Isahluko 4
Ukuvela Kowexuko Olukhulu
“INYE iNkosi, lunye ukholo.” (Efe. 4:5) Xa umpostile uPawulos waphefumlelwa ukubhala loo mazwi (malunga nowama-60-61 C.E.), lwalulunye kuphela ukholo lwamaKristu. Ukanti, namhlanje sibona iimvaba, amahlelo, namahlelo amaninzi angokwesithethe azibanga engawobuKristu, nangona efundisa iimfundiso ezingqubanayo yaye enemilinganiselo eyahlukahlukeneyo yokuziphatha. Onjani wona umahluko kwibandla elinye elimanyeneyo lamaKristu elaqalisa ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E.! Zaqala njani ezi yantlukwano? Ukuze sifumane impendulo, simele sibuyele emva kwinkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo.
Kwasekuqaleni nje, uTshaba, uSathana, lwazama ukubuphelisa ubungqina bamangqina kaYehova angamaKristu ngokuwazisela intshutshiso evela kwabo bangaphandle kwebandla. (1 Pet. 5:8) Okokuqala atshutshiswa ngamaYuda kwaza emva koko yabuBukhosi beeNtlanga baseRoma. AmaKristu okuqala akunyamezela ngokunempumelelo ukuchaswa ngayo nayiphi na indlela. (Thelekisa ISityhilelo 1:9; 2:3, 19.) Kodwa uTshaba aluzange luncame. Xa lwalungenakuwathulisa ngengcinezelo esuka kwabangaphandle, kwakutheni lwalungazami ukuwonakalisa ngokusuka ngaphakathi? Ngoxa ibandla lamaKristu laliselitsha, ubukho balo babusongelwa lutshaba olungaphakathi—uwexuko.a
Noko ke, uwexuko aluzange lunyebelezele ebandleni lungalindelwanga. NjengeNtloko yebandla, uKristu waqinisekisa ukuba abalandeli bakhe babelunyukiswe kusengaphambili.—Kol. 1:18.
“Naphakathi Kwenu Kuya Kubakho Abafundisi Ababuxoki”
UYesu walumkisa, “Balumkeleni abaprofeti ababuxoki, abeza kuni ngezambatho zeegusha.” (Mat. 7:15) UYesu wayesazi ukuba uSathana wayeya kuzama ukubahlula nokubonakalisa abalandeli Bakhe. Ngoko kwasekuqaleni kobulungiseleli bakhe, wabalumkisa ngabafundisi bobuxoki.
Babeza kuvela phi aba bafundisi bobuxoki? “Phakathi kwenu,” watsho njalo umpostile uPawulos malunga nowama-56 C.E., xa wayethetha nabaveleli base-Efese. Ewe, ngaphakathi ebandleni, kwakuya “kuvela amadoda athetha izinto ezigwenxa, ukuba abarhole abafundi emva kwawo.” (IZe. 20:29, 30) Abawexuki abazingcayo abanjalo babengayi kwanela kukuzenzela ababo abafundi; babeya kuzama ‘ukurhola abafundi,’ oko kukuthi, abafundi bakaKristu.
Kwakhona umpostile uPetros (malunga nowama-64 C.E.) waxela kusengaphambili ukonakala kwangaphakathi waza wachaza kwanendlela abo bawexuki ababeya kusebenza ngayo: “Naphakathi kwenu kuya kubakho abafundisi ababuxoki, bona baya kungenisa bucala amahlelo entshabalalo . . . Bathi benokubawa, banibonelele ngamazwi alalanisayo.” (2 Pet. 2:1, 3) Njengeentlola okanye abangcatshi kwinkampu yotshaba, abafundisi bobuxoki, nangona babevela ngaphakathi ebandleni, babeya kuhlwayela iimbono zabo ezonakalisayo ngendlela efihlakeleyo okanye engabonakaliyo.
Ezi zilumkiso zikaYesu nabapostile bakhe zazingelolize. Inkcaso yangaphakathi yaqala kancinane, kodwa yabonakala ekuhleni kwasekuqaleni kwibandla lamaKristu.
