MUTU 18

‘Funafunani Mulungu ndi Kumupezadi’

Paulo ankatchula mfundo zimene omvera ake ankagwirizana nazo ndipo ankanena zinthu zimene omverawo ankazidziwa bwino

Nkhaniyi yachokera pa Machitidwe 17:16-34

1-3. (a) N’chifukwa chiyani mtumwi Paulo anawawidwa mtima kwambiri atafika ku Atene? (b) Kodi tingaphunzire chiyani pa zimene Paulo anachita?

PAULO atafika mumzinda wa Atene m’dziko la Girisi, anawawidwa mtima kwambiri. Ku Atene kunali kuchimake kwa maphunziro a nzeru za anthu ndipo akatswiri a maphunzirowa monga Socrates, Plato ndi Aristotle anaphunzitsapo mumzinda umenewu. Anthu a mumzinda wa Atene anali okonda kwambiri kulambira. Paulo ankangoona mafano okhaokha kulikonse, monga mu akachisi, m’mabwalo ndi m’misewu, chifukwa chakuti anthu a ku Atene ankalambira milungu yosiyanasiyana. Koma iye ankadziwa mmene Yehova, yemwe ndi Mulungu woona, amaonera kulambira mafano. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Mtumwi wokhulupirikayu nayenso ankanyansidwa ndi mafano ngati mmene Yehova amachitira.

² Zimene Paulo anaona atangolowa mumsika, zinali zokhumudwitsa kwambiri. Kumpoto chakumadzulo, pafupi ndi khomo lalikulu lolowera mumsikawo, anaimikapo mafano ambiri a mulungu wawo Heme, amene anali maliseche, ndipo mumsikawo munali akachisi ambirimbiri. Kodi mtumwi wakhamayu akanalalikira bwanji anthu a m’derali amene anali okonda kwambiri kulambira mafano? Kodi iye akanaugwira mtima n’kuyamba kulalikira anthuwo pogwiritsa ntchito mfundo zimene iwo akanagwirizana nazo? Kodi akanakwanitsa kuthandiza ena mwa anthuwo kuti ayambe kufunafuna Mulungu woona ndi kumupezadi?

³ Zimene Paulo analankhula ndi anthu ophunzira kwambiri a ku Atene pa Machitidwe 17:22-31, ndi chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri pa nkhani yolankhula mwaluso, mwanzeru komanso mozindikira. Tikamaphunzira nkhani ya Paulo, tiona zimene tingachite polalikira, monga kufotokoza mfundo zimene omvera athu angagwirizane nazo komanso kuwathandiza kuti aziganizira mfundozo.

Ankaphunzitsa “Pamsika” (Machitidwe 17:16-21)

4. Kodi Paulo ankalalikira kuti pamene anali ku Atene

⁴ Paulo anafika ku Atene pa ulendo wake wachiwiri waumishonale cha m’ma 50 C.E.a Ndiye pamene ankadikira kuti Sila ndi Timoteyo afike kuchokera ku Bereya, monga mwa chizolowezi chake iye “anayamba kukambirana ndi Ayuda” m’sunagoge. Paulo anapitanso “pamsika” wa mumzinda wa Atene kuti akalalikire anthu amene sanali Ayuda. (Mac. 17:17) Msikawu unali waukulu maekala pafupifupi 12 kapena kuposerapo ndipo unali kumpoto chakumadzulo kwa malo otchedwa Akuropolisi, amene anali ndi mpanda wolimba kwambiri. Kuwonjezera pa malonda amene ankachitika pamalowa, msikawu unalinso malo amene nthawi zambiri anthu ankakumanapo akakhala ndi misonkhano. Buku lina linanena kuti malo amenewa anali “kuchimake kwa malonda, ndale ndiponso chikhalidwe cha anthu a mumzindawo.” Anthu a ku Atene ankakonda kukumana pamsikawu n’kumakambirana nkhani zosiyanasiyana zokhudza maphunziro apamwamba.

KU ATENE KUNALI KUCHIMAKE KWA ZINTHU ZACHIKHALIDWE PADZIKO LONSE

Mbiri ya mzinda wa Atene isanayambe kulembedwa zaka za m’ma 600 B.C.E., mumzindawu munali malo otchedwa Akuropolisi, amene anali ndi mpanda wolimba kwambiri. Mzinda wa Atene unali waukulu kwambiri m’chigawo chonse cha Atika ndipo unali pamalo aakulu kwambiri moti munthu angayende mtunda wa makilomita 2,500 kuti azungulire malo amenewa. Zikuoneka kuti dzina la mzindawu likugwirizana ndi dzina la mulungu wamkazi Atena, amene anthu ambiri amumzindawu ankamulambira.

