Imitha Yokukhanya Ngamaxesha Abapostile

“Ilitha lokukhanya lithe thaa phezu kwamalungisa; banemincili abantw’ abantliziyo zinyulu.”—INDUMISO 97:11, TE.

1. AmaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje afana njani namaKristu okuqala?

HAYI indlela thina, njengamaKristu okwenyaniso, esiwaxabisa ngayo amazwi eNdumiso 97:11! ‘Ilitha lokukhanya liye lathi thaa’ kuthi ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Eneneni, abanye bethu baye bayibona kangangamashumi eminyaka indlela uYehova akhanyisa ngayo. Konke oku kusikhumbuza IMizekeliso 4:18, efundeka ngolu hlobo: “Umendo wamalungisa unjengokukhanya komso, okuya kuba mhlophe ngokuba mhlophe, kude kube semini enkulu.” Ekubeni sizixabisa kakhulu iZibhalo kunesithethe, thina maNgqina kaYehova sifana namaKristu okuqala. Isimo sawo sengqondo sinokubonwa ngokucacileyo kwiincwadi ezibalisa ngembali nakwiileta ezikwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, ezabhalwa ngaphantsi kokuphefumlelwa nguThixo.

2. Yiyiphi imitha yokukhanya yokuqala eyafunyanwa ngabalandeli bakaYesu?

² Imitha yokukhanya yokuqala eyafunyanwa ngabalandeli bokuqala bakaYesu Kristu yileyo yayingoMesiya. UAndreya wamxelela oku umzalwana wakhe uSimon Petros: “Simfumene uMesiya.” (Yohane 1:41) Ngaxa lithile kamva, uBawo osezulwini wenza ukuba umpostile uPetros ayingqinele loo mbono xa wathi kuYesu Kristu: “Wena unguye uKristu, unyana kaThixo ophilileyo.”—Mateyu 16:16, 17; Yohane 6:68, 69.

Ukukhanya Okuphathelele Uthumo Lwabo Lokushumayela

3, 4. Emva kovuko lwakhe, kukuphi ukukhanya uYesu awakunika abalandeli bakhe ngokuphathelele umsebenzi ababeya kuwenza kwikamva?

³ Emva kovuko lwakhe, uYesu Kristu wanikela imitha yokukhanya ngokuphathelele imbopheleleko abanayo bonke abalandeli bakhe. Kunokwenzeka ukuba yayingabafundi abangama-500 ababehlanganisene eGalili awabaxelela oku: “Hambani ngoko niye kuzenza abafundi zonke iintlanga, nibabhaptizela egameni loYise, loNyana, loMoya oyiNgcwele; nibafundisa ukuba bazigcine zonke izinto endiniwisele umthetho ngazo. Niyabona, mna ndinani yonke imihla, kude kube sekuphelisweni kwephakade eli.” (Mateyu 28:19, 20; 1 Korinte 15:6) Emva koko, bonke abalandeli bakaKristu babeza kuba ngabashumayeli, yaye uthumo lwabo lokushumayela lwalungayi kupheleliselwa “kwizimvu ezilahlekileyo zendlu kaSirayeli.” (Mateyu 10:6) Yaye babengayi kwenza ubhaptizo lukaYohane olwalufuzisela ukuguquka ukuze kuxolelwe izono. Kunoko, babeya kubhaptiza abantu “egameni loYise, loNyana, loMoya oyiNgcwele.”

⁴ Kanye ngaphambi kokuba uYesu anyukele ezulwini, abapostile bakhe abathembekileyo abali-11 babuza oku: “Nkosi, wobubuyisela ngeli xesha na ubukumkani kuSirayeli?” Kunokuba aphendule loo mbuzo, uYesu wabanika imiyalelo engakumbi ngothumo lwabo lokushumayela, esithi: “Niya kwamkela ke amandla, akubon’ ukuba uMoya oyiNgcwele uhlile phezu kwenu; nibe ngamangqina am eYerusalem, kwanakulo lonke elakwaYuda nelaseSamariya, kude kuse nasekupheleni komhlaba.” Ukuya kuthi ga ngelo xesha, babengamangqina kaYehova kuphela, kodwa ngoku babeza kuba kwangamangqina kaKristu.—IZenzo 1:6-8.

