Imitha Yokukhanya—Emikhulu Nemincinane (Icandelo Lesibini)

“Ekukhanyeni kwakho sibona ukukhanya.”—INDUMISO 36:9.

1. Yiyiphi imigudu yokuqala eyenziwa ukuze kuqondwe imifuziselo yencwadi yeSityhilelo?

INCWADI yeBhayibhile yeSityhilelo ibibangela umdla kakhulu kumaKristu ukususela kumaxesha amandulo. Inikela umzekelo omhle ngendlela ukukhanya kwenyaniso okuqhubeka kuqaqamba ngayo ngakumbi. Ngowe-1917, abantu bakaYehova bapapasha inkcazelo ngeSityhilelo kwincwadi ethi The Finished Mystery. Yazibhenca ngokungenaloyiko iinkokeli zonqulo zeNgqobhoko nezobupolitika, kodwa inkcazelo yayo eninzi yayithatyathwe kwimithombo eyahlukahlukeneyo. Sekunjalo, iThe Finished Mystery yaba negalelo ekuvavanyeni ukunyaniseka kwaBafundi beBhayibhile kwijelo elibonakalayo elalisetyenziswa nguYehova.

2. Inqaku elithi “Ukuzalwa Kohlanga” lanikela kuphi ukukhanya kwincwadi yeSityhilelo?

² Ilitha lokukhanya eliqaqambileyo lathi thaa kwincwadi yeSityhilelo ngokupapashwa kwenqaku elithi “Ukuzalwa Kohlanga” kwiThe Watch Tower kaMatshi 1, 1925. Babecinga ukuba ISityhilelo isahluko 12 sichaza imfazwe phakathi kobukhosi baseRoma neRoma kapopu, umntwana oyinkwenkwe emela udidi loopopu. Kodwa elo nqaku labonisa ukuba ISityhilelo 11:15-18 sasihlobene nentsingiselo yesahluko 12, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba sithetha ngokuzalwa koBukumkani bukaThixo.

3. Ziziphi iimpapasho ezanikela ukukhanya okungakumbi kwiSityhilelo?

³ Konke oku kwakhokelela ekusiqondeni ngokucace ngakumbi ISityhilelo ngenxa yokupapashwa kwencwadi ethi Light, enemiqulu emibini, ngowe-1930. Sekunjalo inkcazelo engakumbi esulungekisiweyo yapapashwa kwincwadi ethi “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules! (1963) nethi “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God” (1969). Ukanti, kwakusekho okungakumbi okwakumele kufundwe ngencwadi yesiprofeto yeSityhilelo. Ewe, ukukhanya okuqaqambileyo kwathi thaa kuyo ngowe-1988, ngokupapashwa kwencwadi ethi ISityhilelo—Incopho Yaso Ezukileyo Isondele! Isikhokelo soku kukhanya kufumaneka ngokuthe ngcembe kusenokuthiwa sisibakala sokuba isiprofeto seSityhilelo sisebenza ‘kwimini yeNkosi,’ eyaqalisa ngowe-1914. (ISityhilelo 1:10) Ngoko ke incwadi yeSityhilelo yayiza kuqondwa ngokucace ngakumbi njengoko loo mini yayiqhubeka.

Umbandela ‘Wamagunya Aphezulu’ Uyacaciswa

4, 5. (a) ABafundi beBhayibhile babewajonga njani amaRoma 13:1? (b) Ekuhambeni kwexesha kwabonakala kuyintoni ukuma okungokweZibhalo ngokuphathelele ‘amagunya aphezulu’?

