24—Ikorinte

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiZenzo 18:1-18]

Ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeli xesha lobuKristu, iKorinte yayisesinye sezixeko eziphambili, kungekuphela kwelamaGrike, kodwa kwihlabathi liphela. AmaGrike, amaYuda, namaRoma, behlangene nabahambi abaphuma kuwo onke amazwe, babezalisa izitrato benenjongo yokushishina nokonwaba. Indawo enkulu yoshishino; emi kwingingqi efikeleleka lula kuzo zonke iindawo zobukumkani baseRoma, kwaye iyindawo ebalulekileyo apho kwakumiswa izikhumbuzo zikaThixo nenyaniso yaKhe.IZ 243.1

Phakathi kwamaYuda awaya ahlala eKorinte, kwakukho u-Akwila noPrisila, abathi kamva babaluleka ngokuba ngabasebenzi bakaKristu abanyanisekileyo. Ngokuqhelana nendlela yokuziphatha kwaba bantu, uPawulos “waselehlala nabo.”IZ 243.2

Kususela kwasekuqaleni kokusebenza kwakhe ngale ndlela yokuhamba, uPawulos wabona izithintelo ezikhulu kwinkqubela phambili yomsebenzi wakhe. Phantse isixeko sonke sasikhonza izithixo.Kwankukho intandane UVenus isithixokazi. Kunqulo llwakhe uVenus kwakuhlanganiswe iinkonzo zonqulo neenkonzo zamatheko ezininzi ezazisilwa nendlela yokuziphatha. AmaKorinte aya agqama kakhulu, naphakathi kwabahedeni, ngendlela yokuziphatha kakubi. Akhangeleka ngathi ayengacingi nto konke okanye engenankathalo yimbi ngaphandle kweziyolo nokuziqhenya ngokwelo lixa.IZ 243.3

Ekushumayeleni kwakhe eKorinte, umpostile walandela indlela eyahlukileyo kuleyo wayeyisebenzise eAthene. Kwindawo yaseAthene wazama ukusebenza ngendlela eyayiza kuhambelana nabantu ababekho, wahlanganisa ubuchule nobuchule, ulwazi nolwazi, ifilosofi nefilosofi. Wathi akucinga ngexesha awalichithayo esenza oko, waqonda ukuba ukufundisa kwakhe eAthene kwathwala isiqhamo esincinane, waza wagqiba ukuba alandele ndlela yimbi yokusebenza eKorinte kwimizamo yakhe yokubamba umdla kubantu abangakhathaliyo nabangahoyinto. Wazimisela ukuba azinxweme iintetho neengxogo ezibanzi, ade athi, “ndagqiba kwelokuba ndingazi nto phakathi kwenu [maKorinte], ingenguYesu Kristu, naye ke ebethelelwe emnqamlezweni.” Uthi wayeza kushumayela kubo “kungengamazwi oyisa ngabulumko babantu, bekungokuqondakalisa koMoya nokwamandla.” 1 Korinte 2:2, 4.IZ 244.1

UYesu, owayeza kubekwa nguPawulos phambi kwamaGrike eKorinte njengoKristu, wayengumYuda ophantsi ngokuzalwa, ekhuliswe kwidolophu eyayisaziwa ngenkohlakalo. Lwamala uhlanga lwaKhe waza ekugqibeleni wabethelelwa emnqamlezweni njengesihange. AmaGrike ayekholelwa ukuba kukho intswelo yokuba luphakanyiswe uhlanga loluntu, kodwa ayekuxabise ukufundwa kwefilosofi nesayensi njengeyona ndlela ekuphela kwayo ekungafikelelwa ngayo ekuphakanyisweni nasekunikweni imbeko. Angaba uPawulos wayenakho ukuwenza ukuba akholelwe ukubeni ukukholelwa kumandla alo mYuda ongacacanga, kungawaphakamisa kuwenze ahlonipheke wonke amandla omntu?IZ 244.2

Kwiingqondo zezihlwele eziphila ngexesha langoku, umnqamlezo waseKalvari ungqongwe ziinkumbulo ezingcwele. Kuninzi okungcwele okuhlanganiswa nemibono yokubethelelwa. Ngemihla kaPawulos, umnqamlezo wawuthatyathwa njengento yokuphetshwa nelisikizi. Ukuphakamisa njengoMsindisi woluntu umntu oye wafa emnqamlezweni, ngokwenene kwakuyinto yokuhlekwa nokuchaswa.IZ 245.1