M’zaka za m’ma 500 B.C.E., mkulu wina wa boma wotchedwa Solon anasintha zina ndi zina mumzindawo zokhudza moyo wa anthu, nkhani zandale, zamalamulo komanso zachuma. Iye anatukula moyo wa anthu osauka ndipo anayambitsa mfundo zambiri zimene zinathandiza kuti mumzindamo mukhazikitsidwe ulamuliro wa demokalase. Koma ulamuliro wa demokalasewo unali wongokomera anthu amene sanali akapolo, ngakhale kuti anthu ambiri a mumzindawo anali akapolo.

Agiriki atagonjetsa Aperisiya zaka za m’ma 400 B.C.E., mzinda wa Atene unakhala likulu la ufumu wawo umene unali waung’ono. Iwo anawonjezera mayiko amene ankachita nawo malonda ndipo ankayenda panyanja n’kumachita malonda ndi mayiko akumadzulo omwe ndi Italy ndi Sicily mpaka kukafika kumayiko akum’mawa omwe ndi Kupuro ndi Siriya. Mzinda wa Atene utatchuka kwambiri, unakhala kuchimake kwa zinthu zachikhalidwe padziko lonse, ndipo anthu mumzindawu anali akatswiri pa zojambulajambula, masewero, maphunziro a nzeru za anthu, maphunziro olankhula pamaso pa anthu, kulemba komanso sayansi. Mumzindawo munalinso nyumba zambiri komanso akachisi okongola. Munthu akakhala kutali ankatha kuona phiri lalitali la Akuropolisi, pamene panali kachisi komanso fano la Atena, lalitali mamita 12, lopangidwa ndi golide komanso minyanga ya njovu.

Mzinda wa Atene unagonjetsedwa koyamba ndi anthu a ku Sparta, kenako anthu a ku Makedoniya ndipo pomalizira unagonjetsedwa ndi Aroma, amene anatenga chuma chonse cha mumzindawo. Ngakhale zinali choncho, pofika m’nthawi ya mtumwi Paulo, mzinda wa Atene unali wapadera kwambiri chifukwa chakuti kale unali wotchuka. Mzindawu sunali m’gulu la mizinda yolamuliridwa ndi Aroma, koma unapatsidwa mphamvu zogwiritsa ntchito malamulo awo poweruza nzika za mumzindawo ndipo sunkapereka msonkho kwa Aroma. Ngakhale kuti mzinda wa Atene sunalinso wolemera ngati kale, unali ndi mayunivesite ndipo anthu olemera ankatumiza ana awo kukaphunzira kumeneko.

5. Kodi anakumana ndi anthu ati ovuta?

⁵ Pamsikawu Paulo anapeza anthu ovuta kuwalalikira. Pagulu la anthu amene ankamumvetsera panali anthu ena anzeru za Epikureya ndi Sitoiki, omwe anali anthu ophunzira kwambiri koma ankakhulupirira zinthu zosiyana.b Anthu anzeru za Epikureya ankakhulupirira kuti zinthu zamoyo zinangokhalapo mwangozi. Pa nkhani yokhudza moyo, iwo ankakhulupirira kuti: “Palibe chifukwa choopera Mulungu kapena imfa ndipo n’zotheka kupeza zinthu zabwino komanso kupirira zinthu zoipa.” Anthu anzeru za Sitoiki ankalimbikitsa kuti munthu aziganiza komanso azichita zinthu zimene akuzimvetsa ndipo sankakhulupirira kuti Mulungu ndi weniweni. Anthu onsewa sankakhulupirira mfundo imene ophunzira a Khristu ankaphunzitsa yakuti akufa adzauka. N’zoonekeratu kuti mfundo zimene magulu onsewa ankayendera sizinkagwirizana ndi choonadi chamtengo wapatali cha Chikhristu choona, chimene Paulo ankalalikira.