⁴ Ngowe-1962 kwabonwa ilitha lokukhanya eliqaqambileyo ngokuphathelele amaRoma 13:1, athi: “Mayithi yonke imiphefumlo ilulamele kumagunya aphezulu kuyo [“amagunya awongamileyo,” iBhayibhile yesiXhosa].” (Appleyard’s Version) ABafundi beBhayibhile bokuqala babeqonda ukuba ‘amagunya aphezulu’ akhankanywe apho ayebhekisela kumagunya ehlabathi. Esi sibhalo babesiqonda njengesithetha ukuba ukuba umKristu wayefakwe emkhosini ngexesha lemfazwe, kwakunyanzelekile ukuba anxibe impahla yasemkhosini, axwaye umpu, aze aye emfazweni. Babecinga ukuba ekubeni umKristu engafanele abulale omnye umntu, kwakuya kunyanzeleka ukuba adubule emoyeni xa kunyembelekile.a

⁵ IMboniselo kaMeyi 15 nekaJuni 1, 1963, zanikela ukukhanya okucacileyo kulo mbandela ngokuxubusha ngamazwi kaYesu akuMateyu 22:21: “Nikelani . . . izinto zikaKesare kuKesare, neento zikaThixo kuThixo.” Ayefanelekile amazwi abapostile akwiZenzo 5:29: “Simelwe kukuthi sive uThixo kunokuba sive abantu.” AmaKristu ayazithoba kuKesare—‘amagunya aphezulu’—logama nje oko kungafuni ukuba umKristu aphule umthetho kaThixo. Ukuzithoba kuKesare kwabonwa ukuba kulinganiselwe, akuphelelanga. AmaKristu anikela kuKesare kuphela oko kungangqubaniyo nezinto ezifunwa nguThixo. Hayi indlela ekwakusanelisa ngayo ukuwuqonda ngokucacileyo loo mbandela!

Imitha Yokukhanya Kwimibandela Yentlangano

6. (a) Ukuze kuphetshwe inkqubo yezikhundla zobufundisi eqhelekileyo kwiNgqobhoko, kwamkelwa wuphi umgaqo? (b) Ekugqibeleni yabonakala iyiyiphi indlela elungileyo yokukhetha abo bavelela ibandla?

⁶ Kwavela umbuzo wokuba ngoobani ababefanele bakhonze njengabadala nabadikoni emabandleni. Ukuze kuphetshwe inkqubo yezikhundla zobufundisi eqhelekileyo kwiNgqobhoko, kwagqitywa kwelokuba aba banyulwe ngokwedemokhrasi ngokuvotelwa ngamalungu ebandla ngalinye. Kodwa ukukhanya okwandayo okwakuqulethwe yiThe Watchtower kaSeptemba 1 nekaOktobha 15, 1932, kwabonisa ukuba iZibhalo azikuxhasi ukunyulwa kwabadala. Ngoko aba bathatyathelwa indawo yikomiti yenkonzo, yaye umalathisi wenkonzo wayekhethwa nguMbutho.

7. Imitha yokukhanya yakhokelela kuluphi uphuculo kwindlela ezazimiselwa ngayo izicaka ebandleni?

⁷ IThe Watchtower kaJuni 1 nekaJuni 15, 1938, yayiqulethe imitha yokukhanya ebonisa ukuba izicaka zebandla zazingamele zinyulwe, kodwa zazimele zimiselwe, oko kukuthi, zimiselwe ngolawulo lobuthixo. Ngowe-1971 elinye ilitha lokukhanya labonisa ukuba ibandla ngalinye lalingamele lalathiswe kuphela sisicaka sebandla esinye. Kunoko, bandla ngalinye lalifanele libe nequmrhu labadala, okanye labaveleli, elabelwe liQumrhu Elilawulayo lamaNgqina kaYehova. Ngoko ngokukhanya okwandayo kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-40, kwacaca ukuba abadala nabadikoni, ngoku abaziwa njengezicaka zolungiselelo, babefanele bamiselwe ‘ngumkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo,’ ngeQumrhu lawo Elilawulayo. (Mateyu 24:45-47) Oku kwakuvisisana noko kwakusenzeka ngamaxesha abapostile. Amadoda anjengoTimoti noTito amiselwa njengabaveleli liqumrhu elilawulayo lenkulungwane yokuqala. (1 Timoti 3:1-7; 5:22; Tito 1:5-9) Konke oku kuzalisekisa ngendlela ephawulekayo uIsaya 60:17: “Esikhundleni sobhedu ndizisa igolide, esikhundleni sesinyithi ndizisa isilivere, esikhundleni semithi ubhedu, esikhundleni samatye isinyithi; isiveleli sakho ndisenze uxolo, abaphathi bakho ndibenze ubulungisa.”

