Izifundo Ezisekelwe KwiZibhalo Eziphefumlelweyo Nemvelaphi Yazo

Isifundo 6—Umbhalo WamaKristu WesiGrike WeZibhalo Ezingcwele

Apha kuthethwa ngokukhutshelwa kombhalo weZibhalo zesiGrike; ukuguqulelwa kwawo kwisiGrike nakwezinye iilwimi ukuza kuthi ga kulo mhla; ukuthembeka kombhalo wale mihla.

1. Ucwangciso lwamaKristu lokufundisisa lwaqalisa njani?

AMAKRISTU okuqala ayengabahlohli nabapapashi bazwenibanzi ‘belizwi likaYehova’ elibhaliweyo. Awathabatha nzulu amazwi kaYesu angaphambi nje kokunyuka kwakhe athi: “Niya kwamkela ke amandla, akubon’ ukuba uMoya oyiNgcwele uhlile phezu kwenu; nibe ngamangqina am eYerusalem, kwanakulo lonke elakwaYuda nelaseSamariya, kude kuse nasekupheleni komhlaba.” (Isa. 40:8; IZe. 1:8) Njengokuba uYesu wayexele kwangaphambili, abafundi bokuqala abali-120 bamkela umoya oyingcwele, namandla awo omelezayo. Oku kwakungomhla wePentekoste yowama-33 C.E. Kwangaloo mini, uPetros wasungula ucwangciso olutsha lokufundisa ngokunikela ubungqina obucokisekileyo, nto leyo eyaphumela ekubeni abaninzi basamkele ngehlombe isigidimi kwaza kongezelelwa abamalunga nama-3 000 abangakumbi kwibandla lamaKristu elalisandul’ ukusekwa.—IZe. 2:14-42.

2. Ziziphi iindaba ezilungileyo ezazivakaliswa ngeli xesha, yaye lo msebenzi wokunikel’ ubungqina wawubonakalisa ntoni?

² Bekhuthele kunalo naliphi na elinye iqela elakhe lakho embalini, aba bafundi bakaYesu Kristu baqalisa ucwangciso lokufundisa olwathi ekugqibeleni lwafikelela kuyo yonke imimandla yehlabathi eyayisaziwa ngelo xesha. (Kol. 1:23) Ewe, la mangqina kaYehova azinikeleyo ayekukhuthalele ukusebenzisa iinyawo zawo, ehamba kwizindlu ngezindlu, etyhutyha izixeko ngezixeko, namazwe ngamazwe, evakalisa “iindaba ezilungileyo zezinto ezilungileyo!” (Roma 10:15) Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zingelungiselelo lentlawulelo kaKristu, ithemba lovuko noBukumkani bukaThixo obuthenjisiweyo. (1 Kor. 15:1-3, 20-22, 50; Yak. 2:5) Kwakungazange nanini na ngaphambili kunikelwe ubungqina obunjalo eluntwini ngezinto ezazingabonwa. Oku kwabonisa indlela ‘ababeyiseke ngayo bubukho bezinto ezingabonwayo,’ nendlela olwalomelele ngayo ukholo, lwabaninzi ababesithi ngelo xesha bamamkele uYehova njengeNkosi yabo enguMongami ngokwesizinzi sedini likaYesu.—Heb. 11:1; IZe. 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:14-17.

3. Abalungiseleli abangamaKristu benkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo babahluke ngantoni?

³ Aba balungiseleli bangamaKristu, amadoda kwanabafazi, babengabalungiseleli bakaThixo abakhanyiselweyo. Babekwazi ukufunda nokubhala. Babezifundile iZibhalo Ezingcwele. Babenolwazi ngoko kwenzekayo ehlabathini. Babeqhelene nokukhenketha. Babefana neenkumbi kuba babengavumeli nawuphi na umqobo ukuba uthintele inkqubela yabo njengoko babesasaza iindaba ezilungileyo. (IZe. 2:7-11, 41; Yoweli 2:7-11, 25) Kuloo nkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, babesebenza phakathi kwabantu ababefana ngeendlela ezininzi nabantu bamaxesha anamhlanje.

4. Phantsi kwempefumlelo nokhokelo lukaYehova, yintoni eyabhalwayo ngemihla yebandla lamaKristu okuqala?

⁴ Njengabashumayeli ababenenkqubela “belizwi lobomi,” amaKristu okuqala ayisebenzisa ngokunengenelo nayiphi na imisongo yeBhayibhile ayenokuyifumana. (Fil. 2:15, 16; 2 Tim. 4:13) Emine yayo, okaMateyu, okaMarko, okaLuka nokaYohane, uYehova wayeyiphefumlele ngenjongo yokuba kubhalwe “iVangeli [“iindaba ezilungileyo,” NW] kaYesu Kristu.” (Marko 1:1; Mat. 1:1) Bambi babo, njengoPetros, uPawulos, uYohane, uYakobi noYuda baphefumlelwa ukuba babhale iincwadi. (2 Pet. 3:15, 16) Abanye baba ngabakhupheli bezi ngxelo ziphefumlelweyo, ezazidluliselwa ngendlela eyingenelo phakathi kwamabandla awayesanda. (Kol. 4:16) Ukongezelela, “abapostile namadoda amakhulu” aseYerusalem benza izigqibo ezingokwemfundiso ngokhokelo lomoya kaThixo, yaye ezi zigqibo zabhalwa ukuze zisetyenziswe kamva. Kwakhona eli qumrhu lilawulayo liyintloko lathumela iincwadi ezazinemibandela eyimfundiso kumabandla akude. (IZe. 5:29-32; 15:2, 6, 22-29; 16:4) Yaye ngenxa yoku, kwakufuneka babe nelabo isebe lokuthumela ezi ncwadi.

