Izifundo NgemiBhalo Ephefumlelwe Nesizinda Sayo
ISifundo Sesi-6—Umbhalo WamaKristu WesiGreki WemiBhalo Engcwele
Ukukopishwa kombhalo wemiBhalo yesiGreki; ukudluliselwa kwawo ngesiGreki nangezinye izilimi kuze kube sosukwini lwanamuhla; ukwethenjelwa kombhalo wanamuhla.
1. Saqala kanjani isimiso samaKristu sokufundisa?
AMAKRISTU okuqala ayengabafundisi nabamemezeli ‘bezwi likaJehova’ elilotshiwe emhlabeni wonke. Awathatha ngokungathi sína amazwi kaJesu awakhuluma ngaphambi nje kokwenyuka kwakhe: “Nizakwamukeliswa amandla, uMoya oNgcwele esefikile phezu kwenu, nibe-ngofakazi bami eJerusalema, naseJudiya lonke, naseSamariya kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba.” (Isaya 40:8; IzE. 1:8) Njengoba uJesu ayebikezele, abafundi bokuqala abangu-120 bamukela umoya ongcwele, kanye namandla awo ashukumisayo. Lokho kwakungosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E. Ngalo lolosuku, uPetru wahola esimisweni esisha sokufundisa ngokunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele, kwaphumela ekutheni abaningi bamukele isigijimi ngokuthokoza futhi abengeziwe abangaba ngu-3 000 banezelwa ebandleni lobuKristu elalisand’ ukusungulwa.—IzE. 2:14-42.
2. Yiziphi izindaba ezinhle manje ezamenyezelwa, futhi lomsebenzi wokufakaza wawuwukubonakaliswa kwani?
2 Beshukunyiselwe emsebenzini ngendlela engakaze yenzeke kwelinye iqembu emlandweni, labafundi bakaJesu Kristu baqalisa isimiso sokufundisa ekugcineni esanda kuwo wonke amagumbi omhlaba owawaziwa ngalesosikhathi. (Kol. 1:23) Yebo, labofakazi bakaJehova abazinikele babekushisekela ukusebenzisa izinyawo zabo, behamba izindlu ngezindlu, imizi ngemizi, namazwe ngamazwe, bememezela “izindaba ezinhle zezinto ezinhle.” (Roma 10:15, NW) Lezindaba ezinhle zazikhuluma ngelungiselelo likaKristu lesihlengo, ithemba lovuko, noMbuso kaNkulunkulu othenjisiwe. (1 Kor. 15:1-3, 20-22, 50; Jak. 2:5) Ngaphambili babungakaze bunikezwe esintwini ubufakazi obunjalo obuphathelene nezinto ezingakabonwa. Baba “ukubonakal[iswa] okusobala kwezinto ezingokoqobo nakuba zingakabonwa,” ukubonakaliswa kokholo, kwabaningi manje ababamukela uJehova njengeNkosi yabo enguMbusi ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu.—Heb. 11:1; IzE. 4:24; 1 Thim. 1:14-17.
3. Yini eyayiphawula izikhonzi ezingamaKristu zekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E.?
3 Lezikhonzi ezingamaKristu, amadoda nabesifazane, zaziyizikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ezikhanyiselwe. Zazikwazi ukuzifundela nokubhala. Zazifundisiwe ngemiBhalo eNgcwele. Zazingabantu abanolwazi ngezenzakalo zezwe. Zazikujwayele ukuhamba. Zazinjengesikhonyane ngokuthi azivumelanga sikhubekiso ukuba sivimbele ukuqhubekela kwazo phambili ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle. (IzE. 2:7-11, 41; Joweli 2:7-11, 25) Kulelokhulu lokuqala leminyaka leSikhathi Esivamile, zasebenza phakathi kwabantu ngezindlela eziningi ababefana kakhulu nabantu bezikhathi zanamuhla.
4. Ngaphansi kokuphefumlela nokuhola kukaJehova, yikuphi ukuloba okwenziwa ezinsukwini zebandla lamaKristu okuqala?
4 Njengabashumayeli abathuthukayo ‘bezwi lokuphila,’ amaKristu okuqala ayisebenzisa ngokunenzuzo noma yimiphi imiqulu yeBhayibheli eyayitholakala. (Fil. 2:15, 16; 2 Thim. 4:13) Abane bawo, okungukuthi uMathewu, uMarku, uLuka noJohane, baphefumlelwa uJehova ukuba balobe “izindaba ezinhle ngoJesu Kristu.” (Marku 1:1, NW; Math. 1:1) Abanye bawo, njengoPetru, uPawulu, uJohane, uJakobe, noJuda, baloba izincwadi eziya kwabathile ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa. (2 Pet. 3:15, 16) Abanye baba abakopishi balezigijimi eziphefumlelwe, ezazijikeleziswa ngokunenzuzo phakathi kwamabandla andayo. (Kol. 4:16) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ‘abaphostoli namalunga eJerusalema’ benza izinqumo eziphathelene nezimfundiso ngaphansi kokuqondisa komoya kaNkulunkulu, futhi lezi zalotshwa ukuze zisetshenziswe kamuva. Lendikimba ebusayo eyayilawula yathumela nezincwadi zokuyala emabandleni akude. (IzE. 5:29-32; 15:2, 6, 22-29; 16:4) Futhi ukuze lokhu kwenzeke, kwakumelwe ibe nendlela yayo siqu yokuthumela izincwadi.
