Abena Kristu Bapepa mu Mupashi na mu Cine

“Lesa Mupashi, na bamupepa bali no kumupepela mu Mupashi na mu cine.”—YOHANE 4:24.

1. Kupepa kwa musango nshi ukutemuna Lesa?

UMWANA wa kwa Yehova uwafyalwa eka, Yesu Kristu, alilondolwele bwino bwino ukupepa ukutemuna Wishi wa ku muulu. Ilyo aleshimiko bunte bwa kusansamusha ku mwanakashi umwina Samaria pa cishima mupepi no musumba wa Sukari, Yesu atile: “Imwe mupepe co mushaishiba; ifwe tupepe co twaishiba; pa kuti ipusukilo lyaishila mu baYuda. Lelo inshita ileisa, na nomba e ko ili, ilyo bakapepa bene bene bakapepela Tata mu Mupashi na mu cine; pantu na Tata afwaya aba musango uyu babe aba kumupepa. Lesa Mupashi, na bamupepa bali no kumupepela mu Mupashi na mu cine.” (Yohane 4:22-24) Bushe ayo mashiwi yalola mwi?

2. Ni pi abena Samaria bashimpile ukupepa kwabo?

² Abena Samaria bakwete fisumino fya mipepele ya bufi. Basumine ukuti amabuuku ya kubalilapo yasano fye aya mu Malembo ya Mushilo e yapuutwamo—kabili aya na yo ni yalya fye abene bapitulwikemo ayaleitwa Pentateuch wa bena Samaria. Nangula abena Samaria tabaishibe bwino Lesa, abaYuda bena baliseekeshiwe ukwishiba Amalembo. (Abena Roma 3:1, 2) Kanshi abaYuda ba busumino na bambi baali no kuipakisha ububile bwa kwa Yehova. Lelo cinshi calefwaikwa kuli bena?

3. Cinshi cifwaikwa pa kupepa Lesa mu “Mupashi na mu cine”?

³ Pa kuti batemune Yehova, cinshi abaYuda, abena Samaria, na bantu bambi aba ku kale balekabila ukucita? Baali no kumupepela “mu Mupashi na mu cine.” Na ifwe e fyo tufwile ukucita. Nangu ca kuti ukubombela Lesa kufwile ukubamo na maka, nelyo no kupimpa, ukucincishiwa no mutima waisulamo ukutemwa ne citetekelo, icifwaikwa maka maka pa kupepa Lesa mu mupashi, caba mupashi wakwe uwa mushilo ukuba pali ifwe no kuleka ututungulule. Ukupitila mwi sambililo no kubomfya ifyaba mu Cebo ca kwa Lesa, umupashi wesu, nelyo imibele yesu ifwile ukulingana ne yakwe. (1 Abena Korinti 2:8-12) Pa kuti Yehova asuminishe ukupepa kwesu, kufwile ukubamo ne cine. Kufwile ukulingana ne fintu Icebo ca kwa Lesa, Baibolo, cisokolola pali wene no bufwayo bwakwe.

Icine Kuti Casangwa

4. Bushe bamo bamona shani icine?

⁴ Bamo abasambilila amano ya pano nse batontonkanya ukuti umuntunse te kuti asange icine cafikapo. Na kuba, kalemba wa ku Sweden Alf Ahlberg alembele ati: “Ifipusho ifingi ifyakuma ku mano ya pano nse fya kuti teti wasuke icasuko cashininkishiwa.” Nangu ca kuti bamo batila icine caba fye ca lubali, bushe cine cine e fyo caba? Yesu Kristu te fyo atontonkenye.

5. Mulandu nshi Yesu aishile pe sonde?

⁵ Natwelenganye ukuti tuletambako ici cilecitika: Ni ku kutendeka fye kwa mwaka wa 33 C.E., na Yesu naiminina pa ntanshi ya kwa Kateka wa ciRoma Ponti Pilato. Yesu aeba Pilato ati: “Pali ici e co nafyalilwe, kabili pali ici e co naishiile pano isonde, pa kuti nkeseshimike cine ubunte.” Pilato aipusha ati: “Icine cinshi?” Lelo tapembele ukuti Yesu alande na fimbi.—Yohane 18:36-38.

6. (a) Bushe calondololwa ukuti “icine” cinshi? (b) Mulimo nshi Yesu apeele abakonshi bakwe?

⁶ “Icine” calondololwa ukuti “fintu fine fine, ificitika, ne fishinka.” (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) Lelo, bushe Yesu ashimike ubunte ku cine conse? Iyo. Alelanda pa cine cimo. Atumine abakonshi bakwe ukubilisha icine ca musango yo, pantu abebele ati: “E ico kabiyeni, kalengeni aba nko shonse ukuba abasambi, mulebabatishisha mwi shina lya kwa Tata ne lya Mwana ne lya Mupashi wa mushilo: mulebasambilisha ukubaka fyonse ifyo namwebele.” (Mateo 28:19, 20) Ilyo ukupwa kwa pano isonde kushilafika, abakonshi bene bene aba kwa Yesu bali no kubila “icine ca mbila nsuma” mwi sonde lyonse. (Mateo 24:3; Abena Galatia 2:14) Ici cali no kucitwa ku kufishapo amashiwi ya kwa Yesu aya kuti: “Ne mbila nsuma iyi ya bufumu ikabilwa ku fyalo fyonse ku kubo bunte ku nko shonse; e lyo impela ikesa.” (Mateo 24:14) Kanshi nacicindama ukuti twishibe abalesambilisha inko shonse icine ukupitila mu kushimikila imbila nsuma ya Bufumu.