‘Selesebenza’
Ingadlulanga neminyaka engama-20 uYesu efile, umpostile uPawulos wabonisa ukuba imigudu kaSathana yokubangela iiyantlukwano nokurhola abantu baphambuke kukholo lokwenyaniso ‘yayiselisebenza.’ (2 Tes. 2:7) Kusekutsha malunga nowama-49 C.E., kwincwadi eyayisiya emabandleni, iqumrhu elilawulayo lathi: “Sivile ukuba abathile kuthi baphuma baya banikhathaza ngamazwi, beyikhukulisa imiphefumlo yenu, . . . singabayalelanga.” (IZe. 15:24) Ngoko abathile phakathi ebandleni babezivakalisa ngokuphandle iimbono zabo eziphikisayo—kule meko ngokucacileyo ngembambano yokuba amaKristu eeNtlanga ayefanele aluke aze agcine uMthetho kaMoses kusini na.—IZe. 15:1, 5.
Njengoko inkulungwane yokuqala yayiqhubeka, iingcamango eziyingozi zasasazeka njengesilonda esiqhenqethayo. (Thelekisa eyesi-2 kuTimoti 2:17.) Malunga nowama-51 C.E., bambi eTesalonika ngokuphosakeleyo babesithi ‘ukufika’ kweNkosi uYesu kwakusondele. (2 Tes. 2:1, 2) Malunga nowama-55 C.E., bambi eKorinte babengayamkeli imfundiso ecacileyo yamaKristu engokuvuswa kwabafileyo. (1 Kor. 15:12) Malunga nowama-65 C.E., abanye babesithi uvuko sele lukho, besithi lwenzeka ngokomfuziselo kumaKristu aphilayo.—2 Tim. 2:16-18.
Akukho ngxelo iphefumlelweyo ngoko kwenzekayo ngaphakathi kwibandla lamaKristu ebudeni beminyaka engama-30 elandelayo. Kodwa xa umpostile uYohane wayebhala iincwadi zakhe (malunga nowama-98 C.E.), kwakukho “abachasi-Kristu abaninzi”—abantu ababekukhanyela ukuba “uYesu unguye uKristu” nokuba uYesu unguNyana kaThixo oweza “esenyameni.”—1 Yoh. 2:18, 22; 4:2, 3.
Ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-60, abapostile ‘babebambezele,’ bezama ukuthintela ukunwenwa kowexuko. (2 Tes. 2:7; thelekisa eyesi-2 kaYohane 9, 10.) Kodwa njengoko ibandla lamaKristu laliza kungena kwinkulungwane yesibini likho, umpostile wokugqibela owayesaphila, uYohane, wafa, malunga nowe-100 C.E. Uwexuko olwaluqalise ukunyebelezela ebandleni ngoku lwalulungele ukugqabhuka ngokungenakuthintelwa, nto leyo eyayiza kuba nemiphumo eyintlekele kulungelelwaniso nakwiimfundiso.
Abefundisi Namarhamente
“Nina ke nonke ningabazalwana,” wayetshilo uYesu kubafundi bakhe. “Mnye uMkhokeli wenu, uKristu.” (Mat. 23:8, 10) Ngoko lwalungekho udidi lwabefundisi kumabandla amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala. Njengabazalwana bakaKristu abathanjiswe ngomoya, onke amaKristu okuqala ayenethemba lokuba ngababingeleli kunye noKristu ezulwini. (1 Pet. 1:3, 4; 2:5, 9) Ngokubhekisele kulungelelwaniso, ibandla ngalinye lalisonganyelwa liqumrhu labaveleli, okanye abadala bokomoya.b Bonke abadala babenegunya elilinganayo, yaye akukho namnye wabo owayenegunya ‘lokuwugagamela’ umhlambi ababewunyamekela. (IZe. 20:17; Fil. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Noko ke, njengoko uwexuko lwalusanda, izinto zaqalisa ukuguquka—ngokukhawuleza.
Phakathi kwezinto zokuqala ezabonisa ukunxaxha yaba kukwenziwa komahluko phakathi kwegama elithi “umveleli” (ngesiGrike, e·piʹsko·pos) nelithi “indoda enkulu,” okanye “umdala” (ngesiGrike, pre·sbyʹte·ros), ukuze angabi sasetyenziselwa ukubhekisela kwisikhundla esinye sembopheleleko. Kwiminyaka nje emalunga nelishumi emva kokufa kompostile uYohane, uIgnatius, “ubhishophu” wakwa-Antiyokwe, kwincwadi yakhe eyayisiya kubemi baseSmirna, wabhala: “Qinisekisani ukuba nonke niyamlandela ubhishophu [umveleli], njengokuba uYesu uKristu emlandela uBawo, kunye nepresbytery [iqumrhu lamadoda amakhulu] ngokungathi ngabaPostile.” Ngaloo ndlela uIgnatius wakhuthaza ukuba ibandla ngalinye longanyelwe ngubhishophu,c okanye umveleli omnye, owayeza kugqalwa engowahlukileyo, nonegunya elingakumbi, kunabadala (presbyters) okanye amadoda amakhulu.
