43—Eroma

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiZenzo 28:11-31 neleta eya kuFilemon]

Lathi lakuvulwa ixesha lokuhamba ngolwandle, umthetheli-khulu kunye namabanjwa akhe, banduluka kuhambo olusinga eRoma. Umkhombe i“Castor and Pollux,” wawusendleleni eya ngasentshona, wachitha ubusika eMelito, bakhwela kuwo abahambi. Nangona waba nokulibaziseka ngenxa yemimoya eyayisiza ngaphambili, uhambo lona lwagqitywa kakuhle, waza umkhombe wa-ankilwa kwizibuko elihle lasePotiyoli, kunxweme leItali.IZ 447.1

Kule ndawo lalikho iqaqobana lamaKristu, awambongozayo umpostile ukuba ahlale nawo iintsuku ezisixhenxe, ilungelo awalinikwayo ngumthetheli-khulu. Kususela oko afumana ileta kaPawulos eya kumaRoma, amaKristu ase-Itali akulindela ngenzondelelo ukufika kukampostile. Ayengalindelanga ukumbona elibanjwa, kodwa ukubulaleka kwakhe kwamenza amthanda ngakumbi. Ukusuka ePotiyoli ukuya eRoma kwakusisithuba sekhulu elingamashumi amane eemayile, saye esi sixeko sinezibuko, njengoko sasinonxibelelwano neso sikhulu [iRoma], amaKristu aseRoma ayexelelwe ngokuza kukaPawulos aza amanye awo aqala ukumhlangabeza amamkela.IZ 447.2

Emva kosuku lwesibhozo belapha [ePotuyoli], umthetheli-khulu namabanjwa akhe badlulela eRoma. UYuliyo wamnika ngokukhululekileyo umpostile konke okwakusemandleni akhe ukuba angamnika; kodwa wayengenako ukuyiguqula imeko yobubanjwa bakhe, engenako nokumkhulula kwimixokelelwano awayeqanyangelwe ngawo kwisoldati elalimjongile. UPawulos waya ngentliziyo ebuhlungu kakhulu kwesi sixekokazi sehlabathi wayelindeleke kuso. Zazahluke kakhulu kangakanani iimeko kwezo wayeqhele ukulindela ukuya kuzo! Wayeza kuzivakalisa njani iindaba ezilungileyo ekhonkxiwe ebekwe ibala elibi? Amathemba akhe okuzuzela imiphefumlo enyanisweni eRoma akhangeleka engathi aya kudaniswa.IZ 448.1

Ekugqibeleni abahambi bafika eApiyoforo ekwisithuba samashumi amane ukuya eRoma. Bathi xa behamba phakathi kwezihlwele kumgaqo omkhulu, le ngwevu inentloko emhlophe, ikhonkxiwe ikunye neqela lemigulukudu yabophuli-mthetho, yakhangelwa ngolunya, iyinto yokuhlekisa nokugculelwa.IZ 448.2

Ngequbuliso, kwabakho umkhwazo wovuyo, xa indoda iphuma esihlweleni iziphosa entanyeni yombanjwa, imwola ineenyembezi novuyo, njengonyana evuyela uyise owayekade engekho. Waphinda-phinda lo mbono njengoko, kwathi, ngamehlo abelindele ngothando, bababaninzi ababona kwibanjwa elisemakhamandeleni lowo wathetha kubo eKorinte, eFilipi, nase-Efese amazwi obomi.IZ 448.3

Bathi xa abafundiabantliziyo zizaliswe bubushushu bothando bemngungela uyise wabo wasenkolweni, lonke elo qela lema ngxi. Amasoldati athi engenawo njalo umonde wokulityaziswa, awabi nayo intliziyo yokuluphazamisa olu vuyo loku kuhlangana; kuba nawo, ayefunde ukulihlonipha nokulinika imbeko ibanjwa lawo. Kobo buso buxhwalekileyo nobunentlungu, abafundi babona kutyhilwe umfanekiso kaKristu. Bamqinisekisa uPawulos ukuba babengamlibelanga nokuba abasayi kuze bayeke ukumthanda; nokuba kwakungenxa yakhe ukuba babe nethemba elinoyolo eliphila ngaphakathi kobomi babo libanika uxolo ngakuThixo. Kangangendlela olwalushushu ngayo uthando lwabo, ngebabemthwale emagxeni yonke indlela esinga esixekweni, ukuba babe nokuba nelungelo.IZ 449.1

