Justin​—Wanthanthi, Wochilikiza, ndi Wofera Chikhulupiriro

“TIKULAMULA kuti zinenezo zotsutsa Akristu zifufuzidwe, ndikuti, ngati nzowona, iwo alangidwe moyenera . . . Koma ngati palibe amene angatizenge mlandu wa chirichonse, luntha lenileni likuletsani, kuti mupeŵe mphekesera yoipa, kuvulaza anthu opanda liŵongo . . . Popeza kuti, ngati mwamva chowonadi, ndipo simuchita cholungama, mudzakhala opanda chodzikhululukira pamaso pa Mulungu.”

Ndi mawu amenewo, Justin Martyr, wodzitcha Mkristu wa m’zaka za zana lachiŵiri C. E., anachonderera wolamulira Wachiroma, Antoninus Pius. Justin anapempha bungwe lachiweruzo losamalitsa kuti lifufuze miyoyo ndi zikhulupiriro za odzitcha Akristu. Pempho limeneli lofuna chiweruzo cholungama linachokera kwa munthu wokhala ndi makulidwe ndi nthanthi zosangalatsa kwambiri.

Kukula Kwake ndi Kuphunzira

Justin anali Wakunja, anabadwa pafupifupi 110 C.E. mu Samaria mumzinda wa Flavia Neapolis, Nablus wamakono. Anadzitcha Msamariya, ngakhale kuti kuli kotheka kuti abambo ndi agogo ake anali Aroma kapena Agiriki. Kuleredwa kwake m’miyambo yachikunja, limodzi ndi ludzu lake la chowonadi, zinamtsogolera kuphunzira mwakhama nthanthi. Posakhutira ndi kufufuza kwake pakati pa a Stoiki, otsatira Aristotle, ndi otsatira Pythagoras, analondola malingaliro a Plato.

M’bukhu lake limodzi, Justin akusimba za chikhumbo chake chakukambitsirana ndi anthanthi nati: “Ndinadzipereka ndekha kwa Mstoiki wina; ndipo pambuyo pokhala naye kwa nthaŵi yaitali, ndisanapeze chidziŵitso chowonjezereka cha Mulungu (poti nayenso sanamdziŵe), . . . ndinamsiya ndipo ndinapita kwa wina.”​—Dialogue of Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, With Trypho, a Jew.

Kenaka Justin anapita kwa wotsatira Aristotle yemwe anali wokonda kwambiri ndalama osati chowonadi. Justin akuti: “Munthuyu, pambuyo pondilandira kwa masiku ochepa oyambirira, anandipempha kuti ndilipire, kuti kusinthana kwathu malingaliro kusakhale kopanda phindu. Pachifukwa chimenechi, nayenso ndinamusiya, ndikumakhulupirira kuti sanali wanthanthi konse.”

Pofunitsitsa kumva “nthanthi yapamwamba,” Justin “anapita kwa wotsatira Pythagoras, munthu wotchuka​—amene ananyadira nzeru zake.” Justin akuti: “Pamene ndinakambitsirana naye, kumuuza kuti ndinali wofunitsitsa kukhala mvetseri wake ndi wophunzira, iye anati, ‘Ndiyeno? Kodi umadziŵa nyimbo, kupenda zakuthambo, ndi masamu a geometry? Kodi ukulingalira kuti ungamvetsetse zirizonse za zinthu [zaumulungu] zimenezo zimene zimapangitsa moyo wachimwemwe, ngati sunaphunzire zinthu [zimenezi]?’ . . . Anandithamangitsa pamene ndinamuuza za umbuli wanga.”

Ngakhale kuti analefulidwa, Justin anapitirizabe kufunafuna chowonadi mwakutembenukira kwa otsatira Plato otchuka. Iye akuti: “Ndinathera nthaŵi yanga yaikulu ndi munthu yemwe anasamukira kumene mumzinda mwathu​—munthu waluntha, wokhala ndi udindo wapamwamba pakati pa otsatira a Plato,​—ndipo ndinapita patsogolo, ndipo ndinawongokera kwakukulu tsiku ndi tsiku . . . , kotero kuti patapita kanthaŵi kochepa ndinaganiza kuti ndinali wanzeru; ndipo kumeneko,” anatero Justin, “kunali kupusa kwanga.”

Kufunafuna chowonadi kwa Justin kudzera m’kukambitsirana ndi anthanthi kunali kosaphula kanthu. Koma pamene anali kusinkhasinkha m’mphepete mwa nyanja, anakumana ndi Mkristu wina wokalamba, “munthu wina wachikulire, waudongo ndithu m’kawonekedwe, wosonyeza mkhalidwe wodzichepetsa ndi waulemu.” Kukambitsirana komwe kunatsatirapo kunakokera chidwi chake ku ziphunzitso zenizeni za Baibulo zimene zinasumika pa kufunika kwa chidziŵitso cholongosoka cha Mulungu.​—Aroma 10:2, 3.