5. (a) Yintoni icodex? (b) AmaKristu okuqala ayisebenzisa ukusa kuwuphi umkhamo icodex, ibe yayiluncedo njani?

⁵ Ukuze bakukhawulezise ukulungelelaniswa kweZibhalo, ndawonye nokuzidlulisela zikwimo eyayiza kubangela kube lula ukubhekisela kuzo, amaKristu okuqala aqalisa kwaoko ukusebenzisa uhlobo lombhalo-ngqangi oyicodex endaweni yemisongo. Icodex injengeencwadi zale mihla, anokuthi amaphepha ayo atyhilwe ngokulula ukuze kukhangelwe imbekiselo ethile, kunomsebenzi omkhulu wokolula njengoko kwakusoloko kunjalo ngomsongo. Ngaphezu koko, icodex, yakwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukuhlanganisa ndawonye imibhalo engcwele, ngoxa imibhalo ekuhlobo lomsongo, ngokuqhelekileyo yayigcinwa iyimisongo eyahlukahlukeneyo. AmaKristu okuqala aba ngawokuqala ukusebenzisa icodex. Isenokuba yayilwa kwangawo. Ngoxa icodex ingazange yamkelwe ngezandla ezishushu ngababhali ababengengomaKristu, inkoliso yemibhalo yamaKristu ekwiphepha elenziwe ngomzi yenkulungwane yesibini neyesithathu ikuhlobo lwecodex.a

6. (a) Lalinini ithuba lesiGrike samandulo, yaye elo thuba laquka ntoni, yaye savela nini isiKoine, okanye isiGrike esiqhelekileyo? (b) IsiKoine sasetyenziswa ngokubanzi njani yaye kangakanani?

⁶ IsiKoine (IsiGrike Esiqhelekileyo). Ixesha ekufane kuthiwe lelolwimi lwamandulo lwesiGrike lasusela kwinkulungwane yethoba Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukusa kwinkulungwane yesine Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Eli yayilixesha lokusetyenziswa kolwimi lwesizwana olwaluthethwa eAttica naseIonia. Kwakuphakathi kweli xesha, yaye ingakumbi ngenkulungwane yesihlanu neyesine Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, abathi ababhali abaninzi bemidlalo yesiGrike, iimbongi, amaciko, ababhali-mbali, izithandi zobulumko nezazinzulu zanda, abathi kwabo uHomer, uHerodotus, uSocrates, uPlato, nabanye baba ngabadumileyo. Ixesha elisusela malunga nenkulungwane yesine Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukusa malunga nenkulungwane yesithandathu yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo yaba lixesha loko kwaziwa njengesiKoine, okanye isiGrike esiqhelekileyo. Ubukhulu becala sabakho ngenxa yeenkqubo zasemkhosini zika-Alesandire Omkhulu, owayenomkhosi owawubunjwe ngamajoni awayevela kuyo yonke imimandla yelaseGrisi. Ayethetha iilwimi ezahlukeneyo zezizwana zaseGrisi, yaye njengokuba ezi zazixubana, ulwimi lwesizwana oluqhelekileyo, isiKoine, lwaveliswa lwaza lwasetyenziswa ngokubanzi. Ukoyisa kuka-Alesandire iYiputa, nelaseAsiya ukuya kufikelela kude eIndiya, kwabangela ukuba isiKoine saziwe zizizwe ezininzi, kangangokuba saba lulwimi lwezizwe ngezizwe saza saqhubeka sinjalo kangangeenkulungwane ezininzi. Isigama sesiGrike esasisetyenziswe kwiSeptuagint yayisisiKoine esasisaziwa kwa-Alesandire, eYiputa, ebudeni benkulungwane yesithathu neyesibini Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.

7. (a) IBhayibhile ikungqina njani ukusetyenziswa kwesiKoine ngexesha likaYesu nabapostile bakhe? (b) Kutheni le nto isiKoine sasikufanelekele kakuhle ukudlulisela iLizwi likaThixo?

⁷ Ngemihla kaYesu nabapostile bakhe, isiKoine, sasilulwimi lwezizwe ngezizwe kummandla waseRoma. IBhayibhile ngokwayo iyasingqinela esi sibakala. Xa uYesu wabethelelwa emthini, kwaba yimfuneko ukuba umbhalo owawubekwe ngasentla kwentloko yakhe ungabi ngesiHebhere kuphela, ulwimi lwamaYuda, kodwa kwanangesiLatini, ulwimi olwalungokwasemthethweni kwelo lizwe, nangesiGrike, ulwimi olwaluthethwa ezitratweni zaseYerusalem phantse ngokuqheleke njengaseRoma, kwa-Alesandire, okanye kwanaseAtene. (Yoh. 19:19, 20; IZe. 6:1) IZenzo 9:29 zibonisa ukuba uPawulos washumayela iindaba ezilungileyo eYerusalem kumaYuda awayethetha ulwimi lwesiGrike. Ngelo xesha isiKoine sasiyintetho enamandla, eyayisetyenziwa nenesigama esityebileyo—ulwimi olwaluthethwa nguwonke wonke yaye lufaneleke kakuhle ukusetyenziselwa injongo ephakamileyo kaYehova yokudlulisela inkcazelo engakumbi yeLizwi likaThixo.