Bambalwa abakuqondayo ukubaluleka kwaloo mazwi kaLuka, xa esithi, wathi uPawulos akubabona abazalwana bakhe, “wabulela kuThixo, womelezeka.” Phakathi kokukhala, novelwano lwamakholwa, awayengenazintloni ngamakhamandela akhe, umpostile wamdumisa ngezwi eliphezulu uThixo. Ilifu losizi elalithe zinzi phezu komoya wakhe lasuswa. Ubomi bakhe bobuKristu babungumkrozo wokulingwa, ukuphatheka kakubi nokudaniswa, kodwa ngaloo yure waziva efumene ukubuyiselwa umvuzo. Ngenyathelo eliqinileyo nentliziyo enovuyo, waqhubeka nendlela yakhe. Akazange akhalaze ngokudlulileyo, engakoyiki noko kwakungaphambili. Amakhamandela neembandezelo zazimlindele, wayekwazi oko; kodwa wayesazi nokuba, yayingumsebenzi wakhe ukuhlangula imiphefumlo kububi obungenasiphelo, waza wakuvuyela ukubulaleka kwakhe ngenxa kaKristu.IZ 449.2

ERoma, umthetheli-khulu uYuliyo wawagqithisela amabanjwa akhe kumphathi webutho lokhuselo likakumkani. Ingxelo entle awayinika ngoPawulos,kunye neleta eyayivela kuFesto, zenza ukuba umpostile aphathwe kakuhle ngumphathi omkhulu, waza wathi, endaweni yokuba agityiselwe esiseleni, wavunyelwa ukuba ahlale kwindlu aziqeshele yona. Nangona wayesaqanyangelwe esoldatini, wayenayo inkululeko yokwamkela abahlobo bakhe nokusebenzela ukuhambisela phambili umsebenzi kaKristu.IZ 449.3

Amaninzi kumaYuda awayegxothiwe eRoma kwiminyaka eliqela eyadlulayo, avunyelwa ukuba abuye, kangangokuba laba likhulu inani labakhoyo apho. Kukwaba bantu apho umpostile uPawulos wazimisela ukuyandlala khona imeko engaye kunye nomsebenzi wakhe, phambi kokuba abachasene naye bafumane ithuba lokubenza bagamthandi. Ngenxa yaloo nto, emva kweentsuku ezintathu efikile eRoma, wabizela kuye amadoda azinkokeli, wathi, ngokulula nokuthe ngqo,wayibeka into emzise eRoma njengebanjwa.IZ 450.1

“Madoda, bazalwana,” watsho,” “nangona ndingenzanga nto ichasene nabantu namasiko akowenu, ndesuka eYerusalem ndingumbanjwa, ndanikelwa ezandleni zamaRoma. Athe wona akundincina, afuna ukundikhulula, ngenxa yokuba kungekho tyala lakufa ndinalo. Athe ke amaYuda akuphika, ndanyanzeleka ukuba ndibhenele kuKesare; kungengakuba ndibe ndinento yokulumangalela ngayo uhlanga lwakowethu. Ndinibongoze ke ngenxa yeso sizathu ukuba nize, ndinibone, ndithethe nani;kuba kungenxa yethemba lakwaIsrayeli endinxitywe lo mxokelelwane.”IZ 450.2

Akazange athethe nto ngokuphathwa kakubi awakufumana ezandleni zamaYuda, okanye ukuthi rhoqo eceba ukumbulala. Amazwi akhe ayezaliswe kukunonophela nobubele. Wayengafuni ukuba emehlo ajonge kuye okanye asizelwe, kodwa efuna ukukhusela inyaniso nokugcina ukuhlonitshwa kweendaba ezilungileyo.IZ 450.3

Ukuphendula, abo babephulaphule baxela ukuba abazange bafumane zimangalo ngakuye nokuba kungeeleta okanye emfihlakalweni, nokuba akukho maYuda akha afika eRoma amtyhola ngokwaphula umthetho. Baya bavakalisa ulangazelelo lwabo olukhulu lokuzivela izizathu zokholo lwakhe kuKristu. “Ngalo elo hlelo,” batsho, “kuyazeka kuthi, ukuba lixhasiwe ezindaweni zonke.”IZ 451.1

Njengoko babefuna ngokwabo, uPawulos wabayalela ukuba bamise umhla aya kuthi ngawo azibeke phambi kwabo iinyaniso zeendaba ezilungileyo. Ngexesha elimisiweyo, baninzi abezayo, “wabatyhilela, ebaqononondisa kunene, ubukumkani bukaThixo; kananjalo ebebeyisela kokungoYesu, ethabatha emthethweni kaMoses nakubaprofeti, eqala kusasa ahlwise.” Wabalisa awakhe amava, ezibeka iingxoxo eziphuma kwiTestamente eNdala ngokucacileyo, ngokunyanisekileyo, nangamandla.IZ 451.2

Umpostile wabonisa ukuba inkolo ayixhomekekanga kumatiletile neenkonzo ezizodwa, kwizivumo zokholo neenkonzo ezizingcingane. Ukuba ibinokuba njalo, umntu ebengazifumanela ngokuphanda, ngokokwazi kwakhe izinto zehlabathi. UPawulos wafundisa ukuba inkolo iyinto ephathekayo, engamandla asindisayo, umthetho-siseko ophuma kuThixo ngokupheleleyo, amava athi abenawo umntu angamandla kaThixo ahlaziyayo emphefumlweni.IZ 451.3

Wabonisa indlela uMoses awalathisa ngayo uIsrayeli phambili kuKristu njengomProfeti ekwakufuneka bemphulaphule; nendlela abaprofeti bonke abangqina ngayo ngaYe njengechiza elikhulu lesono, Ongenatyala nOyakuthwala izono zabanetyala. Akazange afumanise butyala ekugcineni kweendlelaezithilezokuziphathanasekugcinweni kweenkonzo ezizodwa, kodwa wabonisa ukuba, nangona bebambelele kwiinkonzo zamasiko ngokuthe ngqo, babemala Lowo, zonke ezo nkonzo, zazimele yena.IZ 451.4

UPawulos wavakalisa ukuba, kwimo yokungaguquki kwakhe, wayemazi uKristu, kungengakuba wahlangana naye ubuso, kodwa ngembono awayenayo, yena njengabanye, ngesimilo kunye nomsebenzi kaMesiya owayeza kufika. Wamala uYesu waseNazarete njengebhedengu kuba engazange (uYesu) ayizalise le mbono. Kungoku nje iimbono zikaPawulos ngoKristu nomsebenzi waKhe zazizaliswe ngumoya ziphakame kakhulu, kuba wayeguqukile. Umpostile wayibethelela into yokuba akabaxeleli ngoYesu ngokwasenyameni. UHerode wayembonile uYesu ngemihla yaKhe yasenyameni; uAnas wayembonile; uPilato nababingeleli kunye nabalawuli babembonile; amasoldati amaRoma ayembonile. Noko kunjalo, abazange bambone ngeliso lokholo; abazange bambone njengoMhlanguli ozukisiweyo. Ukumqonda ngokholo uKristu, ukuba nolwazi lwaKhe ngokwasemoyeni, yeyona nto yayinokulangazelelwa ngaphezu kokumqhela njengoko wayebonakele emhlabeni. Olu qhagamshelano noKristu awayelonwabela ngoku uPawulos, lwalungaphezu kokusondela, ngaphezu kokunyamezela, kunobuqabane nje basemhlabeni nobabantu.IZ 452.1

Njengokuba uPawulos wayethetha ngoko akwaziyo, engqina oko akubonileyo, ngoYesu waseNazarete njengethemba likaIsrayeli, abo babenyanisekile ekufuneni kwabo inyaniso, boyisakala. Kwezinye iingqondo, nokwana, amazwi akhe, abanomda ongazange wacinywa. Abanye bona bala ngeenkani ukwamkela ubungqina obucacileyo beziBhalo, nangona babubekwa ngumntu owayenokukhanyiselwa okukodwanguMoyaOyingcwele.Abazangebakwazi ukuzikhanyela iintetho zakhe, kodwa bakwala ukuzamkela izigqibo zakhe.IZ 452.2

Kwadlula iinyanga ezininzi emva kokuba uPawulos efikile eRoma, phambi kokuba amaYuda aseYerusalem afike buqu ukuza kubeka izityholo zawo ngakumbanjwa. Ayethe rhoqo ukukhutshwa endleleni kumacebo awo; aza ngoku, xa uPawulos wayeza kuvavanywa kweyona nkundla iphezulu kubukumkani baseRoma, alangazelela ukuba angabe aphinde oyiswe. ULisiya, uFelikis, uFesto, no-Agripa bonke babekuvakalisile ukukholelwa kwabo kubumsulwa bakhe. Iintshaba zakhe zathemba ukuphumelela kuphela ngokufuna iqhinga lokuphembelela ukumkani ukuba abe ngecala lazo. Ukulibazisa kwakuya kuyihambisela phambili injongo yazo, njengoko yayiya kuzinika ithuba lokufezekisa nokuwenza amacebo azo, ngenxa yoko, zalinda okwethutyana phambi kokuba zizandlale izimangalo zazo ngokwazo ngakumpostile.IZ 453.1

Ngokubonelela kukaThixo, oku kulibazisa kwaba nesiphumo sokuba kuqhutyelwe phambili iindaba ezilungileyo. Ngothando lwabo babegciniswe uPawulos, wavunyelwa ukuba ahlale endlwini eyayivulekile, apho wayenokuhlangana ngokukhululekileyo nabahlobo bakhe akwazi nokubeka inyaniso yonke imihla kwabo babesiza kumphulaphula. Kwaba yiminyaka emibini eqhubeka nomsebenzi wakhe, “ebuvakalisa ubukumkani bukaThixo, efundisa iindawo ezingeNKosi uYesu Kristu, engalelwa bani.”IZ 453.2

Ngeli xesha, amabandla amaninzi awayewamisele kwiindawo ezininzi ayengalityelwanga. Ngokubona iingozi ezazigaqela abaguqukele kwinkolo entsha, umpostile wafuna ukuhlangana neentswelo zabo kangangokoanakongeeletazokulumkisanemfundiso ephathekayo. Wakhupha eRoma abasebenzi ababekwe izandla ukuba baye kusebenza, kungekuphela kula mabandla, kodwa nakwiindawo, yena ngokwakhe, angazange azityelele. Aba basebenzi, njengabelusi abalumkileyo, bawuqinisa umsebenzi owawuqalwe kakuhle nguPawulos, waza umpostile, esoloko enikwa iindaba ngemeko neengozi zamabandla ngokuxhumana njalo nabo, wakwazi ukusebenzisa ubulumko ukongamela konke.IZ 453.3

Ngolo hlobo, nangona wayenqanyulwe ekwenzeni umsebenzi, uPawulos waba nempembelelo ebanzi neyexesha elide kunangoko wayekhululekile ekuhambeni phakathi kwamabandla kwiminyaka engaphambili. Njengombanjwa weNkosi, wayebambelele nkqi kuthando lwabazalwana bakhe, aye amazwi akhe, abhalwe ngosezintanjeni ngenxa kaKristu, abangela ukuqwalaselwa okukhulu nokuhlonitshwa kunokuba kwakunjalo xa wayekunye nabo. Kwada kwaba lixesha asuswayo kubo uPawulos, baqala ukubuqonda ubunzima bemithwalo eyayiphezu kwakhe ngenxa yabo. Ukuza kufikelela kweli xesha, babekholisa ukuzilandulela kuxanduva nokuthwala umthwalo kuba beswele ubulumko, ubuchule namandla angenakoyiswa; kodwa ngoku, beshiywe kwawabo amava ukuba bafunde izifundo ababekade beziphepha, bazixabisa izilumkiso zabo, amacebiso, neemfundiso ngendlela abangazange benza ngayo ukuwuxabisa umsebenzi wakhe buqu. Bathi naxa befunda ngesibindi sakhe kunye nokholo lwakhe ngexesha elide evalelwe entolongweni, bavuseleleka ukuba babe nokholo olukhulu nenzondelelo emsebenzini kaKristu. Phakathi kwabancedi bakaPawulos eRoma, kwakukho abaninzi ababengamaqabane akhe kunye nasebenza nabo. ULuka, “[u]gqirha [oyi]yintanda,” owayemlungiselela kuhambo oluya eYerusalem, kwiminyaka emibini yokuvalelwa kwakhe eKesareya, nakuhambo olwaluyingozi olusinga eRoma, wayesele enaye. UTimoti naye wayelungiselela ulonwabo lwakhe. UTikiko, umzalwana oyintanda, umlungiseleli othembekileyo, ongumkhonzi kunye nam eNkosini,” wema ngobunene ngakumpostile. UDemas noMarko, nabo babekunye naye. UAristarko noEpafra babe “ngamabanjwa kunye naye.” Kolose 4:7-14.IZ 454.1

Ukususela kwiminyaka yasekuqaleni kokuvuma kwakhe ukholo, amava obuKristu kaMarko aba nzulu. Xa wayefundisisa nzulu ubomi nokufa kukaKristu, wafumana iimbono ezicace ngakumbi ngomsebenzi woMsindisi, ukusebenza nzima kunye neembambano. Ngokufunda emanxebeni asezandleni nasezinyaweni zikaKristu, iimpawu zokusebenzela kwaKhe uluntu, nomgama ohanjwa kukuzincama ukuze kusindiswe abalahlekileyo nabatshabalalayo, uMarko waba nentumekelelo ukulandela iNkosi kwindlela yokuzincama. Ngoku, esiba yinxalenye yeqela likaPawulos umbanjwa, wakuqonda ngcono kunangaphambili ukuba kuyinzuzo engapheliyo ukuzuza uKristu, ilahleko engapheliyo ukuzuza ihlabathi nokulahlekwa ngumphefumlo athe uKristu waphalaza igazi ukuze usindiswe. Ekujonganeni nokulingwa kunye nenkcaso, uMarko waya waqhubeka nokuba ngumncedi oqinileyo, olumkileyo, nothandekayo wompostile.IZ 455.1

UDemas, owayeqinile okwexesha elithile, kamva wawushiya umsebenzi kaKristu. Ethetha ngoku, uPawulos wabhala, wathi, “UDemas wandishiya ngokuthanda iphakade langoku.” 2 Timoti 4:10. Ukuze azuze ingeniso yehlabathi, uDemas wananisa ngokukhetha okuphezulu nokuzukileyo. Ukutshintshisa ngenxa yokubona kufutshane! Ngokuba nobutyebi behlabathi okanye udumo kuphela, uDemas wayelihlwempu ngokwenene, nokuba kungakanani athi yena azigwagwise ngokuthi unako; ngeli xesha uMarko, ngokukhetha ukubulaleka ngenxa kaKristu, waba nobutyebi obungunaphakade, ebalwa ezulwini njengendlalifa kaThixo kwanokuba yindlalifa kunye noNyana waKhe.IZ 455.2

Phakathi kwabo banikela iintliziyo zabo kuThixo ngokusebenza nzima kukaPawulos eRoma, kwakukho ikhoboka lomhedeni, uOnesimo, elona inkosi yalo, uFilemon, ikholwa laseKolose elingumKristu, labalekela (ikhoboka) eRoma. Kuthe ngobubele bentliziyo yakhe, uPawulos wafuna ukubukhulula ubuhlwempu noxinzelelo losizi lwembacu waza wazama ukufaka ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwingqondo yayo esebumnyameni. UOnesimo waphulaphula amazwi obomi, wazivuma izono zakhe, waguqukela enkolweni kaKristu. UOnesimo wazenza wathandwa nguPawulos ngenxa yobungcwele bakhe nokunyaniseka kwakhe, ngokukwanjalo ngenxa yokukhathalela kwakhe ukonwabisa umpostile, nenzondelelo yakhe ekukhuliseni umsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo. UPawulos wabona kuye, uOnesimo, iimpawu zesimilo esasinokumenza ukuba abe ngumncedi olulutho kumsebenzi wovangelo, waza wacebisana naye ukuba angalibazisi abuyele kuFilemon, acele ukuxolelwa, alungiselele ixesha elizayo. Umpostile wathembisa ukuba [yena mpostile] uya kuwuthabathela kuye umthwalo wemali awabelwa yona uFilemon. Wathi kuba wayesele eza kumhambisa uTikiko neeleta zamabandla awahlukeneyo aseAsia Minor, wasele emhambisa kunye naye uOnesimo. Yayiluvavanyo olunzima kulo mkhonzi ukuzisa kwinkosi awayeyonile; kodwa, wayeguqukile ngokwenene,ngenxa yaloo nto, akaphuma ecaleni kumsebenzi wakhe.IZ 456.1

UPawulos wenza ukuba uOnesimo ayithwale ngokwakhe ileta eya kuFilemon, awathi kuyo, ngobuchule nobubele, umpostile wawubeka umcimbi wekhoboka eliguqukileyo exelanolangazelelo lokuba awugcine umsebenzi wakhe wexesha elizayo. Ileta yaqala ngombuliso wothando kuFilemon njengomhlobo kunye nomsebenzi kunye naye:IZ 456.2

“Makube lubabalo kuni, noxolo oluvela kuThixo uBawo, neNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu. Ndihlala ndibulela kuye uThixo wam, ndikukhumbula emithandazweni yam, ndiluva nje olwakho uthando, nokholo onalo kuyo iNkosi uYesu, nakubo bonke abangcwele, ukuze ubudlelane bokholo lwakho bube nokusebenza ngokwazi konke okulungileyo okukuni, kusekuKristu Yesu.” Umpostile wamkhumbuza uFilemon ukuba yonke injongo elungileyo nophawu lwesimilo anazozazingobabalo lukaKristu; le nto iyodwa yamenza wahluka kwabagwenxa nabangaboni. Kwaolu babalo lunye, lunokumenza umaphuli-mthetho othobekileyo abe ngumntwana kaThixo nomsebenzi oluncedo kwiindaba ezilungileyo.IZ 457.1

UPawulos wayenokunyanzela kuFilemon uxanduva lwakhe njengomKristu; kodwa wakhetha ukusebenzisa ulwimi lokubongoza: “NdinjengoPawulos ixhego, ngoku ke ndikwangumbanjwa kaYesu Kristu. Ndikubongoza ngenxa yomntwana wam, uOnesimo, endimzeleyo ndisezintanjeni; obefudula engeluncedo lwanto kuwe, kodwa ngoku kuwe nakum unoncedo oluhle.”IZ 457.2

Umpostile wamcela uFilemon, ngokubona inguquko kaOnesimo, ukuba alamkele ikhoboka eliguqukayo njengomntwana wakhe, embonisa uthando lokuba ukhetha ukuhlala nenkosi yakhe yangaphambili, “engasenjengekhoboka, esuke wangaphezu kwekhoboka, engumzalwana oyintanda.” Waluxela ulangazelelo lwakhe lokumgcina uOnesimo njengomntu owayenokulungiselela kuye esezintanjeni njengoko wayeya kwenza njalo noFilemon, nangona wayengawulangazeleli umsebenzi walo ngaphandle kokuba uFilemon angathi ngokwakhe ukuzibonela alikhulule ikhoboka.IZ 457.3

Umpostile wayekwazikakuhle ukubalukhuni kweenkosi kumakhoboka azo, esazi kananjalo ukuba uFilemon wayecaphuke kakhulu yindlela yokuziphatha komkhonzi wakhe. Wazama ukumbhalela ngendlela eyayiya kuvusa imizwa enzulu kakhulu nenobubele obukhulu njengomKristu. Inguquko ka-Onesimo yamenza umzalwana enkolweni, kwaye nasiphina isohlwayo esinikwa lo umtsha enkolweni sasiya kuthatyathwa nguPawulos njengesenziwe kuye [Pawulos].IZ 458.1

UPawulos wazibingelela ukuba uya kulithabathela kuye ityala likaOnesimo ukuze lowo unobutyala asindiswe kwihlazo lokohlwaywa, aze kwakhona onwabele amalungelo awayelahlekene nawo. “Ukuba unobudlelane nam,” wambhalela uFilemon,” mamkele njengam. Ukuba wakona, nokuba unetyala kuwe, oko kubalele kum. Mna Pawulos ndikubhale ngesam isandla ukuthi, mna ndokuhlawula.”IZ 458.2

Indlela ofanele ngayo umboniso wothando lukaKristu kumoni oguqukayo! Umkhonzi owayeqhathe inkosi yakhe wayengenanto anokulungisa ityala ngokuyihlawula. Umoni oqhathe uThixo iminyaka yokumsebenzela akanamali yokulicima ityala elo. UYesu uyangenelela phakathi komoni noThixo, esithi, Ndiyakulihlawula ityala. Makasinde umoni; ndiyakubulalekaendaweniyakhe.IZ 458.3

