Izifundo NgemiBhalo Ephefumlelwe Nesizinda Sayo

ISifundo Sesi-4—IBhayibheli Nohlu Lwalo Lwezincwadi

Umsuka wegama elithi “iBhayibheli”; ukubona ukuthi yiziphi izincwadi okufanele zibe seMtatsheni Wezincwadi Waphezulu; ukwenqatshwa kweziNcwadi Ezingengcwele.

1, 2. (a) Iyini incazelo evamile yegama lesiGreki elithi bibliʹa? (b) Leli kanye namanye amagama ahlobene nalo asetshenziswe kanjani emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki? (c) Igama elithi “iBhayibheli” langena kanjani olimini lwesiNgisi?

NJENGOBA imiBhalo ephefumlelwe kubhekiselwa kuyo ngokuvamile ngokuthi iBhayibheli, kuyathakazelisa ukuhlola umsuka nencazelo yegama elithi “iBhayibheli.” Lisuselwa egameni lesiGreki elithi bi·bliʹa, elisho ukuthi “izincwadi ezincane.” Leli, nalo, lisuselwa kwelithi biʹblos, igama elichaza ingxenye engaphakathi yesitshalo sepapyrus, okwakwenziwa ngayo “iphepha” lokubhala ezikhathini zasendulo. (Itheku laseFenike iGebali, okwakwamukelwa kulo ipapyrus evela eGibithe, amaGreki agcina eselibiza ngokuthi iByblos. Bheka uJoshuwa 13:⁠5, umbhalo waphansi weNW.) Izinkulumo ezihlukahlukene ezazilotshwe ephepheni laloluhlobo zaziwa ngegama elithi bi·bliʹa. Ngaleyondlela, igama elithi bi·bliʹa laba elichaza noma yikuphi okulotshiwe, imiqulu, izincwadi, amaphepha, noma imibhalo noma ngisho neqoqo lomtapo wezincwadi ezincane.

² Ngokumangalisayo, igama elithi “iBhayibheli” ngokwalo alitholakali embhalweni wesiNgisi noma wezinguqulo zezinye izilimi zemiBhalo Engcwele. Nokho, ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka B.C.E., kwakubhekiselwa eqoqweni lezincwadi eziphefumlelwe zemiBhalo yesiHeberu ngokuthi ita bi·bliʹa ngolimi lwesiGreki. KuDaniyeli 9:⁠2 umprofethi wabhala: “Mina-Daniyeli ngaqonda ngezincwadi . . . ” Lapha iSeptuagint inelithi biʹblois, ubuningi begama elithi biʹblos. Kweyesi-⁠2 Thimothewu 4:​13, (NW) uPawulu wabhala: “Uma uza, phatha . . . imiqulu [ngesiGreki, bi·bliʹa].” Igama lesiGreki elithi bi·bliʹon nelithi biʹblos avela izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezingu-40 emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene zohlelo lolimi, futhi ngokuvamile ahunyushwa ngokuthi “um(imi)qulu” noma “i(izi)ncwadi.” Elithi bi·bliʹa kamuva lasetshenziswa ngesiLatini njengegama elisebunyeni, futhi igama elithi “iBhayibheli” langena olimini lwesiNgisi livela kwelesiLatini.

3. Abalobi beBhayibheli bakufakazela kanjani ukuthi liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe?

³ LiyiZwi likaNkulunkulu. Nakuba kwasetshenziswa amadoda ahlukahlukene ekulotshweni kwalo okuphefumlelwe futhi nabanye beye baba nengxenye ekulihumusheni ukusuka ezilimini zokuqala kuya ezilimini ezilotshwayo zanamuhla, iBhayibheli, ngomqondo ogcwele, liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu, isambulo sakhe siqu esiphefumlelwe esiya kubantu. Abalobi abaphefumlelwe ngokwabo balibheka ngalendlela, njengoba kufakazelwa ukusebenzisa kwabo izinkulumo ezinjengezithi “okuphuma emlonyeni kaJehova” (Dut. 8:⁠3), “amazwi kaJehova” (Josh. 24:​27), ‘imiyalo kaJehova’ (Ezra 7:​11), “umthetho kaJehova” (IHu. 19:⁠7), “izwi likaJehova” (Isaya 38:⁠4), ‘okuphunyiselwe uJehova’ (Math. 4:⁠4, NW), nethi ‘izwi okungelikaJehova’ (1 Thes. 4:​15, qhathanisa neNW.).

UMTAPO WEZINCWADI WAPHEZULU

4. Lakhiwa yini iBhayibheli, futhi ubani onqumé lokhu?

⁴ Lokho namuhla umuntu akwazi ngokuthi iBhayibheli, eqinisweni kuyiqoqo lezincwadi zasendulo eziphefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu. Lezi zenziwa futhi zahlanganiswa zaba incwadi esikhathini esingaphezu kwamakhulu angu-16 eminyaka. Selilonke leliqoqo lezincwadi lakha lokho uJerome akuchaza kahle ngesiLatini ngokuthi iBibliotheca Divina, noma uMtapo Wezincwadi Waphezulu. Lomtapo wezincwadi unecatalog, noma uhlu olungokomthetho lwezincwadi, enalezozincwadi kuphela eziphathelene nalokho okuhlanganiswa futhi kudingidwe yilowomtapo wezincwadi. Zonke izincwadi ezingagunyaziwe zikhishiwe. UJehova uNkulunkulu unguMgcini Wezincwadi Omkhulu obeka indinganiso enqumayo ukuthi yiziphi izincwadi okumelwe zifakwe. Ngakho iBhayibheli linohlu oluhleliwe oluqukethe izincwadi ezingu-66, zonke eziwumkhiqizo womoya kaNkulunkulu ongcwele oqondisayo.