UMBHALO WESIGRIKE NOKUGUQULELWA KWAWO

8. Kutheni ngoku sihlolisisa ichibi eliyimibhalo-ngqangi yeSibhalo sesiGrike?

⁸ Kwisifundo esandulelayo, sifunde ukuba uYehova wawalondoloza amanzi akhe enyaniso kumachibi aziincwadi ezibhaliweyo—iZibhalo zesiHebhere eziphefumlelweyo. Noko ke, kuthekani ngeZibhalo ezabhalwa ngabapostile nabanye abafundi bakaYesu Kristu? Ngaba ezi siye sazilondolozelwa ngenyameko efanayo? Ukuhlolisisa eli chibi likhulu eliyimibhalo-ngqangi eyalondolozwa ngesiGrike, kwanangezinye iilwimi, kubonisa ukuba oku kuye kwanjalo. Njengoko sele kucacisiwe, eli candelo lemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile lineencwadi ezingama-27. Khawuqwalasele amanqanaba okudluliselwa kombhalo wezi ncwadi zingama-27, nto leyo ebonisa indlela umbhalo wesiGrike wantlandlolo oye walondolozwa ngayo ukuza kuthi ga kulo mhla.

9. (a) IZibhalo zamaKristu zazibhalwe ngaluphi ulwimi? (b) Nguwuphi umahluko ophawulwa kuMateyu?

⁹ Umthombo Wemibhalo-ngqangi YesiGrike. Iincwadi ezingama-27 zoludwe lwemibhalo engcwele YeZibhalo zamaKristu zabhalwa ngesiGrike esiqhelekileyo saloo mihla. Noko ke, kubonakala ukuba incwadi kaMateyu yabhalwa okokuqala ngesiHebhere eyayibhalwe ngaso iBhayibhile, ukuze ibe luncedo kumaYuda. Umguquleli weBhayibhile wenkulungwane yesine uJerome utsho njalo, ebonisa ukuba yaguqulelwa kamva kwisiGrike.b Mhlawumbi uMateyu wayiguqulela ngokwakhe—ekubeni wayeligosa laseburhulumenteni baseRoma, umbuthi werhafu, ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo wayesazi isiHebhere, isiLatini nesiGrike.—Marko 2:14-17.

10. Imibhalo yeBhayibhile ifikelele njani kuthi?

¹⁰ Abanye ababhali beBhayibhile abangamaKristu, uMarko, uLuka, uYohane, uPawulos, uPetros, uYakobi noYuda, bonke bazibhala iincwadi zabo ngesiKoine, ulwimi olwaluqhelekile, olwalusetyenziswa nolwaluqondwa ngamaKristu nayinkoliso yabanye abantu benkulungwane yokuqala. Incwadi yokugqibela kwimibhalo yantlandlolo yabhalwa nguYohane malunga nowama-98 C.E. Okwaziwayo kukuba, akukho namnye kule mibhalo-ngqangi yantlandlolo ingama-27 eyayingesiKoine, eye yahlala ikho kwaba de kwaba namhlanje. Noko ke, ukususela kuloo mthombo uyintloko wantlandlolo, kuye kwadluliselwa kuthi imibhalo ekhutshelwe ngokusuka kweyantlandlolo, eyona mibhalo ibalaseleyo neendidi ngeendidi zemibhalo, ukuyila ichibi elikhulu eliyimibhalo-ngqangi yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike.

11. (a) Yiyiphi ingqokelela yemibhalo-ngqangi ekhoyo namhlanje? (b) Oku kwahluke njani kwiincwadi ezamkelekileyo ngobuninzi nangobudala?

¹¹ Ichibi Eliyimibhalo-ngqangi Engaphezu Kwe-13 000. Ingqokelela eninzi ekhutshelweyo yemibhalo-ngqangi yeencwadi ezingama-27 zoludwe lwemibhalo engcwele iyafumaneka namhlanje. Eminye yayo igubungela amacandelo amakhulu eSibhalo; eminye iziziqwenga nje. Ngokusuka kolunye ubalo, kukho imibhalo-ngqangi engaphezu kwama-5 000 yesiGrike santlandlolo. Ukongezelela, kukho imibhalo-ngqangi engaphezu kwama-8 000 ngezinye iilwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo—inani xa lidityaniswe lonke elidlulela ngaphaya kwe-13 000. Iyeyeminyaka esusela kwinkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukuya kwinkulungwane ye-16 C.E., yonke iluncedo ekufumaniseni umbhalo oyinyaniso nowantlandlolo. Owona mdala kule mibhalo-ngqangi mininzi sisiqwenga sephepha lomzi sencwadi yeVangeli kaYohane esikuMzi Wogcino-ncwadi iJohn Rylands eManchester, eNgilani, esaziwa ngenombolo ethi P⁵², esabhalwa kwisiqingatha sokuqala senkulungwane yesibini, ekunokwenzeka ukuba kwakumalunga nowe-125 C.E.c Ngaloo ndlela, lo mbhalo ukhutshelweyo wabhalwa kuphela kwikota yenkulungwane okanye malunga nelo xesha emva kowantlandlolo. Xa siqwalasela oko ukuze siqinisekise ukuchana kombhalo wabona babhali bamandulo, liqaqobana nje kuphela lemibhalo-ngqangi elifumanekayo, yaye kunqabile ukuba le ibe yephakathi kweenkulungwane zokubhalwa kwemibhalo yantlandlolo, sinokuqonda ukuba kukho ubungqina obuyintabalala bokusinceda sifikelele kumbhalo owamkelekileyo weZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike.