5. (a) Yini icodex? (b) AmaKristu okuqala ayisebenzisa ngezinga elingakanani icodex, futhi zaziyini izinzuzo zayo?
5 Ukuze asheshise ukusakazwa kwemiBhalo, futhi ayilungiselele ibe sesimweni esisebenzisekayo, ngokushesha amaKristu okuqala aqala ukusebenzisa imibhalo yesandla eyayisesimweni secodex esikhundleni semiqulu. Icodex inesimo esifana nencwadi yanamuhla, okungaphenywa kuyo ngokushesha amakhasi lapho kufunwa isikhombo, esikhundleni sokuqaqa okuningi ngokuvamile okwakudingeka ngomqulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isimo secodex senza kwaba nokwenzeka ukuzihlanganisa ndawonye izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, kanti lezo ezazisesimweni somqulu ngokuvamile zazigcinwa zisongwe ngokwahlukana. AmaKristu okuqala ayengamavulandlela ekusetshenzisweni kwecodex. Kungenzeka ngisho nanokuthi yiwo ayisungula. Nakuba abalobi abangewona amaKristu bengazange babe nkamunkamu ekwamukeleni icodex, amapapyrus amaningi kakhulu obuKristu ekhulu lesibili nelesithathu leminyaka asesimweni secodex.a
6. (a) Yayinini inkathi yobuciko olimini lwesiGreki, yayihlanganisani, futhi isiKoine, noma isiGreki esivamile, savela nini? (b) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba isiKoine sisetshenziswe ngokuvamile futhi ngaliphi izinga?
6 Ulimi LwesiKoine (IsiGreki Esivamile). Inkathi okuthiwa eyobuciko olimini lwesiGreki yaqala ngekhulu lesishiyagalolunye leminyaka B.C.E. yaphela ngekhulu lesine leminyaka B.C.E. Lena kwakuyinkathi yolimi lwesigodi lwaseAttica nolwaseIonia. Kwakuphakathi nalesikhathi, futhi ikakhulukazi ekhulwini lesihlanu nelesine leminyaka B.C.E., lapho okwachuma khona abalobi bamaGreki abaningi bemidlalo, izimbongi, amagagu okukhuluma, izazi-mlando, izazi zefilosofi, nososayensi okwaduma kubo uHomer, uHerodotus, uSocrates, uPlato, nabanye. Inkathi esukela cishe ekhulwini lesine leminyaka B.C.E. kuya cishe ekhulwini lesithupha leminyaka C.E. yayiyinkathi yalokho okwaziwa ngokuthi isiKoine, noma isiGreki esivamile. Ukuthuthuka kwaso kwakubangelwe ikakhulukazi ezempi zika-Alexander Omkhulu, obutho lakhe lalakhiwe amasosha ayevela kulo lonke elaseGrisi. Ayekhuluma izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zesiGreki sezigodi, futhi njengoba lezi zazihlangana ndawonye, kwavela ulimi lwesigodi olulodwa, isiKoine, futhi lwasetshenziswa ngokuvamile. Ukunqoba kuka-Alexander iGibithe, neAsia kuze kube seIndia, kwasakaza isiKoine kubantu abaningi, kangangokuthi saze saba ulimi lwezizwe zonke futhi sahlala sinjalo amakhulu amaningi eminyaka. Amagama esiGreki eSeptuagint ayeyisiKoine sangalesosikhathi saseAlexandria, eGibithe, phakathi nekhulu lesithathu nelesibili leminyaka B.C.E.
7. (a) IBhayibheli likufakazela kanjani ukusetshenziswa kwesiKoine ngesikhathi sikaJesu nabaphostoli bakhe? (b) Kungani isiKoine sasikufanelekela kahle ukudluliselwa kweZwi likaNkulunkulu?
7 Ezinsukwini zikaJesu nabaphostoli bakhe, isiKoine sasiwulimi lwezizwe zonke embusweni waseRoma. IBhayibheli ngokwalo liyalifakazela leliqiniso. Lapho uJesu ebethelwa esigxotsheni, kwaba okudingekile ukuba umbhalo owawuphezu kwekhanda lakhe ungaxhonywa ngesiHeberu kuphela, ulimi lwamaJuda, kodwa futhi nangesiLatini, ulimi olungokomthetho lwakulelozwe, nangesiGreki, esasikhulunywa kakhulu emigwaqweni yaseJerusalema cishe njengaseRoma, eAlexandria, noma eAthene ngokwayo. (Joh. 19:19, 20; IzE. 6:1) IzEnzo 9:29 zibonisa ukuthi uPawulu washumayela izindaba ezinhle eJerusalema kumaJuda ayekhuluma ulimi lwesiGreki. IsiKoine ngalesosikhathi sasesiwulimi olukhulu, olusetshenziswayo, oluthuthukile—ulimi olwalusetshenziswa kalula futhi olwaluyifanelekela kahle injongo kaJehova ephakeme ekudluliseleni ngokwengeziwe iZwi laphezulu.
UMBHALO WESIGREKI NOKUDLULISELWA KWAWO
8. Kungani manje sihlola ichibi lemibhalo yesandla yemiBhalo yesiGreki?
8 Esifundweni esandulelayo, sifundile ukuthi uJehova walondoloza amazwi akhe eqiniso echibini lezincwadi ezilotshiwe—imiBhalo yesiHeberu ephefumlelwe. Nokho, kuthiwani ngemiBhalo eyalotshwa abaphostoli nabanye abafundi bakaJesu Kristu? Ingabe nalena siye sagcinelwa yona ngokunakekela okufanayo? Ukuhlolwa kwechibi elikhulu lemibhalo yesandla elondolozwe ngesiGreki, nangezinye izilimi, kubonisa ukuthi kuye kwaba njalo. Njengoba sekuchaziwe kakade, lengxenye yezincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli yakhiwa izincwadi ezingu-27. Ngokwesibonelo cabangela izindlela ezihlukahlukene umbhalo walezincwadi ezingu-27 oye wadluliselwa ngazo, okubonisa indlela umbhalo wokuqala wesiGreki oye walondolozwa ngayo kuze kube usuku lwanamuhla.
9. (a) ImiBhalo yamaKristu yalotshwa ngaluphi ulimi? (b) Yimuphi umehluko ophawulwayo ngencwadi kaMathewu?
9 Umthombo Wemibhalo Yesandla YesiGreki. Izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli ezingu-27 zemiBhalo yamaKristu zazilotshwe ngesiGreki esivamile sangalolosuku. Nokho, kubonakala sengathi incwadi kaMathewu okokuqala yalotshwa ngesiHeberu seBhayibheli, ukuze ikhonze abantu abangamaJuda. Umhumushi weBhayibheli wangekhulu lesine leminyaka uJerome uyakusho lokhu, ethi kamuva yahunyushelwa esiGrekini.b Ngokunokwenzeka uMathewu ngokwakhe owenza lokhu kuhumusha—njengoba ayekade eyisisebenzi sikahulumeni wamaRoma, umthelisi, ngokungangabazeki wayesazi isiHeberu, isiLatini, nesiGreki.—Marku 2:14-17.
10. Izincwadi zeBhayibheli ziye zafinyelela kanjani kithi?
10 Abanye abalobi beBhayibheli abangamaKristu, uMarku, uLuka, uJohane, uPawulu, uPetru, uJakobe, noJuda, bonke babhala izincwadi zabo ngesiKoine, ulimi oluvamile, olusebenzayo olwaluqondwa amaKristu nabanye abantu abaningi bangekhulu lokuqala leminyaka. Eyokugcina yezincwadi zokuqala yalotshwa uJohane cishe ngo-98 C.E. Ngokwalokho okwaziwayo, ayikho kulemibhalo yokuqala engu-27 yesandla yesiKoine esekhona namuhla. Nokho, kusuka kulesiphethu somfula sokuqala, kuye kwagelezela kithi amakhophi emibhalo yokuqala, amakhophi enziwe ngamanye amakhophi, namakhophi ahlanganiswe ngamaqoqo, akha ichibi elikhulu lemibhalo yesandla yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki.
11. (a) Yimuphi umtapo wamakhophi emibhalo yesandla otholakalayo namuhla? (b) Lena iphambana kanjani ngobuningi nangobudala nezincwadi zobuciko?
11 Ichibi Lemibhalo Yesandla Engaphezu Kuka-13 000. Umtapo omkhulu kakhulu wamakhophi emibhalo yesandla azo zonke izincwadi ezingu-27 ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli uyatholakala namuhla. Amanye alawa ahlanganisa izingxenye ezinkulu zemiBhalo; amanye ayizingcezu nje. Ngokokunye ukubala, kunemibhalo yesandla engaphezu kuka-5 000 ngolimi lwesiGreki sokuqala. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunemibhalo yesandla engaphezu kuka-8 000 ngezinye izilimi ezihlukahlukene—ingqikithi yemibhalo yesandla ingaphezu kuka-13 000 isiyonke. Njengoba isukela ekhulwini lesi-2 leminyaka C.E. iya ekhulwini le-16 leminyaka C.E., yonke iyasiza ekutholeni umbhalo weqiniso, wokuqala. Omdala kunayo yonke kulemibhalo yesandla eminingi ucezu lwepapyrus yeVangeli likaJohane oluseMtatsheni Wezincwadi IJohn Rylands eManchester, eNgilandi, olwaziwa ngenombolo P52, okuthiwa lungolwasengxenyeni yokuqala yekhulu lesibili leminyaka, ngokunokwenzeka cishe ngo-125 C.E.c Kanjalo, lekhophi yalotshwa engxenyeni yesine yekhulu leminyaka noma ngalezozikhathi ngemva kombhalo wokuqala. Uma sicabangela lokho ukuze siqinisekise umbhalo wabalobi abaqhamé kakhulu, kunemibhalo yesandla eyingcosana kakhulu etholakalayo, futhi lena kuyaqabukela kutholakala ukuthi yalotshwa phakathi namakhulu eminyaka okwalotshwa ngawo imibhalo yokuqala, singabona ukuthi kunobufakazi obuningi kangakanani obukhona obusisiza ukuba sifike embhalweni onegunya wemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki.
12. Yayilotshwephi imibhalo yesandla yokuqala?
12 Imibhalo Yesandla Yepapyrus. Njengamakhophi okuqala eSeptuagint, imibhalo yokuqala yesandla yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki yayilotshwe kuyipapyrus, futhi lena yaqhubeka isetshenziswa ngenjongo yokulondoloza imibhalo yesandla yeBhayibheli cishe kwaze kwaba sekhulwini lesine leminyaka C.E. Kubonakala sengathi abalobi beBhayibheli nabo basebenzisa ipapyrus lapho bethumela izincwadi emabandleni obuKristu.
13. Yiliphi igugu elibalulekile lepapyrus elenziwa laziwa ngonyaka ka-1931?
13 Kuye kwatholakala inqwaba yemibhalo ekuyipapyrus esifundazweni saseFaiyūm, eGibithe. Ekupheleni kwekhulu le-19 leminyaka, kwavezwa amapapyrus amaningi eBhayibheli. Elinye lamagugu abaluleke kunawo wonke osuku lwanamuhla emibhalo yesandla laliwumvubukulo owenziwa waziwa ngo-1931. Wawuqukethe izingxenye zamacodex angu-11, aqukethe izingxenye zezincwadi ezingu-8 ezihlukahlukene zemiBhalo yesiHeberu ephefumlelwe nezincwadi ezingu-15 zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, zonke zingesiGreki. Lamapapyrus alotshwa kusukela ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka kuya ekhulwini lesine leminyaka leSikhathi Esivamile. Eziningi zezingxenye zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki zaleligugu manje zisemaQoqweni KaChester Beatty futhi zihlelwe ngokuthi P45, P46, noP47, uphawu u“P” lumelele elithi “Papyrus.”
14, 15. (a) Yimiphi eminye imibhalo yesandla evelele yepapyrus yemiBhalo yamaKristu YesiGreki esohlwini ekhasini 313? (b) Bonisa indlela iNew World Translation eye yasebenzisa ngayo lemibhalo yesandla. (c) Yini amacodex okuqala epapyrus ayiqinisekisayo?
14 Amapapyrus elinye iqoqo eliphawulekayo akhishwa eGeneva, eSwitzerland, kusukela ngo-1956 kuya ku-1961. Njengoba aziwa ngokuthi ama Bodmer Papyrus, ahlanganisa imibhalo yokuqala yamaVangeli amabili (P66 no-P75) asukela ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu leminyaka C.E. Uhlu olwandulela lesifundo lunamanye amapapyrus eBhayibheli asendulo avelele emiBhalo yesiHeberu neyamaKristu yesiGreki. Ohlwini lokugcina, kunezindinyana ezikhonjiwe ezikuyiNew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures lapho lemibhalo yesandla yepapyrus isekela khona ukuhunyushwa okwenziwe kuyo, futhi lokhu kuboniswe emibhalweni yaphansi yalawomavesi.
15 Ukutholakala kwalamapapyrus kunikeza ubufakazi bokuthi uhlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli lwashesha kakhulu ukuqedwa. Phakathi kwama Chester Beatty Papyrus, amacodex amabili—enye ehlanganisa ndawonye izingxenye zamaVangeli amane nezEnzo (P45) nenye enezincwadi zikaPawulu ezingu-9 kwezingu-14 (P46)—abonisa ukuthi imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ephefumlelwe yahlanganiswa ngokushesha ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli. Njengoba kwakuyothatha isikhathi ukuba lamacodex ajikeleze kabanzi aze afike ezansi eGibithe, kusobala ukuthi lemiBhalo yayisiqoqiwe yaba sesimweni sayo esigunyaziwe okungenani ngekhulu lesibili leminyaka. Kanjalo, ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili leminyaka, kwakungasekho kungabaza kodwa kwakwaziwa ukuthi uhlu lwezincwadi zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki lwase luqediwe, kupheleliswa uhlu lwezincwadi zalo lonke iBhayibheli.
16. (a) Yimiphi imibhalo yesandla elotshwe ngonobumbakazi yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki esekhona kuze kube namuhla? (b) Imibhalo yesandla elotshwe ngonobumbakazi iye yasetshenziswa ngaliphi izinga kuyiNew World Translation, futhi ngani?
16 Imibhalo Yesandla Elotshwe Esikhunjeni Esithambile Nesilukhuni. Njengoba sifundile esifundweni esandulelayo, ivellum ehlala isikhathi eside, iphepha lohlobo oluhle ngokuvamile elalenziwa ngesikhumba sethole, imvu, noma imbuzi, yaqala ukusetshenziswa esikhundleni sepapyrus ekulobeni imibhalo yesandla kusukela cishe ngekhulu lesine leminyaka C.E. kuqhubeke. Imibhalo ethile yesandla yeBhayibheli ebaluleke kakhulu ekhona namuhla ilotshwe esikhunjeni esithambile. Sesixoxile kakade ngemibhalo yesandla yemiBhalo yesiHeberu elotshwe esikhunjeni esithambile nesilukhuni. Uhlu olusekhasini 314 lunemibhalo evelele yesandla yakho kokubili imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki neyesiHeberu elotshwe esikhunjeni esithambile nesilukhuni. Leyo esohlwini lwemiBhalo yesiGreki yalotshwa ngonobumbakazi kuphela futhi kubhekiselwa kuyo ngokuthi amauncial. INew Bible Dictionary ibika imibhalo yesandla ebhalwe ngonobumbakazi yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki engu-274, futhi lena isukela ekhulwini lesine leminyaka C.E. ukuya kweleshumi leminyaka C.E. Khona-ke kunemibhalo yesandla yezinhlamvu ezilukeke, noma ezincane, engaphezu kuka-5 000, eyenziwe ngendlela yokubhala ngokuhlanganisa.d Lena, nayo esesikhunjeni esithambile, yalotshwa phakathi nenkathi esukela ekhulwini lesishiyagalolunye leminyaka C.E. kuya ekusungulweni kokunyathelisa. Ngenxa yobudala bayo nokunemba kwayo okuvamile, imibhalo yesandla yonobumbakazi yasetshenziswa kakhulu yiKomiti Yezwe Elisha Yokuhumusha IBhayibheli ekuhumusheni ngokucophelela ithathela embhalweni wesiGreki. Lokhu kuboniswe ohlwini oluthi “Eminye ImiBhalo Yesandla Eyinhloko Esesikhunjeni Esithambile Nesilukhuni.”
INKATHI YOKUCUSUMBULWA NOKUCWENGISISWA KOMBHALO
17. (a) Yiziphi izenzakalo ezimbili ezaholela ekuhlolweni okwandisiwe kombhalo weBhayibheli wesiGreki? (b) UErasmus uphawuleka ngamuphi umsebenzi? (c) Wakhiwe kanjani umbhalo oyinhloko onyathelisiwe?
17 Umbhalo KaErasmus. Phakathi nawo wonke amakhulu amaningi eminyaka eziNkathi Zobumnyama, lapho ulimi lwesiLatini lwalukhulunywa kakhulu, futhi iYurophu eseNtshonalanga ingaphansi kokubusa konya kweSonto lamaRoma Katolika, ulwazi nemfundo kwakusezingeni eliphansi. Nokho, ngokusungula kweYurophu indlela yokunyathelisa ngokunamathelisa izinhlamvu zamagama ekhulwini le-15 leminyaka naseNkathini yeNguquko yasekuqaleni kwekhulu le-16 leminyaka, kwaba nenkululeko eyengeziwe, futhi savuka kabusha isithakazelo olimini lwesiGreki. Kwakuphakathi nalokhu kuvuselelwa kokuqala kwemfundo lapho isazi esidumile esingumDashi uDesiderius Erasmus sakhipha khona uhlelo lwaso lokuqala lombhalo wesiGreki oyinhloko ‘weTestamente Elisha.’ (Umbhalo onjalo oyinhloko onyathelisiwe wenziwa ngokuqhathanisa ngokunakekela imibhalo eminingi yesandla nangokusebenzisa amagama ngokuvamile okuvunyelwana ngawo ukuthi angawokuqala, ngokuvamile ahlanganisa, embhalweni waphansi, ukukhulumela nganoma iyiphi indlela yokufundeka ehlukile kweminye imibhalo yesandla.) Loluhlelo lokuqala lwanyatheliswa eBasel, eSwitzerland, ngo-1516, kusele unyaka ngaphambi kokuba iNkathi yeNguquko iqale eJalimane. Uhlelo lokuqala lwalunamaphutha amaningi, kodwa umbhalo othuthukisiwe wadluliselwa ezinhlelweni ezalandela ngo-1519, 1522, 1527, nango-1535. UErasmus wayenemibhalo yesandla embalwa kuphela yamuva elotshwe ngokuhlanganisa amagama eyayitholakala ukuze ahlanganise futhi alungiselele umbhalo wakhe oyinhloko.
18. Yini umbhalo kaErasmus owayenza yaba nokwenzeka, futhi obani abawusebenzisa kahle?
18 Umbhalo kaErasmus wesiGreki onembile waba isisekelo sezinguqulo ezingcono ngezilimi eziningana zaseNtshonalanga Yurophu. Lokhu kwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukukhiqizwa kwezinhlelo ezisezingeni eliphakeme kunalezo ezazihunyushwe ngaphambili zisuselwa kuyiVulgate yesiLatini. Owokuqala owasebenzisa umbhalo kaErasmus kwakunguMartin Luther waseJalimane, owaqeda inguqulo yakhe yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesiJalimane ngo-1522. Ebhekene nokushushiswa okukhulu, uWilliam Tyndale waseNgilandi walandela nenguqulo yakhe yesiNgisi ayeyisusela embhalweni kaErasmus, ayiqedela endaweni ayedingiselwe kuyo ezwekazini laseYurophu ngo-1525. UAntonio Brucioli waseItaly wahumusha umbhalo kaErasmus ngesiNtaliyane ngo-1530. Ngokufika kombhalo kaErasmus wesiGreki, manje kwakuqala inkathi yokucusumbulwa kombhalo. Ukucusumbulwa kombhalo indlela esetshenziswayo yokwakha kabusha nokubuyisela umbhalo weBhayibheli wokuqala.