5. Iyini icanon yeBhayibheli, futhi leligama laqala kanjani?

⁵ Ngokuvamile kubhekiselwa kuleliqoqo noma uhlu lwezincwadi ezamukelwa njengemiBhalo eyiqiniso nephefumlelwe ngokuthi icanon yeBhayibheli. Ekuqaleni, umhlanga (ngesiHeberu, qa·nehʹ) wawusebenza njengenduku yokulinganisa uma ipulangwe lingekho eduze. Umphostoli uPawulu wasebenzisa igama lesiGreki elithi ka·nonʹ kwelithi “umthetho wokuziphatha” nakwelithi ‘indawo’ eyayilinganiswe njengesabelo sakhe. (Gal. 6:​16, qhathanisa nombhalo waphansi weNW; 2 Kor. 10:​13) Ngakho izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli yilezo eziyiqiniso neziphefumlelwe futhi okufanele zisetshenziswe njengepulangwe lokulinganisa inkolo okuyiyonayona, imfundiso, nokuziphatha. Uma sisebenzisa izincwadi ‘ezingaqondile’ njengentambo yokulinganisa ukuqonda, “isakhiwo” sethu ngeke sibe esingenamaphutha, futhi ngeke siphumelele lapho sihlolwa uMhloli Omkhulu Wezakhiwo.

6. Yiziphi ezinye zezici ezinquma ukuba kwencwadi ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli?

⁶ Ukunquma Ukuba Kwazo Ingxenye Yohlu Lwezincwadi ZeBhayibheli. Yiziphi ezinye zezinkomba zaphezulu eziye zanquma ukuba ingxenye yohlu lweBhayibheli kwezincwadi zalo ezingu-66? Okokuqala nje, izincwadi kumelwe zikhulume ngezenzo zikaJehova emhlabeni, ziphendulele abantu ekumkhulekeleni futhi zishukumise inhlonipho ejulile ngegama lakhe nangomsebenzi nezinjongo zakhe emhlabeni. Kumelwe zinikeze ubufakazi bokuphefumlelwa, okungukuthi, bokuthi ziyimikhiqizo yomoya ongcwele. (2 Pet. 1:​21) Kumelwe zingadonseli ekukholelweni ezeni noma ekukhulekeleni okudaliweyo kodwa, kunalokho, kumelwe zidonsele othandweni nasenkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. Kuyomelwe kungabi nalutho kunoma yimiphi imibhalo ngaminye engashayisana nokuvumelana kwangaphakathi kwalo lonke, kodwa, kunalokho, incwadi ngayinye kumelwe, ngobunye bayo nezinye, isekele ukuthi linomlobi oyedwa, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Besingalindela futhi ukuba lemibhalo inikeze ubufakazi bokunemba ngisho nasemininingwaneni emincane kakhulu. Ngaphezu kwalezinto ezibalulekile eziyisisekelo, kunezinye izinkomba zokuphefumlelwa eziqondile, futhi kanjalo nezokuba yingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, kuye ngesimo salokho okuqukethwe incwadi ngayinye, futhi lokhu kuxoxwé ngakho kulencwadi ekwazisweni okwethula incwadi yeBhayibheli ngayinye. Futhi, kunezimo ezikhethekile ezisebenza emiBhalweni yesiHeberu nezinye ezisebenza emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki ezisiza ekunqumeni ukuba kwayo ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli.

IMIBHALO YESIHEBERU

7. Yiziphi izinyathelo eziqhubekayo ezasetshenziswa ekuqedeleni izincwadi zesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, futhi yini izingxenye ezintsha okwakuyomelwe zivumelane nayo?

⁷ Akumelwe kucatshangwe ukuthi ukwamukelwa kwalokho okwakha imiBhalo ephefumlelwe kwadingeka ukuba kulinde kuze kuqedwe izincwadi zesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli zesiHeberu ekhulwini lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E. Izincwadi zikaMose ngaphansi kokuqondisa komoya kaNkulunkulu zamukelwa amaIsrayeli kusukela khona kanye ekuqaleni njengeziphefumlelwe, ezinomlobi waphezulu. Lapho seziqediwe, iziNcwadi Ezinhlanu Zokuqala zazakha uhlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli kuze kube yilesosikhathi. Ezinye izambulo eziphathelene nezinjongo zikaJehova azinikeza abantu ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa kwakuyodingeka ukuba zilandele ngokunengqondo futhi zivumelane nezimiso eziyisisekelo eziphathelene nokukhulekela kweqiniso ezichazwe eZincwadini Ezinhlanu Zokuqala. Sibonile ukuthi lokhu kunjalo lapho sicabangela izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezihlukahlukene, ikakhulukazi njengoba lezincwadi zikhuluma ngokuqondile ngesihloko esihle seBhayibheli, ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova nokulwelwa kobukhosi bakhe ngoMbuso ngaphansi kukaKristu, iMbewu Ethenjisiwe.

8. Yini eqinisekisa ukuba ingxenye yohlu lweBhayibheli kwezincwadi zalo ezingokwesiprofetho?

⁸ ImiBhalo yesiHeberu, ngokukhethekile, igcwele iziprofetho. UJehova ngokwakhe, ngoMose, wanikeza isisekelo sokubona ubuqiniso besiprofetho, ukuthi sasivela kuNkulunkulu ngempela yini noma cha, futhi lokhu kwasiza ekunqumeni ukuthi incwadi ethile engokwesiprofetho iyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli yini. (Dut. 13:​1-⁠3; 18:​20-22) Ukuhlolwa kwencwadi ngayinye yezincwadi ezingokwesiprofetho zemiBhalo yesiHeberu kanye neBhayibheli lilonke nomlando wezwe kukuqinisekisa ngaphandle kokungabaza ukuthi “izwi” ezalikhuluma zazilikhuluma egameni likaJehova, ukuthi ‘lenzeka noma lavela,’ ngokugcwele noma ngesilinganiso esincane noma ngokwengxenye lapho laliphathelene nezinto zesikhathi esizayo, nokuthi laphendulela abantu kuNkulunkulu. Ukuhlangabezana nalezimfuneko kwaqinisekisa ukuthi isiprofetho siyiqiniso futhi siphefumlelwe.