Ifyo Twingasambilile Cine

7. Kuti mwashininkisha shani ukuti Yehova e Ntulo ya cine?

⁷ Yehova e Ntulo ya cine ca fya ku mupashi. Na kuba, kemba wa malumbo Davidi aitile Yehova ati “Lesa wa cishinka.” (Amalumbo 31:5; 43:3) Yesu alisumine ukuti icebo ca kwa Wishi e cine, kabili abilishe no kuti: “Calembwa muli bakasesema, aciti, Kabili bonse bakasambilishiwa kuli Lesa. Umuntu onse uwaumfwa no kusambilila kuli Tata esa kuli ine.” (Yohane 6:45; 17:17; Esaya 54:13) Caumfwika kanshi ukuti, bonse abafwaya icine bafwile ukusambilishiwa na Yehova, Kasambilisha Wakulisha. (Esaya 30:20, 21) Abafwaya icine balekabila “ukwishiba Lesa.” (Amapinda 2:5) Kabili Yehova mu kutemwa alisambilishe nelyo ukwishibisha icine mu nshila shalekanalekana.

8. Ni mu nshila nshi Lesa atusambilishisha nelyo umo atwebela icine?

⁸ Ku ca kumwenako, Lesa abomfeshe bamalaika ukupeela Amalango ku bena Israele. (Abena Galatia 3:19) Mu filoto, alaile ukupaala ifikolwe Abrahamu na Yakobo. (Ukutendeka 15:12-16; 28:10-19) Lesa alandile fye no kufuma ku muulu umwine, nga fintu cali ilyo Yesu abatishiwe na ya mashiwi ya kucincimusha yaumfwikike pe sonde aya kuti: “Uyu e mwana wandi uwatemwikwa, umo mbekelwa.” (Mateo 3:17) Kabili kuti twatasha apo Lesa atwebele icine ukupitila mu kupuutamo bakalemba ba Baibolo. (2 Timote 3:16, 17) Kanshi, pa kusambilila mu Cebo ca kwa Lesa, kuti ‘twatetekele cine.’—2 Abena Tesalonika 2:13.

Icine no Mwana wa kwa Lesa

9. Bushe Lesa abomfya shani Umwana wakwe ku kusokolola icine?

⁹ Lesa abomfya sana Umwana wakwe, Yesu Kristu, ku kusokolwela abantunse icine. (AbaHebere 1:1-3) Na kuba, Yesu alandile cine mu nshila ishatalile ailandwa no muntu umbi. (Yohane 7:46) Nangu fye ni pa numa aninine ukuya ku muulu, asokolwele icine ukufuma kuli Wishi. Ku ca kumwenako, umutumwa Yohane apokelele “ukusokolola kwa kwa Yesu Kristu, uko Lesa amupeele ku kulanga ababomfi bakwe ifili no kupona bwangu.”—Ukusokolola 1:1-3.

10, 11. (a) Icine ico Yesu ashimike ubunte cakuma kuli finshi? (b) Ni shani fintu Yesu alengele icine ukuba ica cishinka?

¹⁰ Yesu aebele Ponti Pilato ukuti Aishile pe sonde ku kushimike cine ubunte. Mu butumikishi bwakwe, Yesu asokolwele ukuti icine ca musango yo cakumine ku kwebelwa kwa bumulopwe bwa kwa Yehova ukupitila mu Bufumu bwa kwa Lesa ubutekwa na Kristu Imfumu. Lelo ukushimike cine ubunte kwalekabila ifingi ukucila pa kushimikila fye no kusambilisha. Yesu alengele cilya icine ukuba ica cishinka ukupitila mu kucifishapo. E ico, umutumwa Paulo alembele ati: “Mwileka muntu amupingule pa mulandu wa ca kulya, nangu ni pa ca kunwa, nangu ni pa mutebeto, nangu bushiku bwa mweshi, nangu lisabata. Ifi fintu e cinshingwa fye ca fikesapona; lelo umubili wena wa kwa Kristu.”—Abena Kolose 2:16, 17.

¹¹ Inshila imo iyo icine cabelelemo ica cishinka ni ku kufyalwa kwasobelwe ukwa kwa Yesu mu Betlehemu. (Mika 5:2; Luka 2:4-11) Icine na kabili cabele ica cishinka pa kufishiwapo kwa fyebo fya kusesema ifya kwa Daniele pa lwa kumoneka kwa kwa Mesia pa mpela ya “bacinelubali cinelubali ba myaka [7x7], kabili bacinelubali amakumi mutanda na babili ba myaka [7x62].” Ico cacitike ilyo Yesu aipeele kuli Lesa pa lubatisho kabili asubilwe no mupashi wa mushilo, pali ilya ine fye nshita yasobelwe, mu 29 C.E. (Daniele 9:25; Luka 3:1, 21, 22) Icine na kabili cabele ica cishinka ku butumikishi bwa Bufumu ubo Yesu alebila ku kusanikila abantu. (Esaya 9:1, 2, 6, 7; 61:1, 2; Mateo 4:13-17; Luka 4:18-21) Cabele ica cishinka na pa mfwa ya kwa Yesu no kubuushiwa.—Amalumbo 16:8-11; Esaya 53:5, 8, 11, 12; Mateo 20:28; Yohane 1:29; Imilimo 2:25-31.

12. Mulandu nshi Yesu engasosela ati, ‘Ni ne cine’?

¹² Apo icine cakumine sana Yesu Kristu, e co engasosela ati “Ni ne nshila ne cine no mweo: takuli uwisa kuli Tata, kano aishila muli ine.” (Yohane 14:6) Abantu balaba abantungwa lwa ku mupashi ilyo baba “aba bucine” ukupitila mu kwishiba icifulo Yesu akwata mu bufwayo bwa kwa Lesa. (Yohane 8:32-36; 18:37) Impaanga shimbi shikapokelela umweo wa muyayaya pantu balapokelele cine no kukonka Kristu mu busumino.—Yohane 10:24-28.