UPawulos wayesazi kakuhle ukuba isigidimi sakhe siya kwamkelwa njani ngamaYuda namaGrike eKorinte. “Sivakalisa uKristu, ebethelelwe emnqamlezweni,” wavuma watsho, “isikhubekiso ke eso kumaYuda, ubudenge kumaGrike.” 1 Korinte 1:23. Phakathi kwabaphulaphuleyo abangamaYuda, babebaninzi ababeza kucatshukiswa sisigidimi awayeza kusishumayela. Ngokuqikelela kwamaGrike, amazwi akhe ayeza kuba yintlekisa yobu budenge. Wayeza kukhangeleka njengomntu onengqondo engasebenzi kakuhle ngokuzama ukubonisa ukuba umnqamlezo ungahlangana nokuphakanyiswa kohlanga okanye nokusindiswa koluntu.IZ 245.2

Phofu ke, kuPawulos, umnqamlezo yayikuphela kwento enika umdla omkhulu. Kususela oko wabanjwa esemsebenzini wakhe wokutshutshisa abalandeli bomNazarete owabethelelwa emnqamlezweni, akazange ayeke ukuwuzukisa umnqamlezo. Ngelo xesha wanikwa intyilelo yothando olungenasiphelo lukaThixo, njengoko lwabonakaliswa ekufeni kukaKristu; nokuguqulwa okumangalisayo okwenziwa ebomini bakhe, into eyenza ukuba onke amacebo akhe neenjongo zakhe zihambelane nezulu. Ukusuka kwelo lixa, waba ngumntu omtsha kuKristu. Wayesazi ngawakhe amava ukuba, ngako nje ukuba umntu uthe walubona uthando lukaBawo, njengoko lubonwa kumbingelelo woNyana waKhe, aze azinikele kwimpembelelo engcwele, intliziyo iyaguquka, aze ukususela ngoko, uKristu abe yinto yonke kuye.IZ 245.3

Ngexesha lokuguquka kwakhe, uPawulos wafumana impefumlelo eyamenza wanolangazelelo lokunceda abantu bakubo ukuba bambone uYesu waseNazarete njengoNyana kaThixo ophilayo, onamandla okuguqula nokusindisa. Ukususela ngoko, ubomi bakhe banikelwa ngokupheleleyo kumalinge okuzoba uthando namandla aLowo wabethelelwayo. Intliziyo yakhe yavuleka yabankulu lusizi lwazo zonke iindidi zabantu. Wathi, “Kaloku ndimelwe kukushumayela kubo bonke: kwabaphucukileyo nakwabo bangaphucukanga, kwizilumko nakwabangaziyo.” Roma 1:14 (IBHAYIBHILE]. Uthando lwakhe lweNkosi awayeyitshutshisa ngokungenalusizi kubantu abangcwele baYo, lwalungumthetho-siseko olawula isimilo sakhe, lusesona sizathu samandla akhe. Ukuba inzondelelo yakhe emsebenzini ibingaba nokutyhafa, ukukhangela nje kube kanye emnqamlezweni aze atyhilelwe uthando olumangalisayo, bekunganela ukumenza ukuba abhinqe amanqe engqondo yakhe abheke phambili kwindlela yokuzidela.IZ 246.1

Mbone umpostile eshumayela endlwini yesikhungu eKorinte, exoxa ecaphula kwimibhalo kaMoses nabaprofeti, ebatsalela abamphulaphulayo ekufikeni kukaMesiya wesithembiso. Mphulaphule xa wayecacisa ngomsebenzi woMhlwawuleli njengombingeleli omkhulu woluntu, Lowo wathi ngokubingelela ngobaKhe ubomi wenza ucamagushelo lwezono zabo bonke, waza waqala ukwenza umsebenzi waKhe kwingcwele yasezulwini. Ababemphulaphule uPawulos baziswa ukuba, uMesiya wabo babekulindele ukufika kwaKhe, wayesele efikile; nokuba ukufa kwaKhe kuko okwakumelwe yiminikelo yemibingelelo, kwaye nolungiselelo lwaKhe engcweleni yasezulwini kwakuyeyona nto yasiphosa ngasemva isithunzi sayo sisenza ukuba kubekho ukwaziwa okucacileyo kolungiselelo lobubingeleli bamaYuda.IZ 246.2