Noko ke, waqalisa njani lo mahluko? UAugustus Neander, kwincwadi yakhe ethi The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries, ucacisa okwenzekayo: “Ngenkulungwane yesibini . . . , kumele ukuba kwasekwa isikhundla somongameli wabadala [presbyters], yaye njengokuba ngokukhethekileyo wayevelela yonke into, wanikwa igama elithi [e·piʹsko·pos], yaye ngaloo ndlela wohlulwa kwabanye abadala [presbyters].”
Ngaloo ndlela kwabekwa isiseko sodidi lwabefundisi olwaluza kuvela ngokuthe ngcembe. Malunga nenkulungwane kamva, uCyprian, “ubhishophu” waseCarthage, eMntla Afrika, wayelikhuthaza ngamandla igunya loobhishophu—njengeqela elahlukileyo kubadala (presbyters) (kamva abaziwa ngokuba ngababingeleli [priests]d), abadikoni namarhamente. Kodwa akazange akuxhase ukuba kubekho ubhishophu ophakamileyo kunabanye.e
Njengoko oobhishophu nabadala (presbyters) babenyuka amanqwanqwa nezikhundla zobufundisi, babewashiya ngezantsi onke amanye amakholwa akhoyo ebandleni. Umphumo woku waba kukwahluka kwabefundisi (abo bakhokelayo) namarhamente (umndilili wamakholwa). ICyclopedia kaMcClintock noStrong iyacacisa: “Ukususela kwixesha likaCyprian [owafa malunga nowama-258 C.E.], umseki wenkqubo yezikhundla zobufundisi, umahluko phakathi kwabefundisi namarhamente waba ngophawulekayo, yaye kungekudala wamkelwa ehlabathini lonke. Enyanisweni, ukususela kwinkulungwane yesithathu ukuya phambili, igama elithi clerus . . . phantse lalisebenza ngokukhethekileyo kubefundisi ukubahlula kumarhamente. Njengoko izikhundla zobufundisi bamaRoma zazihambela phambili, abefundisi abazange baphelele nje ngokuba kwisikhundla esahlukileyo . . . kodwa kwakhona bamkelwa njengokuphela kodidi lwesibingeleli.”
Ngaloo ndlela, malunga neminyaka eli-150 emva kokufa kompostile wokugqibela, kwenziwa iinguqulelo ezimbini eziphawulekayo kulungelelwaniso lwebandla: eyokuqala, kukwahlulwa kukabhishophu kubadala (presbyters), ubhishophu esiba kwisikhundla esiphezulu; eyesibini, kukwahlulwa kwabefundisi namarhamente. Kunokuba onke amakholwa azelwe ngomoya abumbe “isibingeleli esibukumkani,” ngoku yayingabefundisi ‘ababegqalwa njengesibingeleli.’f—1 Pet. 2:9.
Iinguqulelo ezinjalo zabonisa ukukreqa kwindlela yeZibhalo yokulawulwa kwamabandla ngemihla yabapostile. Noko ke, uwexuko aluzange luphelele nje ekubangeleni iinguqulelo kulungelelwaniso lwebandla.
Ukungena Kweemfundiso Zobuhedeni
Iimfundiso zikaKristu ezinyulu zibhalwe phantsi—zilondolozwe kwiZibhalo Ezingcwele. Ngokomzekelo, uYesu ngokucacileyo wafundisa ukuba uYehova “ukuphela koThixo oyinyaniso” nokuba umphefumlo womntu uyafa. (Yoh. 17:3; Mat. 10:28) Ukanti, emva kokufa kwabapostile nokwenziwa buthathaka kolungelelwaniso, iimfundiso ezicace ngolo hlobo zangcoliswa njengoko iimfundiso zobuhedeni zazingena kubuKristu. Yayinokwenzeka njani into enjalo?