12. Imibhalo-ngqangi yokuqala yayibhalwe entwenini?

¹² Imibhalo-ngqangi Yephepha Elenziwe Ngomzi. Njengoko kunjalo ngemibhalo yokuqala yeSeptuagint, imibhalo-ngqangi yokuqala yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike yayibhalwe kwiphepha elenziwe ngomzi, yaye eli phepha laqhubeka lisetyenziswa ekuyileni imibhalo-ngqangi yeBhayibhile de kwamalunga nenkulungwane yesine yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Kwakhona kubonakala ukuba ababhali beBhayibhile bazibhala kwiphepha lomzi iincwadi ababezibhalela amabandla amaKristu.

13. Nguwuphi umbhalo okwiphepha elenziwe ngomzi owafunyanwayo nobalulekileyo owathi wabhengezwa ngonyaka we-1931?

¹³ Inkitha yemibhalo yephepha lomzi iye yafunyanwa kwiphondo laseFaiyūm, eYiputa. Ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-19, iqela lemibhalo-ngqangi yeBhayibhile laye lafunyanwa. Umbhalo-ngqangi ongowona ubalulekileyo kunayo yonke efunyenweyo kule mihla ngulowo ukufunyanwa kwawo kwabhengezwa ngowe-1931. Wawunamacandelo ali-11 ecodex, uqulethe iincwadi ezisibhozo ezahlukahlukeneyo zeZibhalo zesiHebhere eziphefumlelweyo neencwadi ezili-15 zeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, zonke zibhalwe ngesiGrike. Le mibhalo yamaphepha enziwe ngomzi yabhalwa ukususela kwinkulungwane yesibini ukuya kweyesine yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Ngoku iinxalenye ezininzi zeSibhalo samaKristu sesiGrike zalo mbhalo-ngqangi zigcinwe kwiNgqokelela yeChester Beatty yaye sidweliswe njengokuthi P⁴⁵, P⁴⁶, P⁴⁷, uphawu “P” lumele igama elithi “Papyrus.”

14, 15. (a) Yiyiphi eminye imibhalo-ngqangi ebalulekileyo yephepha elenziwe ngomzi yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike edwelisiweyo kwisicangca esikwiphepha 313? (b) Bonisa indlela iNew World Translation eye yayisebenzisa ngayo le mibhalo-ngqangi. (c) Yintoni engqinwa ziicodex zangaphambili zephepha lomzi?

¹⁴ Enye ingqokelela ebalulekileyo yemibhalo ebhalwe kwiphepha lomzi yapapashwa eGeneva, eSwitzerland, ukususela ngowe-1956 kuse kowe-1961. Ekubeni isaziwa ngokuba yiBodmer Papyri, iquka imibhalo yakuqala yeencwadi ezimbini zeVangeli (P⁶⁶ no-P⁷⁵) eyabhalwa ukususela kwinkulungwane yesithathu yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Isicangca esandulela esi sifundo sidwelisa eminye imibhalo yeBhayibhile ebalaseleyo neyamandulo ebhalwe kwiphepha lomzi yeZibhalo zesiHebhere nezamaKristu zesiGrike. Kumhlathi wokugqibela, kukho iindinyana ezicatshulwe kwiNew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures apho le mibhalo-ngqangi yephepha lomzi ixhasa oko kuguqulelweyo, yaye oku kuboniswe kwimibhalo esemazantsi ekwezo ndinyana.

¹⁵ Ukufunyanwa kwale mibhalo-ngqangi kunikela ubungqina bokuba uludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile lwagqitywa kwakwiminyaka yakudala. Phakathi kweChester Beatty Papyri, kukho iicodex ezimbini—enye ihlanganisa amacandelo eencwadi ezine zeVangeli neZenzo (P⁴⁵) yaye enye iqulethe ezisi-9 zeencwadi ezili-14 zikaPawulos (P⁴⁶)—nto leyo ebonisa ukuba iZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike eziphefumlelweyo zahlanganiswa kungekudala emva kokufa kwabapostile. Ekubeni kwakuya kuthabatha ixesha ukuze ezi codex zisasazwe ngokubanzi zize zikwazi nokufikelela amazantsi eYiputa, licacile elokuba ezi Zibhalo zaqokelelwa zikwimo yazo eyamkelekileyo kungekhona ngemva kwenkulungwane yesibini. Ngaloo ndlela, ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibini, alithandabuzeki elokuba uludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike lwalugqityiwe, luphelelisa uludwe lwemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile xa iyonke.

16. (a) Yiyiphi imibhalo-ngqangi yeeuncial yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike eye yalondolozeka ukuza kuthi ga kulo mhla? (b) Imibhalo-ngqangi yeeuncial isetyenziswe kangakanani kwiNew World Translation, yaye ngoba?