8. (a) Inyaniso eyandayo yakhokelela kuluphi uphuculo kwindlela owawusebenza ngayo uMbutho? (b) Ziziphi iikomiti zeQumrhu Elilawulayo, yaye yintoni umsebenzi wazo okanye iinkalo ezizivelelayo?

⁸ Kwakhona kwavela umbandela wendlela esebenza ngayo iWatch Tower Society. Kangangeminyaka emininzi iQumrhu Elilawulayo lamaNgqina kaYehova lalidibene nequmrhu labalathisi beWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, yaye ubukhulu becala imicimbi yayisingathwa ngumongameli walo. Njengokuba kubonisiwe kwi-1977 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses (iphepha 258-9), ngowe-1976 iQumrhu Elilawulayo laqalisa ukusebenza njengeekomiti ezintandathu, nganye yabelwe ukunyamekela iinkalo ezithile zomsebenzi ehlabathini lonke. IKomiti Yabasebenzi inyamekela imicimbi yabasebenzi, kuquka izilangazelelo zabo bonke abakhonza kwintsapho yaseBheteli ehlabathini lonke. IKomiti Yokupapasha isingatha yonke imicimbi yoshishino nengokwasemthethweni, njengendawo yokwakha nokushicilela. IKomiti Yenkonzo inyamekela umsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina yaye yongamela abaveleli abahambahambayo, oovulindlela, nomsebenzi wabavakalisi bamabandla. IKomiti Yokufundisa inembopheleleko yeentlanganiso zebandla, iindibano ezikhethekileyo zosuku olunye, iindibano zesiphaluka, neendibano zesithili nezezizwe ngezizwe kunye nezikolo ezahlukahlukeneyo ezenzelwe ukufundisa abantu bakaThixo. IKomiti Yokubhala yongamela ukulungiselelwa nokuguqulelwa kweempapasho ngazo zonke iindlela, iqinisekisa ukuba yonke into iyavumelana neZibhalo. IKomiti Kasihlalo inyamekela iimeko zongxamiseko neminye imicimbi engxamisekileyo.b Kwakhona ngeminyaka yee-1970, iiofisi zamasebe zeWatch Tower Society zaqalisa ukunyanyekelwa yikomiti kunokuba zinyanyekelwe ngumveleli omnye.

Ukukhanya Ngokuphathelele Ihambo YobuKristu

9. Ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwaluchaphazela njani ulwalamano lwamaKristu noorhulumente behlabathi?

⁹ Imitha emininzi yokukhanya ibinxulumene nehambo yobuKristu. Ngokomzekelo, khawuqwalasele umbandela wobundilele. Ilitha lokukhanya eliqaqambe ngokukhethekileyo lathi thaa kulo mbandela kwinqaku elithi “Ubundilele” kwiThe Watchtower kaNovemba 1, 1939. Hayi indlela elalisexesheni ngayo, lafika kanye emva kokuqalisa kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II! Eli nqaku lachaza ubundilele laza labonisa ukuba amaKristu akamele abandakanyeke kwimicimbi yezobupolitika okanye kungquzulwano lweentlanga. (Mika 4:3, 5; Yohane 17:14, 16) Le yinto efak’ isandla ekuchasweni kwawo ziintlanga zonke. (Mateyu 24:9) Iimfazwe zakwaSirayeli wamandulo azimele zixeliswe ngamaKristu, njengoko uYesu wacacisayo kuMateyu 26:52. Ngaphezu koko, akukho nalinye ilizwe lobupolitika namhlanje eliphantsi kolawulo lobuthixo, elilawulwa nguThixo, njengoko wayenjalo uSirayeli wamandulo.

