Jerome—Solwesolwe Uo Balekansaninapo pa Kupilibula Baibolo

PA April 8, 1546, Icilye ca Trent cakambishe ukuti Latin Vulgate ‘yalisuminishiwe kwi Calici [lya ciKatolika] . . . kabili takwali uwali no kupama nelyo ukuibililika ukuikaana mu kabeepesho akali konse.’ Nangu cingati Vulgate yapwile ukulembwa ilyo papitile imyaka 1,000, abantu pa nshita ntali balekansanina pali yene na kapilibula wa iko, Jerome. Nani aali Jerome? Mulandu nshi balekansanina pali wene no bupilibulo bwakwe ubwa Baibolo? Ni shani ubupilibulo bwakwe bwaambukila ukupilibula amaBaibolo ilelo?

Ifyo Asangwike Uwasoma Ifya Baibolo

Ishina lya ciLatin ilya kwa Jerome lyali ni Eusebius Hieronymus. Afyelwe mupepi na 346 C.E. mwi tauni lya Stridon, mu citungu ca bena Roma ica Dalmatia, mupepi no mupaka waba pa kati ka calo ca Italy na Slovenia.a Abafyashi bakwe balikweteko ifyuma, kabili alyumfwile fintu indalama shawama lintu fye ali umwaice sana. Asambilile ku Rome kuli Donatus, kafundisha walumbwike mu fya mibomfeshe ya mashiwi. Jerome ali musambi walamuka mu kubomfya amashiwi, mu kulanda no kulemba, na mano ya buntunse. Pali iyo nshita atendeke no kusambilile ciGriki.

Ilyo afumine ku Roma mu 366 C.E., Jerome aile alelulumba, kabili asukile aya kwi tauni lya Aquileia, ku Italy, uko asambilile ubutukami. Apantu alitemenwe ubutukami, wene ne fibusa fyakwe bapoosele imyaka yakonkelepo iyafulilako baleesha ukwikala imikalile ya butukami.

Mu 373 C.E., katwishi icafulungenye ili bumba no kulipaatukanya. Ilyo Jerome aishibe ukuti e fyo cili, atendeke ukululumba ukuya ku kabanga ukupita mu Bitunia, Galatia, na mu Kilikia, kabili afikile mu Antioke, ku Suria.

Ulwendo lwalimulwalike icibi. Jerome alinakile e lyo no kulwala ica kuti ukukaba umubili kwapene kumwanshe. Muli kalata aleembele cibusa wakwe atile: “Fintu cingawama nga ca kuti Shikulu Yesu Kristu andeta kuli iwe. Umubili wandi uunaka nangu fye nshilwele, naulwala icibi.”

Lelo taapitile fye mu kulwala, ukutalalilwa, no kucula mu mano, kwaishile no bwafya na bumbi—ubwa ku mupashi. Alilotele ‘balemutwala pa ntanshi ya cipuna ca bupingushi’ ica kwa Lesa. Ilyo aipushiwe ukuilondolola, Jerome ayaswike ati: “Ndi Mwina Kristu.” Lelo uwaikele pa cipuna amwebele ati: “Wabepa, iwe uli mukonshi wa kwa Cicero, te wa kwa Kristu.”

Lyonse ili Jerome atemwishe ukusoma ifya basenshi ifya kale ukucile Cebo ca kwa Lesa. Atile: “Kampingu alincushishe icibi.” Pa kusubila ukupwisha umulandu, Jerome alapile umulapo mu ciloto ati: “Mwe Shikulu nga nkabalekwatapo ifitabo fya ku calo, nelyo ukufibelengapo na kabili, cikapilibulo kuti namukaana.”

Ilyo papitile nshita, Jerome atile tali na kulubulula pa mulapo alapile mu ciloto. Lelo alipampamine pa kufikilisha umulapo wakwe, pamo nge cipangano fye. E ico, Jerome afumine ku Antioke no kuba umutukami mu musumba wa Chalcis, mu ciswebebe ca ku Suria. Aleikala ngo mutukami, kabili atendeke ukubelengesha Baibolo ne fitabo fya mipepele. Jerome atile: “Nabelengele amabuuku ya kwa Lesa mu kupimpa ukucila na fintu nabelengele ifitabo fya bantu.” Alisambilile no lulimi lwalelandwa kulya ulwa ciSyriac no kutendeka ukusambilila iciHebere ukupitila mu kwaafwa kwa muYuda uwasangwike Umwina Kristu.