UPawulos “waqononondisa kumaYuda ukuba uYesu lo nguye uKristu.” Kususela kwiziBhalo zeTestamente eNdala, wabonisa ukuba, ngokweziprofeto kunye nokulindela jikelele kuyo yonke indawo kwamaYuda, uMesiya wayeza kuba ngowomnombo ka-Abraham noDavide; waza wakulanda ukuhla kukaYesu ephuma kwinyange u-Abraham ukudlula kubukhosi boMdumisi. Wafunda ubungqina babaprofeti ngokuziphatha nangomsebenzi kaMesiya wesithembiso, kwanokwamkelwa nokuphathwa kwaKhe emhlabeni; waza wabonisa ukuba konke oku kwakuthe kwaxelwa kwangaphambili kwazaliseka kubomi, emsebenzini, nasekufeni kukaYesu waseNazarete.IZ 247.1

UPawulos wabonisa ukuba uKristu waluzisa usindiso kuqala eluhlangeni olwalukulindele ukufika kukaMesiya njengemfezekiso nokuphakanyiswa kobukho besizwe salo. Noko kunjalo, olo hlanga lwamala Lowo ngewayelunike ubomi, lwasuka lwakhetha nkokeli yimbi, ekulawula kwayo kuphela ekufeni. Wazama ukubethelela kwabo babemphulaphule ukuba yayiyinguquko kuphela enokusindisa uhlanga lwamaYuda kwintshabalalo eyayiphambi kwalo. Wakukhalimela ukuthanda ihlabathi, ukuthanda kwabo izikhundla, ukubizwa ngamagama amakhulu, ukuqhayisa ngezinto, kwanokuzithanda kwabo okugqithisileyo.IZ 247.2

Ngamandla kaMoya, uPawulos walitwabulula ibali lokuguquka kwakhe ngendlela emangalisayo, kwakunye nokuzithemba kwakhe iziBhalo zeTestamente eNdala, ezathi zazaliseka ngokupheleleyo kuYesu waseNazarete. Amazwi akhe ayethethwa ngokunyaniseka okundilisekileyo, kangangokuba abamphulaphulayo banyanzeleka ukuba bakubone ukuba umthanda ngentliziyo yakhe yonke uMsindisi owabethelelwayo wabuya wavuka. Babona ukuba ingqondo yakhe imiliselwe kuKristu, nokuba ubomi bakhe bonke buqanyangelwe eNkosini yakhe. Amandla omtsalane wamazwi akhe ayemakhulu kangangokuba, kuphela ngabo babezaliswe yintiyo ekrakra ngakwinkolo yobuKristu, abemayo abashukunyiswa ngawo.IZ 247.3

Wona amaYuda aseKorinte awavala amehlo awo kwizinto ezibonakalayo ezazithethwa ngumpostile, ala ukuziphulaphula izibheno zakhe. Kwalo moya wawakhokelela ukuba amale uKristu, wawazalisa ngomsindo nengqumbo ngakwisicaka saKhe; kangangokuba, ukuba uThixo wayengathanga ngendlela eyodwa amkhusele, khon’ ukuze akwazi ukuqhubeka nesigidimi seendaba ezilungileyo eziNtlangeni, ngewayembulele.IZ 248.1

“Uthe ke, akuchasa, akunyelisa, wavuthulula iingubo zakhe, wathi kuwo, Igazi lenu malibe phezu kwentloko yenu; ndihlambulukile mna; kuthabathela kweli xesha, ndiya kuya kwiintlanga. Esuka khona, weza endlwini yothile ogama linguYusto, omhlonelayo uThixo, ondlu yayamene nendlu yesikhungu.”IZ 248.2