13. Ni mu mbali nshi shitatu twalabebeta icine ca mu Malembo?

¹³ Ifintu fya cine ifyashimike Yesu na basambi bakwe abapuutilwemo e fipanga ifisumino fya cine ifya Bwina Kristu. Kanshi ‘abanakila icitetekelo’ “baleenda mu Cine.” (Imilimo 6:7; 3 Yohane 3, 4) E ico, ni bani benda mu cine lelo? Ni bani cumi abalesambilisha inko icine? Pa kwasuka ayo mepusho, twalalanda sana pa Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo no kubebeta icine ca mu Malembo ukukuma ku (1) ifisumino, (2) imipepele, na (3) imyendele ya pa lwabo.

Icine ne Fisumino

14, 15. Cinshi mwingasosa pa fyo Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo e lyo ne Nte sha kwa Yehova bamona Amalembo?

¹⁴ Icebo ca kwa Yehova icalembwa calicindamikwe nga nshi ku Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo. (Yohane 17:17) E co balepiminako ifisumino ne micitile. Clement wa ku Alexandria uwaliko mu mwanda wa myaka uwalenga ibili no walenga itatu atile: “Abafwaya ifyafikapo tabakaleke ukusapika icine, mpaka bakaisangile abene ubushininkisho bwa kuti ifyo basumina fya mu Malembo.”

¹⁵ Nga filya fyali Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo, Inte sha kwa Yehova shalicindamika Baibolo icine cine. Bacetekela ukuti “Amalembo yonse yantu yapuutwamo kuli Lesa, kabili ya mulimo ku kusambilisha.” (2 Timote 3:16) Natumone kanshi ifisumino fimo fimo ifya Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo ilyo tuletontonkanya pa fyo ababomfi ba kwa Yehova aba muno nshiku basambilila pa mulandu wa kubomfya Baibolo nge citabo cikalamba ica kusambililamo.

Icine pa lwa Mweo

16. Cinshi caba icine pa lwa mweo?

¹⁶ Pa mulandu wa kusumina casoswa mu Malembo, Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo basambilishe icine pa lwa mweo. Balishibe ukuti ilyo Lesa abumbile umuntu ‘uyo muntu abele icibumbwa ca mweo.’ (Ukutendeka 2:7) Kabinge balisumine no kuti umweo wa muntunse ulafwa. (Yakobo 5:20) Balishibe no kuti ‘abafwa tabaishiba kantu nangu kamo.’—Lukala Milandu 9:5, 10.

17. Kuti mwalondolola shani isubilo lya bafwa?

¹⁷ Lelo, abasambi ba kwa Yesu aba kubalilapo balikwete isubilo line line ilya kuti Lesa alebukisha abafwa kabili ali no kubabuusha, nelyo ukubapeela ubumi cipya cipya. Ico cisumino calondolwelwe bwino bwino kuli Paulo, uwabilishe ati: “[Ninkwate] citetekelo kuli Lesa . . . ica kuti kukabo kwima ku bafwa kwa balungama na bashalungama.” (Imilimo 24:15) Nangu fye ni mu nshita shakonkelepo, uwaleitunga ukuba Umwina Kristu Minucius Felix alembele ati: “Nani uwatumpa nga nshi nelyo umuwelewele uwingapama no kusumina ukuti umuntu, uwabumbilwe na Lesa, te kuti abumbwe cipya cipya kuli Lesa wine?” Ukupala Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo, Inte sha kwa Yehova bakakatila ku cine ca mu Malembo pa lwa mweo wa muntunse, imfwa, na pa lwa kubuuka ku bafwa. Lekeni nomba tulande pa fyo Lesa na Kristu baishibikwa.

Icine ne Cisambilisho ca Kuti Kwaba Balesa Batatu

18, 19. Mulandu nshi cingasoselwa ukuti icisambilisho ca kuti kwaba Balesa Batatu te ca mu Malembo?

¹⁸ Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo tabalemona Lesa, Kristu, no mupashi wa mushilo ukuti ni Balesa Batatu. Icitabo ca The Encyclopædia Britannica cisoso kuti: “Amashiwi ya kuti Balesa Batatu nelyo icifundisho cine cine tacisangwa mu Cipingo Cipya, kabili Yesu na bakonshi bakwe tabaiminine pa kupilika Shema [ipepo lya ciHebere] ilya mu Cipingo ca Kale ilitila: ‘Umfweni, mwe bena Israele, Yehova Lesa wesu Yehova umo wine’ (Amala. 6:4).” Abena Kristu tabalepepa balesa batatu aba cina Roma nelyo balesa abali bonse bambi. Bacetekele ifyo Yesu asosele ukuti Yehova eka e ulingile ukupepwa. (Mateo 4:10) Kabinge, bacetekele amashiwi ya kwa Kristu ayatila: “Tata mukalamba pali ine.” (Yohane 14:28) Inte sha kwa Yehova ilelo na bo e fyo basumina.

¹⁹ Abakonshi ba kwa Yesu aba kubalilapo balipaatukenye bwino bwino pa kati ka kwa Lesa, Kristu, no mupashi wa mushilo. Na kuba, balebatishisha abasambi (1) mwi shina lya kwa Tata, (2) mwi shina lya Mwana, na (3) mwi shina lya mupashi wa mushilo, te mwi shina lya Balesa Batatu iyo. Inte sha kwa Yehova na bo basambilisha icine ca mu Malembo e co na bo bapaatukanya pa kati ka kwa Lesa, Umwana wakwe, no mupashi wa mushilo.—Mateo 28:19.