¹⁶ Imibhalo-ngqangi YeVellum Neyesikhumba. Njengoko sifundile kwisifundo esidluleyo, ivellum eyayomelele ngakumbi, uhlobo olusukiweyo lwethwathwa ngokuqhelekileyo olwalusenziwa ngesikhumba sethole, semvana, okanye sebhokhwe, yaqala ukusetyenziswa endaweni yephepha lomzi ekubhaleni imibhalo-ngqangi ukususela malunga nenkulungwane yesine yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukusa phambili. Yimbi imibhalo-ngqangi ebaluleke kakhulu yeBhayibhile ekhoyo namhlanje ibhalwe kwivellum. Sele sixubushe ngemibhalo-ngqangi yevellum neyesikhumba yeZibhalo zesiHebhere. Isicangca esikwiphepha 314 sidwelisa eminye yale mibhalo-ngqangi ibalaseleyo yevellum neyesikhumba yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike nezesiHebhere. Leyo idwelisiweyo yeZibhalo zesiGrike yabhalwa ngokupheleleyo ngoonobumba abakhulu yaye kubhekiselwa kuyo njengeeuncial. INew Bible Dictionary inikela ingxelo yokuba kukho imibhalo-ngqangi engama-274 ebhalwe ngeeuncial yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, yaye le isusela emva ngenkulungwane yesine yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukusa kwinkulungwane yeshumi yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Emva koko kukho imibhalo-ngqangi engaphezu kwengama-5 000 ebhalwe ngohlobo lokudibanisa, okanye oloonobumba abancinane, eyenziwe ngohlobo oluqhelekileyo lokubhala.d Le mibhalo-ngqangi, nayo eyiyeyevellum, yabhalwa ebudeni bexesha elisusela kwinkulungwane yethoba yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukusa ekuqaliseni kokubhala ngokushicilela. Ngenxa yokuba yabhalwa mandulo yaye ngokubanzi ichanile, imibhalo-ngqagi yeeuncial yasetyenziswa gqitha yiNew World Bible Translation Committee ukuze iguqulele ngenyameko isusela kumbhalo wesiGrike. Oku kuboniswa kwisicangca esithi “iMibhalo-ngqangi Ethile Ebalaseleyo YeVellum Neyesikhumba.”

IXESHA LOKUHLALUTYWA KOMBHALO NOKUSULUNGEKISWA KWAWO

17. (a)Ziziphi iziganeko ezibini eziye zakhokelela kuhlolisiso olungakumbi lombhalo wesiGrike weBhayibhile? (b) UErasmus ubalulwe ngokwenza wuphi umsebenzi? (c) Umbhalo ophambili oshicilelweyo waveliswa njani?

¹⁷ Umbhalo KaErasmus. Ukutyhubela iinkulungwane ezinde zamaXesha Obumnyama, xa ulwimi lwesiLatini lwalubalasele yaye xa iNtshona Yurophu yayiphantsi kolawulo lweCawa YamaRoma Katolika, uphengululo nophando lwalukumgangatho ophantsi. Noko ke, ukuveliswa kokushicilela kwaseYurophu kususela kuhlobo loonobumba ababenokushenxiswa kuze kubekwe abanye xa kuyimfuneko ngenkulungwane ye-15 noHlaziyo lwasekuqaleni kwenkulungwane ye-16, kwabakho inkululeko engakumbi, yaye kwabakho umdla omtsha kulwimi lwesiGrike. Kwakusebudeni boku kuhlaziywa kokuqala awathi umphengululi odumileyo waseHolani uDesiderius Erasmus wavelisa uhlelo lwakhe lokuqala lombhalo ophambili wesiGrike ‘weTestamente Entsha.’ (Umbhalo onjalo ophambili oshicilelweyo wenziwa ngokuthelekisa ngenyameko iqela lemibhalo-ngqangi nokusetyenziswa kwamagama ekuvunyelwana ngawo ngokubanzi njengalawo angawantlandlolo, ngokufuthi kuqukwa, kwinkcazelo esemazantsi, iingongoma zako nakuphi na ukufundeka okwahlukileyo kweminye imibhalo-ngqangi.) Olu hlelo lokuqala lwashicilelwa eBasel, eSwitzerland, ngowe-1516, unyaka omnye ngaphambi kokuqalisa koHlaziyo eJamani. Uhlelo lokuqala lwaluneempazamo ezininzi, kodwa umbhalo ophuculiweyo waveliswa uyimibhalo ehlelwe ngokulandelelanayo ngowe-1519, ngowe-1522, ngowe-1527 nangowe-1535. Lo kaErasmus wayenemibhalo-ngqangi embalwa kuphela yohlobo lwamva lokubhala ngokudibanisa awayenokuyisebenzisa ukuthelekisa nokulungiselela umbhalo wakhe ophambili.

18. Yintoni owayenza yaba nokwenzeka lo mbhalo kaErasmus, yaye ngoobani abawusebenzisa ngokunengenelo?

¹⁸ Umbhalo kaErasmus osulungekileyo wesiGrike waba sisiseko seenguqulelo ezifaneleke ngakumbi zeelwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo zelaseNtshona Yurophu. Oku kwabangela ukuba kuveliswe iinguqulelo eziphucuke ngakumbi kunezo zaziguqulelwe ngaphambili zisuka kwiVulgate yesiLatini. Owokuqala ukusebenzisa umbhalo kaErasmus yayinguMartin Luther waseJamani, owagqibezela inguqulelo yakhe yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike kwisiJamani ngowe-1522. Ejamelene nentshutshiso ekrakra, uWilliam Tyndale waseNgilani walandela ngenguqulelo yakhe yesiNgesi eyayithatyathwe kumbhalo kaErasmus, eyigqibezela le nguqulelo ngoxa wayebhacele kwilizwekazi laseYurophu ngowe-1525. UAntonio Brucioli waseItali waguqulela umbhalo kaErasmus kwisiTaliyane ngowe-1530. Ngokubakho kombhalo wesiGrike kaErasmus, ngoku kwakuvuleleke ithuba lokuhlalutywa kombhalo. Ukuhlalutywa kombhalo yinkqubo esetyenziselwa ukwakhiwa kwakhona nokuhlaziywa kombhalo wantlandlolo weBhayibhile.

