Idolobha LaseKorinte​—“Umbusi Wamachweba Amabili”

UMA ubheka ibalazwe laseGreece, uzophawula ukuthi ingxenye eyinhloko yezwe inenhlonhlo kanye nalokho okufana nesiqhingi esikhulu eningizimu. Lezi zingxenye zezwe zixhunyaniswa isiqephu sezwe, esingaba amakhilomitha ayisithupha ubukhulu lapho sisincane khona. Lesi siqephu okuthiwa i-Isthmus of Corinth, sihlanganisa inhlonhlo yasePeloponnese eningizimu nengxenye eyinhloko yezwe enyakatho.

Kunesinye isizathu esenza lesi siqephu sezwe sibaluleke. Siye sabizwa ngokuthi ibhuloho lasolwandle ngenxa yokuthi ngasempumalanga kuneSaronic Gulf, ephumela oLwandle i-Aegean nasempumalanga yeMedithera, kanti ngasentshonalanga kuneGulf of Corinth, ephumela oLwandle i-Ionian, oLwandle i-Adriatic nasentshonalanga yeMedithera. Phakathi nazo zonke lezi zindawo kunedolobha laseKorinte, indawo ebalulekile umphostoli uPawulu ayevame ukudlula kuyo njengesithunywa sevangeli, eyayaziwa endulo ngokuchuma, ukunethezeka nokuphila kokuziphatha okubi.

Idolobha Elisendaweni Ekahle

Idolobha laseKorinte lingasemaphethelweni asentshonalanga yalesi siqephu sezwe. Linamachweba amabili, aphahle lesi siqhingi—iLechaeum ngasentshonalanga kanye neKenikreya ngasempumalanga. Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, isazi sokuma kwezwe esingumGreki uStrabo sachaza iKorinte ngokuthi “umbusi wamachweba amabili.” Ngenxa yokuba sendaweni ekahle, idolobha laseKorinte laba impambana-mgwaqo yezohwebo lwamazwe ngamazwe, lilawula uhwebo lwasezweni nolwasolwandle.

Kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo, imikhumbi evela empumalanga (e-Asia Minor, eSiriya, eFenike naseGibhithe) kanye nasentshonalanga (e-Italy naseSpain) yayifika nemithwalo, iyithulule kwelinye lala machweba bese ithuthwa iyiswe ngalé kulesi siqephu sezwe esingamakhilomitha ambalwa. Lapho, imithwalo yayilayishwa kweminye imikhumbi iqhubeke nohambo. Izikebhe ezincane zazidonswa zinqamule lesi siqephu sezwe ngomzila, okuthiwa i-diolkos.—Bheka ibhokisi elisekhasini 27.

Kungani amatilosi ayekhetha ukunqamula kulesi siqephu sezwe? Ngoba lokhu kwakuwasindisa ezingozini zohambo olungamakhilomitha angu-320 olwandle oluthukuthele ezungeza eningizimu yePeloponnese. Amatilosi ayegwema ikakhulukazi iCape Malea, okwakuthiwa ngayo: “Uma uzungeza ngaseCape Malea, khohlwa ukuthi uzobuyela ekhaya.”

IKenikreya—Ukwambulwa Kwechweba Elagqitshwa Amanzi

Ichweba laseKenikreya, eliyibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-11 empumalanga yeKorinte, laliyisikhumulo semikhumbi esuka e-Asia. Namuhla cishe ingxenye yalo igqitshwe amanzi ngenxa yokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okwagadla ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesine C.E. UStrabo wachaza iKenikreya njengechweba elimatasa futhi elicebile, kanti isazi sefilosofi esingumRoma uLucius Apuleius wayibiza ngokuthi “isiphephelo esikhulu nesiqinile semikhumbi yamazwe amaningi ahlukahlukene.”

Ngesikhathi kusabusa iRoma, leli chweba lalinamabhuloho amabili angena olwandle ami njengesicathulo sehhashi, anesikhala sokungena esingaba amamitha angu-150 kuya kwangu-200. Kuleli chweba kwakungena imikhumbi engaba amamitha angu-40 ubude. Ukuvubukula okwenziwa ngaseningizimu-ntshonalanga yalo kwembula izingxenye zethempeli okucatshangwa ukuthi laliyithempeli likankulunkulukazi u-Isis. Isakhiwo esiyinkimbinkimbi esingasemaphethelweni aleli chweba kungenzeka sasiyithempeli lika-Aphrodite. Lab’ onkulunkulukazi ababili babebhekwa njengabavikeli bamatilosi.

Kungenzeka ukuthuthwa kwempahla yezohwebo kuleli chweba kwaba nendima ekusebenzeni kukamphostoli uPawulu njengomenzi wamatende eKorinte. (IzEnzo 18:1-3) Incwadi ethi In the Steps of St. Paul ithi: “Njengoba kwakusondela ubusika, abenzi bamatende baseKorinte, ababenza noseyili bemikhumbi, babeba nomsebenzi ongaphezu kwezandla. Njengoba amachweba ayegcwele imikhumbi elinde ubusika futhi kudingeka ilungiswe njengoba ingakangeni olwandle, abadayisi bezinto zemikhumbi baseLechæum naseKenikreya kumelwe ukuba babenomsebenzi wanoma ubani nje owayengakwazi ukuthunga useyili womkhumbi.”

