‘Dingani UNkulunkulu Lize Limthole’

1-3. (a) Kuyini okwenza uPhawuli wakhathazeka ngesikhathi ese-Athene? (b) Indlela uPhawuli atshumayela ngayo e-Athene isifundisani?

UPHAWULI ukhathazekile. Use-Athene eGrisi, indawo eyaziwa ngezemfundo futhi kulapho uSocrates loPlato lo-Aristotle abake bafundisa khona. Abantu be-Athene bayakuthanda ukukhonza. Loba ngaphi lapho uPhawuli akhangela khona kungaba semathempelini, emagcekeni edolobho loba emigwaqweni kugcwele izithombe. Abantu be-Athene bakhonza onkulunkulu abanengi. UPhawuli uyakwazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu weqiniso kafuni abantu bakhonze izithombe. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Umphostoli lo othembekileyo laye uyazenyanya izithombe.

² UPhawuli uthi engena emakethe atshe amathe ngakubonayo. Ekhoneni elisenyakatho eduze kwegedi lemakethe kulayiniswe izithombe ezenyanyekayo zikankulunkulu uHemesi. Asindawo zokukhonzela ezilapho! Kambe umphostoli lo okhutheleyo uzakwenelisa yini ukutshumayeza abantu laba abathanda ukukhonza izithombe kangaka? Uzakwenelisa yini ukuzibamba adinge lapho abavumelana khona labantu laba? Uzakwenelisa yini ukuncedisa abanye ukuthi badinge uNkulunkulu baze bamthole?

³ KumiSebenzi 17:22-31, sithola uPhawuli ekhuluma lamadoda afundileyo ase-Athene. Wayelokuqedisisa futhi ewakhetha kuhle amazwi akhe. Indlela uPhawuli atshumayela ngayo isifundisa ukuthi singenzani ukuze sithole lapho esivumelana khona lomuntu esixoxa laye besesibonisana laye.

Wayebonisana Labo “Emakethe” (Imiseb. 17:16-21)

4, 5. UPhawuli watshumayela ngaphi ngesikhathi ese-Athene futhi wahlangana labantu abanjani?

⁴ UPhawuli waya e-Athene okwesibili engumnali ngabo-50 C.E.a Wathi elindele ukuthi uSila loThimothi bafike bevela eBheriya, “waqalisa ukubonisana lamaJuda ayesesinagogeni” njengenjayelo. Waphinda waya “emakethe” lapho ayengatshumayeza khona abantu base-Athene ababengayisiwo maJuda. (Imiseb. 17:17) Imakethe ye-Athene yayisenyakatho ntshonalanga ye-Akropholi futhi yayingama-ekha angu-12 kusiya phezulu. Emakethe abantu babengalandi ukuyathenga lokuthengisa kuphela kodwa kwakuyindawo lapho ababehlangana khona. Elinye ibhuku lithi endaweni le yikho okwakuxoxwa khona “izindaba zomnotho welizwe, lezombusazwe kanye lezamasiko.” Injulangqondo zase-Athene zazikuthanda ukubuthana endaweni le zizoxoxa ngezindaba ezitshiyeneyo.

⁵ Emakethe uPhawuli wahlangana labantu okwakunzima ukuthi abatshumayeze. Abanye babo kwakungama-Ephikhuri lamaStoyikhi ababelemfundiso zefilosofi eziphikisanayo.b Ama-Ephikhuri ayekholwa ukuthi izinto zaphonguzenzakalela ngengozi azidalwanga. Abantu laba babesithi: “Akumelanga wesabe uNkulunkulu; ukufa akubuhlungu, ungakwenza okuhle, lokubi ungakubekezelela.” AmaStoyikhi wona ayesithi umuntu kumele asebenzise ingqondo ukuze aphumelele futhi ayengakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungumuntu okhona. Abafundi bakaJesu babefundisa ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa kodwa ama-Ephikhuri lamaStoyikhi ayengakukholwa lokho. Kusegcekeni ukuthi izinto ezazifundiswa ngamaqembu la amabili zazingahambelani ngitsho leqiniso elalitshunyayelwa nguPhawuli.

