mu Mbimbiliya wete na matangwa ano kwakujeneka kuvihya na kwovoka ku mavoko a vaka-kulwitha na vaje vashakele kuthzimbaletha muthzimbu wamwo? Eli livulu linapu vati lya kulitila?

Vaka-kulilongetha Mbimbiliya vavangi vanatava majwi a Paulu uje wathonekele ngwendi: “Vithoneka vyoshe Njambi wahwiminininemo.” (2 Timateo 3:16) Vakulahela ngwavo Mbimbiliya inovoka mwafwa yapwa Lijwi lya Njambi lya kulitila, cho lalo nalinyungilila lyakwete na lelo lino. Faizal, itunathimutwiyiye ha kulivanga, watondethethele mangana amone indi vithinganyeka vyakele navyo ha kulilongetha Mbimbiliya vyathungamene. Oloni vyuma vyalilongethele vyamukathamethele. Wanangukile ngwendi vyuma vyavingi vivakalongetha mu vulombelo kuvyakele mu Mbimbiliya. Cho lalo wathzivile manene kuvwaha mwawanene viyongola vya Njambi ha kaye vivanendeka mu Lijwi lyendi.

Nendeka ngwendi: “Njatava ngwange Mbimbiliya injili nayo, inapu vwana vwa kutunda kuli Njambi. Njambi uje wathele kutanga vyuma vyoshe, ngweni atha kwonwa kutwana livulu na kulinyungilila ndi? Kuthinganyeka ngocho kunapu kwombwanetha ndthzili ya Njambi. Yange iyajo mangana njombwanethe Njambi muka-ndthzili yoshe?”—Isaya 40:8.