“Chubeka Ukhuluma Futsi Ungabindzi”

1-3. Yini leyenta Pawula waya eKhorinte, futsi ngutiphi tinkinga labhekana nato?

KUNGASEKUPHELENI kwa-50 C.E. Umphostoli Pawula useKhorinte, lokulidolobha lelinjingile kutekutsengiselana lelihlala emaGriki lamanyenti, emaRoma kanye nemaJuda.a Pawula aketeli kutotsenga, kutsengisa nobe kutofuna umsebenti. Ute ngesizatfu lesibaluleke kakhulu kunaleto, lokukufakaza ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu. Nobe kunjalo, Pawula udzinga indzawo yekuhlala futsi utimisele kungabi ngumtfwalo kulabanye. Akafuni labanye bacabange kutsi ulindzele kutsi bamsekele ngenca nje yekutsi uyashumayela. Utakwenta njani?

² Pawula unelikhono lekwakha emathende. Lona akusiwo umsebenti lomelula, kodvwa utimisele kusebenta ngetandla takhe kuze atisekele. Utawutfola yini umsebenti kulelidolobha leliphitsitelako? Utayitfola yini indzawo lekahle yekuhlala? Ngisho analetinkinga, Pawula akalahlekelwa ngumbono lokahle ngemsebenti lobalulekile kuye, lokungumsebenti wekushumayela.

³ Njengobe Pawula achubeka aseKhorinte, umsebenti wakhe wekushumayela uba nemiphumela lemihle. Yini lesingayifundza kuloko Pawula lakwenta eKhorinte lengasisita kutsi sifakaze ngalokuphelele ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu endzaweni lesishumayela kuyo?

Bebenta “Umsebenti Wekwakha Emathende” (Imisebenti 18:1-4)

4, 5. (a) Pawula bekahlala kuphi ngesikhatsi aseKhorinte, futsi ngumuphi umsebenti wekutiphilisa lebekawenta? (b) Kungenteka Pawula wakufundzaphi kwakha emathende?

⁴ Ngemuva kwesikhatsi Pawula efike eKhorinte, wahlangana nalamanye emaJuda lashadene lanemoya wekungenisa tihambi, lokutsiwa ngu-Akhwila nemkakhe Phrisila. Laba labashadene bese bahlala eKhorinte ngenca yemtsetfo lowakhishwa nguMbusi Klawudiyuse, lebewutsi “onkhe emaJuda aphume eRoma.” (Imis. 18:1, 2) Bo-Akhwila naPhrisila abagcinanga nje ngekuvumela Pawula kutsi ahlale nabo ekhaya labo kodvwa baphindze bamvumela nekutsi asebente nabo. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Ngesizatfu sekutsi naye [Pawula] bekenta umsebenti wekwakha emathende njengabo, wahlala ekhaya labo wasebenta nabo.” (Imis. 18:3) Pawula wahlala nabo sonkhe lesikhatsi nakasenta umsebenti wakhe wekushumayela eKhorinte. Ngesikhatsi ahlala nabo kusenekwenteka Pawula wabhala letinye tincwadzi lokwatsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi taba yincenye yeliBhayibheli.b

⁵ Kwenteka njani kutsi Pawula ‘lebekafundziswe nguGamaliyeli akwati kwakha emathende’? (Imis. 22:3) EmaJuda angelikhulu lekucala bekangakubukeli phansi kufundzisa bantfwana bawo umsebenti, ngisho nobe labantfwana bebasuke batfole lenye imfundvo. Ngenca yekutsi Pawula bekavela eThasusi leseSilisiya, lekuyindzawo lebeyidvume ngendvwangu lebitwa ngekutsi yi-cilicium lebekwakhiwa ngayo emathende, kungenteka Pawula wafundza lelikhono asesemncane. Kufaka ekhatsi ini kwakha emathende? Lomsebenti ufaka ekhatsi kweluka indvwangu yekwakha lithende nobe uyijube futsi utfunge lendvwangu lecinile kuze wakhe lithende. Kunobe ngukuphi lona bekungumsebenti lomatima.

6, 7. (a) Pawula bekawutsatsa njani umsebenti wekwakha emathende, futsi yini lekhombisa kutsi bo-Akhwila naPhrisila nabo bebanembono lofanako? (b) EmaKhristu lamuhla asilingisa njani sibonelo saPawula, sa-Akhwila kanye nesaPhrisila?