USilas noTimoti behla “bevela kwelaseMakedoni” bezokunceda uPawulos, baza bazisebenzela bebonke iiNtlanga. Kubahedeni, nakumaYuda, uPawulos kunye namaqabene akhe bashumayela uKristu onguMsindisi wohlanga oluwileyo. Bathi bekuphepha ukungena kwiingxoxo ezinzima, nezilanda kude, abathunywa bahlala kwiimpawu zoMdali wehlabathi, uMlawuli omkhulu weyunivesi. Iintliziyo zabo zaziphuphuma luthando lukaThixo noNyana waKhe, babhenela kubahedeniukubabawuboneumbingeleloowenzelwa umntu. Bazi ukuba abo babekade bephuthaphutha ebumnyameni bobuhedeni, ukuba bebengabona ukukhanya kungumsinga ophuma emnqamlezweni waseKalvari, bebeya kutsalelwa kuMhlanguli. “Mna ke, ukuba ndithe ndaphakanyiswa emhlabeni” wayetshilo uMsindisi, “ndiya kubatsalela bonke kum.” Yohane 12:32.IZ 248.3

Abasebenzi beendaba ezilungileyo eKorinte baziqonda iingozi ezimbi ezazizela imiphefumlo yabo babebasebenzela; baza bathi ngokuluqonda uxanduva oluphezu kwabo, babaxelela inyaniso njengoko injalo kuYesu. Isigidimi sabo sasicacile, sisekuhleni, sithe ngqo — isongo sobomi obusa ebomini okanye ukufa okusa ekufeni. Kwakungekuphela ngamazwi abo, kodwa nangobomi babo bemihla ngemihla, ekwakufuneka zityhiliwe iindaba ezilungileyo. Iingelosi zasebenzisana kunye nabo, lwaza ubabalo lukaThixo kunye namandla aKhe konke kwabonakaliswa ekuguqukeni kwabaninzi. “Uthe ke uKrispo, umphathi wendlu yesikhungu, wakholwa yiNkosi nendlu yakhe iphela; nento eninzi yamaKorinte yakuva yakholwa, yabhaptizwa.”IZ 249.1

Intiyo amaYuda awayehleli eyibonisa kubapostile ngoku yaya ikhula ngakumbi. Ukuguquka nokubhaptizwa kukaKrispo kwayiqinisa ngakumbi, endaweni yokuba boyiseke aba bachasi baneenkani. Abazange bakwazi kubeka nto eyayinokuchasana nentshumayelo kaPawulos, kwaza kwathi, ngokungabikho kwento ephathekayo, babhenela ekukhohliseni nasekuhlaseleni kakubi. Bathetha izinyeliso ngeendaba ezilungileyo nangegama likaYesu. Ngendlela ababemfanyekiswe ngayo ngumsindo, kwakungekho mazwi, nokuba arhabaxa kangakanani, nacebo, nokuba liphantsi nangaluphina uhlobo, ababengenakho ukungawasebenzisi. Bebengakwazi ukukhanyela ukuba uKristu wenza imimangaliso; kodwa bathi uyisebenze ngamandla kaSathana; bayiqinisekisa ngesibindi into ethi, imimangaliso eyayisenziwa nguPawulos, yenzeka kwangelo gunya linye [lamandla kaSathana].IZ 249.2

Nangona uPawulos wayizuza noko impumelelo eKorinte, kodwa inkohlakalo awayibonayo nawayivayo kweso sixeko sikhohlakeleyo yaphantsa ukumtyhafisa. Inkohlakalo awayibonayo kwabeeNtlanga, nokujongelwa phantsi nokugculelwa awakuzuza kumaYuda, kwamenza buhlungu kakhulu emoyeni. Waya wabuthandabuza ubulumko bokuzama ukwakha ibandla ngezixhobo awazizuza apho.IZ 250.1

Ngexesha wayelungiselela ukusishiya isixeko aye kwindawo eyayithembisa ngcono, efuna ngokunyanisekileyo ukuqonda owona msebenzi wakhe, iNkosi yavela kuye ngombono, yathi, “Musa ukoyika, thetha ungathi tu; ngokuba mna ndinawe, kanjalo akho namnye uya kukusa isandla akuphathe kakubi; ngokuba ndinabantu abaninzi kulo mzi.” UPawulos waqonda ukuba lo ngumyalelo wokuba ahlale eKorinte, nesiqinisekiso sokuba iNkosi iya kuveza isivuno kwimbewu ehlwayelweyo. Omeleziwe wakhuthazwa, waqhubeka ukusebenza ngenzondelelo nokuzingisa.IZ 250.2