Icine no Lubatisho

20. Kwishiba nshi abalefwaya ukubatishiwa bakabila?

²⁰ Yesu atumine abakonshi bakwe ukupanga abasambi ukupitila mu kusambilisha abantu icine. Pa kuti bafikepo ku kubatishiwa, bakabila ukwishiba ifya kutendekelako ifya mu Malembo. Ku ca kumwenako, bafwile ukwishiba icifulo na maka ya kwa Wishi no Mwana wakwe, Yesu Kristu. (Yohane 3:16) Abalefwaya ukubatishiwa balekabila no kumfwikisha ukuti umupashi wa mushilo te muntu iyo lelo maka ya kwa Lesa ayabomba.—Ukutendeka 1:2.

21, 22. Mulandu nshi mwingasosela ukuti abafwile ukubatishiwa bantu basumina?

²¹ Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo balebatisha fye abantu baishibe kabili abalapile abaipeele umupwilapo kuli Lesa ku kucita ukufwaya kwakwe. AbaYuda na basangwike abaYuda abalongene mu Yerusalemu pa Pentekoste wa 33 C.E. balishibe kale Amalembo ya ciHebere. Ilyo baumfwile umutumwa Petro alelanda ulwa kwa Yesu Mesia, mupepi na bantu 3,000 “bapokelele icebo” kabili “balibatishiwe.”—Imilimo 2:41; 3:19–4:4; 10:34-38.

²² Ulubatisho lwa Bena Kristu lwa kubatisha abasumina. Abantu ba ku Samaria balipokelele icine, kabili “ilyo batetekele kuli Filipi, uwalebile mbila nsuma iya bufumu bwa kwa Lesa ne shina lya kwa Yesu Kristu, balabatishiwa, abaume na banakashi.” (Imilimo 8:12) Apo mutungwi umwina Etiopia aali ni nsangu yaipeelesha ku kupepa kabili alishibe pa lwa kwa Yehova, intanshi alipokelele ifyebo fya kwa Filipi pa lwa kufishiwapo kwa kusesema kwa pali Mesia, e lyo abatishiwe. (Imilimo 8:34-36) Inshita imbi ku ntanshi, Petro aebele Korneli na Bena fyalo bambi ati “[uwatiina Lesa] no kubombo kulungama asekelelwa kuli wene” no kuti onse uwatetekela Yesu Kristu alalekelelwa imembu. (Imilimo 10:35, 43; 11:18) Ifi fyonse fyalingana ne fyo Yesu aebele abakonshi ‘ukulenga abasambi, ukubasambilisha ukubaka fyonse ifyo alandile.’ (Mateo 28:19, 20; Imilimo 1:8) Inte sha kwa Yehova basenda icipimo cimo cine, ukubatisha fye abaishiba ifya kutendekelako ifya mu Malembo kabili abaipeela kuli Lesa.

23, 24. Musango nshi uwa lubatisho lwalinga ku Bena Kristu?

²³ Ulubatisho lwalinga ku basumina lufwile ukuba lwa kutumpika umupwilapo mu menshi. Pa numa Yesu abatishiwe mu Mumana wa Yordani, ‘afumine mu menshi.’ (Marko 1:10) Mutungwi umwina Etiopia abatishiwe ilyo bafikile “pa menshi.” Wene na Filipi “batentemukile ku menshi” e lyo pa numa “baninine ukufuma ku menshi.” (Imilimo 8:36-40) Filya Amalembo yapalanya ulubatisho ku kushiikwa kwa mampalanya na co cilangilila ukuti lufwile ukuba lwa kutumpika umupwilapo mu menshi.—Abena Roma 6:4-6; Abena Kolose 2:12.

²⁴ Icitabo ca The Oxford Companion to the Bible cisoso kuti: “Ifyo ulubatisho lwa mu Cipingo Cipya lwalondololwa mu kulungatika filanga ukuti umuntu walebatishiwa aletumpikwa mu menshi.” Ukulingana ne citabo ca ciFrench Larousse du XX^e Siècle (Paris, 1928), “Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo pa kubabatisha balebatumpika mu menshi ukuli konse ukwali no kusangwa amenshi.” Icitabo citila After Jesus—The Triumph of Christianity (Ukucimfya kwa buKristu pa Numa ya kwa Yesu) cisoso kuti: “Mu [lubatisho] lwayanguka, uulefwaya ukubatishiwa alebilisha icitetekelo cakwe, lyene kwaleba ukumutumpika umupwilapo mu menshi mwi shina lya kwa Yesu.”

25. Cinshi cili no kulandwapo mu cipande cikonkelepo?

²⁵ Ifishinka twalandapo pa lwa fisumino fyashimpwa pali Baibolo ne micitile ya Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo fya kumwenako fye. Kuti twalanda na fimbi ifyapalana pa kati ka fisumino fya balya Bena Kristu ne fya Nte sha kwa Yehova. Mu cipande cikonkelepo, tuli no kulanda pa nshila na shimbi ishishibikilwako abasambilisha abantu icine.

Benda mu Cine

“Nshikwete ukusekelela ukwacisha pali uku, pa kuumfwe fyo abana bandi baleenda mu Cine.”—3 YOHANE 4.