5, 6. Yiyiphi imitha yokukhanya eyafunyanwa ngabafundi bakaYesu ngePentekoste?

⁵ Kwiintsuku nje ezilishumi kamva, enjani yona ukuqaqamba imitha yokukhanya eyafunyanwa ngabalandeli bakaYesu! Ngomhla wePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., okwesihlandlo sokuqala, bayiqonda ngokuzeleyo intsingiselo kaYoweli 2:28, 29: “[Mna Yehova] ndithulule uMoya wam phezu kwenyama yonke, baprofete oonyana benu neentombi zenu; amadoda enu amakhulu aphuphe amaphupha, amadodana enu abone imibono. Kwanaphezu kwabakhonzi naphezu kwabakhonzazana ndothulula uMoya wam ngaloo mihla.” Abafundi bakaYesu bawubona umoya oyingcwele, ubonakala njengeelwimi ezingathi zezomlilo, uhleli phezu kweentloko zabo bonke—malunga namadoda nabafazi abali-120—ababehlanganisene eYerusalem.—IZenzo 1:12-15; 2:1-4.

⁶ Kwakhona ngomhla wePentekoste, abafundi baqala baqonda ukuba amazwi eNdumiso 16:10 ayesebenza kuYesu Kristu ovusiweyo. Umdumisi wayethe: “Ngokuba [wena Yehova Thixo] akuyi kuwushiya umphefumlo wam kwelabafileyo; akuyi kumyekela owakho wenceba ukuba abonane nesihogo.” Abafundi baqonda ukuba loo mazwi ayengenakuba ayebhekisa kuKumkani uDavide, kuba ingcwaba lakhe laliphakathi kwabo de kwanguloo mhla. Akumangalisi ukuba abamalunga nama-3 000 kwabo beva oku kukhanya kutsha kucaciswa beyiseka kangangokuba babhaptizwa ngaloo mini!—IZenzo 2:14-41.

7. Kukuphi ukukhanya okuqaqambileyo umpostile uPetros awakufumanayo ebudeni bokutyelela kwakhe umthetheli-khulu ongumRoma uKorneli?

⁷ Kangangeenkulungwane ezininzi, amaSirayeli ayekuqonda oko uThixo wayekuthethile ngawo esithi: “Ndaze nina nedwa emizalwaneni yonke yehlabathi.” (Amosi 3:2) Ngoko ngokwenene umpostile uPetros kunye nabo babehamba naye ukuya endlwini yomthetheli-khulu ongumRoma uKorneli bafumana ilitha lokukhanya eliqaqambileyo xa umoya oyingcwele okwesihlandlo sokuqala wehlela phezu kwamakholwa eeNtlanga angalukanga. Kuphawuleka ukuba esi sihlandlo siso kuphela owathi umoya oyingcwele wathululwa ngaphambi kobhaptizo. Kodwa kwakufanele kube njalo. Kungenjalo, uPetros ngewayengazange azi ukuba aba beeNtlanga bangalukanga babelufanelekela ubhaptizo. Eyiqonda ngokuzeleyo intsingiselo yesi siganeko, uPetros wabuza: “Kukho unako yini na ukuthintela amanzi, ukuba bangabhaptizwa aba [beeNtlanga] bamamkeleyo uMoya oyiNgcwele, kwanjengathi nje?” Kakade ke, akukho namnye owayelapho owayenokwala ngokufanelekileyo, ngoko ke aba beeNtlanga babhaptizwa.—IZenzo 10:44-48; thelekisa IZenzo 8:14-17.