19. Ithini imbali yokwahlulwahlulwa kweBhayibhile ngokwezahluko neendinyana, yaye oku kwenze kwaba nokwenzeka ntoni?

¹⁹ Ukwahlulwahlulwa Ngokwezahluko Neendinyana. URobert Estienne, okanye uStephanus, wayebalasele eParis njengomshicileli nomhleli wenkulungwane ye-16. Ekubeni wayengumhleli, wabona iingenelo ekusebenziseni inkqubo yezahluko neendinyana ukuze kube lula ukwenza iimbekiselo, waza ngoko ngowe-1551 wavelisa le nkqubo kwiTestamente yakhe Entsha yesiGrike nesiLatini. AmaMasorete aba ngawokuqala ukwahlulahlula iZibhalo zesiHebhere ngokweendinyana, kodwa yaba yiBhayibhile yesiFrentshi kaStephanus yowe-1553 eyathi yabonisa okokuqala ukwahlulwahlulwa kwanamhlanje kweBhayibhile iphela. Oku kwenziwa kwiiBhayibhile ezalandelayo zolwimi lwesiNgesi kwaza kwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukuveliswa kwezalathi-magama zeBhayibhile ezinjengeso sikaAlexander Cruden ngowe-1737 nezinye izalathi-magama ezibini zayo yonke iAuthorized Version yeBhayibhile yesiNgesi—ekaRobert Young, eyapapashwa okokuqala e-Edinburgh ngowe-1873, nekaJames Strong, eyapapashwa eNew York ngowe-1894.

20. Yayiyintoni iTextus Receptus, yaye kwasekelwa ntoni kuyo?

²⁰ ITextus Receptus. Kwakhona uStephanus wavelisa imibhalo yohlelo olwahlukahlukeneyo ‘yeTestamente Entsha’ yesiGrike.’ Le yayisekelwe ubukhulu becala kumbhalo kaErasmus, kwaye yayilungiswe ngokusuka kwiComplutensian Polyglott yowe-1522 nemibhalo-ngqangi eli-15 yohlobo lwamva lokubhala ngokudibanisa yeenkulungwane ezimbalwa ezidluleyo. Ngowe-1550 uhlelo lwesithathu lukaStephanus nombhalo wakhe wesiGrike ngokungathi kunjalo yaba yiTextus Receptus (igama lesiLatini elithetha “umbhalo ofunyenweyo”) ezasekelwa kuyo ezinye iinguqulelo zesiNgesi zenkulungwane ye-16 neKing James Version yowe-1611.

21. Yiyiphi imibhalo esulungekisiweyo eye yaveliswa ukususela kwinkulungwane ye-18, yaye iye yasetyenziswa njani?

²¹ Imibhalo YesiGrike Esulungekisiweyo. Kamva, abaphengululi besiGrike bavelisa imibhalo eyongezelelekileyo esulungekisiweyo. Owona wawubalasele ngulowo waveliswa nguJ. J. Griesbach, owakwazi ukusebenzisa amakhulukhulu emibhalo-ngqangi yesiGrike eyayifumaneka ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-18. Olona hlelo lubalaseleyo lombhalo opheleleyo wesiGrike kaGriesbach lwapapashwa ngowe-1796-1806. Umbhalo wakhe ophambili wasetyenziswa njengomthombo oyintloko wenguqulelo yesiNgesi kaSharpe ngowe-1840 yaye ungumbhalo wesiGrike owashicilelwa kwiThe Emphatic Diaglott, eyapapashwa okokuqala iphelele ngowe-1864. Eminye imibhalo esulungekisiweyo yaveliswa nguKonstantin von Tischendorf (ngowe-1872) noHermann von Soden (ngowe-1910), owathi lo ukhankanywe mva wasebenza njengomthombo oyintloko wenguqulelo yesiNgesi kaMoffatt yowe-1913.

22. (a) Nguwuphi umbhalo wesiGrike oye wamkelwa ngokubanzi? (b) Uye wasetyenziswa ngokuyintloko kwiziphi iinguqulelo zesiNgesi?

²² Umbhalo KaWestcott NoHort. Umbhalo ophambili wesiGrike owamkelwa ngokubanzi ngulowo waveliswa ngabaphengululi beYunivesithi iCambridge uB. F. Westcott noF. J. A. Hort, ngowe-1881. Ukwenzela ukuhlaziya “iTestamene Entsha” yowe-1881, imibhalo ekhutshelweyo yombhalo wesiGrike kaWestcott noHort yasetyenziswa yiKomiti Yokuhlaziya yaseBritani, ababengamalungu ayo nabo. Ngokuyintloko kwasetyenziswa lo mbhalo uphambili ukuguqulela ukusa esiNgesini iZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike zeNew World Translation. Kwakhona lo mbhalo usisiseko seenguqulelo zesiNgesi ezilandelayo: IThe Emphasised Bible, iAmerican Standard Version, iAn American Translation (kaSmith noGoodspeed), neRevised Standard Version.e Le nguqulelo yokugqibela yasebenzisa nombhalo kaNestle.