9. Yisiphi isici esibalulekile okumelwe sikhunjulwe lapho umuntu ecabangela indaba yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli?

⁹ Izingcaphuno zikaJesu nabalobi abaphefumlelwe bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki zinikeza indlela eqondile yokunquma ukuba yingxenye yohlu lweBhayibheli kweziningi zezincwadi zemiBhalo yesiHeberu, nakuba lendlela yokubona ingasebenzi kuzo zonke, ngokwesibonelo, njengasencwadini kaEsteri neyomShumayeli. Khona-ke, lapho kucatshangelwa indaba yokuba kwazo ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, kunesinye isici esibaluleke kakhulu okumelwe sikhunjulwe, esisebenza kuzo zonke izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Njengoba nje uJehova aphefumlela abantu ukuba babhale phansi amazwi akhe aphezulu ngenjongo yokufundiswa kwabo, ukwakhiwa, nokukhuthazwa ekukhulekeleni nasenkonzweni yakhe, kanjalo kuba sobala ukuthi uJehova wayeyoqondisa futhi ahole ukuhlelwa kwezincwadi eziphefumlelwe nokuqinisekiswa kwezincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Wayeyokwenza lokhu ukuze kungabi nakungabaza ngokuthi yini eyayakha iZwi lakhe leqiniso nokuthi yini eyayiyosebenza njengentambo ehlala njalo yokulinganisa ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Ngempela, kungalendlela kuphela izidalwa emhlabeni ezaziyoqhubeka zinikezwa ngayo ‘ukuzalwa okusha ngezwi likaNkulunkulu’ futhi zikwazi ukufakaza ngokuthi “izwi [likaJehova] limi kuze kube-phakade.”​—⁠1 Pet. 1:​23, 25.

10. Kunini lapho uhlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli zemiBhalo yesiHeberu olwase luhleliwe khona?

¹⁰ Ukwakha Uhlu Lwezincwadi ZeBhayibheli ZesiHeberu. Inkolelo yamaJuda ithi uEzra owaqala ukuhlanganisa nokuhlela ngokulandelana izincwadi zemiBhalo yesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, futhi ithi lokhu kwaqedelwa uNehemiya. Ngokuqinisekile uEzra wayewuhlomele kahle umsebenzi onjalo, njengoba yena ngokwakhe ayengomunye wabalobi beBhayibheli abaphefumlelwe futhi engumpristi, isazi, nomkopishi ongokomthetho wezincwadi ezingcwele. (Ezra 7:​1-11) Asikho isizathu sokungabaza umbono owamukelekayo wokuthi izincwadi zemiBhalo yesiHeberu zase zihleliwe ekupheleni kwekhulu lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E.

11. Izincwadi zamaJuda zeBhayibheli ziyihlela kanjani ohlwini imiBhalo yesiHeberu?

¹¹ Thina namuhla sifaka ohlwini izincwadi ezingu-39 zemiBhalo yesiHeberu; uhlu lwamaJuda lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, nakuba luhlanganisa zona lezincwadi ezifanayo, luthi zingu-24. Ezinye izazi, ngokufaka uRuthe kubAhluleli nesiLilo kuJeremiya, zathi isibalo sezincwadi singu-22, nakuba zisanamathele kuzo kanye izincwadi ezifanayo ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli.a Lokhu kwenza ukuba isibalo sezincwadi eziphefumlelwe silingane nesibalo sezinhlamvu zama-alfabhethi esiHeberu. Nantu uhlu lwezincwadi ezingu-24 ngokohlu lwesiko lamaJuda lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli:

UMthetho (IziNcwadi Ezinhlanu Zokuqala)

1. UGenesise

2. UEksodusi

3. ULevitikusi

4. UNumeri

5. UDuteronomi

AbaProfethi

6. UJoshuwa

7. AbAhluleli

8. USamuweli (wokuQala nowesiBili zazihlangehlanganiswe ne ziyincwadi eyodwa)

9. AmaKhosi (okuQala na-wesiBili njengencwadi eyodwa)

10. UIsaya

11. UJeremiya

12. UHezekeli

13. AbaProfethi Abayishumi Nambili (uHoseya, uJoweli, uAmose, uObadiya, uJona, uMika, uNahume,uHabakuki, uZefaniya, uHagayi, uZakariya, noMalaki, njengencwadi eyodwa)

Izincwadi (Ingxenye Yesithathu YemiBhalo YamaJuda)

14. AmaHubo

15. IzAga

16. UJobe

17. IsiHlabelelo seziHlabelelo

18. URuthe

19. IsiLilo

20. UmShumayeli

21. UEsteri

23. UEzra (uNehemiya wayehlanganiswe noEzra)

22. UDaniyeli

24. IziKronike (zokuQala nezesiBili njengencwadi eyodwa)

12. Yini enye eqinisekisa izincwadi zesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, futhi zigcina ngaziphi izincwadi?