19. Uyini umlando wokuhlukaniswa kweBhayibheli ngezahluko nangamavesi, futhi yini lokhu okuye kwayenza yenzeka?
19 Ukwahlukanisa Ngezahluko Nangamavesi. URobert Estienne, noma uStephanus, wayevelele njengomnyathelisi nomhleli ekhulwini le-16 leminyaka eParis. Njengoba ayengumhleli, wabona inzuzo engokoqobo yokusebenzisa isimiso sezahluko namavesi ngenjongo yokubhekisela esikhombweni ngokushesha, ngalokho waqalisa lesimiso eTestamenteni lakhe Elisha lesiGreki nesiLatini ngo-1551. Ukwahlukanisa ngamavesi okokuqala kwenziwa amaMasorete emiBhalweni yesiHeberu, kodwa kwaba iBhayibheli likaStephanus lesiFulentshi lango-1553 elabonisa okokuqala ukwahlukaniswa kwanamuhla kwalo lonke iBhayibheli. Lokhu kwenziwa emaBhayibhelini olimi lwesiNgisi alandela futhi kwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukukhiqizwa kwezincwadi zezikhombo zamagama aseBhayibhelini njengeka-Alexander Cruden ngo-1737 kanye nezincwadi ezimbili ezinkulu zezikhombo zamagama akuyiAuthorized Version yeBhayibheli lesiNgisi—ekaRobert Young, eyakhishwa okokuqala e-Edinburgh ngo-1873, nekaJames Strong, eyakhishwa eNew York ngo-1894.
20. Yayiyini iTextus Receptus, futhi yaba isisekelo sani?
20 UmBhalo Owamukelwe. UStephanus wakhipha futhi izinhlelo eziningana ‘zeTestamente Elisha’ lesiGreki. Lezi zazisekelwe ngokuyinhloko embhalweni kaErasmus, nokulungisa ngokweComplutensian Polyglott ka-1522 nemibhalo yakamuva engu-15 elotshwe ngokuhlanganisa amagama yamakhulu eminyaka ambalwa angaphambili. Eqinisweni, uhlelo lwesithathu lukaStephanus lombhalo wakhe wesiGreki ngo-1550 lwaba iTextus Receptus (igama lesiLatini elisho “umbhalo owamukelwe”) okwakusekelwe kulo ezinye izinguqulo zesiNgisi zangekhulu le-16 leminyaka neKing James Version ka-1611.
21. Yimiphi imibhalo enembile eye yakhiqizwa kusukela ngekhulu le-18 leminyaka, futhi iye yasetshenziswa kanjani?
21 Imibhalo YesiGreki Enembile. Kamuva, izazi zamaGreki zakhiqiza imibhalo enembe ngokwengeziwe. Eyayivelele yileyo eyakhiqizwa uJ. J. Griesbach, owakwazi ukufinyelela amakhulu emibhalo yesandla yesiGreki eyayisitholakala ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-18 leminyaka. Uhlelo olungcono kakhulu lwawo wonke umbhalo wesiGreki kaGriesbach lwakhishwa ngo-1796-1806. Umbhalo wakhe oyinhloko wawuyisisekelo senguqulo yesiNgisi kaSharpe ngo-1840 futhi uwumbhalo wesiGreki onyatheliswe kuyiEmphatic Diaglott, eyakhishwa okokuqala iphelele ngo-1864. Eminye imibhalo emihle kakhulu yakhiqizwa uKonstantin von Tischendorf (1872) noHermann von Soden (1910), lona wamuva wasebenza njengesisekelo senguqulo yesiNgisi kaMoffatt ka-1913.
22. (a) Yimuphi umbhalo wesiGreki oye wamukelwa kabanzi? (b) Uye wasetshenziswa njengesisekelo saziphi izinguqulo zesiNgisi?
22 Umbhalo KaWestcott NoHort. Umbhalo oyinhloko wesiGreki oye wamukelwa kabanzi yilowo owakhiqizwa izazi zaseYunivesithi yaseCambridge uB. F. Westcott noF. J. A. Hort, ngo-1881. Amakhophi ahloliwe emibhalo yesiGreki kaWestcott noHort acwaningwa iKomiti Ebukezayo YaseBritani, uWestcott noHort ababengamalungu ayo, lapho ibukeza “iTestamente Elisha” ngo-1881. Lombhalo oyinhloko yiwona owasetshenziswa ngokuyinhloko ekuhumusheni imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesiNgisi kuyiNew World Translation. Lombhalo uyisisekelo futhi sezinguqulo ezilandelayo ngesiNgisi: iEmphasised Bible, iAmerican Standard Version, iAmerican Translation (Smith-Goodspeed), neRevised Standard Version.e Lenguqulo yokugcina yasebenzisa nombhalo kaNestle.
23. Yimiphi eminye imibhalo eyasetshenziswa kuyiNew World Translation?
23 Umbhalo wesiGreki kaNestle (uhlelo lwe-18, 1948) wasetshenziswa futhi iKomiti Yezwe Elisha Yokuhumusha IBhayibheli ngenjongo yokuqhathanisa. Lekomiti yabhekisela nakweyezazi zamaKatolika ezingamaJesuit uJosé M. Bover (1943) noAugustinus Merk (1948). Umbhalo weZinhlangano ZeBhayibheli Ezihlangene ka-1975 nokaNestle-Aland ka-1979 yacwaningwa ukuze kuthuthukiswe imibhalo yaphansi yoHlelo Olunezikhombo luka-1984.f