Amalinge kampostile ayengaphelelanga ekuthetheni esidlangalaleni kuphela; baninzi ababengayi kufikelelwa ngale ndlela. Wachitha ixesha elininzi esenza umsebenzi wokungena kwizindlu ngezindlu, khon’ ukuze afumaneke kwiincoko eziqhelekileyo zasemakhaya. Waya wahambela abafayo nabasebuhlungwini, ethuthuzela abagculelwayo, ebaphakamisa abacinezelweyo. Kuko konke awayekuthetha nawayekwenza, walenza likhulu igama likaYesu. Uthi, “ndaba ngothambileyo, onokoyika, onokugubha okukhulu.” 1 Korinte 2:3. Wayegubha, hleze ukufundisa kwakhe kungatyhila uphawu lomntu endaweni yezulu.IZ 250.3

“Ke sithetha ubulumko phakathi kwabagqibeleleyo,” watsho kamvauPawulos; “ubulumko ke obungebubo obeli phakade, nobabaphathi beli phakade ababhangayo. Sithetha ubulumko bukaThixo obusemfihlekweni, obo ke bufihlakeleyo, awathi uThixo ngenxa engaphambili, kwangaphambi kwawo amaphakade, wabumisela uzuko lwethu; ekungabangakho namnye wabaphathi beli phakade ubaziyo (kuba, ukuba babebazi, ngebengazange yibethelele emnqamlezweni iNkosi yozuko), njengoko ke kubhaliweyo, kwathiwa, Izinto ezingabonwanga liso, nezingaviwanga ndlebe, nezingathanga qatha entliziyweni yomntu, zizo uThixo awazilungisela abo bamthandayo. UThixo wazityhila kuthi ke ngoMoya wakhe; kuba uMoya uphengulula zonke izinto, nenzulu zikaThixo. Kuba nguwuphi na kubantu ozaziyo izinto zomntu, ingenguwo umoya womntu okuye? Ngokunjalo nezinto zikaThixo akukho namnye uzaziyo, ingenguye uMoya kaThixo.IZ 250.4

“Ke thina asamkelanga moya wehlabathi; samkele uMoya ophuma kuye uThixo, ukuze sizazi izinto esazibabalwa nguThixo; esizithethayo nokuzithetha, kungengamazwi anokufundiswa bubulumko babantu, kungawo anokufundiswa nguMoya Oyingcwele: izinto ezizezomoya sizilungelelanisa namazwi la angawomoya.” 1 Korinte 2:6-13.IZ 251.1

UPawulos wakuqonda ukuba, isakhono sakhe sasingekuko ukwenza kwakhe, kodwa yayibubukho bukaMoya Oyingcwele, othe ngempembelelo yobabalo lwaKhe, wazalisa intliziyo yakhe, ebeka zonke iingcinga phantsi kolawulo lukaKristu. Uthethe ngaye esithi, “sihlala sikuthwele ngomzimba ukufa kweNkosi uYesu ukuze nobomi bukaYesu bubonakalalise emzimbeni wethu.” 2 Korinte 4:10. Kwiimfundiso zikampostile, uKristu wayengumongo. Wavakalisa wenjenje, “ayisendim ke odla ubomi, nguKristu ke oselesidla ubomi kum.” Galati 2:20. Umna wayefihliwe; uKristu wayetyhiliwe ephakanyisiwe.IZ 251.2

UPawulos wayeyindoda eliciko. Phambikokuguqukakwakhe, wayekuthanda ukuzibonakalisa ngeentetho zobumbongi ezintinga phezulu. Ngeli xesha wayekubeke bucala konke oko. Endaweni yokungena kwiinkcazo ngokwembongi kunye neentetho ezinomtsalane odlul’ emgceni, izinto ezazinokonwabisa imizwa zikhulise imibono yeengcinga, kodwa zingabi nankcukumiso kumava obomi bemihla ngemihla, uPawulos wazama ukusebenzisa ulwimi olulula ukuzisa ezintliziyweni iinyaniso ezibaluleke kakhulu. Ukuyibeka ngendlela enomtsalane odlul’ emgceni inyaniso kungenza ukuba omameleyo azive enokuthabatheka okugqithileyo, zibe zona iinyaniso ezinikezwe ngolu hlobo zingamondli ukuze omelele aqine khon’ ukuze alungele amadabi obomi lowo ukholwayo. Iimfuno zangoku, izilingo zeli xesha, imiphefumlo elwayo — zizinto ekufuneka zihlangatyezwe ngemfundiso ephilileyo nephathekayo yemithetho-siseko esisiseko sobuKristu.IZ 252.1

