Iincwadi ZeVangeli—Ngaba Zibalisa Okwenzekayo Okanye Iintsomi?

IBALI likaYesu waseNazarete—ityendyana lomfana elaguqula imbali yabantu—liye langundoqo kwibutho labantu ehlabathini lonke. Liyinxalenye yemfundo ecwangcisiweyo nengacwangciswanga. Abaninzi bagqala iincwadi zeVangeli njengomthombo weenyaniso namaqhalo angaphelelwayo, anjengelithi “UEwe makabe nguEwe, uHayi wenu, abe nguHayi.” (Mateyu 5:37) Enyanisweni, iingxelo zeVangeli zimele ukuba zazisisiseko sezifundo owazifundiswa ngabazali bakho, enoba babengamaKristu okanye akunjalo.

Kubalandeli abanyanisekileyo bakaKristu abazizigidi, iincwadi zeVangeli zinikela inkcazelo ngendoda abaye bakulungela ukubandezeleka nokufa ngenxa yayo. Kwakhona iincwadi zeVangeli ziye zabeka isiseko kunye nokhuthazo lokuba nenkalipho, ukunyamezela, ukholo kunye nethemba. Ngoko ke, akuvumi na ukuba kumele kubekho ubungqina obunesihlahla ukuze ezi ngxelo zigqalwe njengentsomi nje? Xa ubona impembelelo enkulu ezinayo iingxelo zeVangeli kwiingcamango nakwihambo yabantu, ngaba ubungayi kufuna ubungqina obuvakalayo xa kukho umntu obuthandabuzayo ubunyaniso bazo?

Siyakumema ke ukuba uhlole iqela lemibuzo exhokonxa iingcinga ngokuphathelele iincwadi zeVangeli. Zibonele ngokwakho oko abafundi abathile beencwadi zeVangeli bakucingayo ngale mibandela, nangona abanye babo bengengomaKristu. Emva koko ke uzenzele esakho isigqibo.

IMIBUZO YOKUHLOLISISWA

◆ Ngaba kunokwenzeka ukuba iincwadi zeVangeli zayilwa ngobuqili?

URobert Funk, umseki weNgqungquthela KaYesu, uthi: “UMateyu, uMarko, uLuka noYohane ‘bachaza uMesiya’ ngendlela eyayiza kumenza avisisane nemfundiso yamaKristu eyabakho emva kokufa kukaYesu.” Noko ke, xa kwakubhalwa iincwadi zeVangeli, abaninzi ababewavile amazwi kaYesu, bazibona izenzo zakhe baza bambona evuswa kwelabafileyo, babesaphila. Abazange batyhole ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli ngokusebenzisa ubuqhetseba.

Masenze umzekelo ngokufa nokuvuswa kukaKristu. Asizoncwadi zeVangeli kuphela ezinikela ingxelo enokuthenjwa ngokufa nokuvuswa kukaYesu, kodwa yenjenjalo nencwadi eyamkelekileyo yokuqala kampostile uPawulos eyayisiya kumaKristu eKorinte yamandulo. Wabhala: “Ndanikezela kuni, phakathi kwezinto zokuqala, oko nam ndakwamkelayo, okokuba uKristu wafela izono zethu, ngokutsho kweZibhalo; wangcwatywa, waza wavuswa ngomhla wesithathu, ngokutsho kweZibhalo; wabonakala kuKefas, nakwabalishumi elinesibini. Emva koko wabonakala kubazalwana abangaphezu kwamakhulu amahlanu ngexesha elinye, inkoliso yabo esahleliyo nangoku, kodwa bambi balele ekufeni. Emva koko wabonakala kuYakobi, nakubapostile bonke; kodwa ekugqibeleni kwabo bonke wabonakala nakum ngokungathi kukulowo uzelwe ngaphambi kwexesha.” (1 Korinte 15:3-8) Loo mangqina ayenezibakala ezingokwembali ngokuphathelele ubomi bukaYesu.