6, 7. Izikhwicamfundo ezingamaGrikhi zazisithini ngesikhathi uPhawuli efundisa futhi abanye bathini nxa sibatshumayeza?

⁶ Injulangqondo lezi ezingamaGrikhi zathini ngesikhathi uPhawuli efundisa? Ezinye zazisithi ‘uluwumani.’ (Imiseb. 17:18) Esinye isikhwicamfundo sachasisa ibala lesiGrikhi elisetshenziswe lapha sathi: “Ekuqaliseni ibala leli lalisetshenziswa kukhulunywa ngenyoni encane eyayihamba idobha inhlanyelo. Ngokuya kwesikhathi laselisetshenziswa kutshiwo umuntu ohamba edobhelela ukudla lezinye izinto emakethe. Kanti njalo ngokuya kwesikhathi laselisetshenziswa kutshiwo umuntu ohamba edobhelela ulwazi, ikakhulu kulowo owehluleka ukuchasisa ukuthi akutholileyo kungenelana njani.” Injulangqondo lezi zazisithi uPhawuli uyisiphukuphuku uphonguhamba ekhuluma izinto azizwe ngabantu. Kodwa njengoba sizabona, lokhu akuzange kumethuse uPhawuli.

⁷ Lalamuhla abantu babiza oFakazi bakaJehova ngamabizo angaqedakaliyo ngenxa yokuthi bakholwa okutshiwo liBhayibhili. Abanye ababalisi bafundisa ukuthi izinto zazenzakalela futhi bathi nxa ukhaliphile kumele ukukholwe lokho. Bathi abantu abangakukholwayo lokho bayizithutha. Abantu laba abafundileyo benza abantu bacabange ukuthi ‘siyawumana’ nxa sibatshengisa ubufakazi bokuthi izinto zadalwa. Lanxa kunjalo thina asipheli amandla. Asesabi ngitsho ukutshela abantu ukuthi izinto zonke ezisemhlabeni zadalwa nguJehova uNkulunkulu, uMdali.—Isam. 4:11.

8. (a) Abanye abezwa uPhawuli etshumayela bathini? (b) Kungabe kusitshoni ukuthi uPhawuli wahanjiswa e-Ariyophagu? (Khangela amabala angaphansi ekhasini 142.)

⁸ Ezinye injulangqondo ezazilalele uPhawuli etshumayela emakethe zamzwisisa ngeyinye indlela, zathi: “Kukhanya angathi utshumayela ngabonkulunkulu bezinye izizwe.” (Imiseb. 17:18) Kambe uPhawuli wayesetshumayeza abantu be-Athene ngabonkulunkulu abatsha? Phela le kwakungasindaba encane. Eminyakeni eminengi eyayidlulile uSocrates wabulawa ngoba emangalelwe ngokuthi utshumayela ngabonkulunkulu abatsha. Akumangalisi ukuthi uPhawuli bamthatha bahamba laye e-Ariyophagu ukuze ayechasisela abantu be-Athene ngemfundiso zakhe lezi ezintsha bona ababengazazi.c Manje wayezabatshumayeza njani abantu laba ababengazi lutho ngeMibhalo?

“Bantu Be-Athene, Ngiyabona” (Imiseb. 17:22, 23)

9-11. (a) UPhawuli wenzani ukuze avumelane labantu ayebatshumayeza? (b) Singamlingisela njani uPhawuli enkonzweni yethu?

⁹ Khumbula ukuthi uPhawuli wayekhathazekile ebona ukuthi abantu be-Athene babekhonza izithombe. Kodwa kulokuthi abachothoze yena wakhuluma labo kuhle. UPhawuli watshengisa ukuthi uyingcitshi ekufundiseni ngoba emazwini akhe okuvula wahle wakhuluma ngezinto ayekwazi ukuthi bazavumelana ngazo. Wathi: “Bantu be-Athene, ngiyabona ukuthi kukho konke lina lizinikele ekwesabeni onkulunkulu ukwedlula abanye abantu.” (Imiseb. 17:22) Ngamanye amazwi wayesithi, ‘Ngiyabona ukuthi liyakuthanda ukukhonza.’ UPhawuli wenza kuhle ngokubancoma. Wayenanzelela ukuthi abanye babo lanxa babekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga babengabe befuna ukufunda iqiniso. Phela wayekwazi ukuthi laye wayeke wenza izinto ‘ngokungazi njalo engelakholo.’—1 Thim. 1:13.