Uthunywashe oyintloko yayiyimpembelelo echuliweyo yentanda-bulumko yamaGrike. IThe New Encyclopædia Britannica iyacacisa: “Ukususela phakathi kwinkulungwane yesi-2 AD amaKristu awayeqeqeshwe kwintanda-bulumko yamaGrike aqalisa ukuvakalelwa kukuba afanele aluvakalise ngesigama sayo ukholo lwawo, ukuze abonakalise ubukrelekrele bawo nokuze aguqule abahedeni abafundileyo.” Besakuba bengamaKristu abantu abathanda intanda-bulumko, akuzange kuthabathe thuba lide ngaphambi kokuba intanda-bulumko yamaGrike “nobuKristu” zinxulumane ngokungenakwahlulwa.
Ngenxa yolu manyano, iimfundiso zobuhedeni ezinjengoBathathu Emnye nokungafi komphefumlo zangena kubuKristu obabungasacocekanga. Noko ke, ezi mfundiso zindala kunentanda-bulumko yamaGrike. Enyanisweni amaGrike azifumana kwizithethe ezidala ngakumbi, kuba kukho ubungqina bokuba iimfundiso ezinjalo zazikho kunqulo lwaseYiputa nolwaseBhabhiloni yamandulo.
Njengoko iimfundiso zobuhedeni zaziqhubeka zingena kubuKristu, nezinye iimfundiso ezingokweZibhalo zagqwethwa okanye zatyeshelwa.
Ukufiphala Kwethemba LoBukumkani
Abafundi bakaYesu babesazi kakuhle ukuba babemele balinde “ubukho” bukaYesu obabuthenjisiwe nokufika koBukumkani bakhe. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwaqondwa ukuba obu Bukumkani babuza kulawula umhlaba wonke iminyaka eliwaka buze buwuguqulele ekubeni yiparadisi. (Mat. 24:3, NW; 2 Tim. 4:18; ISityhi. 20:4, 6) Ababhali beBhayibhile abangamaKristu bawabongoza amangqina enkulungwane yokuqala ukuba ahlale ephaphile ngokomoya aze azigcine ahlukile ehlabathini. (Yak. 1:27; 4:4; 5:7, 8; 1 Pet. 4:7) Kodwa kwathi bakufa abapostile, lwafiphala ulindelo lwamaKristu lobukho bukaKristu noBukumkani bakhe obuzayo beminyaka eliwaka. Kwakutheni?
Omnye uthunywashe yayikukungcoliswa ngokomoya okwakubangelwe yimfundiso yamaGrike yokungafi komphefumlo. Njengoko yayingena kumaKristu, ngokuthe ngcembe ithemba leminyaka eliwaka latyeshelwa. Ngoba? IThe New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology iyacacisa: “Imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo yangena endaweni ye-eschatology [imfundiso ‘yeZinto Zemihla Yokugqibela’] yeTE [Testamente Entsha] nethemba elikuyo lokuvuka kwabafileyo nelokuvela kwesidalwa esitsha (ISityhi. 21 umbhalo osemazantsi), ukuze umphefumlo ugwetywe emva kokufa uze ungene eparadisi ngoku ekucingelwa ukuba ilelinye ihlabathi.” Ngamany’ amazwi, amaKristu angabawexuki ayecinga ukuba umphefumlo uyasinda ekufeni komzimba yaye ngoko ke iintsikelelo zoLawulo lukaKristu Lweminyaka Eliwaka zimele ukuba ziya kunanditshwa kummandla womoya. Ngaloo ndlela ayisusa iParadisi emhlabeni ayisa ezulwini, apho ayekholelwa ukuba, umphefumlo osindileyo uya khona emva kokufa. Ngoko kwakungekho sizathu sakulinda ubukho bukaKristu nokufika koBukumkani bakhe, ekubeni ekufeni bonke babenethemba lokuba kunye noKristu ezulwini.g
Noko ke, kwabakho nomnye uthunywashe owakwenza kwabonakala kuyinkcitha-xesha ukulinda ukufika koBukumkani bukaKristu. IThe New Encyclopædia Britannica iyacacisa: “Ukulibazisa [okubonakalayo] kokuBuya Kwesibini kukaKristu kwaphumela ekubeni buthathaka kolindelo kwicawa yokuqala. Njengokuba kwakuqhubeka oku kuba buthathaka kwemfundiso yeZinto Zemihla Yokugqibela, icawa yaya ibuthabathela indawo uBukumkani bukaThixo obulindelweyo. Ukuyilwa kweCawa yamaKatolika njengenkqubo yezikhundla zonqulo kunxulumene ngqo noku kuncipha kolindelo.” (Akekeliswe sithi.) Ngoko akuzange nje kufuduswe iintsikelelo zolawulo lweminyaka eliwaka emhlabeni zisiwe ezulwini kodwa uBukumkani basuswa ezulwini baziswa emhlabeni. Oku “kufuduswa” kwagqityezelwa nguAugustine waseHippo (354-430 C.E.). Kwincwadi yakhe edumileyo ethi The City of God, wathi: “Kwanangoku iCawa ibubukumkani bukaKristu, nobukumkani bamazulu.”