Le ithethwa ngabagxeki bale mihla yokuba la mabali ayilwa ayikho kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike. Kunoko, ivela kumaxwebhu enkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Ngoko ke, iincwadi ezithile ezingasekelwanga kwiZibhalo ezazihlalutya uKristu zaveliswa xa kwakusanda uwexuko kubuKristu bokwenyaniso kwiindawo elalingamkelekanga kuzo ibandla labapostile.—IZenzo 20:28-30.

◆ Ngaba kunokwenzeka ukuba iincwadi zeVangeli zibe ziintsomi?

Umbhali okwangumhlalutyi uC. S. Lewis wakufumanisa kunzima ukugqala iincwadi zeVangeli njengeentsomi nje. “Njengombhali-mbali ndeyiseke ngokupheleleyo ukuba enoba ziyintoni na iincwadi zeVangeli, kodwa aziyontsomi,” wabhala watsho. “Akusetyenziswanga luthelekelelo oludla ngokusetyenziswa kwiintsomi. . . . Inxalenye enkulu yobomi bukaYesu asiyazi, ibe ke akukho bantu banokuyila ibali baze balivumele ukuba libe njalo.” Kukwabangel’ umdla nokuba, nangona umbhali-mbali owaziwayo uH. G. Wells engazange athi ungumKristu, wavuma esithi: “[Ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli] bobane bayavumelana xa besinika umfanekiso-ngqondweni womntu wokoqobo; oko bakuthethayo . . . kuvakala kuyinyaniso.”

Khawuqwalasele isihlandlo apho uYesu ovusiweyo wabonakala kubafundi bakhe. Umyili wentsomi onobuchule wayeya kumchaza uYesu njengobuya ngendlela ephawulekayo, anikele udlwabevu lwentetho, okanye eze enobuqaqawuli nobungangamsha. Kunoko, ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli basuka bamchaza njengowayemi phambi kwabafundi bakhe. Emva koko wababuza: “Bantwana abaselula, aninayo nantoni na edliwayo, andibi kunjalo?” (Yohane 21:5) Umphengululi uGregg Easterbrook uqukumbela ngelithi: “Nazi ke iinkcukacha ezibonisa ingxelo yokwenene, hayi ukuyilwa kwentsomi.”

Isityholo sokuba iincwadi zeVangeli zingamabali sifika singquzulane nendlela engqongqo yoorabhi yokufundisa eyayisetyenziswa kakhulu ngexesha lokubhalwa kweencwadi zeVangeli. Loo ndlela yayinamathela ngokusondeleyo ekunkqayeni—ukucengceleza izinto ngendlela ethile okanye ngokuziphindaphinda. Loo nto ithetha ukuthi amazwi awathethwa nguYesu nemisebenzi yakhe abhalwa ngokuchanileyo nangenyameko kunokuba kuyilwe ingxelo efakelelweyo.

◆ Ukuba iincwadi zeVangeli beziziintsomi, ngaba zazinokubhalwa ngokukhawuleza kangako emva kokufa kukaYesu?

Ngokutsho kobungqina obukhoyo, iincwadi zeVangeli zabhalwa phakathi konyaka wama-41 nowama-98 C.E. UYesu wafa ngowama-33 C.E. Oku kuthetha ukuba iingxelo ezingobomi bakhe zagqitywa ngexesha elifutshane ngentelekiso emva kokuphela kobulungiseleli bakhe. Oku kungquzulana mpela nebango elithi iingcaciso zeencwadi zeVangeli ziyintsomi nje. Kufuneka ixesha ukuze intsomi iyilwe. Masenze umzekelo ngeIliad kunye neOdyssey ezabhalwa yimbongi yeGrisi yamandulo uHomer. Abanye bathi umbhalo wezi ntsomi zimbini zibalaseleyo wenziwa waza waphuculwa ukutyhubela amakhulu eminyaka. Kuthekani ngeencwadi zeVangeli?