¹⁰ Wathi esekhulume ngalokho ababevumelana ngakho, uPhawuli wakhuluma ukuthi wayenanzelele ukuthi abantu base-Athene bayakuthanda ukukhonza ngoba wayebone ukuthi bale-alithare elibhalwe ukuthi “ElikaNkulunkulu Ongaziwayo.” Elinye ibhuku lithi: “Kwakujayelekile kumaGrikhi lakwabanye abantu ukuthi bakhe ama-alithare ‘abonkulunkulu abangaziwayo’ ngoba babesesaba ukuthi ekukhonzeni kwabo bangabe betshiye omunye unkulunkulu ongabazondela.” I-alithare leli lalitshengisa ukuthi abantu base-Athene babevuma ukuthi ukhona unkulunkulu abangamaziyo. Wasebenzisa i-alithare leli ukuze athole ithuba lokubatshela izindaba ezinhle. Wathi kubo: “Lokho elikukhonza lingakwazi yikho engilitshumayeza ngakho.” (Imiseb. 17:23) UPhawuli watshengisa ukuthi uyingcitshi ekufundiseni. Wayengatshumayeli ngonkulunkulu omutsha njengoba abanye babemmangalele. Kodwa wayebachasisela ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso ababengamazi.

¹¹ Singamlingisela njani uPhawuli nxa sitshumayela? Nxa singaba lelihlo elibukhali sizananzelela ukuthi umuntu lo ukholwani ngokubona izinto azigqokileyo, ezisendlini yakhe loba ezicecise iguma. Mhlawumbe ungathi: ‘Ngiyananzelela ukuthi uyasonta, bengifisa ukukhuluma lomuntu onjengawe.’ Nxa singancoma umuntu ngokuthi uyakuthanda ukukhonza kungabalula ukuthi asilalele. Khumbula ukuthi inhloso yethu ayisiyo yokuhamba sisahlulela abantu ngalokho abakukholwayo. Phela abanye abafowethu labodadewethu labo bake bakholwa izinto ezingamanga.

UNkulunkulu ‘Kakhatshana Komunye Lomunye Wethu’ (Imiseb. 17:24-28)

12. UPhawuli wenzani ukuze avumelane labantu ayebatshumayeza?

¹² Njengoba uPhawuli wayesetholile lapho ababevumelana khona kambe wayezenelisa yini ukuqhubeka evumelana labo intshumayelo yakhe ize iphele? Watshintsha indlela ayetshumayela ngayo ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi abantu akhuluma labo babefundiswe ifilosofi yamaGrikhi futhi bengayazi ngitsho iMibhalo. Okokuqala, wabatshela lokho okufundiswa liBhayibhili engazange abavulele iMibhalo. Okwesibili, wasebenzisa amabala ayetshengisa ukuthi laye uzibala phakathi kwabo. Okwesithathu, wakhuluma ngokubhalwe emabhukwini abo ukuze atshengise ukuthi ayekufundisa kwakukhona lasemabhukwini abo. Khathesi asihloleni intshumayelo kaPhawuli elamandla. Yiziphi izinto eziqakathekileyo azitshela abantu be-Athene ngoNkulunkulu ababengamazi?

13. UPhawuli wathini futhi amazwi akhe ayesitshoni?

¹³ UNkulunkulu wadala izinto zonke. UPhawuli wathi: “UNkulunkulu owenza umhlaba lakho konke okukuwo, lowo oyiNkosi yezulu lomhlaba kahlali emathempelini akhiwe ngezandla.”d (Imiseb. 17:24) Izinto azizange ziphonguzenzakalela. UNkulunkulu weqiniso nguye uMdali wezinto zonke. (Hubo. 146:6) UMdali wethu kafanani labonkulunkulu abanjengabo-Athena labanye abathola udumo ngokufakwa emathempelini loba ema-alithareni lakwezinye indawo zokukhonzela. INkosi Enkulu eyadala izulu lomhlaba ayihlali emathempelini akhiwe ngezandla zabantu. (1 Amakho. 8:27) Okwakutshiwo nguPhawuli kucacile. UNkulunkulu weqiniso mkhulu kakhulu kulezithombe ezenziwe ngabantu ezifakwa emathempelini enziwe ngabantu.—Isaya. 40:18-26.

14. UPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasweli lutho?

¹⁴ UNkulunkulu kasweli lutho. Ababekhonza izithombe babejayele ukugqokisa izithombe zabo impahla ezidulayo, baziphe lezipho ezidulayo futhi baziphathele ukudla lokunathwayo angani izithombe lezo zizakusebenzisa konke lokho. Ezinye injulangqondo ezazilalele uPhawuli zazikholwa ukuthi onkulunkulu akumelanga bancediswe ngabantu. Kufanele ukuthi zazivumelana lamazwi kaPhawuli athi uNkulunkulu “kancediswa yizandla zabantu angathi kulolutho aluswelayo.” Iqiniso yikuthi akulalutho umuntu angalunika uMdali wezinto zonke esithi uyamncedisa. Yena nguye opha abantu lokho abakudingayo. Ubanika “ukuphila lokuphefumula lazo zonke izinto” okugoqela ilanga, izulu lomhlabathi. (Imiseb. 17:25; Gen. 2:7) UNkulunkulu yena nguye opha abantu, yikho kathembeli ebantwini ukuthi bamncedise ngezinto abaphe zona.

15. UPhawuli wabancedisa njani abantu be-Athene ukuthi bangazigqaji ngokuthi bangamaGrikhi, futhi yisiphi isifundo esiqakathekileyo esisifundayo khonapho?

¹⁵ UNkulunkulu wadala abantu. Abantu be-Athene babekholwa ukuthi bona bangcono kulabanye abantu abangayisiwo maGrikhi. Kodwa ukubandlulula abantu ngemihlobo kuyaphikisana leqiniso eliseBhayibhilini. (Dute. 10:17) UPhawuli wabonisana labo kuhle ngendaba le. Kufanele ukuthi bonke ababelalele uPhawuli bacabangisisa ngesikhathi esithi: “Ngomuntu oyedwa [uNkulunkulu] wenza zonke izizwe zabantu.” (Imiseb. 17:26) Lapha uPhawuli wayekhuluma ngendaba ekuGenesisi ekhuluma ngokudalwa kuka-Adamu, onguye ukhokho wabantu bonke. (Gen. 1:26-28) Njengoba abantu bonke bedabuka emuntwini oyedwa, akulamhlobo loba isizwe esingcono kulesinye. Kufanele ukuthi bonke ababelalele uPhawuli bahle bawuzwisisa umcijo lo. Lathi kulesifundo esiqakathekileyo esisifundayo khonapho. Lanxa kumele sikhethe kuhle amazwi ethu ukuze singabakhubi abantu esibatshumayezayo, kumele sikhulume iqiniso linjengoba linjalo. Akumelanga silithele amanzi sisenzela ukuthi abantu basilalele.

16. UNkulunkulu wayehloseni edala abantu?

¹⁶ UNkulunkulu wayefuna abantu bahlale beseduze laye. Injulangqondo ezazilalele uPhawuli zazisehluleka ukuchasisa ukuthi vele abantu baphilelani. UPhawuli yena wahle wayihluba indlubu ekhasini eveza ukuthi inhloso kaNkulunkulu edala abantu yayingeyani. Wathi: “Ukuze bamdinge uNkulunkulu, bamlalamele baze bamthole njengoba yena engakhatshana komunye lomunye wethu.” (Imiseb. 17:27) UNkulunkulu owayengaziwa ngabantu be-Athene ufuna abantu babemazi. Phela useduze labantu abamdingayo abafuna ukufunda ngaye. (Hubo. 145:18) UPhawuli wasebenzisa ibala elithi “wethu” okutshengisa ukuthi laye wayezibala phakathi kwabantu okwakumele “bamdinge” uNkulunkulu futhi “bamlalamele.”