1. Ni pali cinshi “icine ca mbila nsuma” catonta?

YEHOVA asuminisha fye abamupepela “mu Mupashi na mu cine.” (Yohane 4:24) Balanakila icine, ukusumina ifisambilisho fyonse ifya Bwina Kristu ifyashimpwa pa Cebo ca kwa Lesa. “Icine ca mbila nsuma” catonta pali Yesu Kristu no kwebelwa kwa bumulopwe bwa kwa Yehova ukupitila mu Bufumu. (Abena Galatia 2:14) Lesa aleka “ukubomba kwa kuluba” ukutwalilila ku bafwaya ifya bufi, lelo ipusukilo lyashintilila pa kutetekela imbila nsuma no kulaenda mu cine.—2 Abena Tesalonika 2:9-12; Abena Efese 1:13, 14.

2. Cinshi maka maka ico umutumwa Yohane asekelele, kabili ukwampana kwakwe na Gai kwali shani?

² Bakabila ba Bufumu baba “ababombela pamo ne Cine.” Nga filya fyali umutumwa Yohane no munankwe Gai, baikatishe cine no kulaendamo. Ilyo Yohane aletontonkanya pali Gai, alembele ati: “Nshikwete ukusekelela ukwacisha pali uku, pa kuumfwe fyo abana bandi baleenda mu Cine.” (3 Yohane 3-8) Nangula Yohane umukoloci te wasambilishe Gai icine, ubukoloci bwakwe, ukukosoka kwa Bwina Kristu, ne citemwishi ca buwishi fyalengele ukuti cilolemo kuli Yohane ukumona Gai, uwali napamo mulumendo kwati ni umo uwa mu bana bakwe aba ku mupashi.

Icine no Kupepa kwa Bwina Kristu

3. Cinshi cali ubufwayo no bunonshi bwa kulongana kwalecitwa na Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo?

³ Pa kuti basambilile cine, Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo balelongana mu filonganino, ilingi line mu mayanda ya bantu. (Abena Roma 16:3-5) Ico calengele balekoseleshiwa no kucincimushanisha ku kutemwa na ku kubombe milimo isuma. (AbaHebere 10:24, 25) Tertullian (mupepi na 155–​pa numa ya 220 C.E.) alembele pa baleitunga ukuba Abena Kristu mu myaka yakonkelepo ati: “Tulalongana no kubelenga ifitabo fya kwa Lesa . . . Ifyo fyebo fyashila e fyo tuliisha icitetekelo cesu, ukukosha isubilo lyesu, no kwikasha ukucetekela kwesu.”—Apology, icipandwa 39.

4. Mulimo nshi ukwimba kwabomba mu kulongana kwa Bwina Kristu?

⁴ Cimoneka kwati ukwimba na ko e mo kwali mu kulongana kwa Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo. (Abena Efese 5:19; Abena Kolose 3:16) Profesa Henry Chadwick alemba ukuti kalengulula wa mu mwanda wa myaka uwalenga ibili Celsus asangile ukuti inyimbo shisuma ishaleimbwa na baleitunga ukuba Abena Kristu “shali ishisuma nga nshi ica kuti calemukalipa ifyo shalemufika pa mutima.” Chadwick akonkanyapo no kuti: “Clement wa ku Alexandria e Mwina Kristu wa kubalilapo ukulanda pa musango wa nyimbo shalinga ukwimbwa na Bena Kristu. Alondolola ukuti tashilingile ukumfwika nga shilya isha mu kucinda kwa bucisenene.” (The Early Church, amabula 274-5) Nga fintu fye cimoneka kwati Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo baleimba ilyo balongana, e ficita ne Nte sha kwa Yehova, ilingi line balemba inyimbo shashimpwa pali Baibolo ishabamo amashiwi ya kulumbanya Lesa no Bufumu.

5. (a) Bushe ukutungulula mu fya ku mupashi kwalefuma kwi mu filonganino fya Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo? (b) Ni shani fintu Abena Kristu ba cine bakonka amashiwi ya kwa Yesu ayalembwa pali Mateo 23:8, 9?

⁵ Mu filonganino fya Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo, bakangalila balesambilishe cine, na babomfi batumikila baleafwilisha abasumina banabo mu nshila shalekanalekana. (Abena Filipi 1:1, NW) Ibumba litungulula ilyaleshintilila pa Cebo ca kwa Lesa no mupashi wa mushilo e lyaletungulula mu fya ku mupashi. (Imilimo 15:6, 23-31) Tabalebomfya amalumbo mu mipepele yabo pantu Yesu aebele abasambi bakwe ati: “Mwiitwa Rabi; pantu Kasambilisha wenu umo, na imwe muli ba bwananyina. Kabili mwiita uwa pano isonde, Tata; pantu Shinwe umo, uwa mu muulu.” (Mateo 23:8, 9) Muli fi e lyo ne fintu fimbi, mwaliba ukupalana ukwingi pa kati ka Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo ne Nte sha kwa Yehova.

Ukupakaswa pa Kushimikile Cine

6, 7. Nangula Abena Kristu babilisha ubukombe bwa mutende, baabacita shani?

⁶ Nangu ca kuti balebilisha ubukombe bwa Bufumu ubwa mutende, Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo balipakeswe, nga fintu na Yesu apakeswe. (Yohane 15:20; 17:14) Kalemba wa lyashi lya kale John L. von Mosheim aitile Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo ati “ibumba lya bantu abali sana no mutembo ababulo lubuli, abashalepanga nelyo ukutontonkanya ukwimina imibombele ya buteko.” Dokota Mosheim alondolwele ukuti “icakalifye abena Roma pa Bena Kristu, cali mipepele yabo iyayanguka iishapalileko ku kupupa kwashila ukwa bantu bambi.” Asosele no kuti: “Tabalepeela amalambo, tabakwete amatempele, ifipasho, aba kubuka, nelyo ubwikashi ubwaletungululwa na bashimapepo; kabili ici cine e calengele balesaalulwa ku cinabwingi ca bantu abambuulu, abaletontonkanya ukuti imipepele yabulwe fi fintu te mipepele iyo. E ico balebamona kwati ni bamukanalesa; kabili, ukulingana na mafunde ya ciRoma, abapeelwe umulandu wa bumukanalesa balemonwa ukuti baleonaula abantu.”