¹² Yiyona-ke le icatalog, noma uhlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, uKristu Jesu nebandla lamaKristu okuqala abayamukela njengemiBhalo ephefumlelwe. Abalobi abaphefumlelwe bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki bacaphuna kulezincwadi kuphela, futhi ngokwethula izingcaphuno ezinjalo ngamazwi anjengathi “njengalokho kulotshiwe,” baqinisekisa lezincwadi njengeziyiZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Roma 15:⁠9) UJesu, ekhuluma ngayo yonke imiBhalo ephefumlelwe eyayilotshiwe kuze kube sesikhathini senkonzo yakhe, wabhekisela ezintweni ezazilotshwe “emthethweni kaMose, nakubaprofethi, nasemaHutsheni.” (Luka 24:​44) Lapha elithi “emaHutsheni,” njengoba eyincwadi yokuqala yeNgxenye Yesithathu YemiBhalo YamaJuda, lisetshenziswa ekubhekiseleni kuyo yonke lengxenye. Incwadi yokugcina engokomlando eyafakwa ezincwadini zesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli kwakungekaNehemiya. Ukuthi lokhu kwakungaphansi kokuqondisa komoya kaNkulunkulu kubonakala ngokuthi yilencwadi kuphela enikeza lapho kumelwe kuqalwe khona ukuhlola isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli esivelele sokuthi “kusukela ekuphumeni kwezwi lokubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema” kuze kufike uMesiya kwakuyoba yinkathi yamasonto angu-69 angokwesiprofetho. (Dan. 9:​25; Neh. 2:​1-⁠8; 6:​15) Incwadi kaNehemiya inikeza futhi isizinda esingokomlando sencwadi yokugcina kwezingokwesiprofetho, uMalaki. Ukuthi incwadi kaMalaki ikhona ohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli zemiBhalo ephefumlelwe akunakungatshazwa, njengoba ngisho noJesu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, ayicaphuna izikhathi eziningana. (Math. 11:​10, 14) Nakuba izingcaphuno ezifanayo zithathwa kweziningi zezincwadi zesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, zonke ezalotshwa ngaphambi kukaNehemiya noMalaki, abalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki abacaphuni kunoma iyiphi yezincwadi okuthiwa ziphefumlelwe ezilotshwe ngemva kwesikhathi sikaNehemiya noMalaki kuze kube sesikhathini sikaKristu. Lokhu kuqinisekisa umbono wamaJuda owamukelekayo, kanye nenkolelo yebandla lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E., wokuthi izincwadi zemiBhalo yesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli zagcina ngencwadi kaNehemiya nekaMalaki.

IZINCWADI EZINGENGCWELE ZEMIBHALO YESIHEBERU

13. (a) Ziyini iziNcwadi Ezingengcwele? (b) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba zamukelwe njengeziyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli lamaRoma Katolika?

¹³ Ziyini izincwadi Ezingengcwele? Lezi izincwadi abanye abaye bazifaka emaBhayibhelini athile kodwa eziye zenqatshwa abanye ngoba zingenabo ubufakazi bokuthi ziphefumlelwe uNkulunkulu. Igama lesiGreki elithi a·poʹkry·phos libhekisela ezintweni ‘ezifihlwe ngokunakekela.’ (Marku 4:​22; Luka 8:​17; Kol. 2:⁠3, NW) Leligama lisetshenziswa ezincwadini ezinomlobi noma igunya okungabazekayo noma lezo, ezithi nakuba zazibhekwa njengezinenzuzo ethile ekuzifundeleni komuntu siqu, nokho zintule ubufakazi bokuphefumlelwa kwaphezulu. Izincwadi ezinjalo zazigcinwa zodwa futhi zingafundwa obala, okungakho kunomqondo wokuthi ‘zifihliwe.’ EMkhandlwini waseCarthage, ngo-397 C.E., kwahlongozwa ukuba kunezelwe eziyisikhombisa zaleziNcwadi Ezingengcwele emiBhalweni YesiHeberu, kanye nezinye izithasiselo encwadini kaEsteri nekaDaniyeli ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Nokho, kwaze kwaba kamuva ngo-1546, eMkhandlwini waseTrent, lapho iSonto lamaRoma Katolika laqinisekisa khona ukuthi liyazemukela lezithasiselo ohlwini lwalo lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Lezithasiselo kwakuyincwadi kaTobit, uJudith, izithasiselo kuEsteri, uWisdom, uEcclesiasticus, uBaruch, izithasiselo ezintathu kuDaniyeli, uMaccabees wokuQala, noMaccabees wesiBili.

14. (a) Kungayiphi indlela incwadi kaMaccabees wokuQala ithakazelisa? (b) Yiziphi izazi ezingazange zibhekisele eziNcwadini Ezingengcwele, futhi ngani?

¹⁴ Incwadi kaMaccabees wokuQala, nakuba kungamelwe nangayiphi indlela ibhekwe njengencwadi ephefumlelwe, iqukethe ukwaziswa okuthakazelisayo ngokomlando. Inikeza ukulandisa ngokuzabalazela kwamaJuda inkululeko phakathi nekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E. ngaphansi kobuholi bomkhaya wasebupristini wamaMaccabees. Zonke ezinye iziNcwadi Ezingengcwele zigcwele izinganekwane nezinkolelo-ze futhi zigcwele amaphutha. UJesu noma abalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki abakaze babhekisele kuzo noma bazicaphune.

15, 16. UJosephus noJerome babonisa kanjani ukuthi yiziphi izincwadi eziyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli?