17, 18. Yindaba kufanele sibili ukuthi abantu basondele kuNkulunkulu futhi indlela uPhawuli ayetshumayela ngayo isifundisani?

¹⁷ Abantu kumele babe lesifiso sokusondela kuNkulunkulu. UPhawuli wathi: “Siyaphila, siyahamba futhi sikhona ngenxa yakhe [uNkulunkulu].” Ezinye izikhwicamfundo zithi uPhawuli wayephinda amazwi ayekhulunywe ngenye imbongi yeKhrethe okuthiwa ngu-Epimenides, eyaphila ngabo-500 B.C.E. futhi ‘eyayihlonitshwa kakhulu e-Athene.’ UPhawuli wakhuluma esinye isizatho esenza kufanele ukuthi abantu basondele kuNkulunkulu, wathi: “Njengoba nje lezinye imbongi zenu zisitsho ukuthi, ‘Lathi singabantwabakhe.’” (Imiseb. 17:28) Abantu kumele babe ngabangane abaseduze loNkulunkulu ngoba nguye owadala umuntu wokuqala lapho esivela khona sonke. UPhawuli watshengisa ukuthi uhlakaniphile ngoba wacupha amanye amazwi emabhukwini esiGrikhi ayehlonitshwa kakhulu ngabantu ababemlalele.e Lathi singamlingisela uPhawuli ngokucupha amanye amazwi emabhukwini ezembali, ama-encyclopedia lamanye nje amabhuku ahlonitshwayo. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa singacupha amanye amazwi emabhukwini ahlonitshwayo, omunye umuntu ongayisuye Fakazi angabona ukuthi ezinye imfundiso zamasonto zingamanga.

¹⁸ UPhawuli wayelokhu ewakhetha kuhle amabala akhe ukuze afundise abantu laba iqiniso eliqakathekileyo ngoNkulunkulu. Wayefuna abantu laba benzeni ngolwazi lolu oluqakathekileyo? Kazange apholise amaseko, wabatshela okwakumele bakwenze.

‘Abantu Ezindaweni Zonke Kumele Baphenduke’ (Imiseb. 17:29-31)

19, 20. (a) UPhawuli wathini ukuze atshengise ukuthi ukukhonza izithombe akuncedi ngalutho? (b) Ababelalele uPhawuli kwasekumele benzeni?

¹⁹ UPhawuli wayesekulungele ukukhuthaza abantu ababemlalele ukuthi benze okuthile. Waphinda wacupha amazwi kwelinye ibhuku lesiGrikhi, wathi: “Yikho nxa thina singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu akumelanga sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu unjengegolide kumbe isiliva kumbe ilitshe, loba ukuthi unjengento ebaziweyo kumbe elungiswe ngabantu.” (Imiseb. 17:29) Nxa abantu badalwa nguNkulunkulu, kambe uNkulunkulu yena usengaba yisithombe esenziwe ngomunye umuntu? Amazwi kaPhawuli akuveza egcekeni ukuthi ukukhonza izithombe ezenziwe ngumuntu yibuthutha. (Hubo. 115:4-8; Isaya. 44:9-20) Amazwi kaPhawuli athi “akumelanga sicabange ukuthi” atshengisa ukuthi laye uzifakile phakathi futhi yiwo enza ukuthi abantu ayebatshumayeza bangezwa ubuhlungu.

²⁰ Umphostoli uPhawuli wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi kwakumele benze okuthile. Wathi: “UNkulunkulu ubengelandaba lezikhathi lezo zokungazi [zokucabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyathokoza nxa abantu bekhonza izithombe] kodwa khathesi usememezela kubo bonke abantu ezindaweni zonke ukuthi kumele baphenduke.” (Imiseb. 17:30) Kumele ukuthi abanye ababemlalele bamangala besizwa ukuthi kumele baphenduke. Amazwi kaPhawuli atshengisa ukuthi babengeke baphile bengelaye uNkulunkulu yikho kwakumele bamkhonze. Kwakumele bamdinge uNkulunkulu bafunde iqiniso ngaye besebephila ngendlela ehambelana leqiniso abasebelifundile. Abantu be-Athene kwasekumele batshiye ukukhonza izithombe.