6. Kodi Agiriki ena ophunzira kwambiri anatani atamva zimene Paulo ankaphunzitsa

⁶ Kodi Agiriki ophunzira kwambiriwo anatani atamva zimene Paulo ankaphunzitsa? Ena anayamba kumunena kuti “wobwetuka.” (Mac. 17:18) Katswiri wina ananena za mawu a Chigirikiwa kuti: “Poyamba, mawuwo ankagwiritsidwa ntchito ponena za timbalame timene tinkatolatola mbewu, koma patapita nthawi, anayamba kugwiritsidwa ntchito ponena za munthu amene ankatoleza zakudya ndi zinthu zina pamsika. Kenako anthu anayamba kugwiritsa ntchito mawuwa mokuluwika ponena za munthu aliyense amene ankatenga nkhani zosiyanasiyana zimene anamva kwa anthu ena, makamaka yemwe sanazimvetse bwino.” Mwachidule, tinganene kuti anthu ophunzira kwambiriwo ankamunena Paulo kuti anali mbuli ndipo iye ankangobwereza zimene anamva kwa anthu ena. Komabe monga mmene tionere, Paulo sanagwe ulesi ngakhale kuti ankamunyoza.

7. Kodi ifeyo timakumana ndi zinthu zotani zofanana ndi zimenezi?

⁷ Zinthu ngati zimenezi zimachitikanso masiku ano. A Mboni za Yehovafe, nthawi zambiri anthu amatitchula mayina achipongwe chifukwa cha mfundo za m’Baibulo zimene timakhulupirira. Mwachitsanzo kusukulu, aphunzitsi ena amaphunzitsa kuti zinthu zamoyo zinachita kusintha kuchokera ku zinthu zina ndipo amanena kuti munthu aliyense wozindikira ayenera kukhulupirira mfundo imeneyi. Ponena zimenezi, iwo amatanthauza kuti aliyense amene sakhulupirira mfundoyi ndi mbuli. Anthu ophunzira amenewo amafuna kuti anthu aziganiza kuti ndife ‘obwetuka’ tikamalalikira mfundo za m’Baibulo komanso tikamawasonyeza umboni wotsimikizira kuti kuli Mlengi amene analenga zinthu zonse. Komabe ife sitigwa ulesi. M’malomwake, timapitiriza kulankhula molimba mtima tikamafotokoza zimene timakhulupirira zakuti zinthu zamoyo padziko lapansili zinachita kulengedwa ndi Mlengi wanzeru, Yehova Mulungu.—Chiv. 4:11.

8. (a) Kodi anthu ena amene anamva Paulo akulalikira anachita chiyani? (b) Kodi mfundo yoti Paulo anapita naye kubwalo la Areopagi ingatanthauze chiyani? (Onani mawu a m’munsi.)

⁸ Koma anthu ena amene anamvetsera Paulo akulalikira pamsika anachita zinthu zosiyana ndi zimenezi. Ponena za iye, iwo anati: “Akuoneka kuti akulalikira za milungu yachilendo.” (Mac. 17:18) Koma kodi n’zoona kuti Paulo ankalalikira za milungu yachilendo kwa anthu a ku Atene? Nkhani imeneyi inali yoopsa kwambiri, chifukwa inali yofanana ndi umodzi mwa milandu imene Socrates anazengedwa, ndipo anaweruzidwa kuti aphedwe zaka zambiri m’mbuyomo. Choncho n’zosadabwitsa kuti anthuwo anagwira Paulo n’kupita naye kubwalo la Areopagi kukamufunsa kuti afotokoze bwino zinthu zimene ankaphunzitsa, zomwe anthu a ku Atene ankaona kuti zinali zachilendo.c Kodi Paulo akanateteza bwanji uthenga wake pamaso pa anthu amene sankadziwa Malemba?

ANTHU ANZERU ZA EPIKUREYA NDI SITOIKI

Anthu anzeru za Epikureya ndi Sitoiki ankatsatira mfundo zimene ankaphunzitsa kumasukulu awiri osiyana ophunzitsa nzeru za anthu. Magulu onsewa sankakhulupirira kuti akufa adzauka.

Anthu anzeru za Epikureya ankakhulupirira kuti kuli milungu koma ankaganiza kuti milunguyo sisamala zochita za anthu. Iwo ankaganizanso kuti milunguyo singapatse anthu mphatso iliyonse kapena kuwalanga, ndipo ankaona kuti pemphero kapena nsembe zinali zosafunika. Iwo ankaona kuti chofunika kwambiri pa moyo wa munthu n’choti munthuyo azisangalala. Maganizo ndi zochita zawo zinkasonyeza kuti sankatsatira mfundo za makhalidwe abwino. Iwo ankangolimbikitsa anthu kuti azichita zinthu modziletsa poopa kukumana ndi mavuto amene amabwera chifukwa chochita zinthu monyanyira. Komanso ankaphunzira zinthu n’cholinga choti asamaope malodza ndiponso zikhulupiriro za chipembedzo.

Koma anthu anzeru za Sitoiki ankakhulupirira kuti zinthu zonse ndi mbali ya mulungu winawake komanso kuti moyo wa munthu umachokera kwa mulungu ameneyo. Anthu ena anzeru za Sitoiki ankakhulupirira kuti m’tsogolo moyo udzawonongedwa limodzi ndi dziko, ndipo ena ankakhulupirira kuti mulungu ameneyo adzatenganso moyo wa chilichonse. Iwo ankakhulupiriranso kuti munthu angakhale wosangalala akamachita zinthu motsatira malamulo a m’chilengedwe.

“Inu Anthu a ku Atene, Ndaona” (Machitidwe 17:22, 23)

9-11. (a) Kodi Paulo anayesetsa bwanji kufotokoza mfundo zimene omvera ake ankagwirizana nazo? (b) Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji Paulo pa utumiki wathu?

⁹ Kumbukirani kuti Paulo anawawidwa mtima kwambiri ataona mafano mumzindawu. M’malo modzudzula mwamphamvu anthu olambira mafanowo, iye analankhula modekha. Analankhula nawo mwaluso kwambiri mfundo zimene anthuwo ankagwirizana nazo moti anapitiriza kumumvetsera. Iye anayamba ndi mawu akuti: “Inu anthu a ku Atene, ndaona kuti pa zinthu zonse mumaopa kwambiri milungu kuposa mmene ena amachitira.” (Mac. 17:22) Tingati Paulo ankanena kuti, ‘Ndaona kuti anthu inu mumakonda kupembedza.’ Mwanzeru, Paulo anawayamikira chifukwa choti anali ndi mtima wokonda kulambira. Iye anazindikira kuti anthu ena amene zikhulupiriro zabodza zinawachititsa khungu anali ndi mtima wabwino ndipo akanatha kumvetsera choonadi. Ndipotu Paulo ankadziwa kuti pa nthawi ina nayenso ‘ankachita zinthu mosadziwa komanso analibe chikhulupiriro.’—1 Tim. 1:13.

¹⁰ Popitiriza kufotokoza mfundo zimene anthuwo ankagwirizana nazo, Paulo anatchula umboni umene anaona wosonyeza kuti anthu a ku Atene anali okonda kupembedza. Umboni wake unali guwa lansembe lolembedwa kuti, “Kwa Mulungu Wosadziwika.” Pa nkhaniyi, buku lina limanena kuti: “Agiriki komanso anthu ena ankakonda kumangira maguwa ansembe ‘milungu yosadziwika’ poopa kuti angaiwale kulambira mulungu wina yemwe mwina angawakwiyire.” Guwa limeneli linkasonyeza kuti anthu a ku Atene ankadziwa kuti kuli Mulungu amene iwo sakumudziwa. Paulo anagwiritsa ntchito zimene zinalembedwa paguwalo kuti asinthe nkhani n’kuyamba kunena za uthenga wabwino umene iye ankalalikira. Iye anafotokoza kuti: “Ine ndikulalikira kwa inu za Mulungu wosadziwika amene mukumulambirayo.” (Mac. 17:23) Mfundo imene Paulo ananena inali yamphamvu ngakhale kuti sanaitchule mwachindunji. Iye sankalalikira za mulungu wachilendo ngati mmene anthu ena ankanenera, koma ankangofotokoza za Mulungu woona, amene iwo sankamudziwa.

¹¹ Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji Paulo pa utumiki wathu? Ngati tingakhale ndi chidwi kwambiri, tingaone umboni wosonyeza kuti munthu amene tikulankhula naye ndi wokonda kupembedza. Tingadziwe zimenezi mwina poona zinthu zachipembedzo zimene iye wavala kapena zimene waika m’nyumba yake kapenanso panja pa nyumbayo. Ndiyeno tinganene kuti: ‘Ndikuona kuti ndinu munthu wokonda kupemphera. Ndimafuna kucheza ndi munthu wokonda kupemphera ngati inuyo.’ Tikalankhula mawu abwino osonyeza kuti tikuzindikira ndiponso kulemekeza zimene munthuyo amakhulupirira, zingatithandize kuti tipeze poyambira kukambirana naye. Tisaiwale kuti cholinga chathu si kuweruza ena chifukwa cha zimene amakhulupirira kuchipembedzo chawo. Tizikumbukira kuti poyamba, Akhristu ambiri a Mboni za Yehova anali m’zipembedzo zabodza.

Wachinyamata akulankhula kwa aphunzitsi ake komanso anzake m’kalasi pa nthawi ya phunziro la sayansi. — Muziyesetsa kuti choyamba mufotokoze mfundo zimene anthu akugwirizana nazo kuti mupitirize kuwalalikira

Mulungu “Sali Kutali ndi Aliyense wa Ife” (Machitidwe 17:24-28)

12. Kodi Paulo anasintha bwanji ulaliki wake kuti ugwirizane ndi anthu amene ankamumvetsera?

¹² Paulo anafotokoza mfundo zimene omvera ake ankagwirizana nazo. Koma kodi iye anapitiriza kuchita zimenezi pa nthawi yonse yomwe analalikira? Chifukwa chakuti ankadziwa kuti omvera ake anaphunzira kwambiri nzeru za Agiriki ndiponso sankadziwa Malemba, iye anasintha ulaliki wake m’njira zambiri. Choyamba, iye anaphunzitsa mfundo za m’Baibulo popanda kugwira mwachindunji mawu a m’Malemba. Chachiwiri, iye anasonyeza kuti sanali wosiyana ndi omvera ake ndipo nthawi zina ankagwiritsa ntchito mawu akuti “ife.” Chachitatu, anagwira mawu a m’mabuku ena a Chigiriki posonyeza kuti zinthu zina zimene iye ankaphunzitsa zinalipo m’mabuku awo. Tsopano tiyeni tikambirane mawu ogwira mtima amene Paulo analankhula. Kodi iye anafotokoza mfundo zofunika ziti zokhudza Mulungu amene anali wosadziwika kwa anthu a ku Atene?

13. Kodi Paulo anafotokoza kuti zinthu zonse zinakhalapo bwanji, nanga zimene ananenazo zimatanthauza chiyani?

¹³ Mulungu analenga zinthu zonse. Paulo ananena kuti: “Mulungu amene anapanga dzikoli ndi zinthu zonse zili mmenemu, sakhala mu akachisi opangidwa ndi manja. Iye ndiye Ambuye wakumwamba ndi dziko lapansi.”d (Mac. 17:24) Zinthu zonse zam’chilengedwe sizinakhalepo mwangozi koma zinachita kulengedwa ndi Mulungu woona. (Sal. 146:6) Mosiyana ndi milungu yabodza, monga Atena, yomwe inkalemekezedwa kwambiri chifukwa cha akachisi ndi maguwa ake ansembe, Mulungu wakumwamba ndi dziko lapansi, yemwe ndi Ambuye Wamkulu Koposa, sangakhale mu akachisi omangidwa ndi manja a anthu. (1 Maf. 8:27) Zimene Paulo ankatanthauza zinali zoonekeratu. Iye ankatanthauza kuti Mulungu woona ndi wamkulu kuposa mafano opangidwa ndi anthu amene ankapezeka mu akachisi omangidwa ndi anthu.—Yes. 40:18-26.

14. Kodi Paulo anasonyeza bwanji kuti Mulungu sadalira anthu kuti amuthandize?

¹⁴ Mulungu sadalira anthu kuti azimuthandiza. Anthu olambira mafano ankakonda kuveka mafano awowo zovala zapamwamba, kuwapatsa mphatso za mtengo wapatali, kapenanso kuwapatsa zakudya ndi zakumwa, ngati kuti mafanowo ankafunikira zinthu zimenezo. Komabe, ena mwa Agiriki ophunzira kwambiri amene ankamvetsera Paulo ayenera kuti ankakhulupirira kuti mulungu sangafunikire kuthandizidwa ndi anthu. Ngatidi zinali choncho, ayenera kuti anagwirizana ndi mfundo imene Paulo ananena kuti Mulungu “satumikiridwa ndi manja a anthu ngati kuti amasowa kanthu.” Zoonadi, palibe chinthu chilichonse chimene anthu angathandize nacho Mlengi. M’malomwake, iye ndi amene amathandiza anthu powapatsa zinthu zimene amafunikira tsiku ndi tsiku, monga “moyo, mpweya, ndi zinthu zonse,” zomwe zikuphatikizapo dzuwa, mvula ndi nthaka yachonde. (Mac. 17:25; Gen. 2:7) Choncho Mulungu amene amapereka zinthu kwa anthu, sadalira anthu amene amalandira zinthu kwa iye kuti amuthandize.

15. Kodi Paulo ananena zotani pa zimene anthu a ku Atene ankakhulupirira zoti iwo anali apamwamba kuposa anthu amene sanali Agiriki, nanga tikuphunzira mfundo yofunika iti pa chitsanzo chimenechi?

¹⁵ Mulungu anapanga munthu. Anthu a ku Atene ankakhulupirira kuti anali apamwamba kuposa anthu ena amene sanali Agiriki. Koma choonadi cha m’Baibulo chimatsutsa anthu amene amaona kuti fuko lawo kapena mtundu wawo ndi wofunika kwambiri kuposa wa ena. (Deut. 10:17) Paulo anafotokoza nkhani imeneyi mwanzeru komanso mwaluso kwambiri. Mosakayikira, mawu a Paulo akuti “kuchokera mwa munthu mmodzi [Mulungu] anapanga mitundu yonse ya anthu,” anachititsa anthu amene ankamumvetserawo kuganiza mozama. (Mac. 17:26) Iye ankanena nkhani ya kholo la anthu onse, Adamu, imene ili m’buku la Genesis. (Gen. 1:26-28) Popeza kuti anthu onse kholo lawo ndi limodzi, palibe mtundu kapena fuko lomwe ndi lofunika kwambiri kuposa linzake. N’zoonekeratu kuti anthu amene ankamvetsera Paulo anamvetsa bwino zimene ankatanthauza. Tikuphunzira mfundo yofunika kwambiri pa chitsanzo chimenechi. N’zoona kuti tifunika kukhala osamala komanso oganizira ena tikamagwira ntchito yathu yolalikira, komabe sitiyenera kusintha choonadi cha m’Baibulo kuti ena avomereze zimene tikunenazo.

16. Kodi Mlengi amafuna kuti anthu azichita chiyani?

¹⁶ Mulungu amafuna kuti anthu akhale anzake. Ngakhale kuti anthu ophunzira amene ankamvetsera Paulo anakhala akukambirana kwa zaka zambiri za cholinga chimene anthu amakhalira ndi moyo, iwo sanathe kufotokoza cholingacho mogwira mtima. Koma Paulo anafotokoza momveka bwino cholinga chimene Mlengi anali nacho polenga anthu kuti “anthuwo afunefune Mulungu, amufufuzefufuze n’kumupezadi, ngakhale kuti kwenikweni, iye sali kutali ndi aliyense wa ife.” (Mac. 17:27) Zinali zotheka kudziwa Mulungu amene anthu a ku Atene sankamudziwa chifukwa iye sanali kutali ndi aliyense amene ankafunadi kumupeza ndi kuphunzira za iye. (Sal. 145:18) Onani kuti Paulo anagwiritsa ntchito mawu akuti “ife,” ndipo zimenezi zikusonyeza kuti iyenso anadziika m’gulu la anthu amene ankafunikira ‘kufunafuna Mulungu ndi kumufufuzafufuza.’

17, 18. N’chifukwa chiyani anthu ayenera kukhala ndi mtima wofuna kudziwa Mulungu, ndipo tikuphunzira chiyani kwa Paulo amene analankhula ndi anthu mowafika pamtima?

¹⁷ Anthu ayenera kukhala ndi mtima wofuna kudziwa Mulungu. Paulo ananena kuti, chifukwa cha Mulungu, “tili ndi moyo, timayenda ndipo tilipo.” Akatswiri ena amanena kuti Paulo ankanena mawu amene ananenedwa ndi munthu wina (dzina lake Epimenides) wolemba ndakatulo wa ku Kerete amene anakhalapo m’zaka za m’ma 500 B.C.E., amene anali “wotchuka kwambiri pa nkhani zokhudza miyambo ya chipembedzo cha ku Atene.” Paulo anapereka chifukwa chinanso chimene anthu ayenera kukondera Mulungu ponena kuti: ‘Andakatulo anu ena ananena kuti, “Paja ndife ana ake.”’ (Mac. 17:28) Anthu ayenera kuona kuti pali ubale wapadera pakati pa iwowo ndi Mulungu chifukwa chakuti anali Atate wa munthu woyamba amene ndi kholo la anthu onse. Pofuna kuwafika pamtima omvera akewo, mwanzeru Paulo anagwira mawu ochokera m’nkhani za Chigiriki zimene mwina anthuwo ankazikonda kwambiri.e Potengera chitsanzo cha Paulo, ifenso nthawi zina tingagwire mawu mabuku a mbiri yakale kapena mabuku ena amene anthu amagwiritsa ntchito. Mwachitsanzo, mawu oyenerera amene tawatenga m’buku limene anthu amalikonda, angathandize munthu amene si wa Mboni kumvetsa mmene miyambo ndi zinthu zina zimene anthu azipembedzo zabodza amachita zinayambira.