10. Imitha yokukhanya yatyhila ntoni ngendlela amaKristu afanele alijonge ngayo igazi?

¹⁰ Kwakhona kwabakho ukukhanya ngobungcwele begazi. ABafundi beBhayibhile abathile babecinga ukuba ukwalelwa kokutyiwa kwegazi, kwiZenzo 15:28, 29, kwakusebenza kumaKristu angamaYuda kuphela. Noko ke, IZenzo 21:25 zibonisa ukuba ngamaxesha abapostile lo myalelo wawusebenza nakwabo beentlanga ababa ngamakholwa. Ngoko igazi lingcwele kuwo onke amaKristu, njengokuba kwaboniswa kwiThe Watchtower kaJulayi 1, 1945. Oko akuthethi kuphela ukwala ukutya igazi lezilwanyana, njengakwiisoseji ezenziwe ngegazi, kodwa kwakhona kuthetha ukungalamkeli igazi lomntu, njengakutofelo-gazi.

11. Kwabonwa ntoni ngokuphathelele imbono yamaKristu ngokusetyenziswa kwecuba?

¹¹ Ngenxa yokukhanya okwandayo, imikhwa eyayingavumelekanga ekuqaleni kamva yasingathwa njengezono ezinzulu. Umzekelo woku unxulumene nokusetyenziswa kwecuba. KwiZion’s Watch Tower ka-Agasti 1, 1895, uMzalwan’ uRussell walathisela ingqalelo kweyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 10:31 neyesi-2 kwabaseKorinte 7:1 waza wabhala oku: “Andiyiboni indlela ekuya kumzukisa ngayo uThixo, okanye ekuya kuba yingenelo ngayo, ukuba nawuphi umKristu usebenzisa icuba nangayiphi na indlela.” Ukususela ngowe-1973 kwaqondwa ngokucacileyo ukuba akukho mntu usebenzisa icuba unokuba ngomnye wamaNgqina kaYehova. Ngowe-1976 kwacaciswa ukuba akukho Ngqina linokuqeshwa kwindawo yokungcakaza lize liqhubeke liyinxalenye yebandla.

Okunye Ukusulungekiswa

12. (a) Ilitha lokukhanya latyhila ntoni ngenani lezitshixo zoBukumkani ezanikwa uPetros? (b) Kwakusenzeka ntoni xa uPetros wayesebenzisa isitshixo ngasinye?

¹² Kwakhona bekukho ukukhanya okwandayo ngokuphathelele inani lezitshixo zokomfuziselo uYesu awazinika uPetros. ABafundi beBhayibhile babekholelwa ukuba uPetros wafumana izitshixo ezibini ezavula indlela yokuba abantu babe ziindlalifa zoBukumkani—esinye samaYuda, sasetyenziswa ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., saza esinye sabeeNtlanga, sasetyenziswa okokuqala ngowama-36 C.E. xa uPetros washumayeza uKorneli. (IZenzo 2:14-41; 10:34-48) Ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwabonwa ukuba kwakukho iqela lesithathu elalibandakanyekile—amaSamariya. UPetros wasebenzisa isitshixo sesibini xa wawavulela ithuba lokungena eBukumkanini. (IZenzo 8:14-17) Ngaloo ndlela, isitshixo sesithathu sasetyenziswa xa uPetros washumayeza uKorneli.—IMboniselo, ka-Aprili 1, 1980, iphepha 16-22, 26.

13. Imitha yokukhanya yatyhila ntoni ngeentlanti zezimvu ekuthethwa ngazo kuYohane isahluko 10?

¹³ Kwelinye ilitha lokukhanya, kwabonwa ukuba uYesu akazange athethe ngeentlanti zezimvu ezimbini kuphela kodwa wathetha ngezintathu. (Yohane, isahluko 10) Yayizezi (1) ubuhlanti bezimvu bamaYuda uYohane uMbhaptizi owayengumgcini-sango kubo, (2) ubuhlanti beendlalifa zoBukumkani ezithanjisiweyo, (3) nobuhlanti ‘bezinye izimvu,’ ezinethemba lasemhlabeni.—Yohane 10:2, 3, 15, 16; IMboniselo, ka-Agasti 1, 1984, iphepha 10-20.