Amalinge kaPawulos eKorinte awazange angabi naso isiqhamo. Abaninzi babuya ekukhonzeni izithixo bakhonza uThixo ophilayo kwaza kongezwa phantsi kwebhanile kaKristu ibandla elikhulu. Abanye bahlangulwa kwabona barheletyi beeNtlanga baba zizikhumbuzo zenceba kaThixo ophilayo nokukwazi kwegazi likaKristu ukuhlamba esonweni.IZ 252.2

Impumelelo eyandileyo kaPawulos ekushumayeleni uKristu, yavula amaYuda angakholwayo ukuba azimisele ngakumbi kwinkcaso yawo. Asuka eyimbumba “amwela uPawulos . . . ngamxhelo mnye, amsa esihlalweni sokugweba” sikaGaliyo owayelibamba lase-Akaya. Ayelindele ukuba amagunya, njengakwiziganeko zakuqala, aya kuba ngakwicala lawo; aza athi, ngamazwi aphezulu anomsindo abeka izikhalazo zawo ngakumpostile, esithi, “Lo uzamela ukweyisa abantu ukuba bamhlonele uThixo ngokunxamnye nomthetho.”IZ 252.3

Inkolo yamaYuda yayiphantsi kokhuselo lwegunya laseRoma, baza abo babemtyhola uPawulos bacinga ukuthi, ukuba bangamqamangela ngesityholo sokwaphula imithetho yenkolo yabo, ebenganikelwa kubo ukuba bamvavanye bamgwebe. Babethembe ukuba ngaloo ndlela bebengakufaka phakathi nokufa kwakhe. UGaliyo wayeyindoda enesimilo esilungileyo, wakwala ukuba ngoqhathwa ngamaYuda anomona namayelenqe. Eneentloni kukubambono-mbini kwawo kwanokuzenza kwawo abantu abanobulungisa, akazange asihoye isityholo sabo. Wathi uPawulos esazama ukulungiselela ukuzikhusela, wanqandwa nguGaliyo esithi akunyanzelekanga. Wabuyela kubamangali abanomsindo wathi, “Ukuba ke ngoko ibiyinto yentswela-bulungisa, nokuba ibiyeyobutshijolo obungendawo, maYuda, ngekufanelekile ukuba ndininyamezele; kodwa ukuba yimbuzwano ngelizwi, namagama, nomthetho ongowenu, zikhangeleleni nina; kuba mna andingi ndingaba ngumgwebi wezo zinto. Wawagxotha esihlalweni sokugweba.”IZ 253.1

Bonke, amaYuda namaGrike, babesilindele ngamehlo abomvu isigqibo sikaGaliyo; kwaza ukulichitha ngokukhawulezileyo kwakhe ityala, njengelingenanto yakwenza nomdla wasekuhlaleni, kwaba ngumqondiso kumaYuda ukuba arhoxe, edidekile enomsindo. Indlela elagqiba ngayo ibamba eli yawavula amehlo esihlwele esasinkqangaza sincedisana namaYuda. Kwaba kokokuqala ekusebenzeni kukaPawulos eYurophu, esathi isihlwele sangakwicala lakhe; kanye phambi kwebamba, lingaphazamisanga nganto, babarhawula kakubi abona baphambili kubamangaleli bompostile. “Ambamba ke onke amaGrike uSostene, umphathi wendlu yesikhungu, ambetha phambi kwesihlalo sokugweba. Akwabakho nanye yezo zinto ayikhathalelayo uGaliyo.” Ngolo hlobo ubuKristu bazuza uloyiso olubonakalayo.IZ 253.2

“Ke kaloku uPawulos ukhe wahlala imihla eyaneleyo.” Ukuba kwakuthe kwanyanzeleka ukuba umpostile ayishiye iKorinte ngeli xesha, abaguqukele enkolweni kaYesu babeya kuba kwimeko esemngciphekweni. AmaYuda ayeya kuzama ukubalandela asebenzise ithuba alifumeneyo, ade abucime kuphele ubuKristu kula mmandla.IZ 254.1