Umulimo Papa Amupeele

Ilyo aikele imyaka 5 ngo mutukami, Jerome abwelele ku Antioke ku kutwalilila na masomo yakwe. Lelo, lintu afikile asangile icalici lyalyakanikana icibi. Lintu acili mu ciswebebe, Jerome alipwishe Papa Damasus ku kupandwa amano, no kutila: “Icalici nalyakanikanamo amabumba yatatu, kabili yonse yalefwaisha ukuti nkaleafwilisha ibumba lyabo.”

Mu kuya kwa nshita, Jerome apingwilepo ukuba pamo na Paulinus, uwali pa baume baleitunga ukuba bashikofu ba ku Antioke. Jerome alisumine ukusontwa kuli Paulinus nga ca kuti amucitila ifintu fibili. Ica ntanshi alefwaya ukuba umuntungwa mu kutwalilila ukwikala ngo mutukami. Ica bubili, apampamine pa kuti e kalabomba imilimo ya bushimapepo iya kupyungila icalici ilili lyonse.

Mu 381 C.E., Jerome aile na Paulinus ku Cilye ca Constantinople kabili aile nankwe ku Roma. Papa Damasus alimwene bwangu bwangu fintu Jerome alamwike ngo wasoma no waishiba indimi ishingi. Ilyo no mwaka taulapwa, Jerome abikilwe pa cifulo ca mucinshi ica kuba kalemba wa kwa Damasus.

Ilyo ali kalemba, Jerome talekele ukuba uwa kukansaninapo. Na kuba, alemoneka kwati e waleimya ukukansana. Ku ca kumwenako, alitwalilile ukwikala ngo mutukami mu cikuulwa ca kwa papa icacindama. Ukulundapo, Jerome ali na balwani abengi pa mulandu wa kwikala imikalile ya butukami no kulengulula sana fintu bashimapepo bacishishemo ukucite fya ku calo.

Nangu cibe fyo, te mulandu nabalemulengulula, Papa Damasus aleafwilisha sana Jerome. Papa alishibe bwino bwino umulandu alekoselesesha Jerome ukutwalilila ukusoma ifya Baibolo. Pali iyo nshita, kwali amabupilibulo ayengi aya Baibolo aya ciLatin. Ubwingi bwa aya tayapilibwilwe bwino, kabili mwali ifilubo icine cine. Na cimbi icasakamike Damasus cali ca kuti ululimi lwalepaatukanya amacalici ya fyalo fya ku Kabanga na ku Masamba. Banono baishibe iciLatin ku Kabanga; kabili banono baishibe iciGriki ku Masamba.

E mulandu wine Papa Damasus alefwaisha ubupilibulo bwa ciLatin ubwa Malandwe. Damasus alefwaisha ubupilibulo ubwali no kulangilila iciGriki icalelandwa kale, lelo ukuba ubwaumfwika bwino mu ciLatin. Jerome ali pa bantu abanono fye abasoma abali no kupilibula ubupilibulo bwa musango yo. E walingile ukubomba uyu mulimo pantu alelanda bwino iciGriki, iciLatin, iciSyriac kabili alishibeko ne ciHebere. E co pa kupeelwa umulimo kuli Damasus, Jerome atendeke umulimo ali no kubomba ukucila pa myaka 20 iyakonkelepo mu bumi bwakwe.

Ukukansana Kwabipilako

Nangu cingati alebomba lubilo lubilo pa kupilibula Amalandwe, Jerome alilangishe ukulamuka kwa wasoma. Pa kulinganya yonse amabupilibulo yalipo pali iyo nshita, alilungike fyonse ifilubo mu bupilibulo bwa ciLatin, mu milembele no bupilibulo pa kuti ingalaumfwana sana na malembo ya ciGriki.