24. Yiziphi futhi izinguqulo zasendulo iNew World Translation eye yabhekisela kuzo? Yiziphi ezinye izibonelo?
24 Izinguqulo Zasendulo Ezisuselwa EsiGrekini. Ngaphezu kwemibhalo yesandla yesiGreki, namuhla futhi kunemibhalo eminingi yesandla yezinguqulo zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngezinye izilimi etholakalayo ngenjongo yokuhlola. Cishe kunemibhalo yesandla (noma izingcezu) engaphezu kuka-50 yezinguqulo zesiLatini Sakudala nezinkulungwane zemibhalo yesandla yeVulgate yesiLatini kaJerome. IKomiti Yezwe Elisha Yokuhumusha IBhayibheli yabhekisela kulezi, nasezinguqulweni zesiCopt, isiArmenia, nezesiSiriya.g
25. Zithakazelisa ngani ngokukhethekile izinguqulo zolimi lwesiHeberu okubhekiselwa kuzo kuyiNew World Translation?
25 Kusukela okungenani ngekhulu le-14 leminyaka kuqhubeke, kuye kwakhiqizwa izinguqulo zemiBhalo yesiGreki ngolimi lwesiHeberu. Lezi ziyathakazelisa ngoba eziningi zazo ziye zabuyisela igama laphezulu emiBhalweni yamaKristu. INew World Translation ibhekisela kaningi kulezinguqulo zesiHeberu ngaphansi kophawu u“J” olunenombolo encane phezulu. Ukuze uthole imininingwane, bheka isandulela seNew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References, amakhasi 9-10, ne-appendix 1D, “The Divine Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures.”
UKWAHLUKA KOMBHALO NENCAZELO YAKHO
26. Kwavela kanjani ukwahluka kombhalo namaqembu emibhalo yesandla efanayo?
26 Phakathi kwemibhalo yesandla engaphezu kuka-13 000 yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, kunokwahluka okuningi kombhalo. Imibhalo yesandla engu-5 000 ngolimi lwesiGreki kuphela ibonisa umehluko omningi onjalo. Singaqonda kahle ukuthi ikhophi ngayinye esuselwe emibhalweni yesandla yokuqala yayizoba namaphutha ayo ombhali ahlukile. Njengoba noma yimuphi walemibhalo yesandla yokuqala wawuthunyelwa endaweni ethile ukuze usetshenziswe, lamaphutha ayeyophindaphindwa emakhophini akuleyondawo futhi ayeyoba uphawu lweminye imibhalo yesandla lapho. Achuma ngalendlela amaqembu emibhalo yesandla efanayo. Khona-ke, akufanele yini ukuba izinkulungwane zamaphutha ombhali zibhekwe ngokwesaba? Ingabe azibonisi ukuntuleka kokwethembeka ekudluliselweni kombhalo? Phinde!
27. Yisiphi isiqinisekiso esinaso ngobuqotho bombhalo wesiGreki?
27 UF. J. A. Hort, owayengumkhiqizi wombhalo kaWestcott noHort, uyabhala: “Amagama amaningi kakhulu eTestamente Elisha aphumelela ngamalengiso kuzo zonke izinqubo zokucusumbula ezibandlululayo, ngoba awanakho ukwahluka, futhi adinga ukuphinde akopishwe nje kuphela. . . . Uma izinto ezincane ngokuqhathaniswa . . . zibekwa eceleni, amagama ngokombono wethu asangatshazwa ngeke adlule ngisho nasengxenyeni yenkulungwane yalo lonke iTestamente Elisha.”h
28, 29. (a) Kumelwe ube yini umphumela esiwutholayo ngombhalo wesiGreki onembile? (b) Yimaphi amazwi anegunya esinawo ngalokhu?
28 Ukuhlolwa Kokudluliselwa Kombhalo. Khona-ke, yimuphi umphumela esiwutholayo ngobuqiniso bombhalo, ngemva kwalamakhulu amaningi eminyaka okudluliselwa kwawo? Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi kunezinkulungwane zemibhalo yesandla okungaqhathaniswa nayo kodwa ukutholakala kwemibhalo yesandla emidala yeBhayibheli phakathi namashumi ambalwa eminyaka adlule kuyisa umbhalo wesiGreki emuva cishe onyakeni ka-125 C.E., amashumi amabili nje eminyaka ngemva kokufa komphostoli uJohane cishe ngo-100 C.E. Lobufakazi bemibhalo yesandla bunikeza isiqinisekiso esinamandla sokuthi thina manje sinombhalo wesiGreki onokwethenjelwa osesimweni esinembile. Phawula umphumela owayengumqondisi nomgcini-zincwadi waseMnyuziyamu waseBrithani, uSir Frederic Kenyon, awuvezayo ngalendaba:
29 “Khona-ke isikhala esiphakathi kwezinsuku zokulotshwa kokuqala nobufakazi bokuqala obutholakalayo siba sincane kakhulu ukuba eqinisweni singazihlupha ngaso, futhi isisekelo sokugcina sanoma yikuphi ukungabaza ngokuthi imiBhalo ifinyelele kithi ngokuyisisekelo isenjengoba yayilotshiwe manje sesisusiwe. Kokubili ubuqiniso nobuqotho obuvamile bezincwadi zeTestamente Elisha kungabhekwa njengokuqinisekiswe ngokuphelele. Nokho, ubuqotho obuvamile bungenye into, futhi ukuqiniseka kwemininingwane kungenye.”i
30. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi iNew World Translation inikeza abafundi bayo “izwi likaJehova” elithembekile?