Mkristu wosatchulidwa dzinayo anamuuza Justin kuti: “Nthaŵi zakale, kudali anthu ena, oposa anthanthi olemekezedwa, ponse paŵiri olungama ndi okondedwa ndi Mulungu, omwe . . . ananeneratu za zinthu zomwe zikachitika, zomwe zikuchitika tsopano. Iwo amatchedwa aneneri. Iwo okha anawoneratu ndi kulengeza chowonadi kwa anthu, . . . pokhala anadzazidwa ndi Mzimu Woyera.” Podzutsabe chilakolako cha Justin, Mkristuyo anati: “Zolemba zawo zidakalipo, ndipo amene anaziŵerenga anathandizidwa m’chidziŵitso chake cha chiyambi ndi mapeto a zinthu.” (Mateyu 5:6; Machitidwe 3:18) Monga momwe munthu wokoma mtimayo anafulumizira, Justin anasanthula mwakhama Malemba ndipo kukuwoneka kuti anawayamikira iwo ndi ulosi wa Baibulo, monga momwe zolemba zake zikusonyezera.

Kupenda Mosamalitsa Mabuku Ake

Justin anachita chidwi ndi kupanda mantha kwa Akristu poyang’anizana ndi imfa. Iye anazindikiranso ziphunzitso zowona za Malemba Achihebri. Pochilikiza zigomeko za m’bukhu lake la Dialogue With Trypho, Justin anagwira mawu Genesis, Eksodo, Levitiko, Deuteronomo, 2 Samueli, 1 Mafumu, Masalmo, Yesaya, Yeremiya Ezekieli Danieli, Hoseya, Yoweli, Amosi, Yona, Mika, Zekariya, ndi Malaki, limodzinso ndi Mauthenga Abwino. Chiyamikiro chake cha mabuku Abaibulo ameneŵa chinawonekera m’kukambitsirana kwake ndi Trypho, m’mene Justin anafotokoza Chiyuda chomwe chinakhulupirira Mesiya.

Kwasimbidwa kuti Justin anali mlengezi, wolengeza mbiri yabwino pamwaŵi uliwonse. Mothekera, iye anayenda kwambiri. Nthaŵi yake ina anaithera ku Efeso, ndipo mwinamwake anakhala m’Roma kwa nyengo yaitali.

Mabuku a Justin anaphatikizapo ochilikiza olembedwa kuchinjiriza Chikristu. M’bukhu lake la First Apology, iye anafuna kuthetsa mdima waukulu wa nthanthi zachikunja mwa kuunika kochokera m’Malemba. Iye analengeza kuti nzeru ya anthanthi ili yonyenga ndi yopanda pake poyerekezera ndi mawu ndi ntchito zamphamvu za Kristu. (Yerekezerani ndi Akolose 2:8.) Justin achilikiza Akristu onyozedwa amene iye agwirizana nawo. Pambuyo pa kutembenuka, iye anapitiriza kuvala zovala za wanthanthi, akumanena kuti anapeza nthanthi yokha yowona.

Akristu a m’zaka za zana lachiŵiri analingaliridwa kukhala okana Mulungu chifukwa cha kukana kulambira milungu yachikunja. “Sindife okana Mulungu,” anatsutsa tero Justin, “popeza timalambira Mpangi wa chilengedwe chonse . . . Wotiphunzitsa zinthuzi ndiye Yesu Kristu . . . Iye ndiye Mwana wa Mulungu wowona.” Ponena za kulambira mafano, Justin anati: “Iwo amapanga chimene amachitcha mulungu; chimene timachilingalira osati kokha chopusa, koma chonyoza Mulungu . . . Ha, ndikupusa kotani nanga! kuti amuna othedwa nzeru adzilinganiza ndi kupanga milungu yoti mudzilambira.”​—Yesaya 44:14-20.

Pokhala ndi zilozero zambiri ku Malemba Achikristu Achigiriki, Justin anasonyeza chikhulupiriro chake m’chiukiriro, makhalidwe amtima Achikristu, ubatizo, ulosi wa Baibulo (makamaka wonena za Kristu), ndi ziphunzitso za Yesu. Ponena za Yesu, Justin anagwira mawu Yesaya, akumati: “Bomalo lidzakhala pamapeŵa pa [Kristu].” Justin ananenanso kuti: “Ngati tiyang’ana ku ufumu wa anthu, ndiye kuti tikukana Kristu wathu.” Iye anafotokoza ziyeso ndi mathayo a Akristu, akutsimikiza kuti utumiki woyenerera kwa Mulungu umafunikira kukhala wochita chifuniro Chake, ndipo anawonjezera kuti “anthu ayenera kutumidwa ndi Iye ku mtundu uliwonse kukafalitsa zinthu zimenezi.”