Kwangaxeshanye, malunga nowama-313 C.E., ebudeni bolawulo loMlawuli waseRoma uConstantine, ubuKristu, ubukhulu becala ngeli xesha obabuneembono zowexuko, bamkelwa ngokusemthethweni. Iinkokeli zonqulo zazikulungele ukusebenzela uRhulumente, yaye ekuqaleni uRhulumente wayelawula imicimbi yonqulo. (Kungekudala, unqulo lwaluza kulawula imicimbi kaRhulumente.) Yaqala ngaloo ndlela ke iNgqobhoko,h inxalenye yayo (unqulo lwamaKatolika) eyathi ekuhambeni kwexesha yalunqulo lwasebuRhulumenteni lwaseRome. Ngoku, “ubukumkani” babungekho sehlabathini kuphela kodwa babuyinxalenye yehlabathi. Onjani wona umahluko kuBukumkani uKristu awayebushumayela!—Yoh. 18:36.
UHlaziyo—Ngaba Yayikukubuyela Kunqulo Lokwenyaniso?
Njengokhula oludubula phakathi kwengqolowa exineneyo, iCawa yaseRome, ngaphantsi kolawulo lwayo lweepopu, ibilawula imicimbi yehlabathi kangangeenkulungwane. (Mat. 13:24-30, 37-43) Njengokuba yayisiya ingenelela ngakumbi kwimicimbi yehlabathi, icawa yaya ishenxa ngokushenxa kubuKristu benkulungwane yokuqala. Ukutyhubela iinkulungwane amahlelo “abaqhekeki” afuna ukuba kwenziwe uhlaziyo ecaweni, kodwa icawa yaqhubeka ilisebenzisa kakubi igunya yaye iziqwebela ubutyebi. Kwandula ke, ngenkulungwane ye-16, uHlaziyo lwamaProtestanti, imvukelo yonqulo, lwagqabhuka ngokupheleleyo.
Abalweli boHlaziyo abanjengoMartin Luther (1483-1546), u-Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) noJohn Calvin (1509-64) bahlasela icawa ngemibandela eyahlukahlukeneyo: ULuther wayihlasela ngokuhlawulisa ngenkqubo yokuxolelwa kwezono, uZwingli ngokungatshati kwabefundisi nokuhlonelwa kukaMariya, waza uCalvin wayihlasela ngemfuneko yokubuyela kwecawa kwimigaqo yantlandlolo yobuKristu. Yintoni eyaphunyezwa yile migudu?
Ngokuqinisekileyo, zikho izinto ezintle ezaphunyezwa luHlaziyo, eyona iphawulekayo kukuguqulelwa kweBhayibhile ngeelwimi zabantu abaqhelekileyo. Ukuphangalala okwakubonakaliswa luHlaziyo kwakhokelela ekuhlolisisweni okunenjongo ngakumbi kweBhayibhile nasekuqondweni ngakumbi kweelwimi eyabhalwa ngazo iBhayibhile. Noko ke, uHlaziyo aluzange luthethe ukubuyela kunqulo nemfundiso yokwenyaniso.i Ngoba?
Imiphumo yowexuko yayendele nzulu, yada yaya kufikelela kwiziseko zeNgqobhoko. Ngaloo ndlela, nangona amaqela awahlukahlukeneyo amaProtestanti akhululekayo kwigunya likapopu waseRome, aqhubeka nazo ezinye iimfundiso eziphosakeleyo ezisisiseko zeCawa yamaRoma Katolika, iinkalo ezaphumela ekutyeshelweni kobuKristu bokwenyaniso. Ngokomzekelo, nangona indlela eyayilawulwa ngayo icawa yamaProtestanti yayahlukile ngandlel’ ithile, ukwahlulahlulwa okusisiseko kwecawa ukuze ibe ludidi lwabefundisi olulawulayo namarhamente alawulwayo kwalondolozwa. Kwakhona enye into eyalondolozwayo yayiziimfundiso ezingekho ngokweZibhalo ezinjengoBathathu Emnye, ukungafi komphefumlo neyentuthumbo engunaphakade emva kokufa. Yaye njengeCawa yamaRoma, iicawa zamaProtestanti zaqhubeka ziyinxalenye yehlabathi, zibandakanyeke ngokusondeleyo kwiinkqubo zolawulo yaye zinobuhlobo nodidi oluphezulu olulawulayo.