⁷ Bashimapepo, bakapanga ba fintu, na bambi abalemwena ubwikalo mu balepepo tulubi basongelekenye abantuuntu fye ukwimina Abena Kristu, abashalepepako utulubi. (Imilimo 19:23-40; 1 Abena Korinti 10:14) Tertullian alembele ati: “Basumine ati ubusanso bonse ubwacitika ku Buteko, conse icaponena abantu, ninshi Bena Kristu balenga. Nga ca kuti umumana wa Tiber wapoosa ne fibumba fya musumba fyapana fibunde, nga ca kuti umumana wa Naelo wafilwa ukupoosa pa kuti utapilile amabala, nga kwaba icilala nelyo nga kwaba icinkukuma, nga kwabe cipoowe, nga kwaba icikuko, bonse balebilikisha pamo abati: ‘Pooseni Abena Kristu mu nkalamo!’” Abena Kristu ba cine ‘balaibaka ku tulubi’ tabasakamana ne fitumbuka muli uku kuibaka.—1 Yohane 5:21.

Icine no Kusefya Inshiku Shakuma ku fya Mipepele

8. Mulandu nshi abenda mu cine bashisefeshako Krisimasi?

⁸ Abenda mu cine tabasefyako ukusefya kushili kwa mu malembo pantu ‘ulubuuto ne mfifi tafyakwate senge.’ (2 Abena Korinti 6:14-18) Ku ca kumwenako, tabasefya Krisimasi, iibako pa December 25. Icitabo ca The World Book Encyclopedia cilasumina aciti: “Takwaba uwaishiba ubushiku bwine bwine Kristu afyelwe.” Cimbi icitwa Encyclopedia Americana (Ukulembwa kwa mu 1956) cisoso kuti: “Umutebeto wa ciRoma uwa Saturnalia, uo balesefya pa kati ka December, e kwafuma ifibelesho ifingi ifya kusangalala pa Krisimasi.” Cyclopædia (icitabo) ya kwa M’Clintock na Strong itila: “Ukusefya Krisimasi te cintu Lesa asosele, kabili tacafuma mu [Cipingo Cipya].” Kabili icitabo citila Daily Life in the Time of Jesus (Imikalile ya Cila Bushiku mu Nshiku sha kwa Yesu) cisoso kuti: ‘Mu mpepo impaanga shalecingililwa; kabili ici cine fye icishinka kuti calanga ukuti kanshi ubushiku bonse basuminamo ubwa Krisimasi, icali ni mu mpepo, cimoneka kwati te bwa cine, apo Ilandwe litila abacemi bali mu mpanga.’—Luka 2:8-11.

9. Mulandu nshi ababomfi ba kwa Yehova aba ku kale na ba ino nshita bashisefeshako ukusefya kwe Pasaka?

⁹ Ukusefya Ipasaka (isita) batila kusefya ukubuuka kwa kwa Kristu, lelo ifitabo fyacetekelwa fitila uku kusefya kwafumine ku kupepa kwa bufi. Icitabo ca The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible cisoso kuti ukusefya kwe Pasaka “kale wali mutebeto wa muli shinde uwa kucindika lesa mwanakashi uwa lubuuto na shinde Teutonic uyo baleita mu ciAnglo-Saxon ati Eastre,” nelyo Eostre. Nangula ni fyo, icitabo ca Encyclopædia Britannica (Ukulembwa kwa 11) citila: “Takwaba icalembwa icili conse mu Cipingo Cipya icilangilila ukuti kwaleba ukusefya kwe Pasaka.” Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo tabalesefyako Ipasaka kabili abantu ba kwa Yehova lelo tabasefyako.

10. Kusefya nshi uko Yesu atendeke, kabili ni bani bacita uko pa nshita yalinga iya kuko?

¹⁰ Yesu taebele abakonshi bakwe ukulasefya ukufyalwa kwakwe nelyo ukubuushiwa kwakwe, lelo atendeke Icibukisho ca mfwa yakwe iya bulilambo. (Abena Roma 5:8) Cine cine, ici e cintu fye ceka abasambi bakwe baebwa ukulacita. (Luka 22:19, 20) Ici cintu ca pa mwaka iciitwa no kuti Umulalilo wa kwa Shikulu cicili cilacitwa ku Nte sha kwa Yehova.—1 Abena Korinti 11:20-26.

Icine Cabilishiwa mwi Sonde Lyonse

11, 12. Ni mu nshila nshi abenda mu cine lyonse batungililamo umulimo wabo uwa kushimikila?

¹¹ Abaishibe cine bamona ukuti lishuko ukubomfya inshita yabo, amaka, ne fintu fyabo fimbi ku mulimo wa kushimikila imbila nsuma. (Marko 13:10) Imibombele ya Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo yaleyafwilishiwa ku misangulo ya kuitemenwa. (2 Abena Korinti 8:12; 9:7) Tertullian alembele ati: “Nangu kwali imbokoshi, indalama shalepooswamo tashali sha kwingilila, kwati pa kwingila mu kupepa kano walipila. Umuntu onse cila mweshi aleleta akanyampuku—nelyo ifyo alefwaya umwine, kabili aleleta fye nga alefwaya, kabili nga nakwata; pantu tapali uwalepatikishiwa; mutuulo wa kuitemenwa.”—Apology, icipandwa 39.