The Second Apology of Justin (yokhulupiriridwa kukhala kupitirizidwa kwa yoyamba) inalunjikitsidwa ku Bungwe Lamalamulo la Roma. Justin anachonderera Aroma mwakusimba zokumana nazo za Akristu, amene anazunzidwa pambuyo popeza chidziŵitso cholongosoka cha Yesu Kristu. Ubwino wa ziphunzitso za Yesu za chikhalidwe cha mtima, wosonyezedwa m’mayendedwe a nzika Zachikristu, unawoneka kukhala waphindu lochepa kwa akuluakulu Achiroma. Mmalomwake, kungodzitcha kukhala wophunzira kunali ndi zotulukapo zangozi. Ponena za mphunzitsi wakale wa ziphunzitso Zachikristu, Justin anagwira mawu munthu wotchedwa Lucius, amene anafunsa kuti: “Kodi nchifukwa ninji mwalanga munthuyu, osati monga wachigololo, kapena wadama, kapena wambanda, kapena mbala, kapena chigaŵenga, kapena kuzengedwa mlandu uliwonse, koma amene wangodzinenera kuti amatchedwa Mkristu?”

Ukulu wa chidani chotsutsa odzitcha Akristu panthaŵiyo ukusonyezedwa ndi ndemanga ya Justin iyi: “Chotero, nanenso ndikuyembekezera kuchitiridwa chiŵembu ndi kupachikidwa pamtengo, ndi ena a awo amene ndatchula, kapena mwinamwake ndi a Kresike, munthu wokonda ukandifere ndi kudzikuza; popeza kuti munthuyo saali woyenerera dzina la wanthanthi amene amatichitira umboni wotitsutsa mwapoyera motsutsana ndi nkhani zimene samamvetsetsa, akumati Akristu ali okana Mulungu ndi osapembedza, ndipo amachita zimenezo kuti ayanjidwe ndi anthu, ndi kuwakondweretsa. Pakuti ngati atiukira popanda kuŵerenga ziphunzitso za Kristu, iye ali woluluzika kotheratu, ndipo woipa kuposa osadziŵa kuŵerenga ndi kulemba, amene kaŵirikaŵiri amapeŵa kukambitsirana kapena kuchitira umboni wonama pa nkhani zimene samvetsetsa.”

Imfa Yake

Kaya munali m’manja mwa a Kresike kapena a Cynic (anthanthi Achigiriki) ena, Justin anaweruzidwa m’bwalo lamilandu Lachiroma kukhala wopotoza zinthu ndipo anaweruzidwa kufa. Pafupifupi 165 C.E., anadulidwa mutu mu Roma ndipo anakhala “martyr” (kutanthauza “mboni”). Chifukwa chake, iye akutchedwa Justin Martyr.

Kalembedwe ka Justin kangakhale kalibe zokometsera ndi luso la anthu ena ophunzira a m’tsiku lake, koma changu chake kaamba ka chowonadi ndi chilungamo chinalidi chowona. Chenicheni chakuti ndi kuukulu wotani umene anakhala mogwirizana ndi Malemba ndi ziphunzitso za Yesu sichinganenedwe motsimikizirika. Komabe, mabuku a Justin amayamikiridwa kaamba ka mbiri yake ndi zilozero zambiri Zamalemba. Iwo amatipatsa chidziŵitso cha miyoyo ndi zokumana nazo za odzitcha Akristu a m’zaka za zana lachiŵiri.

Zofunikanso zili zoyesayesa za Justin zakusonyeza olamulira kuipa kwa chizunzo cholunjikitsidwa pa Akristu. Kukana kwake chipembedzo chachikunja ndi nthanthi moyanja chidziŵitso cholongosoka cha Mawu a Mulungu kumatikumbutsa kuti ku Atene mtumwi Paulo analankhula molimba mtima kwa anthanthi a Epikureya ndi Stoiki ponena za Mulungu wowona ndi Yesu Kristu woukitsidwayo.​—Machitidwe 17:18-34.

Justin iyemwini anali ndi chidziŵitso chakutichakuti cha chiukuriro cha akufa mkati mwa Zaka Chikwi. Ndipo chiyembekezo chenicheni cha Baibulo cha chiukiriro chiri cholimbikitsa chikhulupiriro chotani nanga! Chachilikiza Akristu poyang’anizana ndi chizunzo ndipo chawatheketsa kupirira ziyeso zazikulu, ngakhale kufikira imfa.​—Yohane 5:28, 29; 1 Akorinto 15:16-19; Chivumbulutso 2:10; 20:4, 12, 13; 21:2-4.

Pamenepo, Justin anafuna chowonadi nakana nthanthi Zachigiriki. Monga wochilikiza, anachinjiriza ziphunzitso ndi zochita za odzitcha Akristu. Ndipo podzitcha Mkristu iyemwini, anafera chikhulupiriro. Chofunika kwenikweni chiri chiyamikiro cha Justin cha chowonadi ndi kuchitira umboni kwake molimba mtima poyang’anizana ndi chizunzo, popeza kuti mikhalidwe imeneyi imapezeka m’miyoyo ya otsatira owona a Yesu lerolino.​—Miyambo 2:4-6; Yohane 10:1-4; Machitidwe 4:29; 3 Yohane 4.