⁶ Umsebenti wekwakha emathende bewungesiyo intfo leta kucala kuPawula. Bekasebentisa lelikhono kuze atisekele njengobe amemetela tindzaba letimnandzi “ngaphandle kwekubhadalisa.” (2 Khor. 11:7) Bo-Akhwila naPhrisila bona bebawutsatsa njani lomsebenti? Njengobe bebangemaKhristu, siyaciniseka kutsi nabo bebawutsatsa ngendlela Pawula lebekawutsatsa ngayo. Ecinisweni, ngesikhatsi Pawula ahamba eKhorinte nga-52 C.E., bo-Akhwila naPhrisila nabo bahamba naye baya e-Efesu, lapho khona likhaya labo lasetjentiswa kuze libandla lendzawo libambele khona imihlangano. (1 Khor. 16:19) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, babuyela eRoma futsi baphindze babuyela e-Efesu. Bo-Akhwila naPhrisila bebabeka tintfo letiphatselene neMbuso kucala ekuphileni kwabo futsi bebatidzela kuze basite labanye. Ngenca yaloko, “onkhe emabandla ebetive” bekajabula ngabo.​—Rom. 16:3-5; 2 Thim. 4:19.

⁷ EmaKhristu lamuhla alingisa sibonelo saPawula kanye nesa-Akhwila naPhrisila. Nalamuhla, tisebenti letikhutsele tisebenta kamatima ‘kuze tingabi ngumtfwalo lomkhulu’ kulabanye. (1 Thes. 2:9) Kujabulisa kakhulu kutsi bazalwane nabodzadze labashumayela sikhatsi sonkhe, basebenta emalanga latsite evikini nobe tikhatsi letitsite ngemnyaka kuze batisekele emsebentini wekushumayela. Njenga-Akhwila naPhrisila labanyenti bavula emakhaya abo kuze kuhlale babonisi betigodzi. Ngekwenta njalo, labo ‘labakwenta umkhuba kwemukela tivakashi’ bayati kutsi kukhutsata kakhulu futsi kuyabakha labanye kwenta kanjalo.​—Rom. 12:13.

“Bantfu BaseKhorinte Labanyenti . . . Bakholwa” (Imisebenti 18:5-8)

8, 9. Pawula wenta njani ngesikhatsi emaJuda amphikisa kamatima, futsi wabese uyoshumayela kuphi?

⁸ Ngesikhatsi boSilasi naThimothi lebebabuya eMasedoniya befika futsi baphetse tipho, kwacaca kutsi kuPawula umsebenti wekutiphilisa bewuwekumsita kutsi achubeke enta umsebenti wakhe wekushumayela. (2 Khor. 11:9) Ngekushesha nje, Pawula “waba matasatasa ngekushumayela livi [“watinikela ngalokuphelele ekushumayeleni,” LiBhayibheli LesiSwati Lelivamile].” (Imis. 18:5) Nobe kunjalo, ngisho nobe bekamatasatasa ngekushumayela emaJuda, kodvwa waphikiswa kakhulu. Kuze avete kutsi bekete licala ngenca yekutsi emaJuda akazange awulalele umlayeto losindzisa kuphila lomayelana naKhristu, Pawula watsintsitsa tingubo takhe futsi watsi kulamaJuda bekamphikisa: “Ingati yenu ayibe setikwenu. Mine ngimsulwa. Kusukela nyalo sengitawuya kubantfu betive.”​—Imis. 18:6; Hez. 3:18, 19.

⁹ Nyalo, Pawula besekatoshumayela kuphi? Lenye indvodza lokutsiwa nguThithiyusi Justusi, lokungenteka beyigucukele enkholweni yebuJuda, beyinendlu dvutane nelisinagoge, futsi yavumela Pawula kutsi ahlale kulendlu. Ngako Pawula wabese uyesuka esinagogeni waya endlini yaJustus. (Imis. 18:7) Pawula wachubeka wahlala na-Akhwila naPhrisila ngesikhatsi aseKhorinte, kodvwa indlu yaJustusi beyisetjentiswa ngulomphostoli kuze ente umsebenti wakhe wekushumayela.