¹⁸ Pofika pamenepa, Paulo anali atanena mfundo zosiyanasiyana za choonadi zokhudza Mulungu, ndipo mwaluso anagwiritsa ntchito mawu amene omvera ake ankagwirizana nawo. Kodi mtumwiyu ankafuna kuti anthu a ku Atene achite chiyani akamva uthenga umenewo? Iye sanazengereze kuwauza zoyenera kuchita.

‘Anthu Onse Kwina Kulikonse Alape’ (Machitidwe 17:29-31)

19, 20. (a) Kodi Paulo anachita bwanji zinthu mosamala kwambiri pofuna kusonyeza kuti ndi kupusa kulambira mafano opangidwa ndi anthu? (b) Kodi anthu amene Paulo ankawalalikira anafunika kuchita chiyani?

¹⁹ Paulo anali wokonzeka kulimbikitsa omvera akewo kuti achitepo kanthu. Iye ananenanso za mfundo yochokera m’buku la Chigiriki ija kuti: “Popeza ndife ana a Mulungu, tisaganize kuti Mulunguyo ali ngati golide, siliva, mwala kapena chilichonse chosemedwa ndi anthu aluso.” (Mac. 17:29) Zoonadi, ngati anthu analengedwa ndi Mulungu, kodi zingatheke bwanji kuti Mulunguyo afanane ndi mafano opangidwa ndi anthu? Mfundo zogwira mtima zimene Paulo anafotokoza zinasonyeza bwino kwambiri kuti ndi kupusa kulambira mafano opangidwa ndi anthu. (Sal. 115:4-8; Yes. 44:9-20) Ponena kuti “tisaganize kuti,” mosakayikira Paulo anafewetsako pang’ono mphamvu ya uphungu umene ankapereka.

²⁰ Mtumwiyu ananena momveka bwino kuti anthuwo anafunika kuchitapo kanthu. Iye anati: “Mulungu analekerera nthawi yomwe anthu sankadziwa zinthu, [zakuti iye sasangalala ndi anthu olambira mafano] koma tsopano akuuza anthu kwina kulikonse kuti onse alape.” (Mac. 17:30) N’kutheka kuti anthu ena amene ankamvetsera Paulo anadabwa kwambiri kumva akuwalimbikitsa kuti alape. Koma mfundo zogwira mtima zimene iye ananena zinasonyeza kuti Mulungu ndi amene anapatsa anthuwo moyo, ndipo anali ndi mphamvu zowaimba mlandu chifukwa cha zochita zawo. Choncho anafunika kufunafuna Mulungu, kuphunzira choonadi chokhudza Mulunguyo, komanso kusintha moyo wawo kuti zochita zawo zizigwirizana ndi choonadicho. Anthu a ku Atene anayenera kuzindikira kuti kulambira mafano ndi tchimo moti anafunika kusiya kuchita zimenezo.

21, 22. Kodi Paulo anamaliza kulankhula ponena mawu amphamvu ati, nanga mawu akewo amatanthauza chiyani kwa ife masiku ano?

²¹ Paulo anamaliza kulankhula ndi mawu amphamvu akuti: “[Mulungu] wakhazikitsa tsiku limene akufuna kudzaweruza mwachilungamo dziko lonse lapansi, kudzera mwa munthu amene iye wamusankha. Ndipo watsimikizira anthu onse zimenezi pomuukitsa.” (Mac. 17:31) Iwo anafunikadi kufunafuna Mulungu woona ndi kum’peza kuti adzapulumuke pa Tsiku la Chiweruzo. Paulo sanatchule dzina la Woweruza amene Mulungu anamuika. Komabe, iye ananena zinazake zodabwitsa zokhudza Woweruza ameneyu kuti anakhalapo munthu, anaphedwa ndipo kenako Mulungu anamuukitsa kwa akufa.