30 Ngokuqondene nephuzu lokugcina eliphathelene ‘nokuqiniseka kwemininingwane,’ ingcaphuno kaDkt. Hort esesigabeni 27 iyakuhlanganisa lokhu. Kuwumsebenzi wabathuthukisi bombhalo ukulungisa imininingwane, futhi lokhu baye bakwenza ngezinga elikhulu. Ngenxa yalesizathu, umbhalo wesiGreki kaWestcott noHort onembile wamukelwa ngokuvamile njengosezingeni eliphakeme kakhulu. Ngalokho ingxenye yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki yeNew World Translation, njengoba isekelwe kulombhalo wesiGreki omuhle kakhulu, iyakwazi ukunikeza abafundi bayo “izwi likaJehova” elithembekile, njengoba siye salondolozelwa lona kahle kangaka echibini lesiGreki lemibhalo yesandla.—1 Pet. 1:24, 25.
31. (a) Yini imivubukulo yanamuhla eye yayibonisa ngombhalo wemiBhalo yesiGreki? (b) Ishadi elisekhasini 309 liwubonisa kanjani umthombo oyinhloko wengxenye yemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki yeNew World Translation, futhi yimiphi eminye imithombo yesibili eyasetshenziswa?
31 Ayathakazelisa futhi amazwi kaSir Frederic Kenyon encwadini yakhe ethi Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts, 1962, ekhasini 249: “Kumelwe kusanelise ukwazi ukuthi ubuqiniso bawo wonke umbhalo weTestamente Elisha buye basekelwa ngokuphawulekayo yimivubukulo yanamuhla eye yasinciphisa kakhulu kangaka isikhala esiphakathi kwemibhalo yesandla yokuqala nemibhalo yethu yokuqala yesandla esatholakala, nokuthi ukufundeka kwayo ngokwahlukahlukene, nakuba kuthakazelisa kangaka, akuziphazamisi izimfundiso eziyisisekelo zokholo lobuKristu.” Njengoba kuboniswe ekhasini 309 eshadini elithi, “Imithombo Yombhalo WeNew World Translation—ImiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki,” zonke izincwadi eziphathelene ziye zasetshenziswa ukuze kulungiselelwe umbhalo wesiNgisi ohunyushwe ngokunembile. Imibhalo yaphansi ebalulekile iyakusekela konke lokhu kuhumusha okuthembekile. IKomiti Yezwe Elisha Yokuhumusha IBhayibheli yasebenzisa imiphumela engcono kakhulu yolwazi lweBhayibheli olwathuthukiswa phakathi namakhulu eminyaka ekukhiqizeni inguqulo yayo enhle. Yeka ukuqiniseka esingaba nakho namuhla kokuthi imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, njengoba manje itholakala kithi, ngempela iqukethe “isibonelo samazwi aphilayo” njengoba salotshwa abafundi bakaJesu Kristu abaphefumlelwe. Kwangathi singaqhubeka sibambelele kulamazwi ayigugu ngokholo nangothando!—2 Thim. 1:13.
32. Kungani indawo enkulu lapha iye yanikelwa engxoxweni ngemibhalo yesandla nombhalo wemiBhalo Engcwele, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela owanelisayo?
32 Kokubili lesifundo kanye nesandulelayo ziye zanikelwa ukuba zixoxe ngemibhalo yesandla nombhalo wemiBhalo Engcwele. Kungani lokhu kuye kwacutshungulisiswa kangaka? Injongo bekuwukubonisa ngokungenakungatshazwa ukuthi imibhalo yakho kokubili imiBhalo yesiHeberu neyesiGreki ngokuyisisekelo iyafana nombhalo oyiqiniso, nowokuqala uJehova aphefumlela amadoda athembekile akudala ukuba awulobe. Leyomibhalo yokuqala yayiphefumlelwe. Abakopishi, nakuba babenamakhono, babengaphefumlelwe. (IHu. 45:1; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; 3:16) Ngakho-ke, kuye kwaba okudingekile ukuhlunga echibini elikhulu lamakhophi emibhalo yesandla ukuze siwabone ngokucacile nangokungenaphutha amanzi acwebile eqiniso njengoba ageleza okokuqala evela eSiphethwini Esikhulu Somfula, uJehova. Konke ukubonga kuya kuJehova ngesipho esimangalisayo seZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli eliphefumlelwe, nesigijimi soMbuso esiqabulayo esigeleza emakhasini alo!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, amakhasi 354-5.
b Bheka ikhasi 176, isigaba 6.
c Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, ikhasi 323; New Bible Dictionary, uhlelo lwesibili, 1986, J. D. Douglas, ikhasi 1187.
d New Bible Dictionary, uhlelo lwesibili, ikhasi 1187.
e Bheka ishadi elithi “Izinguqulo ZeBhayibheli Eziyinhloko Ngezilimi Ezinkulu Eziyisikhombisa,” ekhasini 322.
f The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, 1985, amakhasi 8-9.
g Bheka imibhalo yaphansi kuLuka 24:40; Johane 5:4; IzEnzo 19:23; 27:37; nesAmbulo 3:16.
h The New Testament in the Original Greek, 1974, Umq. I, ikhasi 561.
i The Bible and Archaeology, 1940, amakhasi 288-9.