Abantu balitemenwe sana ubupilibulo bwa kwa Jerome, ubwa Malandwe yane na Amalumbo aya ciLatin alembulwile ayashimpilwe pa kulembwa kwa Septuagint ya ciGriki. Nangu cibe fyo, kwali abalemulengulula. Alembele ati: “Abantu bamo aba cabe cabe balembepesha ati naleesha ukulungike fikomo fya mu malandwe, ku kulwisha ubulashi bwa ba mano ubwa pa kale ne fyo abantu mu calo baishiba.” Ukumubepesha kwalicililemo lintu Papa Damasus afwile mu 384 C.E. Jerome taleumfwana bwino na papa waishilepo, e ico apingwilepo ukuya ku Roma. Na kabili, Jerome aile ku kabanga.

Ifyo Asangwike Uwasoma IciHebere

Mu 386 C.E., Jerome aikele ku Bethlehem, kuntu ali no kwikala ubumi bwakwe bonse. Aile na kalibumba ka bakonshi bacishinka, apali na Paula, umwanakashi wanonka uwafyelwe mu lupwa lwa bakankaala ku Roma. Paula atendeke ukwikala imikalile ya butukami pa mulandu wa kushimikila kwa kwa Jerome. Jerome atungulwile ukukuula icikuulwa ca baume bashimbe aba fya mapepo ukubomfya indalama sha kwa Paula. E ko atwalilile umulimo wakwe uwa kupilibula no kupwisha umulimo apibilepo ilibe mu bumi bwakwe.

Ukwikala mu Palestine kwalengele Jerome ukwishibisha iciHebere. Alipiile bakafundisha abaYuda ku kumwaafwa ukwishiba fimo ifyayafya sana mu ciHebere. Nangu fye akwete bakafundisha, tacayangwike iyo. Jerome ashimike ulwa kwa kafundisha, Baraninas, uwa ku Tiberias, ukuti: “Kwena, calindetelele no kunenga ukulipila pa kuti fye Baraninas ansambilishe ubushiku.” Mulandu nshi balesambililila ubushiku? Pantu Baraninas aletiina fintu abaYuda bali no kumumona pa kubishanya no “Mwina Kristu”!

Mu nshiku sha kwa Jerome, abaYuda ilingi baleseka abena Fyalo abalelanda iciHebere pa mulandu wa kukanaishiba ukulanda bwino amashiwi yamo ayaafishe ukulumbulula bwino. Nalyo line, pa numa ya kubombesha Jerome asukile aishiba ifya kulanda aya mashiwi. Jerome na kabili alilembele amashiwi ayengi aya mu ciHebere no kuyasansha mu ciLatin. Ici calimwaafwile ukwibukisha amashiwi kabili casungilile ukushimbulwa kwa mashiwi ya ciHebere ukwa pali iyo nshita.

Ukukansanina Pali Jerome Ukwabipisha

Tacaishibikwa bwino ubwingi bwa mabuuku ya mu Baibolo ayo Papa Damasus alefwaya ukuti Jerome apilibule. Lelo te kuti pabe ukutwishika fintu Jerome alemona uyu mulimo. Jerome aliipeleshe kabili ali no mupampamina. Cintu alefwaisha cali kupilibula Baibolo “ingaafwa Icalici, iyo inkulo shonse shingabelenga.” E ico, apingwilepo ukulemba ubupilibulo bwapitulukwamo ubwa Baibolo wa ciLatin onse.

Ukukuma ku Malembo ya ciHebere, Jerome alefwaya ukubomfya Septuagint. Ubu bupilibulo bwa ciGriki ubwapilibwilwe ukufuma mu ciHebere, ubwapilibwilwe intanshi mu mwanda wa myaka uwalenga butatu B.C.E., bwalemonwa ku bengi ngo bwapuutwamo kuli Lesa. E ico, abengi Abena Kristu abalelanda iciGriki pali iyo nshita balikwete Septuagint.