¹² Umulimo wa kushimikila Ubufumu uwa mwi sonde lyonse uwa Nte sha kwa Yehova na o wafwilishiwa ne misangulo ya kuitemenwa. Ukulunda pa Nte, abantu abafwaya ukwishibe cine abatasha bacimona nge shuko lyabo ukwafwilisha uyu mulimo ku misangulo yabo. Pano na po pali ukupalana pa kati ka Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo ne Nte sha kwa Yehova.

Icine ne Myendele ya pa Lwesu

13. Kufunda nshi ukwa kwa Petro pa lwa myendele uko Inte sha kwa Yehova bomfwila?

¹³ Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo, apo baleenda mu cine, baleumfwila ukufunda kwa mutumwa Petro ukwa kuti: “Mwende bwino mu Bena fyalo; ukuti, umo bamupontelela kwati muli ncitatubi, bacindike Lesa mu bushiku bwa cipempu pa kuloleshe milimo yenu isuma.” (1 Petro 2:12) Inte sha kwa Yehova balikatamika no kumfwila ayo mashiwi.

14. Bushe Abena Kristu bamona shani ifya kusekesha fya bucisenene?

¹⁴ Nelyo fye ni lintu ubusangu bwasokelele, abaleitwa Abena Kristu balesengauka bucisenene. W. D. Killen, profesa wa lyashi lya kale ilya mapepo, alembele ati: “Mu mwanda wa myaka uwalenga ibili no walenga itatu ing’anda ya fisela mwi tauni lyonse ilikalamba e kwalekonkomokela abantu; kabili ilintu aba fyangalo ilingi line bali bacisenene bene bene, ifyangalo fyabo lyonse fyalesansamusha abantu ba lunkumbwa abaliko ilya nshita. . . . Abena Kristu ba cine bonse balemona ing’anda ya fisela nge ca muselu. . . . Baletaluka ku fye shiku fyalecitilwa mulya; kabili ukupaapaata kwalecitwa lyonse kuli balesa na balesa banakashi aba cisenshi kwalebakalifya pantu kwapusene ne mipepele baishibe.” (The Ancient Church, amabula 318-19) Abakonshi ba cine aba kwa Yesu lelo na bo balasengauka ifye shiku ne fya kusekesha fya bucisenene.—Abena Efese 5:3-5.

Icine na “Bakateka Bacilamo”

15, 16. Bushe “bakateka abacilamo” ni bani, kabili bamonwa shani ku benda mu cine?

¹⁵ Te mulandu ne myendele isuma iya Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo, bakateka ba Roma abengi balebatunganya. Kalemba wa lyashi lya kale E. G. Hardy asoso kuti bakateka balebamona “kwati finangwa fyapimpa.” Amakalata Umulashi Pliny the Younger uwa ku Bithynia balelembeshanya na Kateka Trajan yalanga ukuti abalashi ilingi line tabaleishiba imibele ine ine iya Bena Kristu ba cine. Bushe Abena Kristu bamona shani Ubuteko?

¹⁶ Nge fyacitile abakonshi ba kwa Yesu aba kubalilapo, Inte sha kwa Yehova balanakila “bakateka abacilamo” aba makamfulumende muli fimo. (Abena Roma 13:1-7) Nga ca kuti ifyo abantunse balefwaya fyapusana no kufwaya kwa bulesa, bacite fi: “Tuli no kunakila Lesa ukucilo kunakila abantu.” (Imilimo 5:29) Icitabo After Jesus—The Triumph of Christianity cisoso kuti: “Nangu Abena Kristu tabalepepako kateka, tabalesongelekanya amabumba, kabili imipepele yabo, nangu yali iyaibela, kabili inshita shimo yali kalusha buci ku basenshi, tayali na busanso bwine bwine ku buteko.”

17. (a) Bushe Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo bali ba ndubulwila ba buteko nshi? (b) Bushe abakonshi ba cine aba kwa Kristu babomfya shani amashiwi ya pali Esaya 2:4?

¹⁷ Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo bali ni bandubulwila ba Bufumu bwa kwa Lesa, nga filya ifikolwe Abrahamu, Isaki, na Yakobo batetekele ulya ‘musumba’ walaiwe uo ‘kakuula wa uko ni Lesa.’ (AbaHebere 11:8-10) Abasambi ba kwa Yesu “tabali ba pano isonde” nga filya fine Shikulu wabo ashali wa pano isonde. (Yohane 17:14-16) Kumfwa pa lwa nkondo sha bantunse no kukansana, balekonkelela umutende ukupitila mu ‘kufule mpanga shabo ukuba ifya kuliminako umushili.’ (Esaya 2:4) Pa kumona ukupalana kumo ukusuma, kafundisha wa lyashi lya kale ilya fya macalici Geoffrey F. Nuttall alandile ati: “Ifyo Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo balemone nkondo fyalipalana sana ne fyo balya bantu abaita ati Inte sha kwa Yehova baimona kabili ico cilatukosela ukusumina.”

18. Mulandu nshi ubuteko ubuli bonse bushakwatila umulandu wa kutiina Inte sha kwa Yehova?

¹⁸ Apo Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo tabaleipoosa mu fya calo kabili balenakila “bakateka abacilamo,” tabali ba kuleto busanso ku bali bonse abaleteka ne Nte sha kwa Yehova tashileto busanso. Umo uulemba imimwene yakwe uwa ku North America atile: “Pa kusumina ukuti Inte sha kwa Yehova shaba sha busanso ku buteko ubuli bonse, kano nga niwe munshebwa kabili uutwishika icine cine. Tabaleta ifimfulunganya kabili balitemwa umutende ukulingana ne fyo imipepele ilingile ukuba.” Abalashi basanikilwa bwino balishiba ukuti tapali ifyo bengatiina ku Nte sha kwa Yehova.