¹⁵ Isazi-mlando esingumJuda uFlavius Josephus, wekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E., encwadini yakhe ethi Against Apion (I, 38-41 [8]), ubhekisela kuzo zonke izincwadi amaHeberu ayezibheka njengezingcwele. Wabhala: “Asinazo izinqwabanqwaba zezincwadi eziguquguqukayo, ezingqubuzanayo. Izincwadi zethu, lezo ezamukeleka ngokufanelekile, zingamashumi amabili nambili kuphela [okuwu-39 wethu namuhla, njengoba kuboniswe esigabeni 11], futhi ziqukethe umbhalo ogciniwe ongasoze waphelelwa isikhathi. Kulezi, eziyisihlanu ziyizincwadi zikaMose, eziqukethe imithetho nomlando owamukelekayo kusukela ekuzalweni komuntu kuze kufike ekufeni komniki-mthetho. . . . Kusukela ekufeni kukaMose kuze kufike kuAritahishashita, owalandela uXerxes njengenkosi yasePheresiya, abaprofethi abalandela uMose baloba umlando wezenzakalo zezikhathi zabo siqu ezincwadini eziyishumi nantathu. Izincwadi ezine ezisele ziqukethe amahubo okudumisa uNkulunkulu nemithetho yokuziphatha yokuphila komuntu.” Ngaleyondlela uJosephus ubonisa ukuthi izincwadi zemiBhalo yesiHeberu ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli zase zihleliwe esikhathini eside ngaphambi kwekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E.

¹⁶ Isazi seBhayibheli uJerome, esaqeda inguqulo yeBhayibheli iVulgate YesiLatini cishe ngo-405 C.E., wayeqiniseke kakhulu ngokuma kwakhe ngeziNcwadi Ezingengcwele. Ngemva kokufaka ohlwini izincwadi eziphefumlelwe, ebala ngendlela efana nekaJosephus, yokubala izincwadi ezingu-39 eziphefumlelwe zemiBhalo yesiHeberu ngokuthi zingu-22, esandulelweni sakhe sencwadi kaSamuweli neyamaKhosi kuyiVulgate ubhala ukuthi: “Kanjalo kunezincwadi ezingamashumi amabili nambili . . . Lesandulela semiBhalo singasebenza njengesisekelo esiqinile sokufinyelela zonke izincwadi esizihumushayo ukusuka olimini lwesiHeberu kuya kolwesiLatini; ukuze sazi ukuthi noma yini engalé kwalezi kumelwe ifakwe ezincwadini ezingengcwele.”

IMIBHALO YAMAKRISTU YESIGREKI

17. Yimuphi umthwalo wemfanelo iSonto lamaRoma Katolika elithi ngowalo, kodwa ubani ngempela owanquma ukuthi yiziphi izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli?

¹⁷ ISonto lamaRoma Katolika lithi kuwumthwalo walo wemfanelo ukunquma ukuthi yiziphi izincwadi okumelwe zifakwe ezincwadini ezingcwele zeBhayibheli, futhi libhekisela eMkhandlwini waseCarthage (397 C.E.), lapho kwakhiwa khona uhlu lwezincwadi. Nokho, okuphambene nalokho kuyiqiniso ngoba izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, kuhlanganise nohlu lwezincwadi ezakha imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, zase zihleliwe kakade ngalesosikhathi, okungukuthi, hhayi ngomthetho wanoma yimuphi umkhandlu, kodwa ngokuqondisa komoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu​—⁠wona lowomoya owaphefumlela ukulotshwa kwalezozincwadi kwasekuqaleni. Ubufakazi babahleli bezincwadi bakamuva abangaphefumlelwe bubaluleke kuphela ngoba buvuma izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, ezigunyazwe umoya kaNkulunkulu.

18. Yiziphi iziphetho ezibalulekile okungafinyelelwa kuzo eshadini elibonisa izinhlu zokuqala zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki?

¹⁸ Ubufakazi Bezinhlu Zemibhalo Yokuqala. Ukubheka nje ishadi elilapha kwembula ukuthi izinhlu eziningana zangekhulu lesine leminyaka zemiBhalo yamaKristu, zangaphambi komkhandlu oshiwo ngenhla, zivumelana ngokuthé ngqo nohlu lwethu lwanamuhla lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, futhi ezinye zishiya isAmbulo kuphela. Ngaphambi kokuphela kwekhulu lesibili leminyaka, amaVangeli amane, izEnzo, nezincwadi ezingu-12 zomphostoli uPawulu zamukelwa yonke indawo. Izincwadi ezincane ezimbalwa kuphela ezazingatshazwa ezindaweni ezithile. Mhlawumbe lokhu kwakungenxa yokuthi izincwadi ezinjalo zazilinganiselwe ekujikelezeni kwazo kokuqala ngenxa yezizathu ezithile futhi kanjalo kwathatha isikhathi esijana ukuba zamukeleke njengeziyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli.

19. (a) Iyiphi incwadi evelele eyatholakala eItaly, futhi eyanini? (b) Lencwadi izichaza kanjani izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli ezazamukelwa ngalesosikhathi?