Akusekho Lwaluko

8. Kwakutheni ukuze amaKristu athile okuqala akufumanise kunzima ukwahlukana nolwaluko?

⁸ Elinye ilitha eliqaqambileyo lenyaniso labonakala ngokunxulumene nombandela wolwaluko. Isiko lolwaluko laqalisa ngowe-1919 B.C.E. xa uYehova wenza umnqophiso noAbraham. Wandula ke uThixo wayalela ukuba uAbraham nawo onke amadoda endlu yakhe aluswe. (Genesis 17:9-14, 23-27) Ngoko ulwaluko lwaba luphawu olwahlula inzala ka-Abraham. Yaye hayi indlela eyayizidla ngayo ngenxa yeli siko! Ngenxa yoko, ibinzana elithi “ongalukanga” laba libinzana elibonisa indelelo. (Isaya 52:1; 1 Samuweli 17:26, 27) Kulula ukubona isizathu sokuba amaKristu athile okuqala angamaYuda afune ukudla ngendeb’ endala. Wambi aba nengxoxo eshushu noPawulos noBharnabhas ngalo mbandela. Ukuze uzinziswe, uPawulos nabanye baya eYerusalem ukuze babuze iqumrhu elilawulayo lamaKristu.—IZenzo 15:1, 2.

9. Yiyiphi imitha yokukhanya eyatyhilelwa iqumrhu elilawulayo lokuqala, njengoko kubhalwe kwiZenzo isahluko 15?

⁹ Kule meko, akuzange kubekho mmangaliso ucacileyo owenza ukuba loo maKristu okuqala afumane ukukhanya okubonisa ukuba ulwaluko lwalungaseyomfuneko kubakhonzi bakaYehova. Kunoko, oko kukhanya kungakumbi akufumana ngokuphengulula eZibhalweni, ethembele ngomoya oyingcwele ukuba ubakhokele, nangokuva amava kaPetros noPawulos mayela nokuguquka kwabeeNtlanga abangalukanga. (IZenzo 15:6-21) Isigqibo sakhutshwa kwileta ngokuyinxenye eyayifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Kwabonakala kulungile kuye uMoya oyiNgcwele, nakuthi, ukuba kungabekwa phezu kwenu mthwalo ungaphezu kwezi ndawo zifunekayo: zokuba nizile izinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo, negazi, nento ekrwitshiweyo, nombulo.” (IZenzo 15:28, 29) Ngaloo ndlela amaKristu okuqala akhululwa kumyalelo wokwaluka nakwezinye izinto ezazifunwa nguMthetho kaMoses. Ngenxa yoko, uPawulos wayenokuwaxelela oku amaKristu aseGalati: “Yimani ngoko enkululekweni, athe uKristu wasikhululela kuyo.”—Galati 5:1.

Ukukhanya Kwiincwadi ZeVangeli

10. Yiyiphi eminye imitha yokukhanya etyhilwe kwincwadi yeVangeli kaMateyu?

¹⁰ Alithandabuzeki elokuba incwadi yeVangeli kaMateyu, eyabhalwa malunga nowama-41 C.E., iqulethe imitha yokukhanya emininzi ukuze kungenelwe abafundi bayo. Ngokwentelekiso ambalwa amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala awazivela ngokwawo uYesu efundisa. Ngokukhethekileyo, incwadi yeVangeli kaMateyu yabethelela ukuba umxholo awayeshumayela ngawo uYesu yayibuBukumkani. Yaye hayi indlela uYesu awakubethelela ngamandla ngayo ukubaluleka kokuba neentshukumisa ezilungileyo! Enjani yona imitha yokukhanya efumaneka kwiNtshumayelo yakhe yaseNtabeni, kwimizekeliso yakhe (njengaleyo ibhalwe kwisahluko 13), nakwisiprofeto sakhe esibalulekileyo kwisahluko 24 nesama-25! Konke oku kwaziswa engqalelweni yamaKristu okuqala kwingxelo yeVangeli kaMateyu, eyabhalwa malunga neminyaka esibhozo kuphela emva kwePentekoste yowama-33 C.E.