Kwincwadi yakhe ethi Caesar and Christ, umbhali-mbali uWill Durant uyabhala: “Into yokuba abantu nje abambalwa abaqhelekileyo babenokuthi . . . baziyilele umntu owayenobuntu obunamandla nobunomtsalane ngolo hlobo, owayenemilinganiselo yokuziphatha ephakame ngolo hlobo nowayezimisele ukwakha umanyano lobuzalwana olunempembelelo ngolo hlobo, ibiya kuba ngowona mmangaliso ungakholelekiyo kunayo nayiphi na ebhalwe kwiincwadi zeVangeli. Emva kweenkulungwane ezimbini zoHlalutyo Oluqatha iinyaniso ezingobomi bukaKristu, ubuntu bakhe neemfundiso zakhe, ziye zahlala zicace gca, yaye zibonisa ngokucacileyo into eyakha yenzeka kwimbali yomntu waseNtshona.”

◆ Ngaba kamva iincwadi zeVangeli zaye zaguqulwa ukuze zivisisane neemfuno zamaKristu okuqala?

Abanye abagxeki bemi ngelithi ukubangisana ngegunya kwamaKristu okuqala kwabangela ukuba ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli baliguqule ibali likaYesu okanye bongezelele kulo. Noko ke, xa uzihlolisisa ngenyameko iincwadi zeVangeli uya kubona ukuba akuzange kube njalo. Ukuba iingxelo zeVangeli eziphathelele uYesu zaziguqulwe ngenxa yobuqhetseba bamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala, kutheni kusekho amazwi athetha kakubi ngamaYuda nabeeNtlanga kumbhalo wazo?

Umzekelo woku ufumaneka kuMateyu 6:5-7, apho uYesu acatshulwa esithi: “Xa nithandaza, nize ningabi njengabahanahanisi; ngokuba bathanda ukuthandaza bemi kwizindlu zesikhungu nakwiimbombo zeendlela eziphangaleleyo ukuze babonakale ebantwini. Inene ndithi kuni, Sebewufumene ngokupheleleyo umvuzo wabo.” Kucacile ukuba la mazwi ayebhekiswa kwiinkokeli zonqulo zamaYuda. UYesu wahlabela mgama esithi: “Xa uthandaza, ungaphindaphindani nento enye, njengokuba besenza abantu beentlanga, kuba becinga ukuba baya kuviwa ngenxa yokusebenzisa kwabo amazwi amaninzi.” Xa babecaphula la mazwi kaYesu, ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli babengazami ukugaya amaguquka. Kuphela babebhala amazwi awayethethwe nguYesu Kristu.

Kwakhona qwalasela iingxelo zeVangeli eziphathelele amabhinqa awaya kwingcwaba likaYesu aza alifumana lingenanto. (Marko 16:1-8) Ngokutsho kukaGregg Easterbrook, “kubantu ababephila kuMbindi Mpuma wamandulo, ubungqina obabuvela kumabhinqa babugqalwa njengobungenakuthenjwa: ngokomzekelo, kwakuye kufuneke amangqina amabini angamadoda ukuze umfazi afunyaniswe enetyala lokukrexeza, kodwa kwakungekho mfazi wayenokunikela ubungqina ize indoda ifunyaniswe inetyala.” Eneneni, kwanabafundi bakaYesu abazange bawakholelwe amabhinqa! (Luka 24:11) Ngaloo ndlela bekungenakufane kwenzeke ukuba elo bali laliyiliwe.

Ukungabikho kwemizekeliso kwiincwadi eziziileta nakwincwadi yeZenzo kububungqina obunamandla bokuba imizekeliso ekwiincwadi zeVangeli yayingafakwanga ngamaKristu okuqala kodwa yayenziwe nguYesu ngokwakhe. Ngaphezu koko, xa uzithelekisa ngenyameko iincwadi zeVangeli kunye neencwadi eziziileta uya kufumanisa ukuba amazwi kaPawulos nawabanye ababhali beZibhalo zesiGrike akazange atshintshwe ngobuchule ukuze abe ngathi ayethethwa nguYesu. Ukuba amaKristu okuqala ayeyenzile loo nto, sifanele sifumane ubuncinane amanye amazwi akwiincwadi eziziileta ekwiingxelo zeVangeli. Ekubeni singawafumani, sinokuqiniseka ukuba iingxelo zeVangeli zezokwenene yaye zinobunyaniso.

◆ Kuthekani ngesibakala sokuba iincwadi zeVangeli zibonakala ziziphikisa?

Kudala abagxeki bemi ngelithi iincwadi zeVangeli zineengxelo ezininzi eziphikisanayo. Umbhali-mbali uDurant waqalisa ilinge lokuzihlola iingxelo zeVangeli ngeliso elingakhethi cala—njengamaxwebhu embali. Nangona esitsho ukuba zikho ezibonakala ziphikisana, uqukumbela ngelithi: “Ukuphikisana okukhoyo kuncinane [ziinkcukacha ezingenamsebenzi], akunasihlahla; kwezona zinto zibalulekileyo iincwadi zevangeli ezintathu zokuqala zingqinelana kakuhle, yaye zimchaza ngendlela enye uKristu.”

Iingxelo ezibonakala ziziphikisa zeVangeli zidla ngokucombululeka lula. Ngokomzekelo: uMateyu 8:5 uthi “kweza kuye igosa lomkhosi, limbongoza [uYesu]” ukuba aphilise isicaka salo. KuLuka 7:3, sifunda ukuba eli gosa “lathumela [kuYesu] amadoda amakhulu amaYuda ukuya kumcela ukuba eze kusindisa ikhoboka lalo.” Eli gosa lathumela amadoda amakhulu njengabameli balo. UMateyu uthi igosa lomkhosi lambongoza ngokwalo uYesu kuba le ndoda yayithumele isicelo sayo ngamadoda amakhulu, awayengumlomo wayo. Lo ngomnye nje umzekelo obonisa ukuba ezi zinto kuthiwa azingqinelani ngazo iincwadi zeVangeli zinako ukuconjululwa.

Kuthekani ngamabango awenziwa ngabahlalutyi abaqatha athi iincwadi zeVangeli azizifikeleli iimfaneleko zeengxelo ezinokugqalwa njengeziyimbali yokwenene? UDurant uhlabela mgama: “Benehlombe ngenxa yoko baye bakufumanisa, abaHlalutyi Abaqatha baye babuvavanya ngokuqatha ubunyaniso beTestamente Entsha kangangokuba ukuba bekusiya ngabo amadoda amaninzi awayebalulekile mandulo—ngokomzekelo, uHammurabi, uDavide, uSocrates—ebeya kuba ngabantu basentsomini. Nangona abo bavangeli babenekhethe yaye beneengcamango ababesele bezamkele ngonqulo, babhala ngeziganeko ezininzi ababenokuthi abayili bebali abaqhelekileyo bazifihle—ukukhuphisana kwabapostile ngezikhundla eziphezulu eBukumkanini, ukubaleka kwabo emva kokuba uYesu ebanjiwe, ukukhanyela kukaPetros . . . Akakho umntu onokuthi xa efunda ngezi ziganeko athandabuze ukuba kuthethwa ngomntu wokwenene.”

◆ Ngaba amaKristu ale mihla amela uYesu ekuthethwe ngaye kwiincwadi zeVangeli?

INgqungquthela KaYesu iye yavakalisa ukuba olu phando belusenziwa kwiincwadi zeVangeli “alukho phantsi kwempembelelo yegunya lamabhunga eecawa.” Kodwa umbhali-mbali uWells wayibona into yokuba kukho umsantsa omkhulu phakathi kweemfundiso zikaYesu ezichazwe kwiincwadi zeVangeli kunye nezeNgqobhoko. Wabhala: “Abukho ubungqina obubonisa ukuba abapostile bakaYesu bakha beva kuthethwa ngoBathathu Emnye—ubuncinane ke kuye. . . . Engazange kananjalo [uYesu] athethe nelimdaka ngokunqulwa kukanina uMariya, onkangeleko ifana nekaIsis, uKumkanikazi wezulu. Wazityeshela zonke izinto ezigqalwa njengeziphambili kunqulo nezisetyenziswa ngamaKristu.” Ngoko ke, akunakwenzeka ukuba ubani asebenzise iimfundiso zeNgqobhoko ukuze abone ukuxabiseka kweencwadi zeVangeli.

UTHINI KE WENA?

Emva kokuhlola ezi ngongoma zingasentla, ucinga ntoni ke wena? Ngaba bukho ubungqina bokwenene nobeyisayo bokuba iincwadi zeVangeli ziyintsomi nje? Abaninzi bayifumanisa ingenasihlahla yaye ingavakali imibuzo kunye namathandabuzo aphakanyiswayo ngobunyaniso beencwadi zeVangeli. Ukuze uzazi ukuba umi phi na kulo mba, kufuneka uzifunde ngengqondo ephangaleleyo iincwadi zeVangeli. (IZenzo 17:11) Xa uhlola ukungqinelana, ukunyaniseka kunye nokuchana kwendlela iincwadi zeVangeli ezibuchaza ngayo ubuntu bukaYesu, uya kufumanisa ukuba ngokuqinisekileyo ezi ngxelo aziyongqokelela nje yeentsomi.a

Ukuba uyihlolisisa ngenyameko iBhayibhile yaye usebenzisa isiluleko sayo, uya kubona indlela enokubuguqula ize ibuphucule ngayo ubomi bakho. (Yohane 6:68) Oku kuyinyaniso ngokukodwa ngamazwi kaYesu abhalwe kwiincwadi zeVangeli. Ngaphezu koko, unokufunda kuyo ngekamva eliqaqambileyo abanalo abantu abathobelayo.—Yohane 3:16; 17:3, 17.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 7]

Ubungqina Bengxelo Enobunyaniso

KWIMINYAKA ethile edluleyo omnye umbhali wemidlalo yosasazo waseOstreliya owayesakuba ngumhlalutyi weBhayibhile wavuma esithi: “Bendiqala ebomini bam ukukhe ndenze into yokuqala afanele ayenze umntu onikela ingxelo: ukuhlola izibakala. . . . Kwaye ndothuka, kuba oko ndandikufunda [kwiingxelo zeencwadi zeVangeli] kwakungeyontsomi yaye kungelobali elikhiwe entloko elivakala liyinyaniso. Kwakunikelwa ingxelo. Iingxelo ezisuka kumntu ozibonele ngamehlo nezisuka kumntu owayebaliselwa ngozibonele ngamehlo akhe iziganeko ezingaqhelekanga . . . Ingxelo inendlela yayo nje evakala ngayo, ibe zivakala njalo kanye iincwadi zeVangeli.”

Ngokufanayo, uE. M. Blaiklock, unjingalwazi woncwadi lwamandulo kwiAuckland University, wema ngelithi: “Ndingumbhali-mbali. Indlela endizijonga ngayo iiNcwadi Zamandulo yengokwembali. Kwaye ndiyakuqinisekisa ukuba ubungqina obungobomi, ukufa kunye nokuvuswa kukaKristu bunobunyaniso ngaphezu kwenkoliso yezibakala zembali yamandulo.”

[Imaphu/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 8, 9]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

IFENIKE

IGALILI

UMlambo iYordan

ELAKWAYUDA

[Imifanekiso]

“Ubungqina obungobomi, ukufa kunye nokuvuswa kukaKristu bunobunyaniso ngaphezu kwenkoliso yezibakala zembali yamandulo.”—NJINGALWAZI E. M. BLAIKLOCK

[Inkcazelo]

Background maps: Based on a map copyrighted by Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est. and Survey of Israel.