²² Mawu omaliza ochititsa chidwi amenewa ali ndi tanthauzo lalikulu kwa ife masiku ano. Tikudziwa kuti Woweruza amene Mulungu anamusankha ndi Yesu Khristu, yemwe anaukitsidwa. (Yoh. 5:22) Tikudziwanso kuti Tsiku la Chiweruzo lidzatenga zaka 1,000 ndipo latsala pang’ono kuyamba. (Chiv. 20:4, 6) Komabe, ife sitiopa Tsiku la Chiweruzo limeneli chifukwa tikudziwa kuti lidzabweretsa madalitso osaneneka kwa anthu okhulupirika pamaso pa Mulungu. Tikuyembekezera tsogolo labwino chifukwa Mulungu watitsimikizira zimenezi pochita chozizwitsa chachikulu kwambiri, chomwe ndi kuukitsidwa kwa Yesu Khristu.

“Ena . . . Anakhala Otsatira a Yesu” (Machitidwe 17:32-34)

23. Kodi anthu anachita zotani atamva uthenga wa Paulo?

²³ Anthu anachita zinthu zosiyanasiyana atamva uthenga wa Paulo. Atamva za kuuka kwa akufa, “ena anayamba kuseka mwachipongwe.” Ena anali aulemu koma sanafune kulapa ndi kukhala okhulupirira, ndipo anati: “Chabwino, udzatiuzenso zimenezi nthawi ina.” (Mac. 17:32) Komabe, “anthu ena [ochepa] anakhala kumbali yake ndipo anakhala otsatira a Yesu. Ena mwa iwo anali Diyonisiyo, woweruza m’bwalo la Areopagi, mayi wina dzina lake Damarisi komanso anthu ena.” (Mac. 17:34) Nafenso timakumana ndi zoterezi tikakhala mu utumiki. Anthu ena amatinyoza, pamene ena amakhala aulemu koma salabadira uthenga wathu. Komabe, timasangalala kwambiri anthu ena akalandira uthenga wa Ufumu n’kukhala okhulupirira.

24. Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa zimene Paulo analankhula ali m’bwalo la Areopagi?

²⁴ Tikamaganizira mmene Paulo analankhulira, tingaphunzire kufotokoza mfundo momveka bwino komanso mogwira mtima ndiponso tingaphunzire kutchula mfundo zimene omvera athu angagwirizane nazo. Kuwonjezera pamenepo, tingaphunzire kufunika kokhala anthu oleza mtima komanso osamala polankhula ndi anthu amene achititsidwa khungu ndi zikhulupiriro zabodza zachipembedzo. Tingaphunzirenso mfundo yofunika yakuti: Tisamasinthe choonadi cha m’Baibulo pongofuna kusangalatsa anthu amene akutimvetsera. Kutsanzira mtumwi Paulo kudzatithandiza kukhala aphunzitsi aluso mu utumiki. Kuwonjezera pamenepo, kudzathandizanso oyang’anira kuti aziphunzitsa mogwira mtima mumpingo. Pamapeto pake, tidzakhala okonzeka kuthandiza ena kuti “afunefune Mulungu . . . n’kumupezadi.”—Mac. 17:27.

a Onani bokosi lakuti “Ku Atene Kunali Kuchimake kwa Zinthu Zachikhalidwe Padziko Lonse.”

b Onani bokosi lakuti “Anthu Anzeru za Epikureya ndi Sitoiki.”

c Bwalo la Areopagi linali kumpoto chakumadzulo kwa malo otchedwa Akuropolisi ndipo n’kumene akuluakulu a mzinda wa Atene ankakumana. Mawu akuti “Areopagi” angatanthauze khotilo kapena phiri limene panali bwalolo. Akatswiri amanena zosiyanasiyana zokhudza kumene Paulo anam’tengera. Ena amati anapita naye kuphiri limeneli kapena kumalo ena pafupi ndi phirili, pamene ena amati anapita naye kumalo ena kumene khotili linkakumana, mwina kumsika.

d Mawu a Chigiriki amene anawamasulira kuti ‘dziko’ ndi koʹsmos, ndipo Agiriki ankagwiritsa ntchito mawuwa kutanthauza zolengedwa zonse zakuthambo ndi zapadziko lapansi. N’kutheka kuti Paulo, amene ankayesetsa kunena mfundo zimene Agirikiwo angagwirizane nazo, anagwiritsa ntchito mawu amenewa ndi tanthauzo limeneli.

e Paulo anagwira mawu a ndakatulo ina (yotchedwa Phaenomena) ya zinthu zakuthambo yolembedwa ndi Aratus, wolemba ndakatulo wa m’gulu la Sitoiki. Mawu ofanana ndi amenewa amapezeka m’nkhani zina za Chigiriki, ndiponso mu nyimbo zotamanda Zeu zolembedwa ndi Cleanthes, wolemba mabuku wa m’gulu la Sitoiki.