11. Ngawaphi amagqabaza anokunikelwa ngencwadi yeVangeli kaLuka nekaMarko?

¹¹ Malunga neminyaka eli-15 kamva, uLuka wabhala eyakhe incwadi yeVangeli. Ngoxa ubukhulu becala ifana nengxelo kaMateyu, wongezelela inxalenye engama-59 ekhulwini. ULuka wabhala ngemimangaliso kaYesu emithandathu nemizekeliso Yakhe eliphindaphinda ngaphezu kwesibini elo nani engakhankanywanga ngabanye ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli. Kwiminyaka nje embalwa kamva, kubonakala ukuba uMarko wabhala eyakhe incwadi yeVangeli, egxininisa kuYesu Kristu njengendoda yesenzo, nanjengomenzi wemimangaliso. Ngoxa uMarko ubukhulu becala wabalisa ngeziganeko ezazibhalwe nguMateyu noLuka, wabhala ngomzekeliso abangazange banikele ingxelo ngawo. Kuloo mzekeliso, uYesu wafanisa uBukumkani bukaThixo nembewu entshulayo, ekhula kakhulu, nevelisa isiqhamo ekugqibeleni.a—Marko 4:26-29.

12. Incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane yanikela ukukhanya okungakumbi ukusa kuwuphi umlinganiselo?

¹² Kwandula ke kwabakho incwadi yeVangeli kaYohane, eyabhalwa kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-30 emva kokuba uMarko ebhale ingxelo yakhe. Elinjani lona ilitha lokukhanya uYohane awalinikelayo ngobulungiseleli bukaYesu, ngokukodwa ngokuthetha kakhulu ngobomi bukaYesu bangaphambi kokuba ngumntu! NguYohane kuphela onikela ingxelo ngovuko lukaLazaro, yaye nguye yedwa osichazela amazwi amaninzi amnandi awathethwa nguYesu kubapostile bakhe abathembekileyo nomthandazo wakhe ochukumisayo ngobusuku bokungcatshwa kwakhe, njengoko kubhalwe kwisahluko 13 kuse kwese-17. Enyanisweni, kuthiwa izinto ezingama-92 ekhulwini ezikwincwadi yeVangeli kaYohane azifumaneki kwezinye.

Imitha Yokukhanya Kwiileta ZikaPawulos

13. Kutheni abanye beyijonga ileta kaPawulos eya kwabaseRoma ngokungathi yincwadi yeVangeli?

¹³ Umpostile uPawulos wasetyenziswa ngokukhethekileyo ekunikeleni imitha yenyaniso kumaKristu awayephila ngamaxesha abapostile. Ngokomzekelo, kukho ileta kaPawulos eya kwabaseRoma, eyabhalwa malunga nowama-56 C.E.—mhlawumbi ngexesha elinye uLuka awabhala ngalo incwadi yakhe yeVangeli. Kule leta uPawulos ubalaselisa isibakala sokuba ubulungisa bufumaneka ngenxa yobubele bukaThixo obungasifanelanga nangokuba nokholo kuYesu Kristu. Ukugxininisa kukaPawulos kule nkalo yeendaba ezilungileyo kuye kwabangela abathile bayijonga ileta yakhe eya kwabaseRoma ngokungathi yincwadi yeVangeli yesihlanu.

14-16. (a) Kwileta yakhe yokuqala eya kumaKristu aseKorinte, kukuphi ukukhanya okwanikelwa nguPawulos ngemfuneko yomanyano? (b) Kukuphi ukukhanya okungakumbi ngokuphathelele ihambo okuqulethwe yeyokuQala kwabaseKorinte?

¹⁴ UPawulos wabhala ngemibandela ethile eyayikhathaza amaKristu aseKorinte. Ileta yakhe eya kwabaseKorinte iquka isiluleko esiphefumlelweyo esiye sayingenelo kumaKristu ukuza kuthi ga kumhla wethu. Okokuqala, kwafuneka akhanyisele abaseKorinte ngempazamo ababeyenza ngokuseka amahlelo abantu abathile. Lo mpostile wabalungisa, ngenkalipho ebaxelela oku: “Ndiyaniyala, bazalwana, ngalo igama leNkosi yethu, uYesu Kristu, ukuba nithethe nto-nye nonke, nokuba kungabikho zahlukahlukano kuni; ke nibe ngabalungisiweyo, nigqibelele ngqiqweni-nye, nasicamangweni sinye.”—1 Korinte 1:10-15.

¹⁵ Ukuziphatha kakubi ngokunzulu kwakunyanyezelwa kwibandla lamaKristu laseKorinte. Indoda ethile apho yayithabathe umfazi kayise, ngaloo ndlela isenza ‘umbulo ongazanga ukhankanywe naphakathi kweentlanga.’ Engafihlisi, uPawulos wabhala: “Ize nimnyothule kuni nina lowo ungendawo.” (1 Korinte 5:1, 11-13) Leyo yayiyinto entsha kwibandla lamaKristu—ukususa kubudlelane. Omnye umbandela ibandla laseKorinte elalifanele likhanyiselwe ngawo wawunxulumene nesibakala sokuba amanye amalungu ebandla ayemangalela abazalwana bawo bokomoya kwiinkundla zehlabathi ukuze azinzise izikhalazo zawo. UPawulos wabakhalimela kabukhali ngokwenza oku.—1 Korinte 6:5-8.

¹⁶ Kwakhona omnye umbandela owawuyingxaki kwibandla laseKorinte wawunxulumene neentlobano zesini. Kweyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte isahluko 7, uPawulos wabonisa ukuba ngenxa yokwesamela kokuziphatha kakubi ngokwesini, kwakuya kuba kokulungileyo ukuba indoda nganye ibe nomfazi wayo nebhinqa ngalinye libe nendoda yalo. Kwakhona uPawulos wabonisa ukuba ngoxa abantu abangatshatanga bekwazi ukukhonza uYehova bengaphazanyiswa kakhulu, asingabo bonke ababenesiphiwo sokungatshati. Yaye ukuba indoda yomfazi yayifile, wayekhululekile ukuba atshate kwakhona kodwa “ngokwaseNkosini.”—1 Korinte 7:39.

17. Kukuphi ukukhanya okwanikelwa nguPawulos ngemfundiso yovuko?

¹⁷ Enjani yona imitha yokukhanya iNkosi eyasebenzisa uPawulos ukuba ayinikele ngokuphathelele uvuko! AmaKristu athanjisiweyo aya kuvuswa enohlobo olunjani lomzimba? UPawulos wabhala, “Kuhlwayelwa umzimba ongowemvelo, kuvuka umzimba ongowomoya.” Akukho mizimba yokwemvelo iya kuthatyathelwa ezulwini, kuba “inyama negazi azinako ukubudla ilifa ubukumkani bukaThixo.” UPawulos walek’ umsundulo ngelokuba asingabo bonke abathanjisiweyo abaya kulala ukufa, kodwa ebudeni bobukho bukaYesu bambi baya kuvuselwa kubomi bokungafi ngephanyazo ekufeni kwabo.—1 Korinte 15:43-53.

18. Kukuphi ukukhanya ngokuphathelele ikamva okuqulethwe yileta yokuqala kaPawulos eya kwabaseTesalonika?

¹⁸ Kwileta yakhe eya kumaKristu aseTesalonika, uPawulos wasetyenziswa ukuba akhanyise ngokuphathelele ikamva. Imini kaYehova iya kufika njengesela ebusuku. Kwakhona uPawulos wacacisa: “Xenikweni baya kuthi, Luxolo nokunqaba, oko baya kufikelwa yintshabalaliso ngebhaqo, kwanjengenimba komithiyo; baye bengayi kukha basinde.”—1 Tesalonika 5:2, 3.

19, 20. Yiyiphi imitha yokukhanya amaKristu aseYerusalem nakwelakwaYuda awayifumanayo kwileta kaPawulos eya kumaHebhere?

¹⁹ Ngokubhala ileta yakhe eya kumaHebhere, uPawulos wadlulisela imitha yokukhanya kumaKristu okuqala aseYerusalem nakwelakwaYuda. Hayi indlela awakubonisa ngamandla ngayo ukubaluleka kwenkqubo yokunqula yamaKristu kunenkqubo yokunqula yomthetho kaMoses! Kunokulandela uMthetho odluliselwe zizithunywa zezulu, amaKristu anokholo kusindiso olwaqalwa ukuthethwa nguNyana kaThixo, okwisigxina esingaphezulu lee kuneso sezo zithunywa zezulu. (Hebhere 2:2-4) UMoses wayengumlindi kuphela endlwini kaThixo. Noko ke, uYesu Kristu wongamela indlu iphela. UKristu ungumbingeleli omkhulu ngokohlobo lukaMelkitsedeke, unesikhundla esiphakame kakhulu kunesababingeleli abayinzala ka-Aron. Kwakhona uPawulos wabonisa ukuba amaSirayeli ayengakwazi ukungena ekuphumleni kukaThixo ngenxa yokungabi nalukholo nokungathobeli, kodwa amaKristu ayangena kuko ngenxa yokuthembeka nokuthobela kwawo.—Hebhere 3:1–4:11.