Ngemva kokuhlala eKorinte izinyanga ezingaphezu kuka-18, uPawulu wasuka eKenikreya waya e-Efesu cishe ngo-52 C.E. (IzEnzo 18:18, 19) Esikhathini esithile phakathi neminyaka emine eyalandela, kwamiswa ibandla lobuKristu eKenikreya. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi uPawulu wacela amaKristu aseRoma ukuba asize owesifazane ongumKristu okuthiwa uFibhi owayevela ‘ebandleni laseKenikreya.’—Roma 16:1, 2.

Namuhla, izivakashi ezifika echwebeni laseKenikreya zibhukuda emanzini acwebile anezinsalela zaleli chweba elacishe lagqitshwa amanzi. Eziningi aziqapheli ukuthi emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka edlule le ndawo yayichuma kwezohwebo nasemisebenzini yobuKristu. Kunjalo nangelinye ichweba laseKorinte, ichweba laseLechaeum, elingasentshonalanga yalesi siqephu sezwe.

ILechaeum—Umnyango Ongena ENtshonalanga

Kwakunomgwaqo ogandayiwe okuthiwa uMgwaqo WaseLechaeum owawusuka ngokuqondile esigcawini saseKorinte uye echwebeni laseLechaeum entshonalanga, eliqhele ngebanga elingamakhilomitha amabili. Onjiniyela bemba ingxenye yogu ukuze bakhe leli chweba futhi banqwabelanisa leyo nhlabathi ogwini ukuze bavikele imikhumbi esemtateni ezivunguvungwini. Leli kwake kwaba ichweba elikhulu kunawo wonke eMedithera. Abavubukuli baye bavumbulula izinsalela zendlu yesibani nomfanekiso kaPoseidon ephethe ubhaqa.

Eduze koMgwaqo WaseLechaeum, owawuphahlwe yizindonga ezinkulu, kwakunendawo yokuhamba ngezinyawo, izakhiwo zombuso, amathempeli kanye nezigcawu ezinezitolo. Kumelwe ukuba uPawulu wahlangana nabathengi abamatasa, abantu ababezixoxela, abaninizitolo, izigqila, osomabhizinisi nabanye—izilaleli ezikahle ayengashumayela kuzo.

ILechaeum yayingagcini nje ngokuba ichweba lezohwebo kodwa yayiyisikhumulo esikhulu semikhumbi yempi. Abanye bathi umkhumbi i-trireme onezigwedlo eziphezulu, ezimaphakathi, neziphansi ohlangothini ngalunye, ongomunye wemikhumbi yempi yasendulo eyayiphumelela kakhulu, wasungulwa ezikhungweni zaseLechaeum umakhi wemikhumbi waseKorinte u-Ameinocles cishe ngo-700 B.C.E. Abase-Athene basebenzisa izinzuzo zalo mkhumbi lapho benqoba ibutho lemikhumbi lasePheresiya empini ebalulekile eSalamis ngo-480 B.C.E.

Le ndawo eyake yaba ichweba elimatasa, namuhla “isinohide lwamachitshana amnyama, agcwele umhlanga.” Akukho okubonisa ukuthi emakhulwini eminyaka adlule, kwakunelinye lamachweba amakhulu kunawo wonke eMedithera kule ndawo.

ElaseKorinte Lisongela AmaKristu

Ngaphandle nje kokuba amachweba ezohwebo, amachweba aseKorinte ayeyizindawo ezazichayeke emathonyeni ayebathinta kakhulu abantu bakuleli dolobha. Phakathi kokunye, la machweba ayekhanga abezentengiselwano nezicebi. ElaseKorinte laqongelela ingcebo ngokubiza imali enkulu yentela yokungena kula machweba nokuthutha impahla kanye nemikhumbi eyayisebenzisa lo mzila. Leli dolobha lalikhokhisa intela nangempahla ethuthwa ezweni. Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesi-7 B.C.E., imali yoMbuso eyatholakala ngentela ezimakethe zedolobha nangokusetshenziswa kwamachweba yaze yenza nokuba izakhamuzi zingabe zisakhokhiswa intela!

IKorinte yayithola imali eyengeziwe kubathengisi ababehlala lapho. Abaningi babo babezitika ngokunethezeka nemibuthano yokuziphatha okubi. Namatilosi ayethutheleka eKorinte futhi elenza licebe. Njengoba uStrabo esho, ayeyisaphaza imali yawo. Izakhamuzi zakuleli dolobha zazenza izinkonzo eziningi, kuhlanganise nokulungisa imikhumbi.