¹⁹ Olunye lwezinhlu zokuqala ezithakazelisayo kwakuwucezu olwatholwa uL. A. Muratori eMatsheni Wezincwadi WaseAmbrose, eMilan, eItaly, futhi walukhipha ngo-1740. Nakuba isiqalo singekho, ukubhekisela kwalo kuLuka njengeVangeli lesithathu kubonisa ukuthi luqale ngokubala uMathewu noMarku. UCezu LukaMuratori, olungesiLatini, luhlehlela emuva engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu lesibili leminyaka C.E. Luyincwadi ethakazelisa kakhulu, njengoba ukuhunyushwa okulandelayo kwengxenye yalo kubonisa: “Incwadi yesithathu yeVangeli ekaLuka. ULuka, udokotela odumile, wayibhala ngegama lakhe siqu . . . Incwadi yesine yeVangeli ekaJohane, omunye wabafundi. . . . Ngakho-ke okholweni lwamakholwa akukho ukungavumelani, ngisho nakuba kunikezwa amaqiniso ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene encwadini ngayinye yamaVangeli, ngoba [kuwo] wonke ngaphansi koMoya owodwa oqondisayo kuye kwembulwa zonke izinto eziphathelene nokuzalwa kwakhe, ukuhlupheka, ukuvuka, ingxoxo nabafundi bakhe, nokuza kwakhe okukabili, okokuqala ethotshisiwe ngenxa yokudelelwa, okwenzekile, nokwesibili esenkazimulweni yombuso wobukhosi, okuseza. Khona-ke, yeka indlela okumangalisa ngayo ukuthi uJohane uzisebenzisa ngokuvumelana okungaka lezinto ezihlukahlukene njengobufakazi ezincwadini zakhe, esho ngokwakhe ukuthi: ‘esikubonile ngamehlo ethu, sakuzwa ngezindlebe zethu, nezandla zethu zakuphatha, lezozinto sizilobile.’ Ngoba ngaleyondlela uthi akayena nje kuphela ufakazi wokuzibonela kodwa futhi ungumuzwi nomlandisi wazo zonke izinto ezimangalisayo zeNkosi, ngokulandelana kwazo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izenzo zabo bonke abaphostoli zilotshwe encwadini eyodwa. ULuka wazihlelela [kanjalo] uTheyofilu odumileyo . . . Bese kuba izincwadi zikaPawulu, ukuthi ziyini, zalotshelwaphi noma ngasiphi isizathu, zona ngokwazo zikwenza kucace kuye ozoqonda. Okokuqala wabhalela abaseKorinte incwadi ende ukuze avimbe ukwahlukana ngenxa yokumbuka, kwase kuba abaseGalathiya [ngokumelene] nokusoka, nakwabaseRoma ngokuhleleka kwemiBhalo, eveza futhi ukuthi uKristu nguye okukhulunywa ngaye ngokuyinhloko kuyo​—⁠ngamunye kuyo okudingekile ngathi ukuba sixoxe ngawo, ngoba naye ngokwakhe umPhostoli uPawulu obusisiwe, elandela isibonelo somanduleli wakhe uJohane, ubhalela amabandla angengaphezu kwayisikhombisa ewabiza ngamagama ngohlelo olulandelayo: kwabaseKorinte (eyokuqala), kwabase-Efesu (eyesibili), kwabaseFilipi (eyesithathu), kwabaseKolose (eyesine), kwabaseGalathiya (eyesihlanu), kwabaseThesalonika (eyesithupha), kwabaseRoma (eyesikhombisa). Nakuba ebabhalela kabili abaseKorinte nabaseThesalonika ngenjongo yokubaqondisa, ukuthi kunebandla elilodwa kuphela elisakazeke kuwo wonke umhlaba kubonisiwe [?okungukuthi, ngalezincwadi eziyisikhombisa]; noJohane futhi kuyiApocalypse, nakuba ebhalela amabandla ayisikhombisa, eqinisweni ukhuluma nawo wonke. Kodwa ngenxa yothando [wabhala] eyodwa eya kuFilemoni, neyodwa eya kuThithu, nezimbili eziya kuThimothewu; [futhi lezi] zibhekwa njengezingcwele ngombono ohloniphekile weBandla. . . . Ngaphezu kwalokho, incwadi kaJuda nezimbili eziqanjwe ngegama likaJohane zibaliwe . . . Sithola izambulo zikaJohane noPetru kuphela, lesi [samuva] abanye bethu abangathandi ukuba sifundwe ebandleni.”​—⁠The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1956, Umq. VIII, ikhasi 56.

20. (a) Ukushiywa kweyodwa yezincwadi zikaJohane neyodwa yezikaPetru kuchazwa kanjani? (b) Khona-ke, loluhlu lulufuze kakhulu kangakanani uhlu losuku lwethu?

²⁰ Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi ngasekugcineni koCezu LukaMuratori, kukhulunywa ngezincwadi ezimbili kuphela zikaJohane. Nokho, ngaleliphuzu iencyclopedia eshiwo ngenhla, ekhasini 55, iphawula ukuthi lezincwadi ezimbili zikaJohane “kungaba kuphela eyesibili neyesithathu, ezimlobi wazo uzibiza ngokuthi nje ‘ilunga.’ Njengoba esekhulumile kakade ngeyokuqala, nakuba kube ngokuzenzekelayo, lapho ekhuluma ngeVangeli lesiNe, futhi kuyo eveza inkolelo yakhe yokungangabazi ngokuthi yalotshwa uJohane, umlobi wazizwa ekhululekile lapha ukukhuluma ngezincwadi ezimbili ezincane kuphela.” Ngokuntuleka okusobala kokuthintwa kwencwadi yokuqala kaPetru, le-encyclopedia iyaqhubeka: “Umbono ongakaqinisekiswa ongaba yiqiniso uwukuthi kungenzeka kwalahleka amagama ambalwa, mhlawumbe umugqa, okwakushiwo kuwo ukuthi eyoku-⁠I Petru neApocalypse kaJohane zamukelwa.” Ngakho-ke, ngokombono woCezu LukaMuratori, le-encyclopedia, ekhasini 56, iyaphetha: “ITestamente Elisha libhekwa ngokuqinisekile njengelakhiwe amaVangeli amane, izEnzo, izincwadi eziyishumi nantathu zikaPawulu, iApocalypse kaJohane, mhlawumbe izincwadi zakhe ezintathu, uJuda, kanye mhlawumbe neyoku-⁠I Petru, kuyilapho ukuphikiswa kwenye yezincwadi zikaPetru kwakungakathuliswa.”

21. (a) Kuthakazelisa ngani ukukhulumela kukaOrigen izincwadi eziphefumlelwe? (b) Yini abalobi bakamuva abayivuma?