²⁰ Kwakhona, umnqophiso omtsha ungaphezulu lee kunomnqophiso woMthetho. Njengoko kwakuprofetiwe kwiminyaka engama-600 ngaphambili kuYeremiya 31:31-34, kwabo bakumnqophiso omtsha umthetho kaThixo ubhalwe ezintliziyweni zabo yaye banandipha ukuxolelwa kwezono kokwenyaniso. Kunokuba abe nombingeleli omkhulu onikela amadini iminyaka ngeminyaka ngenxa yezono zakhe nezabantu, amaKristu anoMbingeleli Omkhulu onguYesu Kristu, ongenasono nowathi wanikela idini lezono kwaba kanye. Kunokuba angene kwingcwele eyenziwe ngezandla ukuze anikele idini lakhe, wangena ezulwini ngokwalo, ukuze abonakale phambi kukaYehova ngokwakhe. Ngaphezu koko, amadini ezilwanyana phantsi komnqophiso woMthetho kaMoses ayengenakuzisusa ngokupheleleyo izono, kungenjalo ngewayengazange anikelwe iminyaka ngeminyaka. Kodwa idini likaKristu, elanikelwa kwaba kanye, liyazisusa izono. Konke oku kunikela ukukhanya ngokuphathelele itempile enkulu yokomoya, namhlanje ekhonza kwiintendelezo zayo intsalela ethanjisiweyo “nezinye izimvu.”—Yohane 10:16; Hebhere 9:24-28.

21. Le ngxubusho ibonise ntoni ngokuzaliseka kweNdumiso 97:11 neMizekeliso 4:18 ngamaxesha abapostile?

²¹ Akukho ndawo yaneleyo yokubhala imizekelo engakumbi, njengemitha yokukhanya efumaneka kwiileta zompostile uPetros nezomfundi uYakobi noYuda. Kodwa oku kuxutyushiweyo kwanele ukubonisa ukuba INdumiso 97:11 neMizekeliso 4:18 yazaliseka ngendlela emangalisayo ngamaxesha abapostile. Inyaniso yaqalisa ukuhambela phambili ukusuka kwimifuziselo nezithunzi ukuya kwinzaliseko nakwizinto zokwenene.—Galati 3:23-25; 4:21-26.

22. Kwenzeka ntoni emva kokufa kwabapostile, yaye inqaku elilandelayo liza kubonisa ntoni?

²² Emva kokufa kwabapostile bakaYesu nasekuqaleni kowexuko olwaxelwa kwangaphambili, ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwaba luzizi. (2 Tesalonika 2:1-11) Noko ke, ngokwedinga likaYesu, emva kweenkulungwane ezininzi iNkosi yabuya yaza yafumana ‘umkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo’ enika ‘abendlu’ ukudla kwabo ngexesha elifanelekileyo. Ngenxa yoko, uYesu Kristu wammisa loo mkhonzi ‘phezu kwayo yonke impahla yakhe.’ (Mateyu 24:45-47) Yiyiphi imitha yokukhanya eyalandelayo? Oku kuza kuxutyushwa kwinqaku elilandelayo.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

Uyakhumbula Na?

◻ Ziziphi iindinyana zeBhayibhile ezibonisa ukuba inyaniso iqondwa ngokuqhubekayo?

◻ Yiyiphi eminye imitha yokukhanya ebhalwe kwincwadi yeZenzo?

◻ Kukuphi ukukhanya okufumaneka kwiincwadi zeVangeli?

◻ Iileta zikaPawulos ziqulethe yiphi imitha yokukhanya?