Ngosuku lukaPawulu, kubikwa ukuthi leli dolobha lalinabantu abangaba ngu-400 000, lidlulwa kuphela inani labantu baseRoma, e-Aleksandriya nase-Antiyokiya laseSiriya. EKorinte kwakuhlala amaGreki, amaRoma, abaseSiriya, abaseGibhithe namaJuda. Ngenxa yamachweba alo, kwakuhlale kunezihambi, izivakashi ezize emidlalweni yabasubathi, izazi zobuciko nezefilosofi, osomabhizinisi nabanye. Lezo zivakashi zaziyisa izipho emathempelini futhi zenzela nonkulunkulu imihlatshelo. Konke lokhu kwakwenza iKorinte libe idolobhakazi eliphilayo nelichumayo—kodwa elalinamathonya amabi.

Incwadi ethi In the Steps of St. Paul ithi: “Njengoba elaseKorinte laliphakathi kwamachweba amabili, lathatha imikhuba yokuziphatha okubi yabezizwe ababenemikhumbi emachwebeni alo.” Kuleli dolobha kwakuhlangana abantu baseMpumalanga nabaseNtshonalanga abanemikhuba emibi. Ngenxa yalokho, eKorinte kwaba nokuziphatha okuxekethile, ukuzitika ngokunethezeka okuyihlazo—laba idolobha elinokuziphatha okungcole kakhulu kunawo wonke eGrisi lasendulo. Ukuphila ngezindlela zabaseKorinte kwakuhambisana nokuphila ukuphila okuyichilo nokuziphatha okubi.

Isimo esinjalo esigcwele uthando lwezinto ezibonakalayo nokuziphatha okubi sasisongela inhlalakahle engokomoya yamaKristu. Abalandeli bakaJesu eKorinte kwakudingeka bayalwe ukuba balondoloze ukuziphatha okufanele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Kuyaqondakala ukuthi kungani uPawulu akulahla ngokuqinile ukuhaha, ukuphanga nokuziphatha okungcolile ezincwadini azibhalela abaseKorinte. Njengoba ufunda lezo zincwadi eziphefumulelwe, ungalibona ithonya elonakalisayo lawo maKristu ayebhekene nalo.—1 Korinte 5:9, 10; 6:9-11, 18; 2 Korinte 7:1.

Kodwa ukuthutheleka kwabantu bamazwe ngamazwe eKorinte kwakunezinzuzo. Leli dolobha lalihlale linabantu abavela nemibono emisha. Izakhamuzi zalo zazinomqondo osabalele kunabantu basemadolobheni amaningi uPawulu awavakashela. Umhlaziyi weBhayibheli othile uthi: “Kuleli dolobha eliyichweba lasendulo kwakuhlangana amasiko asempumalanga nasentshonalanga, kwachaya izakhamuzi zalo kuyo yonke imiqondo eyayingase ivezwe amafilosofi nezinkolo zomhlaba wonke.” Ngenxa yalokho, izinkolo ezihlukahlukene zazibekezelelwa, futhi lokhu kwenza umsebenzi kaPawulu wokushumayela waba lula.

La machweba amabili aseKorinte—iKenikreya neLechaeum—aba neqhaza ekuchumeni nasodumweni lwaleli dolobha. La machweba afanayo ayekwenza kube inselele kumaKristu ukuphila eKorinte. Kunjalo nasezweni esiphila kulo namuhla. Amathonya onakalisayo, njengokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo nokuziphatha okubi, awusongo olungokomoya kubantu abesaba uNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke, nathi siyobe senza kahle ngokulalela iziyalo eziphefumulelwe uPawulu azinika amaKristu aseKorinte.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 27]

I-DIOLKOS​—UKUTHUMELA IMPAHLA EZWENI

Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesi-7 B.C.E., lapho kwenziwa amalungiselelo okwakha umsele, uPeriander, umbusi waseKorinte, wasungula indlela ehlakaniphile yokuthutha izimpahla zinqamule isiqephu sezwe eliphahlwe amatheku.a Lo mzila okuthiwa i-diolkos, okusho “ukuhudula,” wawugandaywe ngamatshe anemifantu ejulile ayeyinezikhonkwane zokhuni ezigcotshwe ngamafutha. Kwakukhishwa izimpahla emikhunjini ekwelinye lamachweba, zifakwe ezinqoleni ezinamasondo, bese zidonswa yizigqila kulo mzila ziyiyise kwelinye ichweba. Izikebhe ezincane, ngezinye izikhathi ezazithwala izimpahla, nazo zazidonswa kulo mzila.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibalazwe ekhasini 25]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

GREECE

Gulf of Corinth

Ichweba laseLechaeum

IKorinte lasendulo

IKenikreya

Isthmus of Corinth

Saronic Gulf

IPeloponnese

ULWANDLE I-IONIAN

Cape Malea

ULWANDLE I-AEGEAN SEA

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

Imikhumbi ethwala izimpahla idlula eMseleni WaseKorinte namuhla

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Itheku laseLechaeum

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Itheku laseKenikreya

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 25]

Todd Bolen/​Bible Places.com