²¹ UOrigen, cishe ngonyaka ka-230 C.E., wafaka phakathi kwemiBhalo ephefumlelwe incwadi yamaHeberu nekaJakobe, zombili ezingekho oCezwini LukaMuratori. Nakuba ebonisa ukuthi abanye bayingabaza imfanelo yazo yokuba sohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, lokhu kubonisa futhi ukuthi ngalesikhathi, ukuba kweminingi yemiBhalo yesiGreki ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli kwakwamukelwa, bembalwa kuphela ababengabaza ezinye zezincwadi ezazingaziwa kangako. Kamuva, uAthanasius, uJerome, noAugustine bamukela iziphetho zezinhlu zangaphambili ngokuchaza lezincwadi ezingu-27 esinazo manje njengeziyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli.b

22, 23. (a) Izinhlu zamacatalog eziseshadini zalungiselelwa kanjani? (b) Kungani ngokusobala zazingekho izinhlu ezinjalo ngaphambi koCezu LukaMuratori?

²² Iningi lamacatalog aseshadini liyizinhlu eziqondile ezibonisa ukuthi yiziphi izincwadi ezazamukelwa njengezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. EzikaIrenaeus, uClement waseAlexandria, uTertullian, no-Origen zipheleliswa izingcaphuno abazenza, ezibonisa ukuthi babezibheka kanjani izincwadi ababhekisela kuzo. Lezi zithasiselwa futhi imibhalo egciniwe yesazi-mlando sakuqala uEusebius. Nokho, iqiniso lokuthi labalobi abasho lutho ngemibhalo ethile esohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli alifakazeli ukuthi ayiyona ingxenye yohlu lwazo. Kumane nje kuwukuthi abazange babhekisele kuyo ezincwadini zabo ngoba bethanda noma ngenxa yalokho ababexoxa ngakho. Kodwa kungani singazitholi izinhlu ezithé ngqo zangaphambi koCezu LukaMuratori?

²³ Impikiswano yokuthi yiziphi izincwadi amaKristu okumelwe azamukele ayizange iphakame kwaze kwaba sekufikeni kwabacusumbuli abanjengoMarcion phakathi nekhulu lesibili leminyaka C.E. UMarcion wazakhela olwakhe uhlu lwezincwadi azibheka njengezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli ukuze lufanelane nezimfundiso zakhe, ethatha ezithile kuphela zezincwadi zomphostoli uPawulu kanye neVangeli likaLuka elihlungiwe. Lokhu, kanye nenqwaba yezincwadi ezingengcwele ngalesosikhathi ezase zisakazeka kuwo wonke umhlaba, yikho okwaholela labo ababehlela izinhlu zezincwadi ukuba basho amazwi abonisayo ukuthi yiziphi izincwadi ababezamukela njengeziyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli.

24. (a) Yini ephawula izincwadi Ezingengcwele “zeTestamente Elisha”? (b) Zithini izazi ngazo?

²⁴ IziNcwadi Ezingengcwele. Ubufakazi bangaphakathi buqinisekisa umehluko ocacile owenziwa phakathi kwezincwadi zobuKristu eziphefumlelwe nezincwadi zamanga noma ezazingaphefumlelwe. Izincwadi ezingengcwele zisezingeni eliphansi kakhulu futhi ngokuvamile ziyacabangela futhi ziwubuntwana. Ngokuvamile azinembile.c Phawula izinkulumo ezilandelayo zezazi ngalezincwadi ezingekho ohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli:

“Akubuzwa ukuthi zakhishwa othile yini eTestamenteni Elisha: zizikhiphe zona ngokwazo.”​—⁠M. R. James, The Apocryphal New Testament, amakhasi xi, xii.

“Sidinga kuphela ukuqhathanisa zonke izincwadi zethu zeTestamente Elisha nezinye izincwadi zaloluhlobo ukuze sibone ukuthi mkhulu kangakanani umhosha ozihlukanisayo. Kuvame ukuba kuthiwe amavangeli angekho ohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli eqinisweni awubufakazi obuhle kakhulu balawo asohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli.”​—⁠G. Milligan, The New Testament Documents, ikhasi 228.

“Akunakushiwo ngisho nangeyodwa incwadi esalondolozelwa yona kusukela enkathini yokuqala yeBandla engekho eTestamenteni Elisha ukuthi inganezelwa ngokufanelekile Ohlwini LweziNcwadi ZeBhayibheli.”​—⁠K. Aland, The Problem of the New Testament Canon, ikhasi 24.

25. Yimaphi amaqiniso ngabalobi ngabanye bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki afakazela ukuthi lezincwadi ziphefumlelwe?

²⁵ Abalobi Abaphefumlelwe. Leli elinye iphuzu nalo elithakazelisayo. Bonke abalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngandlela-thile babesebenzelana eduze nendikimba ebusayo yokuqala yebandla lobuKristu, eyayihlanganisa abaphostoli ababekhethwe uJesu ngokwakhe. UMathewu, uJohane, noPetru babephakathi kwabaphostoli bokuqala abangu-12, futhi kamuva uPawulu wakhethwa njengomphostoli kodwa akazange abalwe njengomunye wabangu-12.d Nakuba uPawulu ayengekho ekuthululweni okukhethekile komoya ngePentekoste, uMathewu, uJohane, noPetru babekhona, kanye noJakobe noJuda futhi mhlawumbe noMarku. (IzE. 1:​13, 14) UPetru ubala ngokuqondile izincwadi zikaPawulu kanye ‘nayo yonke minye imiBhalo.’ (2 Pet. 3:​15, 16, NW) UMarku noLuka babengabangane abaseduze futhi babejikeleza noPawulu noPetru. (IzE. 12:​25; 1 Pet. 5:​13; Kol. 4:​14; 2 Thim. 4:​11) Bonke labalobi babephiwe amakhono amangalisayo ngumoya ongcwele, kungaba ngokuthululwa okukhethekile njengoba kwenzeka ngePentekoste nangenkathi uPawulu eguquka (IzE. 9:​17, 18) noma, ngokungangabazeki njengasendabeni kaLuka, ngokubekwa izandla abaphostoli. (IzE. 8:​14-17) Konke ukulotshwa kwemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki kwaqedwa phakathi nesikhathi lapho izipho ezikhethekile zomoya zisasebenza.