Nangu cibe fyo, lintu Jerome atwalilile ukubomba, asangile ifyali mu manyuskripiti ya ciGriki ukuti tafyaleumfwana, kwati ni filya asangile mu ciLatin. Jerome alipelenganishiwe. Asukile asondwelela ukuti pa kupilibula ubupilibulo busuma, tali no kubomfya amamanyuskripti ya ciGriki kumo na Septuagint untu bacindikishe, lelo ali no kubomfya manyuskripti wa ciHebere calelandwa akale.

Uku kupingulapo kwalengele abantu ukuilishanya. Bamo batile Jerome aleepondamika amalembo, alepontela Lesa, no kusha ifishilano fye calici pa kuti engasekesha abaYuda. Nangu fye ni Augustine, uwali shimapepo mukalamba pali iyo nshita, apaapeete Jerome ukubomfya Septuagint, no kutila: “Cikaba ca bulanda nga ca kuti abengi batendeka ukubelenga ubupilibulo bobe mu macalici ayengi; ica kuti ilyo baibelenga, Amacalici ya ciLatin na ya ciGriki yakakanikana.”

Augustine aletiino kuti icalici likakanikana nga amacalici ya ku Masamba yalebelenga ubupilibulo bwa ciLatin ubwa kwa Jerome ubwashimpilwe pa Malembo ya ciHebere, libe uku amacalici ya ciGriki aya ku Kabanga yalebelenga ubupilibulo bwa Septuagint.b Ukulundapo, Augustine atile alitwishike ukuleka ukubomfya Septuagint pa mulandu fye wa bupilibulo buntu Jerome e ka aleti busuma.

Ni shani fintu Jerome ayankwileko kuli bonse aba abalemulengulula? Ukulingana ne cifyalilwa cakwe, Jerome asuulileko fye ku balemulengulula. Alitendeke ukupilibula ukufuma fye mu ciHebere, kabili mu mwaka wa 405 C.E., alipwishishe ukupilibula Baibolo wa ciLatin. Ilyo papitile myaka, ubupilibulo bwakwe bwaishileitwa ati Vulgate, iilosha ku bupilibulo bwaseeka. (mu ciLatin vulgatus cipilibula “icaseeka, icalumbuka”).

Fintu Abombele Ificilipo

Ubupilibulo bwa kwa Jerome ukufuma mu Malembo ya ciHebere tabwali fye kulemba cipya cipya ukwa bupilibulo bwa iyo nshita. Ku nkulo shali no kukonkapo, bwaalwile ukusambilila kwa Baibolo no kupilibula. Will Durant, kalemba wa lyashi lya kale atile: “Vulgate icili e buuku lyawamisha kabili ilyaambukila sana abantu mu mwanda wa myaka uwalenga bune.”

Nangu cingati Jerome aali ne milandile ya kutumfya ne fikansa, abombele fye eka mu kulenga ukusapika Baibolo kushimpwe pa Malembo yapuutwamo aya ciHebere. Alipooseleko sana amano ukubelenga no kulinganya amamanyuskripti ya ciHebere ne ciGriki ayo tushakwata ilelo. E watangilile ba Masore abaYuda mu mulimo wa kupilibula. E ico, Vulgate bupilibulo bwacindama ubwa kuloshako pa kulinganya fintu amalembo ya Baibolo yambi yapilibulwa.

Nangu cingati tabasuminisha imibele yakwe iyacishamo nelyo imimwene yakwe iya mipepele, abatemwa Icebo ca kwa Lesa balatasha ukubombesha kwa uyu solwesolwe uo balekansaninapo lintu alepilibula Baibolo. Na cine, Jerome alibombele cintu alefwaya, ukupilibula Baibolo “inkulo shonse shingabelenga.”

[Amafutunoti]

[Icikope pe bula 28]

Icimpashanya ca kwa Jerome mu Bethlehem

[Abatusuminishe]

Garo Nalbandian

[Abatusuminishe Ukubomfya Icikope pe bula 26]

Pa muulu ku kuso, Manyuskripti wa ciHebere: Ukusuminishiwa kwa Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Pa nshi ku kuso, Manyuskripti wa ciSyriac: Yabomfiwa na kabili pa kusuminishiwa mu cikuuku kuli Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin; Pa muulu pa kati, Manyuskripti wa ciGriki: Pa kusuminishiwa na Israel Antiquities Authority