23. Yiyiphi eminye imibhalo eye yasetyenziwa kwiNew World Translation?

²³ Umbhalo wesiGrike kaNestle (uhlelo lwe-18, lowe-1948) nawo wasetyenziswa yiNew World Bible Translation Committee ngenjongo yokuthelekisa. Kwakhona le komiti yakwabhekisela kuleyo yomphengululi ongumKatolika nongumJesuit uJosé M. Bover (yowe-1943) noAugustinus Merk (yowe-1948). Umbhalo weMibutho Emanyeneyo yeBhayibhile wowe-1975 nombhalo kaNestle noAland wowe-1979 wasetyenziswa ukuphucula imibhalo esemazantsi yoHlelo Olunembekiselo lowe-1984.f

24. Ziziphi iinguqulelo zamandulo eye yabhekisela nakuzo iNew World Translation? Yiyiphi eminye imizekelo?

²⁴ Iinguqulelo Zamandulo Ezisuka KwisiGrike. Ukongezelela kwimibhalo-ngqangi yesiGrike, kukwakho nemibhalo-ngqangi emininzi yeenguqulelo zeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike eziguqulelwe kwezinye iilwimi ekunokwenziwa uphengululo kuyo namhlanje. Kukho ngaphezu kwama-50 emibhalo-ngqangi (okanye iziqwenga) yeenguqulelo zesiLatini Samandulo kunye namawakawaka emibhalo-ngqangi yeVulgate yesiLatini kaJerome. INew World Bible Translation Committee yabhekisela kwezi, kuquka inguqulelo yesiCoptic, yesiArmenia neyesiSiriya.g

25. Iinguqulelo zolwimi lwesiHebhere zinayiphi imbaluleka ekhethekileyo ekubhekiselwe kuyo kwiNew World Translation?

²⁵ Ubuncinane ukususela kwinkulungwane ye-14 ukuya phambili, kuye kwaveliswa iinguqulelo zeSibhalo sesiGrike ngesiHebhere. Ezi zibangela umdla kuba eziliqela kuzo ziye zabuyisela igama likaThixo kwiZibhalo zamaKristu. INew World Translation ibhekisela kakhulu kwezi nguqulelo zesiHebhere phantsi kophawu oluthi “J” oluhambisana nenani elibungasentla kwalo. Ukuze ufumane iinkcukacha, bona intshayelelo yeNew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References, iphepha 9-10, isihlomelo 1D, esithi, “The Divine Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures.”

UMAHLUKO KUMBHALO NENTSINGISELO YAWO

26. Wabakho njani umahluko kumbhalo nakwiindidi zemibhalo-ngqangi?

²⁶ Phakathi kwemibhalo-ngqangi engaphezu kwe- 13 000 yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, kukho izinto ezininzi ezahlukileyo kumbhalo. Imibhalo-ngqangi engama-5 000 yolwimi lwesiGrike kuphela ineendawo ezininzi ezinomahluko onjalo. Sinokuqonda ngokupheleleyo ukuba mbhalo ngamnye othatyathwe kwimibhalo-ngqangi yakuqala uya kuba neempazamo zawo zombhali eziwenza wahluke komnye. Njengoko kwakuye kuthatyathwe nawuphi na wale mibhalo-ngqangi yokuqala uze uthunyelwe kummandla othile owawuza kusetyenziswa kuwo, ezo mpazamo zaziphindaphindwa kwimibhalo ekhutshelweyo kuloo mmandla yaye zaziba ziimpawu ezahlula eminye imibhalo-ngqangi apho. Iindidi zemibhalo-ngqangi efanayo zanda ngale ndlela. Ngoko ngaba ezi mpazamo zababhali zingamawaka azimelanga zigqalwe njengezothusayo? Ngaba azibonakalisi ukungathembeki ekudluliselweni kombhalo? Nakanye!

27. Sisiphi isiqinisekiso esinaso ngokuphathelele ukugqibelela kombhalo wesiGrike?

²⁷ UF. J. A. Hort, owayenegalelo ekuveliseni umbhalo kaWestcott noHort ubhala esithi: “Amagama amaninzi eTestamente Entsha awachaphazeleki kwinkqubo yohlalutyo kuba awaguquguquki yaye afanele nje adluliselwe njengokuba enjalo. . . . Ukuba izinto ezincinane ezingumahluko . . . zinokubekwa ecaleni, ngokwembono yethu la magama asathandabuzekayo awanakuba ngaphezulu kwelinye kumagama aliwaka eTestamente Entsha iyonke.”h

28, 29. (a) Simele ngokusisiseko sifikelele kwisiphi isigqibo ngokuphathelele umbhalo wesiGrike osulungekisiweyo? (b) Yiyiphi ingxelo egunyazisayo esinayo ngokuphathelele oku?

²⁸ Uhlolisiso Lokudluliselwa Kombhalo. Ngoko, sisiphi isigqibo esisisiseko ekufikelelwa kuso ngokuphathelele ukugqibelela nokunyanisa kombhalo, emva kweenkulungwane ezininzi kangaka zokukhutshelwa? Asikuphela nje kwemibhalo-ngqangi engamawaka waka enokuthelekiswa kodwa imibhalo-ngqangi yeBhayibhile emidadlana eyafunyanwa ebudeni bamashumi amawaka ambalwa adlulileyo awulanda umbhalo wesiGrike ukususela emva malunga nonyaka we-125 C.E., kumashumi eminyaka embalwa emva kokufa kompostile uYohane malunga nowe-100 C.E. Obu bungqina bemibhalo-ngqangi bunikela isiqinisekiso esomeleleyo sokuba ngoku sinombhalo osulungekisiweyo wesiGrike esinokuthembela kuwo. Phawula isigqibo awafikelela kuso ngalo mbandela owayesakuba ngumalathisi nomgcini weencwadi kwiMyuziyam yaseBritani, uMhlekazi Frederic Kenyon:

²⁹ “Ngoko ixesha eliphakathi kokubhalwa kwantlandlolo nelobungqina obukhoyo bangaphambili lincinane kangangokuba alinakunikelwa ngqalelo, yaye nasiphi na isiseko sokuthandabuza ukuba iZibhalo ziye zadluliselwa kuthi ubukhulu becala njengokuba zazibhaliwe ngoku siphelisiwe. Ubunyaniso nokugqibelela ngokubanzi kweencwadi zeTestamente Entsha kusenokugqalwa njengokumiselwe ngokupheleleyo. Noko ke, ukugqibelela ngokubanzi yenye into yaye ukunyanisa okungokweenkcukacha kuyenye into.”i

30. Kutheni sinokuba nentembelo yokuba iNew World Translation idlulisela kubafundi bayo “iLizwi leNkosi” elithembekileyo?