14. Ukukhanya okwandayo kwayicacisa njani imibandela ngokuphathelele ukuqalisa kweNtlokoma yokomfuziselo?

¹⁴ Kwakhona kwacaciswa indlela eqondwa ngayo iNtlokoma yokomfuziselo. Phantsi koMthetho, rhoqo ngonyaka wama-50 kwakubakho iNtlokoma ezukileyo, ixesha ekwakubuyiselwa ngalo izinto kubanini bazo. (Levitikus 25:10) Kangangexesha elide kwakuqondwa ukuba oku kwakufanekisela uLawulo lukaKristu Lweminyaka Eliwaka. Noko ke, kumaxesha akutshanje, kwabonwa ukuba eneneni iNtlokoma yokomfuziselo yaqalisa ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., xa abo bafumana umoya oyingcwele owathululwayo bakhululwa kubukhoboka bomnqophiso woMthetho kaMoses.—IMboniselo, kaJanuwari 1, 1987, iphepha 18-28.

Ukukhanya Okwandayo Kwisigama

15. Kukuphi ukukhanya okwanikelwayo ngokusetyenziswa kwegama elithi “icebo”?

¹⁵ “INtshumayeli yafuna, inga ingafumana amazwi anandiphekayo, kuthi nokubhalwayo kulunge, ibe ngamazwi enyaniso.” (INtshumayeli 12:10) La mazwi asenokusebenza ngokufanelekileyo kulo mbandela sithetha ngawo, kuba ukukhanya kuye kwakhanya kungekuphela nje kwimibandela ebalulekileyo enjengemfundiso nehambo kodwa kuye kwakhanya nakwisigama esisetyenziswa ngamaKristu nentsingiselo yaso echanileyo. Ngokomzekelo, enye yezona mpapasho zazithandwa ngaBafundi beBhayibhile yayingumqulu wokuqala weStudies in the Scriptures, owawunomxholo othi The Divine Plan of the Ages. Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwaqondwa ukuba iLizwi likaThixo lithetha ngabantu kuphela njengabacebayo. (IMizekeliso 19:21, NW) IZibhalo azithethi konke konke ngoYehova njengocebayo. Akuyomfuneko ukuba acebe. Injongo yakhe ngokuqinisekileyo iya kuzaliseka ngenxa yobulumko namandla akhe angapheliyo, kanye njengokuba sifunda kwabase-Efese 1:9, 10: “Ngokwenkolelo yakhe, awayimisayo [“awayenenjongo yayo,” NW] ngokwakhe, ebhekise ekuhleleni aya kuhlela ngako, akuzaliseka amaxesha.” Ngoko ngokuthe ngcembe kwabonwa ukuba igama elithi “injongo” lelona lifanelekileyo xa kubhekiselwa kuYehova.

16. Yiyiphi indlela echanileyo yokuqonda uLuka 2:14 eyabonwa ngokuthe ngcembe?

¹⁶ Kwandula ke kwavela umbandela wokuqonda ngokucacileyo uLuka 2:14. NgokweKing James Version, ufundeka ngolu hlobo: “Uzuko kuThixo enyangweni, uxolo emhlabeni, inkoliseko ebantwini.” Kwabonwa ukuba oku kwakungachananga, kuba abangendawo abakholekanga kuThixo. Ngoko ke amaNgqina akugqala oku njengoxolo ebantwini ababekholekile kuThixo. Ngoko ayesoloko ebhekisela kwabo banomdla eBhayibhileni njengabantu abakholekileyo. Kodwa kwandula ke kwaqondwa ukuba akubandakanyekanga nkoliseko ebantwini, kodwa kubandakanyeke ukukholeka kuThixo. Ngaloo ndlela, umbhalo osemazantsi weNew World Translation kuLuka 2:14 uthetha “ngabantu akholiswayo ngabo [uThixo].” Onke amaKristu aphila ngokuvisisana nesifungo sawo sokuzahlulela akholekile kuThixo.

17, 18. UYehova uya kuthethelela ntoni, yaye uya kungcwalisa ntoni?