Ebudeni beli xesha, kuthekani ngolindelo lwamaKristu—ukulinda ubukho bukaYesu nokufika koBukumkani bakhe? Kangangeenkulungwane emva koHlaziyo, iicawa—zamaKatolika namaProtestanti—zazibandakanyeke ngokunzulu kumagunya aseburhulumenteni zaza zatyekela ekulubekeleni bucala ulindelo lokufika koBukumkani bukaKristu.
Ukuvuselelwa Kolindelo
Noko ke, ngenkulungwane ye-19, imeko yonqulo yakhokelela ekuvuselelweni kolindelo lwamaKristu. Ngenxa yokuhlolisiswa kweBhayibhile ngabefundisi nabaphengululi beBhayibhile abathile, iimfundiso ezinjengokungafi komphefumlo, intuthumbo engunaphakade emva kokufa, ukumiselwa kusengaphambili kwekamva nekaBathathu Emnye zafundisiswa ngokutsha. Ukongezelela, abanye abafundi beBhayibhile babehlolisisa ngokunzulu iziprofeto zeBhayibhile ezinento yokwenza nemihla yokugqibela. Umphumo woku waba kukuba, amaqela ngamaqela abantu aqalisa ukucinga nzulu ngokubuya kweNkosi okuthenjisiweyo.—Mat. 24:3.
EUnited States, uWilliam Miller wathi ukubuya kukaKristu ngokubonakalayo kwakuya kuba ngowe-1843 okanye owe-1844. Umfundi ngezakwalizwi uJ. A. Bengel waseJamani wamisa owe-1836; abalandeli bakaIrving eNgilani baqala ngokujonga kowe-1835, baza bajonga owe-1838, owe-1864 nowe-1866. ERashiya kwakukho iqela lamaMennonite kuqala elalijonge kowe-1889, landula ke lajonga owe-1891.
Imigudu enjalo yokulinda ngamaxesha onke yanceda ekuvuseleleni ithemba lokubuya kweNkosi yethu kwabaninzi. Noko ke, le migudu yamaKristu yokulinda yaphelela kukatyo. Ngoba? Ubukhulu becala, ngenxa yokuba babethembele kakhulu kubantu kungekhona ngokwaneleyo kwiZibhalo. Emva kwamashumi ambalwa eminyaka, inkoliso yaloo maqela yaphelela emoyeni.
Ebudeni beli xesha, ezinye iziganeko zawachaphazela ngokunzulu amathemba nolindelo lwabantu.
Ixesha “Lokhanyo” Nelenkqubela Kwezoshishino
Ngowe-1848, uKarl Marx noFriedrich Engels bapapasha iThe Communist Manifesto. Kunokukhuthaza unqulo, uMarx awalubiza ngokuba “sisiyobisi sabantu,” bakhuthaza ukungakholelwa kubukho bukaThixo. Ngoxa babeluchase ngokuphandle lonke unqulo, enyanisweni babekhuthaza ukunqulwa kukaRhulumente neenkokeli zakhe.
Malunga neminyaka elishumi kamva, ngowe-1859, kwapapashwa incwadi kaCharles Darwin ethi Origin of Species; yayiphembelela ngokunzulu indlela yokucinga engokwenzululwazi nengokonqulo yelo xesha. Iingcamango ezingendaleko zakhokelela ekubeni ubunyaniso bengxelo yeBhayibhile engendalo nokungena kwesono ngokungathobeli kwesibini sokuqala esingabantu kucelwe umngeni. (Gen., isahl. 1-3) Ngenxa yoku, ukholo lwabaninzi eBhayibhileni lwenziwa buthathaka.
Kwangaxeshanye, inkqubela kwezoshishino yayihambela phambili ngesantya esiphezulu. Kwakungasagxininiswa kwezolimo kodwa kumashishini nasekwenzeni oomatshini. Ukuveliswa kololiwe osebenza ngomphunga (ngasekuqaleni kwenkulungwane ye-19) kwakukhokelela ekubeni kwandiswe imigaqo kaloliwe etyhutyha ilizwe lonke. Kwinxalenye yesibini yenkulungwane ye-19 kwenziwa imfonomfono (1876), igramafoni (1877), isibane sombane (1878-79), kwanokusetyenziswa komatshini wokushicilela oyiLinotype (1884).
Uluntu lwalungena kwixesha lenkqubela enkulu yezothutho nezonxibelelwano olukhawulezileyo embalini. Nangona ezi ngenelo zaziya kusetyenziselwa ukuhambisela phambili iinjongo zezoqoqosho nezobupolitika, zaziya kufumaneka nakwezonqulo. Ngoko iqela elincinane nelithobekileyo labafundi beBhayibhile nelaliza kuba nempembelelo ehlabathini lonke lalilungele ukuqalisa umsebenzi walo.
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a KwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, isibizo “uwexuko” (ngesiGrike, a·po·sta·siʹa) sinentsingiselo ‘yokushiya, ukulahla okanye ukuvukela.’ (IZe. 21:21, umbhalo osemazantsi kwiNW) Apho ngokuyintloko sibhekisela kukreqo olungokonqulo; ukuphuma okanye ukulahla unqulo lokwenyaniso.
b EZibhalweni igama elithi “umveleli” nelithi “indoda enkulu,” okanye “umdala,” abhekisela kwisikhundla esinye. (IZe. 20:17, 28; Tito 1:5, 7) Ibinzana elithi “indoda enkulu” libonisa iimpawu zokukhula zalowo umiselwa kweso sikhundla, yaye elithi “umveleli” libonisa imbopheleleko ehambisana noko kumiselwa—ukunyamekela izilangazelelo zabo bantu ubani amiswe ukuba abanyamekele.
c Le yindlela elavela ngayo igama lesiNgesi elithi “bishop” (ubhishophu) elivela kwigama lesiGrike elithi e·piʹsko·pos (“overseer” [umveleli]): kwisiNgesi Samaxesha Aphakathi kwavela igama elithi bisshop, ngokusuka kwelesiNgesi Sakudala elithi bisceop, elalivela kwelesiLatini esasithethwa kwiRoma yamandulo elithi biscopus, elalivela kwelesiLatini Samva elithi episcopus, ngokusuka kwelesiGrike elithi e·piʹsko·pos.
d Le yindlela elavela ngayo igama lesiNgesi elithi “priest” (umbingeleli) lisuka kwigama pre·sbyʹte·ros (“indoda enkulu,” okanye “umdala”): kwisiNgesi Samaxesha Aphakathi kwavela igama elithi pre(e)st, ngokusuka kwelesiNgesi Sakudala elithi prēost, kwisiLatini esasithethwa kwiRoma yamandulo kwavela elithi prester, lifinyezwe ngokusuka kwelesiLatini Samva elithi presbyter, ngokusuka kwelesiGrike elithi pre·sbyʹte·ros.
e Ekuhambeni kwexesha ubhishophu waseRoma, ezibanga elilandela likaPetros, wayegqalwa njengobhishophu owongamileyo nopopu.—Bona incwadi ethi Iphulo Loluntu Lokufuna UThixo, epapashwe yiWatchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., ngowe-1990, iphepha 270-2.
f Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, uGqr. Neander uthi: “Kwafikelelwa kwisigqibo esiphosakeleyo, sokuba njengokuba kwiTestamente Endala kwakukho isibingeleli esibonakalayo sodidi oluthile lwabantu, kumele kubekho okufanayo nakweNtsha [iTestamente] . . . Ukuthelekiswa phosakeleyo kwababingeleli [priesthood] bamaKristu nababingeleli bamaYuda nako kwakuhambisela phambili ukuphakama koobhishophu ngaphezu kwesikhundla sabadala [presbyters].”—The History of the Christian Religion and Church, uHlelo lweSibini oluguqulelwe nguHenry John Rose, eNew York, ngowe-1848, iphe. 111.
g Ngokwale mbono iphosakeleyo akufa onke amaKristu aya ezulwini. Noko ke, iBhayibhile ifundisa ukuba kuphela ngabantu abali-144 000 ababizelwe ukulawula noKristu ezulwini. (ISityhi. 7:4-8; 20:4-6) Abanye abangenakubaleka banethemba lobomi obungunaphakade kumhlaba oyiparadisi ngaphantsi koBukumkani bukaKristu.—Mat. 6:10; ISityhi. 7:9, 15.
h Njengokuba lisetyenzisiwe kule mpapasho, igama elithi “iNgqobhoko” libhekisela kubuKristu bobuxoki, ngokwahlukileyo kubuKristu bokwenyaniso ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni.
i Ukuze ufumane ingxubusho eneenkcukacha ezingakumbi ngoHlaziyo noko lwakuphumezayo, bona isahluko 13 esithi, “UHlaziyo—Iphulo Elazisa Inguqulelo,” kwincwadi ethi Iphulo Loluntu Lokufuna UThixo.
[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 33]
Ngoxa laliselitsha, ibandla lamaKristu lasongelwa luwexuko
[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 34]
Inkcaso evela ngaphakathi yaqala kancinane
[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 37]
Abawexuki abazange baphelele ngokufudusa iintsikelelo zolawulo lweminyaka eliwaka emhlabeni bazise ezulwini kodwa babushenxisa uBukumkani ezulwini babuzisa emhlabeni
[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 36]
UPlato “NobuKristu”
Isithandi sobulumko esingumGrike uPlato (owazalwa malunga nowama-428 B.C.E.) asizange sazi ukuba iimfundiso zaso ekugqibeleni zaziya kungena kubuKristu obuwexukileyo. Iingcamango eziphambili zikaPlato ezachaphazela “ubuKristu” zazinokuthanani nemfundiso kaBathathu Emnye neyokungafi komphefumlo.
Iingcamango zikaPlato ngoThixo nendalo zaphembelela imfundiso yeNgqobhoko kaBathathu Emnye. I-“Nouveau Dictionnaire Universel” icacisa isithi: “Imfundiso kaPlato engobathathu emnye, nayo ekukulungiswa nje kweemfundiso ezingobathathu emnye ezisusela emva lee kubantu bakudala, ibonakala ngathi yimfundiso engobathathu emnye eyingcamango yentanda-bulumko eyamkelwa ngokubanzi ekuvela kuyo eyabantu abathathu abangoothixo efundiswa kwiicawa zamaKristu. . . . Le ngcamango kabathathu emnye ongcwele yesi sithandi sobulumko esingumGrike . . . inokufunyanwa kuzo zonke iinkonzo [zabahedeni] zamandulo.”—Umqulu 2, iphepha 1467.
Ngokuphathelele imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo, i-“New Catholic Encyclopedia” ithi: “Ingcamango yamaKristu yomphefumlo ongumoya owadalwa nguThixo nokufakwa kwawo emzimbeni ekukhawulweni ukuze wenze umntu abe ngophilileyo ngumphumo wengcamango ekudala ikho kwintanda-bulumko yobuKristu. Kwaba kuphela ngexesha likaOrigen [owafa malunga nowama-254 C.E.] eMpuma nelikaSt. Augustine [owafa malunga nowama-430 C.E.] eNtshona owathi umphefumlo wamkelwa njengomoya kwaza kwayilwa ingcamango eyintanda-bulumko elolu hlobo. . . . Imfundiso [ka-Augustine] . . . yayiphenjelelwe kakhulu (kuquka neentsilelo zayo) yingcamango kaPlato entsha.”—Umqulu XIII, amaphepha 452, 454.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 35]
UCyprian, “ubhishophu” waseCarthage, wabagqala oobhishophu beludidi olwahlukileyo kubadala (“presbyters”), abadikoni, namarhamente
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 38]
“Kwanangoku iCawa ibubukumkani bukaKristu, nobukumkani bamazulu” (UAugustine waseHippo)
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 39]
Abalweli boHlaziyo abahlasela icawa kwimibandela eyahlukahlukeneyo
UMartin Luther
UJohn Calvin
U-Ulrich Zwingli
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 40]
Enyanisweni i-“Communist Manifesto” kaKarl Marx yayikhuthaza ukunqulwa kukaRhulumente. Incwadi kaCharles Darwin ethi “Origin of Species” yayichaphazela ngokunzulu indlela abantu ababecinga ngayo engenzululwazi nonqulo ngelo xesha
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 41]
Uloliwe osebenza ngomphunga
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 41]
Isibane sombane
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 41]
Imfonomfono yokuqala
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 41]
Umatshini wokuqala oyiLinotype
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 41]
Igramafoni