10. Yini lekhombisa kutsi Pawula bekangakatimiseli kushumayela bantfu betive nje kuphela?

¹⁰ Emavi aPawula akhombisa kutsi besekatoshumayela bantfu betive kuphela yini, futsi angasawanaki emaJuda nobe bantfu labagucukele enkholweni yebuJuda, ngisho nalawo lebekatsandza kumlalela? Akubonakali kanjalo. Nasi sibonelo, “Khrispusi, lobekengamele lisinagoge, wakholwa yiNkhosi akanye nawo wonkhe umndeni wakhe.” Kubonakala shengatsi linyenti lebantfu lebelihlangana esinagogeni labese litihlanganisa naKhrispusi, ngobe liBhayibheli litsi: “Bantfu baseKhorinte labanyenti labeva tindzaba letimnandzi nabo bakholwa base bayabhajatiswa.” (Imis. 18:8) Ngako, indlu yaThithuyusi Justusi yabese isetjentiselwa kutsi kuhlanganele kuyo libandla leliselisha lemaKhristu aseKhorinte. Nangabe incwadzi yeMisebenti ibhalwe ngendlela lokubhalwe ngayo incwadzi yaLukha, lokusho kutsi ibhalwe ngekulandzelana kwetintfo letenteka, loku kungasho kutsi lamaJuda nobe bantfu labagucukela enkholweni yebuJuda bagucuka ngemuva kwekutsi Pawula atsintsitse tingubo takhe. Nangabe kunjalo loko kukhombisa ngalokucacile kutsi lomphostoli bekatimisele kuvumelana netimo.

11. BoFakazi BaJehova lamuhla basilingisa njani sibonelo saPawula njengobe bashumayela bantfu labaseTinkholweni Letitsi TebuKhristu?

¹¹ Emaveni lamanyenti lamuhla, Tinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu time tacina futsi bantfu labangemalunga ato bahambisana netimfundziso tato. Kulamanye emave nakuletinye tichingi, titfunywa telivangeli teTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu tigucule bantfu labanyenti kuze babe setinkholweni tato. Bantfu labatibita ngekutsi bangemaKhristu bavame kutinikela emasikweni njengobe bekunjalo nangemaJuda aseKhorinte. Nobe kunjalo, njengaPawula, tsine BoFakazi BaJehova, sishumayela bantfu labanjalo ngemdlandla futsi sibasite kutsi babe nelwati lolunyenti ngemiBhalo. Ngisho nobe labantfu basiphikisa futsi nebaholi betinkholo basiphatsa kabi asiphelelwa litsemba. Emkhatsini walabo ‘labatimisele kukhonta Nkulunkulu, kodvwa labeswele lwati lolungulonalona,’ kunebantfu labalungile lokufanelwe bafunwe futsi batfolwe.​—Rom. 10:2.

“Nginebantfu Labanyenti kulelidolobha” (Imisebenti 18:9-17)

12. Ngusiphi sicinisekiso Pawula lasitfola ngembono?

¹² Nangabe Pawula bekangabata kuchubeka nemsebenti wakhe wekushumayela eKhorinte, kungenteka loko kwaphela ngebusuku iNkhosi Jesu leyefika ngabo kuye ngembono, yatsi: “Ungesabi, kodvwa chubeka ukhuluma futsi ungabindzi, ngobe mine nginawe. Kute umuntfu lotakuhlasela akulimate; ngobe nginebantfu labanyenti kulelidolobha.” (Imis. 18:9, 10) Lombono wamcinisa kakhulu Pawula! INkhosi, yona matfupha, yacinisekisa Pawula kutsi beyitamvikela kunobe nguyiphi ingoti futsi yamcinisekisa nekutsi kunebantfu labanyenti labalungile kulelidolobha. Wenta njani nakeva lombono? LiBhayibheli litsi: “Wahlala lapho umnyaka netinyanga letisitfupha, afundzisa bantfu livi laNkulunkulu.”​—Imis. 18:11.

13. Kungenteka Pawula bekacabanga ngani njengobe asondzela kulendzawo lokutekelwa kuyo emacala, kodvwa yini leyamenta walindzela umphumela lowehlukile?