26. (a) Yini esiyamukela njengeZwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi ngani? (b) Kumelwe sikubonise kanjani ukwazisa ngeBhayibheli?

²⁶ Ukholo kuNkulunkulu umninimandla onke, onguMphefumleli noMlondolozi weZwi lakhe, lusenza siqiniseke ngokuthi nguye oye waqondisa ukuqoqelwa ndawonye kwezingxenye zalo ezihlukahlukene. Ngakho sizamukela ngokuqiniseka izincwadi zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ezingu-27 kanye nezingu-39 zemiBhalo yesiHeberu njengeBhayibheli elilodwa, elinoMlobi oyedwa, uJehova uNkulunkulu. IZwi laKhe ezincwadini zalo ezingu-66 liyisiqondiso sethu, futhi ukuvumelana kwalo okuphelele nokulinganisela kufakazela ukuphelela kwalo. Lonke udumo luya kuJehova uNkulunkulu, uMdali walencwadi engenakuqhathaniswa! Lingasihlomisa ngokuphelele futhi libeke izinyawo zethu endleleni eya ekuphileni. Masilisebenzise ngokuhlakanipha ngawo wonke amathuba.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ishadi ekhasini 303]

Izinhlu Zokuqala Ezivelele ZemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki Igama Nendawo

Y - Yamukelwa ngaphandle kokungabaza njengengokomBhalo nesohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli

I - Iyangatshazwa ezindaweni ezithile

IY - Iyangatshazwa ezindaweni ezithile, kodwa yamukelwa umhlanganisi wohlu njengengokomBhalo nesohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli

? - Izazi aziqiniseki ngendlela yokufundwa kombhalo noma ngendlela incwadi okukhulunywe ngayo ebhekwa ngayo

- Isikhala esingenalutho sibonisa ukuthi incwadi ayizange isetshenziswe noma ithintwe yilesosazi

Igama Nendawo

UMathewu Y Y Y Y

UMarkuu Y Y Y Y

ULuka Y Y Y Y

UJohane Y Y Y Y

IzEnzo Y Y Y Y

KwabaseRoma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

KwabaseGalathiya Y Y Y Y

Kwabase-Efesu Y Y Y Y

KwabaseFilipi Y Y Y Y

KwabaseKolose Y Y Y Y

1 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

2 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

KuThithu Y Y Y Y

KuFilemoni Y Y

KumaHeberu I IY IY

UJakobe ?

1 Petru Y? Y Y Y

2 Petru I? Y

1 Johane Y Y IY Y

2 Johane Y Y IY

3 Johane Y?

UJuda Y IY Y

IsAmbulo Y Y Y Y

Igama Nendawo

UMathewu Y Y Y Y

UMarku Y Y Y Y

ULuka Y Y Y Y

UJohane Y Y Y Y

IzEnzo Y Y Y Y

KwbaseRoma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

KwabaseGalathiya Y Y Y Y

Kwabase-Efesu Y Y Y Y

KwabaseFilipi Y Y Y Y

KwabaseKolose Y Y Y Y

1 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

2 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

KuThithu Y Y Y Y

KuFilemoni Y Y Y Y

KumaHeberu IY IY Y

UJakobe IY IY Y

1 Petru Y Y Y Y

2 Petru IY IY Y I

1 UJohane Y Y Y Y

2 UJohane IY IY Y I

3 UJohane IY IY Y I

UJuda IY IY Y

IsAmbulo Y IY Y

Igama Nendawo

Usuku Olu-

sikiselwayo C.E. 367 368 370 370

UMathewu Y Y Y Y

UMarku Y Y Y Y

ULuka Y Y Y Y

UJohane Y Y Y Y

IzEnzo Y Y Y Y

KwbaseRoma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

KwabaseGalathiya Y Y Y Y

Kwabase-Efesu Y Y Y Y

KwabaseFilipi Y Y Y Y

KwabaseKolose Y Y Y Y

1 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

2 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

KuThithu Y Y Y Y

KuFilemoni Y Y Y Y

KumaHeberu Y Y Y IY

UJakobe Y Y Y Y

1 Petru Y Y Y Y

2 Petru Y Y Y I

1 UJohane Y Y Y Y

2 UJohane Y Y Y I

3 UJohane Y Y Y I

UJuda Y Y Y I

IsAmbulo Y IY I

Igama Nendawo

Usuku Olu-

sikiselwayo C.E. 383 394 397 397

UMathewu Y Y Y Y

UMarku Y Y Y Y

ULuka Y Y Y Y

UJohane Y Y Y Y

IzEnzo Y Y Y Y

KwbaseRoma Y Y Y Y

1 Korinte Y Y Y Y

2 Korinte Y Y Y Y

KwabaseGalathiya Y Y Y Y

Kwabase-Efesu Y Y Y Y

KwabaseFilipi Y Y Y Y

KwabaseKolose Y Y Y Y

1 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

2 Thesalonika Y Y Y Y

1 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

2 Thimothewu Y Y Y Y

KuThithu Y Y Y Y

KuFilemoni Y Y Y Y

KumaHeberu IY IY Y Y

UJakobe Y IY Y Y

1 Petru Y Y Y Y

2 Petru Y IY Y Y

1 UJohane Y Y Y Y

2 UJohane Y IY Y Y

3 UJohane Y IY Y Y

UJuda Y IY Y Y

IsAmbulo IY IY Y Y