19. Ukukuma ku misonko, cinshi cingasoswa pa Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo na pa Nte sha kwa Yehova?

¹⁹ Inshila imo Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo balangilemo ukuti balicindika “bakateka abacilamo” yali kusonka imisonko. Ilyo Justin Martyr alelembela Kateka wa Roma Antoninus Pius (138-161 C.E.), atile Abena Kristu “baleitemenwa sana [ukulipila imisonko] ukucila abantu bonse.” (First Apology, icipandwa 17) Kabili Tertullian aebele bakateka ba Roma ukuti abantu babo abalesonkesha imisonko “balingile ukutasha Abena Kristu” pa kupoosako amano ku kusonka imisonko. (Apology, icipandwa 42) Abena Kristu balemwenamo mu caleitwa Pax Romana, nelyo Umutende wa Cina Roma, na mafunde yaliko no mutelelwe, imisebo isuma, ne myendele isuma iya pa menshi. Pa kwishiba ifyo bafwile ukutasha ku bwikashi, baleumfwila amashiwi ya kwa Yesu aya kuti: “Ifya kwa Kaisare peeleni kuli Kaisare, ne fya kwa Lesa peeleni kuli Lesa.” (Marko 12:17) Abantu ba kwa Yehova ilelo bomfwila uku kufunda kabili balitashiwa pa bufumacumi bwabo ukukuma ku kusonka imisonko.—AbaHebere 13:18.

Icine—E Cikakilo Cikatanya

20, 21. Ukukuma ku bwananyina bwa mutende, cali shani ku Bena Kristu ba kubalilapo kabili caba shani ku babomfi ba kwa Yehova muno nshiku?

²⁰ Apo Abena Kristu ba kubalilapo baleenda mu cine, balikatene pamo mu bwananyina bwa mutende, nge fyaba ne Nte sha kwa Yehova lelo. (Imilimo 10:34, 35) Kalata uwalembelwe mu nyunshipepala ya The Moscow Times atile: “[Inte sha kwa Yehova] baishibikwa konse ukuti basuma, ba cikuku, kabili abafuuka, abashayafya, tabapatikisha bambi mu fili fyonse kabili lyonse bafwaya umutende mu kwampana kwabo na bambi . . . Pa kati kabo tapaba abapoka amafisakanwa, bacakolwa nelyo abakunkuma ku miti ikola, kabili umulandu cabele fyo walyanguka: Besha fye ukutungululwa ne fyo basambilila muli Baibolo muli fyonse ifyo bacita nelyo ukusosa. Nga ca kuti abantu bonse mu calo baleeshako fye ukwikala umwabele filanda Baibolo nge ficita Inte sha kwa Yehova, icalo cesu icaisulamo ubunkalwe kuti caba bwino.”

²¹ Icitabo ca Encyclopedia of Early Christianity citila: “Aba mwi calici lya kubalilapo baleimona kwati lupwa lumo ulupya umo amabumba ayali pa bulwani kale, abaYuda na Bena fyalo, bengekala pamo abaikatana mu mutende.” Inte sha kwa Yehova na bo baba bwananyina bwa mwi sonde lyonse abatemwo mutende—cine cine baba ni sosaite wa calo cipya. (Abena Efese 2:11-18; 1 Petro 5:9; 2 Petro 3:13) Ilyo umukalamba wa balashi basungilila umutende uwa cibansa ca Pretoria Show Grounds mu South Africa amwene ifyo Inte sha mishobo yonse balongene kwi bungano mu mutende, atile: “Bonse bene ba mucinshi, balanda mutembo mutembo ku banabo, imibele balangishe pa nshiku shinono ishapita—fyonse fileikalilako ubunte ukuti ababa muli sosaite wenu baba ne mibele isuma, kabili no kuti bonse bekala capamo ngo lupwa lumo ulwa nsansa.”

Ukupaalwa pa Kusambilisha Icine

22. Cinshi cicitika pa mulandu wa kuti Abena Kristu balalenga icine ukwishibikwa?

²² Paulo na Bena Kristu bambi ‘balelenge cine ukwishibikwa’ ku myendele yabo no mulimo wa kushimikila. (2 Abena Korinti 4:2) Bushe tamulesuminisha ukuti Inte sha kwa Yehova e fyo bacita na bo kabili balesambilisha inko shonse icine? Abantu mwi sonde lyonse balepokelela ukupepa kwa cine kabili abengi balekonkomokela ‘ku lupili lwa ng’anda ya kwa Yehova.’ (Esaya 2:2, 3) Cila mwaka, amakana ya bantu balabatishiwa ku kulanga ukuipeela kwabo kuli Lesa, ne ci cilenga ifilonganino fipya ifingi ukupangwa.

23. Mumona shani abasambilishe nko shonse icine?

²³ Nangu abantu ba kwa Yehova bakula imikulile yapusanapusana, balikatana mu kupepa kwa cine. Ukutemwa balanga kubeshibisha ukuti basambi ba kwa Yesu. (Yohane 13:35) Bushe mwamona ukuti ‘Lesa aba muli bene cine cine’? (1 Abena Korinti 14:25) Bushe na imwe mulatungilila abasambilisha inko shonse icine? Nga ni fyo, shi langeni ukuti mulatasha pe pa kwishibe cine kabili shi mukabe ne shuko lya kwendamo umuyayaya.