¹³ Ngemuva kwesikhatsi lesingaba ngumnyaka aseKhorinte, Pawula watfola lobunye bufakazi bekutsi iNkhosi iyamsekela. “EmaJuda ahlanganyela Pawula, ambamba amyisa endzaweni lokutekelwa kuyo emacala,” lebitwa ngekutsi yi-beʹma. (Imis. 18:12) Kucatjangwa kutsi lena bekuyindzawo lephakeme leyakhiwe ngematje laligugu lamhlophe nalaluhlata, futsi beyigcwele imihlobiso. Le-beʹma beyiseceleni kwemakethe yaseKhorinte futsi indzawo lebeyisembikwayo beyiyinkhulu kangangekutsi bantfu labanyenti bebangahlanganela kuyo. Tintfo letitfolwe bavukubuli tikhombisa kutsi kungenteka le-beʹma beyidvutane nelisinagoge, lokusho kutsi beyidvutane nendlu yaJustusi. Njengobe Pawula asondzela kuyo, kungenteka bekacabanga ngekubulawa kwaStefano lowagcotjwa ngematje futsi ngaletinye tikhatsi lobitwa ngekutsi ngumKhristu wekucala lowafela kukholwa kwakhe. Ngesikhatsi Stefano abulawa, Pawula bekabitwa ngekutsi nguSawula, futsi ‘wakusekela kubulawa kwaStefano.’ (Imis. 8:1) Bekutawenteka intfo lefanako yini kuPawula? Cha, ngobe wetsenjiswa: ‘Kute umuntfu lotakulimata.’​—Imis. 18:10.

14, 15. (a) EmaJuda ammangalela ngaliphi licala Pawula, futsi yini leyenta Galiyo walicitsa lelicala? (b) Yini leyenteka kuSostenesi, futsi kungenteka waba yini umphumela?

¹⁴ Yini leyenteka ngesikhatsi Pawula efika kulendzawo lokutekelwa kuyo emacala? Umehluleli bekunguGaliyo wase-Akhaya, bhuti lomdzala wesati lesingumRoma lokutsiwa nguSeneca. EmaJuda bekabeke Pawula nali licala: “Lomuntfu ucindzetela bantfu kutsi bakhonte Nkulunkulu ngendlela lephambene nemtsetfo.” (Imis. 18:13) LamaJuda bekatsi Pawula ugucula bantfu ngalokungekho emtsetfweni. Nobe kunjalo, Galiyo bekabona kutsi Pawula akakenti lutfo ‘lolubi’ futsi bekute ‘sento lesibi’ lasentile. (Imis. 18:14) Galiyo bekangafuni kungenela timphikiswano temaJuda. Kute ngisho nalinye livi lalisho, futsi wacitsa lelicala! Labamangaleli batfukutsela kakhulu, futsi bakhiphela lentfukutselo yabo kuSostenesi, lokungenteka wengamela lisinagoge ngemuva kwaKhrispusi. Babamba Sostenesi “bamshayela kuyo leyo ndzawo.”​—Imis. 18:17.

¹⁵ Yini leyenta Galiyo wangasivimbi lesicumbi nasihlasela Sostenesi? Kungenteka bekacabanga kutsi Sostenesi ungumholi walesicumbi lebesimangalele Pawula futsi nyalo besekatfola lokumfanele. Kunobe ngukuphi, kungenteka lesentakalo saletsa imiphumela lemihle. Encwadzini yakhe yekucala leya ebandleni laseKhorinte layibhala eminyakeni letsite leyalandzela, Pawula wakhuluma ngaSostenesi lotsite futsi wabhekisela kuye njengemnakabo. (1 Khor. 1:1, 2) Lona nguloSostenesi lobekashaywe eKhorinte yini? Nangabe kunjalo, lokushaywa kwakhe kabuhlungu kwamsita wemukela liciniso.

16. Emavi eNkhosi latsi, “chubeka ukhuluma futsi ungabindzi, ngobe mine nginawe,” anamuphi umphumela emsebentini wetfu wekushumayela?

¹⁶ Khumbula kutsi ngemuva kwekutsi emaJuda angakwemukeli kushumayela kwaPawula, iNkhosi Jesu yamcinisekisa ngalamavi: “Ungesabi, kodvwa chubeka ukhuluma futsi ungabindzi, ngobe mine nginawe.” (Imis. 18:9, 10) Senta kahle ngekuhlale siwakhumbula lamavi, ikakhulukati nangabe umlayeto wetfu ungemukelwa. Ungakhohlwa kutsi Jehova ufundza tinhlitiyo futsi udvonsela bantfu labanetinhlitiyo leticotfo kuye. (1 Sam. 16:7; Joh. 6:44) Lesi sikhutsato lesihle kakhulu kitsi njengobe senta umsebenti wekushumayela! Umnyaka ngamunye, kunemakhulu etinkhulungwane tebantfu lababhajatiswako, futsi kubhajatiswa emakhulu ngelilanga. Kulabo labalalela umyalo waJesu wekwenta “bantfu bato tonkhe tive babe bafundzi,” Jesu ubaniketa nasi sicinisekiso: “Nginani onkhe emalanga kuze kube sekupheleni kwalelive.”​—Mat. 28:19, 20.