21, 22. UPhawuli wayiphetha njani inkulumo yakhe futhi kuyini esikwaziyo ngamazwi akhe?

²¹ UPhawuli waphetha intshumayelo yakhe ngamazwi alamandla athi: “[UNkulunkulu] usebeke ilanga ahlose ukwahlulela ngalo umhlaba wonke ngokulunga esebenzisa umuntu ambekileyo. Unike abantu bonke ubufakazi balokhu ngokumvusa kwabafileyo.” (Imiseb. 17:31) Abantu kwakumele bamdinge baze bamthole uNkulunkulu weqiniso ngoba usebeke ilanga lokwahlulela umhlaba. UPhawuli kazange akhulume ukuthi ozakwahlulela umhlaba ngubani. Kodwa nanku okumangalisayo akutshoyo ngomahluleli lo: Waphila engumuntu, wafa, wasevuswa nguNkulunkulu.

²² Isiphetho sikaPhawuli esilamandla sisifundisa okunengi. Siyakwazi ukuthi uMahluleli obekwe nguNkulunkulu, nguJesu Khristu owavuswayo. (Joh. 5:22) Siyakwazi lokuthi uSuku Lokwahlulela luzakuba yiminyaka engu-1 000 futhi selusondele. (Isam. 20:4, 6) Asilwesabi uSuku Lokwahlulela ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi labo okuzathiwa bathembekile bazathola izibusiso ezinengi kakhulu. Ukuvuswa kukaJesu Khristu yikho okwenza siqiniseke ukuthi sizazithola izibusiso esizithenjisiweyo.

‘Abanye Baba Ngamakholwa’ (Imiseb. 17:32-34)

23. Abantu bazamukela njani izindaba ezinhle ezazitshunyayelwa nguPhawuli?

²³ Abantu be-Athene bakwamukela ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo lokho okwakhulunywa nguPhawuli. “Abanye baqalisa ukumchothoza” ngesikhathi besizwa esekhuluma ngokuvuswa kwabafileyo. Abanye baphonguba lomusa kodwa abazange baphenduke, bathi: “Sizaphinda siyizwe futhi indaba yakho le.” (Imiseb. 17:32) Kodwa abanye batshintsha. ULukha uthi: “Abanye bamlandela baba ngamakholwa. Phakathi kwabo kwakuloDiyonisiyu owayengumahluleli womthethwandaba we-Ariyophagu, lowesifazana okwakuthiwa nguDamari kanye labanye.” (Imiseb. 17:34) Lathi lamuhla nxa sitshumayela, abantu bazamukela ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo izindaba ezinhle. Abanye bayasichothoza, abanye bayalalela nje babelomusa kodwa bangenzi lutho. Kodwa okusithokozisayo yikuthi abanye bayazamukela izindaba ezinhle batshintshe ukuphila kwabo babe ngamaKhristu.

24. Sifundani entshumayelweni kaPhawuli ayenza e-Ariyophagu?

²⁴ Ukuhlolisisa intshumayelo kaPhawuli kuyasinceda sibone ukuthi singabonisana njani labantu lokuthi singenzani ukuze sivumelane lezimo nxa sisekutshumayeleni. Okunye futhi esikufundayo yikuthi sibekezele futhi sikhethe kuhle amabala ethu nxa sikhuluma labantu abasenkolweni yamanga. Esinye isifundo esiqakathekileyo esisifundayo yikuthi akumelanga silithele amanzi iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini ngenxa yokuthi sifuna ukuthabisa umuntu esixoxa laye. Nxa singalingisela isibonelo sikamphostoli uPhawuli sizakuba zingcitshi ekutshumayeleni. Isibonelo sikaPhawuli singanceda labadala ukuthi bafundise kuhle ebandleni. Sonke singenza njalo sizakwenelisa ukunceda abantu ukuthi ‘badinge uNkulunkulu baze bamthole.’—Imiseb. 17:27.