³⁰ Xa kucingwa ngohlolisiso lokugqibela ‘ngokunyanisa ngokweenkcukacha,’ amazwi acatshulwe kwisiqendu 27 kaGqr. Hort ayakugubungela oku. Ngumsebenzi wabasulungekisi bombhalo ukulungisa iinkcukacha, yaye oku bakwenzile ngomlinganiselo omkhulu. Ngenxa yoku, umbhalo wesiGrike kaWestcott noHort wamkelwa ngokubanzi njengalowo ubalaseleyo. Icandelo leSibhalo samaKristu sesiGrike leNew World Translation, ekubeni lisekelwe kulo mbhalo ubalaseleyo wesiGrike, ngaloo ndlela liyakwazi ukunikela “iLizwi leNkosi,” elithembekileyo njengoko oku siye sakulondolozelwa kwichibi eliyimibhalo-ngqangi yesiGrike.—1 Pet. 1:24, 25.

31. (a) Izinto ezifunyenwe kutshanje ziye zabonisa ntoni ngokuphathelele umbhalo weZibhalo zesiGrike? (b) Isicangca esikwiphepha 309 siwubonisa njani umthombo oyintloko wecandelo leNew World Translation leSibhalo samaKristu sesiGrike yaye yiyiphi eminye imithombo eyasetyenziswayo?

³¹ Okubangel’ umdla owongezelelekileyo ngamagqabaza kaMhlekazi Frederic Kenyon kwincwadi yakhe ethi Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts, yowe-1962, kwiphepha 249 athi: “Simele saneliswe kukwazi ukuba ubunyaniso bawo wonke umbhalo weTestamente Entsha buye baxhaswa ngokukhethekileyo koko kuye kwafunyanwa kutshanje nokuye kwalinciphisa kakhulu ixesha eliphakathi kwemibhalo yamandulo nemibhalo-ngqangi yethu yamandulo efumanekayo, yaye umahluko kwindlela ofundeka ngayo, nakubeni ubangel’ umdla ongako, awuzichaphazeli iimfundiso ezisisiseko zenkolo yobuKristu.” Njengoko kuboniswe kwiphepha 309 kwisicangca esithi: “Imithombo Yombhalo WeNew World Translation—IZibhalo ZamaKristu ZesiGrike,” zonke iincwadi ezinxulumene nayo ziye zasetyenziselwa ukuvelisa umbhalo wesiNgesi oguqulelwe ngokuchanileyo. Imibhalo esemazantsi exabisekileyo iyazixhasa zonke ezi mbekiselo zithembekileyo. INew World Bible Translation Committee iye yasebenzisa oko kungowona mphumo mhle wophengululo lweBhayibhile oluye lwenziwa ukutyhubela iinkulungwane ekuveliseni inguqulelo yayo echanileyo. Enjani yona intembelo esinokuba nayo namhlanje yokuba iZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, njengoko ngoku zifumaneka, enyanisweni ziqulethe “umzekelo wamazwi aphilileyo” njengoko ayebhalwe ngabafundi abaphefumlelweyo bakaYesu Kristu. Ngamana singahlala sibambelele kula mazwi axabisekileyo sinokholo yaye siseluthandweni!—2 Tim. 1:13.

32. Kutheni apha kuye kwaxutyushwa kakhulu ngemibhalo-ngqangi nombhalo weZibhalo Ezingcwele, yaye oku kunawuphi umphumo ovuyisayo?

³² Esi sifundo nesandulelayo ziye zalungiselelwa ukuze kuxutyushwe imibhalo-ngqangi nombhalo weZibhalo Ezingcwele. Kutheni kuye kwanikelwa ingqalelo engaka koku? Injongo iye yaba kukubonisa ngokupheleleyo ukuba imibhalo yeZibhalo zesiHebhere nezesiGrike ngokusisiseko isafana nombhalo onobunyaniso nowantlandlolo uYehova awaphefumlela amadoda akudala ukuba awubhale. Loo mibhalo yantlandlolo yayiphefumlelwe. Abakhupheli, nangona babenobuchule, babengaphefumlelwanga. (INdu. 45:1; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; 3:16) Ngenxa yoko, kuye kwayimfuneko ukuhluza kweli chibi likhulu liyimibhalo ekhutshelweyo yemibhalo-ngqangi ukuze kufunyaniswe ngokucacileyo nangokungenampazamo amanzi angcwengileyo enyaniso njengoko ntlandlolo aphuma kuMthombo Omkhulu Oyintloko, uYehova. Sithi enkosi kuYehova ngesi sipho simangalisayo seLizwi lakhe, iBhayibhile ephefumlelweyo, nangesigidimi soBukumkani esihlaziyayo esifumaneka kumaphepha ayo!

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]