Emva kokuba ezinikele ukulithabathela kuye ityala likaOnesimo, uPawulos wamkhumbuza uFilemon ngendlela yena Filemon awaye nombulelo kuye (uPawulos). Wayemtyala isiqu sakhe, njengoko uThixo wamenza yena uPawulos ukuba abe sisixhobo sokuguquka kwakhe (uFilemon). Ngoko ke, ngesibheno esinobubele nesinyanisekileyo, wamcenga uFilemon ukuba, njengoko ngezibele zakhe, wabahlaziya abangcwele, ngokunjalo unako ukuhlaziya umoya wompostile ngokumenzela esi sizathu sokuvuya. “Ndikubhalele ndeyisekile kukundilulamela kwakho,” wongeza, “ndisazi ukuba uya kwenza nangaphezulu koko ndikuthethayo.”IZ 458.4

Ileta kaPawulos eya kuFilemon ibonisa impembelelo yeendaba ezilungileyo kubudlelwane phakathi kwenkosi nomkhonzi. Ukuba namakhoboka kwakusisimiselo kubo bonke uBukumkani baseRoma, kwaye iinkosi namakhoboka bonke babefumaneka kumabandla amaninzi awayewasebenzele uPawulos. Ezixekweni, apho amakhoboka ayengaphezulu kakhulu ngamanani kunabo bakhululekileyo, kwabonwa ukuba, imithetho eqatha yokuwagcina ecinezelekile (amakhoboka) yayifuneka. UmRoma otyebileyo wayesiba namakhulu amakhoboka, awo wonke amanqwanqwa , azo zonke izizwe, nayo yonke imigangatho yempumelelo yawo. Ngolawulo olupheleleyo kwimiphefumlo nemizimbayezi ntsizi zingenakuzinceda, wayenako (umnini) ukuyivisa nayiphi intlungu awayeyithanda. Ukuba omnye wawo (amakhoboka), ngokuziphindezela okanye ukuzikhusela, wayengaphakamisa nje isandla kwinkosi yakhe, lonke usapho lwalowo wonileyo lwalungabulawa ngokungenabuntu. Impazamo nje encinane, iyingozi, okanye ngabom, yayikholisa ukohlwaywa ngaphandle kwenceba.IZ 459.1

Ezinye iinkosi, ezazinobuntu kunezinye, zaziyekelela kakhulu kubakhonzi bazo; kodwa uninzi (lweenkosi) olwalunobutyebi zibekekile, zaziziyekelele zona kwinkanuko, kwimizwa, ekuthandeni ukutya, zaziwenza amakhoboka azo abe ngamaxhoba eengqondo eziguquguqukayo nobundlobongela. Iyonke nje le nkqubo (yobukhoboka) yayihlazisa ngendlela enganiki themba.IZ 459.2

Yayingeyiyo indawo yompostile ukuguqula ngokuzithandela okanye ngokukhawuleza ukuhamba kwezinto ezimiselweyo zasekuhlaleni. Ukuzama oku kwakuya kuthintela impumelelo yeendaba ezilungileyo. Noko kunjalo wafundisa imithetho-siseko eyayibetha kanyeesisekweni sobukhoboka nezaziyakuthi, ukuba zenziwe, ziyiphuthise ngokuqinisekileyo yonke loo nkqubo. “Apho ke akhoyo uMoya weNkosi, kubakho inkululeko,” watsho. 2 Korinte 3:17. Lalisithi lakuguquka ikhoboka, libe lilungu lomzimba kaKristu, kuze kufuneke ukuba lithandwe liphathwe njengomzalwana, indlalifa nenkosi yalo leentsikelelo zikaThixo namalungelo eendaba ezilungileyo. Kwelinye icala, izicaka kwakufuneka zenze imisebenzi yazo “kungabi kokweliso, ngathi nithomalalisa abantu; makube ngokwabakhonzi bakaKristu, nikwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo ngokwasemphefumlweni.” Efese 6:6.IZ 459.3

UbuKristu benza iqhina eliqinileyo lobunye phakathi kwenkosi nesicaka, ukumkani nophethweyo, umlungiseleli weendaba ezilungileyo nomoni othobekileyo ofumene kuKristu ukuhlanjwa esonweni. Bahlanjwe kwigazi elinye, bakhuliswa ngoMoya omnye; baza benziwa mntu-mnye kuKristu Yesu.IZ 460.1