“Nangabe Jehova Avuma” (Imisebenti 18:18-22)

17, 18. Kungenteka Pawula bekacabanga ngani nakaya e-Efesu?

¹⁷ Asiciniseki kutsi sinyatselo saGaliyo sekuvikela Pawula kulabo lebebammangalela saholela esikhatsini sekuthula yini kulelibandla laseKhorinte lebelandza. Nobe kunjalo, Pawula wahlala “emalanga lambalwa” ngembikwekutsi avalelise bazalwane baseKhorinte. Ngentfwasahlobo yanga-52 C.E., wenta tinhlelo tekuya eSiriya asuka esichingini semikhumbi lesiseKhenkhariya emphumalanga yeKhorinte, kodvwa ngembikwekutsi asuke eKhenkhariya Pawula “wahhula tinwele takhe taba timfisha ngobe bekente sifungo.”c (Imis. 18:18) Ngemuva kwaloko, watsatsa Akhwila naPhrisila wewela nabo lwandle i-Aegean baya e-Efesu lese-Asia Minor.

¹⁸ Njengobe Pawula asuka eKhenkhariya, kungenteka bekacabanga ngalesikhatsi aseKhorinte. Waba netikhatsi letimnandzi lapho, futsi kucabanga ngaloko kwamenta wenetiseka kakhulu. Umsebenti wakhe wekushumayela tinyanga letingu-18 kulendzawo, waba nemiphumela lemihle. Libandla lekucala beselisunguliwe eKhorinte, futsi belihlangana endlini yaJustusi. Bantfu lababa ngemakholwa bekunguJustusi, Khrispusi nemndeni wakhe kanye nalabanye labanyenti. Pawula bekabatsandza labafundzi labasha ngobe bekabasite kutsi bemukele liciniso. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi wababhalela futsi wabachaza njengencwadzi yekuncoma lebhalwe enhlitiyweni yakhe. Natsi sitiva sisondzelene kakhulu nalabo lesibe nelilungelo lekubasita kutsi bemukele kukhonta kweliciniso. Kwenetisa kakhulu kubona labantfu labafana ‘netincwadzi tekuncoma’!​—2 Khor. 3:1-3.

19, 20. Yini Pawula layenta nakefika e-Efesu, futsi yini tsine lesiyifundzako kuye ngekutibekela imigomo yekukhonta Nkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Watsi nakefika e-Efesu, ngekushesha Pawula wacala umsebenti wakhe. “Wangena esinagogeni, wafike wabonisana nemaJuda.” (Imis. 18:19) Kuloku, Pawula wahlala sikhashana e-Efesu. Nanobe bebamcela kutsi achubeke ahleti, “akazange avume.” Ngesikhatsi abavalelisa watsi kubo: “Nangabe Jehova avuma, ngitawuphindze ngibuye.” (Imis. 18:20, 21) Asingabati kutsi Pawula bekabona kutsi munyenti umsebenti wekushumayela lebekusafanele wentiwe e-Efesu. Lomphostoli wahlela kuphindze abuyele khona, kodvwa washiyela tintfo kuJehova. Lesi sifundvo lesihle lokufanele sihlale sisikhumbula. Nangabe sitibekele imigomo letsite, kufanele sitsatse sinyatselo. Nobe kunjalo, kudzingeka setsembele esicondzisweni saJehova futsi sifune kwenta ngekuvumelana nentsandvo yakhe.​—Jak. 4:15.

²⁰ Pawula washiya Akhwila naPhrisila e-Efesu futsi wahamba ngemkhumbi waya eKhesariya. Kubonakala shengatsi “waya” eJerusalema futsi wavusela libandla lakhona. (Imis. 18:22) Pawula wabese ubuyela ekhaya e-Antiyokhi yaseSiriya. Luhambo lwakhe lwesibili asitfunywa selivangeli lwabese luyaphela. Yini lebeyimlindzile eluhambeni lwakhe lwekugcina asitfunywa selivangeli?