¹⁷ Ngokufanayo, kangangexesha elide, amaNgqina ayethetha ngokuthethelelwa kwegama likaYehova. Kodwa ngaba uSathana wabangela amathandabuzo ngegama likaYehova? Ngapha koko, ngaba abameli bakaSathana baye babangela amathandabuzo ngalo, ngokungathi uYehova wayengenalungelo lokuba nelo gama? Hayi, akunjalo konke konke. Asilogama likaYehova elacelwa umngeni nelifanele lithethelelwe. Kungenxa yoko iimpapasho zakutshanje zeWatch Tower Society zingathethi ngokuthethelwa kwegama likaYehova. Zithetha ngokuthethelelwa kolongamo lukaYehova nokungcwaliswa kwegama lakhe. Oku kuvisisana noko uYesu wasixelela ukuba sikuthandazele: “Malingcwaliswe igama lakho.” (Mateyu 6:9, akekeliswe sithi.) Ngokuphindaphindiweyo, uYehova wathi wayeza kulingcwalisa igama lakhe, gama elo amaSirayeli awayengalicelanga umngeni kodwa awayelingcolisile.—Hezekile 20:9, 14, 22; 36:23.

¹⁸ Okubangela umdla kukuba, ngowe-1971, incwadi ethi “The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah”—How? yenza lo mahluko: “UYesu Kristu ulwela . . . ukuthethelelwa koloNgamo lwendalo iphela lukaYehova nokungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova.” (Iphepha 364-5) Ngowe-1973, incwadi ethi God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached yathi: “‘Imbandezelo enkulu’ ezayo ilixesha lokuba uYehova uThixo uSomandla athethelele ulongamo lwakhe lwendalo iphela aze angcwalise igama lakhe elikhulu.” (Iphepha 409) Kwandula ke, ngowe-1975, incwadi ethi Man’s Salvation Out Of World Distress at Hand! yathi: “Esona siganeko sikhulu kwimbali yendalo iphela siya kube siphunyeziwe, ukuthethelelwa kolongamo lwendalo iphela lukaYehova nokungcwaliswa kwegama lakhe elingcwele.”—Iphepha 281.

19, 20. Sinokulubonisa njani uxabiso lwethu ngemitha yokukhanya kokomoya?

¹⁹ Hayi indlela abasikelelwe ngayo abantu bakaYehova ngokunandipha konke oku kukhanya kokomoya! Ngokwahluke ngokupheleleyo koko, amazwi omnye umfundisi abonisa ubumnyama bokomoya ezikubo iinkokeli zeNgqobhoko: “Kutheni kukho isono? Kutheni kukho ukubandezeleka? Kutheni kukho umtyholi? Le mibuzo ndifuna ukuyibuza iNkosi xa ndifika ezulwini.” Kodwa amaNgqina kaYehova anokumxelela isizathu: Kungenxa yembambano yokufaneleka kolongamo lukaYehova nembambano yokuba izidalwa ezingabantu zinokuyigcina kusini na ingqibelelo kuThixo phezu kwayo nje inkcaso kaMtyholi.

²⁰ Ukutyhubela iminyaka, imitha yokukhanya emikhulu nemincinane ibikhanyisa indlela yabakhonzi bakaYehova abazahluleleyo. Oku bekuzalisekisa izibhalo ezinjengeNdumiso 97:11 neMizekeliso 4:18. Kodwa masingaze silibale ukuba ukuhamba ekukhanyeni kuthetha ukuba noxabiso ngokukhanya okwandayo nokuphila ngokuvisisana nako. Njengokuba sibonile, oku kukhanya kwandayo kubandakanya ihambo nothumo lwethu lokushumayela.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

Uyakhumbula Na?

◻ Kukuphi ukukhanya okuye kwanikelwa kumbandela ‘wamagunya aphezulu’?

◻ Imitha yokukhanya iye yabangela yiphi inkqubela entlanganweni?

◻ Ukukhanya okwandayo kuye kwayichaphazela njani ihambo yamaKristu?

◻ Ukukhanya kweZibhalo kuye kwazisa kuphi ukusulungekiswa kwendlela esiziqonda ngayo iingongoma zeZibhalo?

[Inkcazelo Ngomfanekiso okwiphepha 25]

Keys on page 24: Drawing based on photo taken in Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution