30—Ukubizelwa Kumgangatho Ongentla

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwincwadi yabaseKorinte 1]

Wathi enethemba lokubethelela ngokucacileyo ezingqondweni zamakholwa aseKorinte ukubaluleka kokuzilawula okuqinileyo, ubungcathu obungqongqo, nenzondelelo engagungqiyo emsebenzini kaKristu, uPawulos kwileta yakhe wenza uthelekiso olubonakala kakuhle phakathi kwemfazwe yobuKristu kunye nogqatso lweenyawo olwaluthandwa kakhulu olwalusenziwa ngamaxesha amisiweyo kufuphi neKorinte. Kuyo yonke imidlalo eyayisenziwa ngamaGrike namaRoma, ugqatso lweenyawo lwalulolona ludala noluxatyiswe kakhulu. Lwalubukelwa ziikumkani, abantu begazi, nezikhulu zasebuRhulumenteni. Amadodana asezikhundleni nazizityebi ayethabatha inxaxheba kolu gqatso kwaye engakuphephi ukwenza konke okanye ukuziqeqesha okufunekayo azuze umvuzo.IZ 309.1

Ukhuphiswano lwalulawulwa yimithetho engqongqo, ekwakungekho ukubhena kuyo. Abo babelangazelela ukuba amagama abo afakwe kuluhlu lokhuphiswano ukuze bazuze umvuzo, kwakufuneka kuqala bangenele uqeqesho lokuzilungisa. Ukuzibhodloza ngokuthanda ukutya ngendlela eyingozi, okanye nakuphina ukuzanelisa okwakunokuthoba amandlaengqondo okanyeomzimba,kwakusalelwa.Ukuze umntu Abe nethemba lokuphumelela kule mizamo yamandla namendu, kwakufuneka abe omelele kodwa athambe, ilawuleke imithambo-luvo yakhe. Konke ukwenza kwakhe kwakufuneka kuqiniseke, lonke inyathelo likhawuleze lingaphephuki; amandla omzimba kufuneka afikelele kwiqondo eliphezulu.IZ 309.2

Kwakusithi xa iimbaleki zivela phambi kwesihlwele esilindileyo, kukhwazwe amagama azo, kubekwe ngokucacileyo imigaqo yogqatso. Zaziye zonke ziqale kunye, zikhuthazwa ngumdla wababukeli othe ntsho kuzo ziwaphembelelela ekuzimiseleni ukuphumelela. Abagwebi babehlala kufutshane nesiphelo [entanjeni], ukuze balugqale ugqatso kususela ekuqaleni kuse esiphelweni baze banike umvuzo kulowo woyisa ngenene. Ukuba kukho othe wafika entanjeni [ekupheleni] kuqala ngendlela engekho emthethweni, wayengawufumani umvuzo.IZ 310.1

Kolu gqatso, zinkulu iingozi ekwakujongenwe nazo. Abanye babengaphili ekubulalekeni komzimba. Asinto yayingaqhelekanga ukuba abantu bawe apha ekubalekeni, ukopha ngomlomo nangeempumlo, ngamanye amaxesha umntu awe afe sele ezakufika ekugqibeleni eza kuphumelela. Sekunjalo, ukulimala ubomi bakhe bonke umntu okanye ukufa asinto kwakujongwa kuzo ngokungathi ziyingozi enkulu kakhulu ukuba kungabalekwa ngenxa yokuphakanyiswa nembeko eyayizuzwa ngulowo uluphumeleleyo ugqatso.IZ 310.2

Ukufika kophumeleleyo entanjeni, ukukhwaza nokuqhwaba kwesihlwele esibukeleyo kukrazula isibhakabhaka kutsho kuphendule iintaba neenduli ezingqongileyo. Bathi bekhangele bonke ababukeli, umgwebi amnike lowo iimbasa zoloyiso—isithsaba seentyatyambo kunye nesebe lesundu ukuba aliphathe ngesandla sakhe sasekunene. Ukubongwa kwakhe kwaba yindumiso kuculwa kulo lonke ilizwe; abazaliIZ 310.3

bakhe nabo bazuza isabelo sokuhlonitshwa; kanti ke nesixeko awayehlala kuso sasiphakanyiselwa phezulu ngokuveza injuze ephambili ngolo hlobo.IZ 310.4

Ekubhekiseni kolu gqatso njengomfuziselo wemfazwe yobuKristu, uPawulos wayecinezela ukulungiselela okufunekayo kwimpumelelo yabangenela ugqatso—isimilo esikhokelayo, ubungcathu ekutyeni, nokufuneka kokuzila. Wathi, “Bonke ke abantu abazamayo , baba ziingcathu ezintweni zonke.” Iimbaleki zikubeka ecaleni ukuziyekela okunokuzenza buthakathaka emandleni omzimba, zithi ngokuziqeqesha okunzima nokuqhubeka njalo izoso ezilolongiweyo ziqine zinyamezele, ukuze kuthi lwakufika usuku lokhuphiswano, bakufanele ukubeka uxinzelelo olukhulu emandleni abo. Kunokuba njani ke ukuba ngaphezulu kumaKristu, akamva lawo likanaphakade lisesichengeni, ukudingeka ukuba ukuthanda ukutya nenkanuko kubekwe phantsi kwengqondo nentando kaThixo! Akufuneki nakanye ukuba avumele ingqondo yakhe ukuba itsalelwe ecaleni ziziyolo, ubutyebi okanye ulonwabo. Yonke imikhwa yakhe kunye neminqweno kufuneka ibekwe phantsi kolawulo olungqongqo. Ingqondo ekhanyiselwe ziimfundiso zelizwi likaThixo nekhokelwa nguMoya waKhe, kufuneka izibambe iintambo zokulawula.IZ 311.1

Emva kokuba oku kwenziwe, umKristu kufuneka asebenzise konke anako ukuze azuze uloyiso. Kwimidlalo yaseKorinte, imitsi yokugqibela yeembaleki elugqatsweni yayisenziwa ngemizamo ebuhlungu ukuzama ukugcina ukuba amendu angehli. Ngoko ke, xa umKristu esiya esondela entanjeni, umele ukutyhudisela phambili ngengaphezulu inzondelelo nokuzimisela kunokuba bekunjalo ekuqaleni kogqatso lwakhe.IZ 311.2

UPawulos unika umahluko phakathi komqhele wamagqabi abunayoowawufunyanwa ngophumelele kugqatsolwenyawo, kunye nesithsaba sobuqaqawuli obungasokuze buphele esiya kunikwa lowo ubaleka ngoloyiso kugqatso lobuKristu. Uthi, “Bona abo ke okunene benzela ukuze bazuze isithsaba esinokonakala; kodwa thina, esingenakonakala.” Ukwenzela ukuzuza isithsaba esinokonakala, iimbaleki zamaGrike zazinganqeni ukusebenza nzima okanye ukuzilawula. Thina sizamela umvuzo onexabiso elingaphezulu le elikhulu kakhulu, isithsaba sobomi obungunaphakade. Simele ukukuqaphela kukhulu kangakanani, ke ngoko, ukuzama kwethu, kube kangakanani ukudlula ukuzibingelela nokuzincama kwethu!IZ 311.3

Kwileta eya kumaHebhere kuboniswa ngenjongo enye ekufuneka ibe luphawu logqatso lobuKristu lobomi obungunaphakade: “Masithi nathi, siwubekile nxamnye wonke umthwalo, naso isono esinokusirhawula ngokusisulu, silubaleke ngomonde ugqatso olubekwe phambi kwethu; sise amehlo kuyo iMbangi noMgqibelelisi wokholo lwethu, uYesu.” Hebhere 12:1, 2. Umona, ububi, ukucinga okubi, ukuthetha kakubi, ukunqwena—ezi zinto zibubunzima ekufuneka umKristu abubeke bucala ukuba uza kubaleka ngempumelelo ugqatso lokungabi nakufa. Yonke imikhwa okanye isenzo esikhokelela esonweni nezisa ihlazo kuKristu kufuneka ezo zinto zibekwe kude, nokuba lingakanani ixabiso loko. Intsikelelo yezulu ayikwazi ukuba semntwini owaphula imithetho-siseko yokulungileyo engunaphakade. Isono nje esinye asiphilayo umntu sanele ukusebenza ukulahlela phantsi isimilo nokulahlekisa abanye [abantu].IZ 312.1

“[U]kuba isandla sakho sithe sakukhubekisa,” uMsindisi uthi, “sinqamle sona; kukulungele kanye ukuba ungene ebomini usisilima, kunokuba uthi, unezandla zozibini, umke uye esihogweni, emlilweni ongacimiyo. . . . Nokuba unyawo lwakho luthe lwakukhubekisa, lunqamle lona; kukulungele kanye ukuba ungeneebomini usisiqhwala, kunokuba uthi, uneenyawo zombini, uphoswe esihogweni.” Marko 9:43-45, R.V. Ukuba ukusindisa umzimba ekufeni, kufuneka unyawo okanye isandla sinqunyulwe, okanye iliso linyothulwe, kubekephi ukufuneka kokunyaniseka komKristu ukususa isono, sona esizisa ukufa komphefumlo!IZ 312.2

Abagqatswa kwimidlalo yakudala, emva kokuba bezinikele ekuzincameni naseluqeqeshweni olunzima, babengaqinisekanga ngokuphumelela. “Anazi na,” uyabuza uPawulos, “ukuba abo babalekayo elugqatsweni, babaleka bonke okunene, kodwa ke mnye owamkelayo umvuzo?” Akukhathaleki nokuba iimbaleki zazingazama ngokuzimisela nangokunyaniseka kangakanani, umvuzo wawunikwa umntu abe mnye. Sinye kuphela isandla esasibamba loo mqhele unqwenelekayo. Abanye babesenokuba babenze konke ukuze bazuze umvuzo, kodwa xa besolula isandla ukuba bawamkele, omnye, kancinane nje phambi kwabo, alithabathe eli gugu linqwenelekayo.IZ 313.1

Akunjalo kwimfazwe yobuKristu. Akakho ozithobelayo iimeko [ezibekiweyo] oya kudaniswa ekupheleni kogqatso. Akakho onyanisekileyo noyakunyamezela oya kusilela ekuphumeleleni. Ugqatso asilulo olwabanamendu, nedabi asililo elabomeleleyo. Eyona ngcwele ibuthakathaka, neyona yomeleleyo, baya kunxiba isithsaba sozuko olunokungafi. Bonke bangaphumelela abo bathi, ngamandla obabalo olungcwele, bazise ubomi babo ekuvumelaneni nentando kaKristu. Ukwenza, ngokwemimiselo yobomi, yemithetho-siseko ebekwe elizwini likaThixo, kuye kukhangelwe ngokungathi akubalulekanga—kube yinto yokungahoywa. Xa ke kukhangelwa umcimbi osengozini, akukhonto incinane enokunceda okanye ithintele. Sonke isenzo sinobunzima esibufakayo kwisilinganiso [esikalini] esenza isigqibo ngobomiboloyiso okanyebokoyiswa.Umvuzo onikwa abobaphumelelayo uya kuhambelana namandla kunye nokuzimisela abazame ngako.IZ 313.2

Umpostile uzifanisa nomntu obaleka ugqatso, esebenzisa wonke umzimba ukuze azuze umvuzo. Uthi, “Ndenjenjalo ukubaleka, ndingangi andiqondi; ndenjenjalo ukugalela ngenqindi, ndingangi ndibetha umoya; ndisuka ndiwuqobe umzimba wam, ndiwuxinzelele phantsi, hleze ndithi, ndakuba ndizivakalisile iindaba ezilungileyo kwabanye, ndibe mna ndingumlahlelwa phandle.” Ukuze angabaleki ngokungaqiniseki okanye abalekele ilize elugqatsweni lobuKristu, uPawulos wazibeka phantsi koqeqesho olunzima. Amazwi athi, “Ndisuka ndiwuqobe umzimba wam,” ngokucacileyo, uthetha ukubetha kakubi ngokuyilawula ngamandla iminqweno, imizwa, neenkanuko.IZ 314.1

UPawulos wayesoyika ukuba, hleze athi eshumayele kwabanye, asuke yena abe ngolahlelwa ngaphandle. Waphawula ukuthi, ukuba akaphili ebomini bakhe imithetho-siseko awayeyikholelwa nawayeyishumayela, ukusebenzela kwakhe abanye akuyi kumenzela nto. Intetho yakhe, impembelelo yakhe, ukwala kwakhe ukuzanelisa, konke kufuneka kubonakalise ukuba inkolo yakhe yayingekuko ukuvuma nje, kodwa kukuphila yonke imihla enoqhagamshelwano oluphilileyo noThixo. Wayemise umgomo omnye phambi kwakhe amaxesha onke—“ubulungisa ke obuphuma kuThixo ngalo ukholo.” Filipi 3:9.IZ 314.2

UPawulos wayesazi ukuba imfazwe nobubi ayisayi kuphela lonke ixesha kusekho ubomi. Wahlala esiqaphele isidingo sokuzilumkela, ukuze iminqweno yehlabathi ingayoyisi inzondelelo yasemoyeni. Wazama ngamandla akhe onke ukulwa neminqweno yemveli. Wasoloko ephakamise phambi kwakhe umgangatho ekufuneka ufikelelwe, waza wasebenza nzima ukuba afikelele apho ngokuthobela umthetho kaThixo. Amazwi wakhe, oko akwenzayo—konke kwakuphantsi kolawulo loMoya kaThixo.IZ 314.3

Yayile njongo inye yentliziyo ukuphumelela ugqatso lobomi obungunaphakade, uPawulos awayelangazelela ukuyibona ityhilwa ebomini bamakholwa aseKorinte. Wayesazi ukuba ukufikelela kumgangatho uKristu awabekele wona, phambi kwawo kwakho amadabi ekungekho kukhululwa kuwo. Wawakhuthaza ukuba alwe ngokusemthethweni, imihla ngemihla afune ubungcwele nokutshatshela ekuziphatheni kakuhle. Wawacenga ukuba akubeke nxamnye konke okusindayo axunele phambili kumgomo okukufezeka kuKristu.IZ 315.1

UPawulos wawakhombisa amaKorinte kumava kaIsrayeli wakudala, kwiintsikelelo ezazingumvuzo wokuthobela kwawo, nakwizohlwayo ezalandela ukreqo lwawo. Wawakhumbuza amaHebhere ngendlela emangalisayo awakhokelwa ngayo ukuphuma eYiputa phantsi kokhuselo lwelifu emini, nomqulu womlilo ebusuku. Kwaba njalo nokunqumla uLwandle oluBomvu ekhuselekile, ngexesha amaYiputa, wona agutyungelwa esazama ukunqumla ngokufanayo [namaIsrayeli]. Ngezi zenzo, uThixo wayemvuma UIsrayeli njengebandla laKhe. “Badla bonke oko kudla kunye kukokomoya; basela bonke olo luselo lunye lulolomoya: (kuba babesela kwiliwa elilelomoya elaye libalandela, iliwa elo ke lalinguye uKristu).” Kuko konke ukuhamba kwawo, amaHebhere ayenenkokeli enguKristu. Iliwa elabethwayo, lalifuzisela uKristu, owangxwelerhwa ngenxa yezikreqo zabantu, ukuze umsinga wosindiso umpompoze uye kubo bonke.IZ 315.2

Nangona uThixo wayewabonise uthando amaHebhere, athi ngenxa yenkanuko yawoyobuncwaneababushiyaemvaeYiputa,nangenxa yesono novukelo lwawo, izohlwayo zikaThixo zawafikela. Umpostile ulumkisa amakholwa aseKorinte ukuba aqaphele isifundo esikumava kaIsrayeli. Uthi, “Ezo zinto ke zabe ziyimizekelo kuthi, ukuze singabi ngabakhanuki bezinto ezimbi, njengokuba bakhanukayo bona abo.” Wabonisa indlela ukuthanda ulonwabo neziyolo okulungisa ngayo indlela yesono esabizela ukubonakaliswa kwengqumbo kaThixo. Kwakungelixa abantwana bakwaIsrayeli bahlala phantsi badla, basela, basuka ukuba badlale, apho bakulahla khona ukumoyika uThixo, ababenako ngexesha wayenikela umthetho; baza benza ithole legolide ukuba limele uThixo, balinqula. Kwakusemva kokuba bonwabele itheko lokutya elalihlangene nonqulo lukaBahali-pehore, awathi amaHebhere amaninzi awa embulweni. Umsindo kaThixo wenyuka, kwathi ngomyalelo waKhe, kwabulawa “amawaka angamashumi amathathu” ngemini enye.IZ 315.3

Umpostile wabongoza amaKorinte, “Ngoko ke lowo uba umi, makalumke angawi.” Ukuba baya kuzigwagwisa bazithembe, bakutyeshele ukuphaphama nokuthandaza, baya kuwa ezonweni ezibi, bazibizele ingqumbo kaThixo. UPawulos ebengethandi ukuba baziyekele ekuphelelweni lithemba okanye ekutyhafisweni. Wabanika ingqinisekiso: “Uthembekile ke uThixo, ongayi kuvumela ukuba nilingwe ngaphezu kweninako; owothi, kunye nesilingo eso, avelise ithuba lokuphuma kuso, ukuba nibe nako ukuthwala.”IZ 316.1

UPawulos wabakhuthaza abazalwana ukuba bazibuze ukuba iya kubayintoni impembeleloyamazwi nezenzo zabo kwabanye, nokuba bangenzi nto, nokuba imsulwa, eya kukhangeleka ivumela ukunqulwa kwezithixo okanye ikhubekise abo babuthakathaka enkolweni. “Ke ngoko nokuba niyadla, nokuba niyasela, nokuba nenza yiphina into, zenzeleni uzuko lukaThixo izinto zonke. Yibani ngabangebawisi nakumaYuda, nakumaGrike, nakulo ibandla likaThixo.”IZ 316.2

Amazwi kampostile esilumkiso kwibandla laseKorinte asebenza kulo lonke ixesha, kwaye alungiselelwe le mihla yethu ngakumbi. Ngokunqula izithixo wayengathethi kuphela imifanekiso eqingqiweyo, kodwa nokuzikhonza, uthando lolonwabo, ukwanelisa ukuthanda ukutya neminqweno. Ukuvuma nje ukukholwa kuKristu, ukuqhayisa ngokwazi inyaniso, akumenzi umntu ukuba abe ngumKristu. Inkolo efuna kuphela ukwanelisa iliso, indlebe, kunye nelithe, okanye evumela ukuziyekelela, asiyiyo inkolo kaKristu.IZ 317.1

Ngokufanisa ibandla kunye nomzimba, umpostile ubonakalisa ngendlela eyiyo ulwalamano olusondeleyo noluhambelanayo olumele ukuba lubekho phakathi kwamalungu ebandla likaKristu. Ubhala athi, “Kuba thina sonke sabhaptizelwa mzimbeni mnye ngaMoya mnye, nokuba singamaYuda, nokuba singamaGrike; nokuba singamakhoboka, nokuba singabakhululekileyo; sonke sasezwa Moyeni mnye; kuba nomzimba lo ungelungu linye, ungamaninzi. Ukuba luthe unyawo, ngokuba ndingesiso isandla, andingowasemzimbeni, luthi, ngenxa yoko, lungabi lolwasemzimbeni na? Nokuba ithe indlebe, Ngokuba ndingelilo iliso, andingowasemzimbeni, ithi, ngenxa yoko, ingabi yeyasemzimbeni na? Ukuba umzimba lo uphela ubuliliso, bekuya kuba phi na ukuva? Ukuba ubukukuva uphela, bekuya kuba phi na ukusezela? Kungoku ke uThixo wawamisa amalungu, lalelo nelo emzimbeni, njengoko wathandayo. Ukuba ke onke ebelungu linye, linye, ubuya kuba phi na umzimba? Kungoku ke maninzi okunene amalungu, kodwa mnye wona umzimba. Alinako ke iliso ukuthi kwisandla, Akufuneki kum; kanjalo intloko ayinakuthi kwiinyawo, Anifuneki kum. . . . Usuke uThixo wawumanya umzimba, wathi ilingu elingento walibeka kweyona mbeko inkulu; ukuze kungabikho kwahlukahlukana emzimbeni, kubekho ukunyamekelana kwamalungu ngakunye; kuthi, nokuba lilungu elinye eliva ubunzima, avelane amalungu onke; nokuba lilungu elinye elizukiswayo, avuyisane amalungu onke. Nina ke ningumzimba kaKristu, ningamalungu ngokwabelwa izabelo.”IZ 317.2

Uthi ke, ngamazwi awathi, ukususela ngaloo mini kude kube ngoku, alithende lempefumlelo nenkuthazo kumadoda nabafazi, uPawulos andlale olo thando ekufuneka lonwatyelwe ngabalandeli bakaKristu: “Ndingafanelana ndithetha ngeelwimi zabantu nezezithunywa zezulu; uthando ke ndengenalo, ndisuke ndaba yixina ehlokomayo, necangci elikhenkcezayo. Ndingafanelana ndinabo nobuprofeto, ndizazi iimfihlelo zonke, ndinako konke ukwazi; ndingafanelana ndinalo lonke ukholo, ngokokude ndisuse iintaba, uthando ke ndingenalo, andinto yanto. Ndingafanelana ndisamkelisa amahlwempu ngempahla yam yonke, nokuba ndithe umzimba wam ndawunikela ukuba utshiswe, uthando ke ndingenalo, akundincedi lutho.”IZ 318.1

Akukhathaleki nokuba ubizo luphezulu kangakanani, lowo intliziyo yakhe ingazaliswanga kukuthanda uThixo kunye nabantu baKhe, akanguye umfundi wenene kaKristu. Nokuba anganokholo olukhulu, abe namandla okwenza imimangaliso, xa engenalo uthando, ukholo lwakhe alunaxabiso. Angabonisa ububele obukhulu; okanye athi, enanjongo yimbi engelulo uthando lwenene, anikise ngezinto zakhe zonke ukuba ondle amahlwempu, isenzo eso asingeke simthethelele kuthando lukaThixo. Kwinzondelelo yakhe, angade afe ngokwefela-nkolo, ukanti ukuba akaqhutywa luthando, uya kuthatyathwa nguThixo njengonobushushu olahlekileyo okanye umhana-hanisi othanda udumo.IZ 318.2

“Uthando luzeka kade umsindo, lunobubele; uthando alunamona; uthando aluzigwagwisi.” Uvuyo olunyulu kakhulu luphuma ekuthotyelweni phantsi okunzulu. Ezona zimilo zomeleleyo nezona zihloniphekileyo zakhelwe phezu kwesiseko somonde, uthando nokuzinikela kwintando kaThixo.IZ 319.1

Uthando “alwenzi okuziintloni; alufuni okukokwalo kodwa; alucaphuki; alunanzondo.” Uthando olufana nolukaKristu lwakhela phezu kweenjongo nezenzo zabanye. Aluvezi iziphoso zabanye kungekho mfuneko; aluziphulaphuli ngomdla iingxelo ezingalungileyo, kodwa luzingelana nokukhumbula iimpawu ezilungileyo kwabanye.IZ 319.2

Uthando “aluvuyeli ukungalungisi; luvuyisana nenyaniso. Luthwala iinto zonke; lukholwa ziinto zonke; luthemba iinto zonke; lunyamezela iinto zonke.” Olu thando “aluze lutshitshe.” Alusayi kuze lulahlekwe lixabiso lwalo; luluphawu lwezulu. Njengento eligugu elinexabiso, lowo unalo uya kungena nalo kumasango esixeko sikaThixo.IZ 319.3

“Kungoku ke kuhleli ukholo, ithemba, uthando, ezo zinto zontathu; eyona inkulu ke kuzo apho luthando.”IZ 319.4

Ekuthotyweni kwemigangatho yokuziphatha phakathi kwamakholwa aseKorinte, babekho abo babezishiyile iimpawu ezisisiseko zenkolo yabo. Abanye bemka bada bakhanyela nemfundiso yovuko.UPawulos wahlangabezana nolu kreqo ngobungqina obucacileyo ngokubhekisele kubungqina obungenakuphazamiseka bokuvuka kukaKristu. Wavakalisa ukuba uKristu, emva kokufa kwaKhe, “uvukile ngomhla wesithathu ngokweziBhalo,” emva koko “wabonwa nguKefas, emva koko ngabalishumi elinababini. Emveni koko wabonwa ngaxesha linye ngabazalwana abangaphezu kwamakhulu amahlanu, abahleliyo nangoku abona baninzi kubo; inxenye ke yalala ukufa. Emva koko wabonwa nguYakobi, kamva ngabo bonke abapostile. Ekugqibeleni ke kwabo bonke, . . . wabonwa nandim.”IZ 319.5

Umpostile wayibeka inyaniso engovuko ngegunya eloyisayo. Waxoxa ngelithi, “Ukuba akukho luvuko lwabafileyo, woba akavukanga noKristu; ukuba ke uKristu akavukanga, koba akunto ukushumayela kwethu, loba luyalambatha nokholo lwenu. Sofunyanwa ke singawo namangqina amxokayo uThixo ngoku sangqinayo ngoThixo ukuba wamvusa uKristu: angamvusanga, ukuba ke kanti abafileyo abavuki. Ukuba abafileyo abavuki, noKristu woba akavukanga. Ukuba ke uKristu akavukanga, loba luyinto engeyanto ukholo lwenu, noba nisesezonweni zenu; ngoko nabalele ukufa bekuKristu, boba batshabalele. Ukuba singabathembele kuKristu kobu bomi bodwa, soba sizezona ntsizana kubantu bonke. UKristu yena kunje uvukile kwabafileyo waba yintlahlela yabalele ukufa.”IZ 320.1

UPawulos wazithabatha iingqondo zabazalwana baseKorinte wazisa kuloyiso lwentsasa yovuko, xa bonke abangcwele abaleleyo beya kuvuswa, baze bahlale neNkosi yabo ngonaphakade. Wathi xa ethetha, “Yabonani, ndinixelela imfihlelo: Okunene asiyi kulala ukufa sonke; kodwa siya kwenziwa ngakumbi sonke, ngesiquphe, ngephanyazo, ngexilongolokugqibela. Kubaliyakulilaixilongo,bavukeabafileyo bengenakonakala, senziwe ngakumbi ke thina. Kuba kumele oku konakalayo ukwambatha ukungonakali, noku kufayo ukwambatha ukungafi, liya kwandula ukwenzeka ilizwi elibhaliweyo lokuthi, Ukufa kufincelwe eloyisweni. Luphi na, kufa, ulwamvila lwakho? Luphi na Hadesi, uloyiso lwakho? . . . Makubulelwe ke kuThixo osinikayo uloyiso olo, ngayo iNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu.”IZ 320.2

Luqaqambile uloyiso olulindele abo banyanisekileyo. Umpostile, ekuqonda okunokwenzeka phambi kwamakholwa aseKorinte, wazama ukubeka phambi kwawo into enokubakhupha ekuzithandeleni nasembulweni, ize izukise ubomi ngethemba lokungabi nakufa. Wabakhuthaza enyanisekile ukuba banyaniseke kubizo lwabo lwaphezulu kuKristu. “Bazalwana bam abaziintanda,” watsho ebongoza, “qinani, ningabi nakushukuma; nihlale niphuphuma umsebenzi weNkosi, nisazi nje ukuba ukubulaleka kwenu akulambathi eNkosini.”IZ 321.1

Umpostile, ngeyona ndlela eqinisekileyo nevakalayo, wazama ukulungisa iingcamango ezixokayo neziyingozi kwanezenzo ezazigquba ebandleni laseKorinte. Wathetha ngokuphandle, kodwa ngothando kwimiphefumlo yabo. Kwizilumkiso zakhe nokukhalima kwakhe kwakuphuma ukukhanya kwitrone kaThixo kubengezela phezu kwabo, ukuze kutyhile izono ezazibungcolisa ubomi babo. Kwakuya kwamkelwa njani [ukukhanya oko]?IZ 321.2

Emva kokuba eyihambisile ileta, uPawulos woyika hleze kuthi kanti oko akubhalileyo kuya kubaxhela ngokunzulu abo wayelangazelela ukuba bazuze nto kuko. Waya woyikela ukuba kungakho iyantlukwano kwakhona wada wanga ebengawarhoxisa amazwi wakhe. Abo bathe, njengompostile, baziva benomthwalo ngenxa yamabandla namaziko athandekayo, kungakuhle ukuba baluqaphele uxinzelelo lomoya nokuzisola. Abasebenzi bakaThixo abathwele umthwalo womsebenzi weli xesha banento abayaziyo ngamava okusebenza afanayo, impixano, nexhala lokujonga [amabandla] elabakho kumpostile omkhulu. Ukusindwa ziiyantlukwano ebandleni, ukuhlangana nabangenambulelo nokungcatshwa ngabanye abe ekhangele kubo ukuzuza uvelwano nenkxaso, ukuphawula ingozi yamabandla afukame ubugwenxa, ukunyanzeleka ukunika ubungqina obusondeleyo nobuzingelayo ekukhalimeleni isono, wayekwasindwa luloyiko lokuba mhlawumbi wenze qatha kakhulu. Engcangcazela lixhala, walindela ukufumana iindaba ngendlela esamkeleke ngayo isigidimi sakhe.IZ 321.3