KAPITULU 18
Fupenu Zambi mba ‘Numuwane’
Paulu mambujola sango jipema mujila yize muyikwasa atu amupanjike
Lusango yono kanakatuka ha Yilinga 17:16-34
1-3. (a) Mumu liaka Paulu evwile uli muze ahetele mu Atene? (b) Yika mutuhasa kuyuka nyi twalilongesa ha chilweza chenyi?
PAULU uli anevu. Kali mu mbonge ya Atene, mu Ngresia muma muze Sócrates, Platão ni Aristóteles alongesele. Atu anji a mu Atene kakuvwila Zambi woma. Paulu kanamono tuponya ku yihela yeswe: Mu tembele, ha yitanda ni mu matapalo. A-Atene kakuwayila tuzambi anji. Paulu kananyingika kanawa nyonga lia Yehova Zambi hakutwala ku tuponya. (Kutuhu. 20:4, 5) Ni neye kakunyonga ngwe Yehova ha chikuma chacho!
2 Yize Paulu anamono muze ali ha chitanda yinamukomwesa chinji. Iye kanamono tuponya anji a kazambi avuluka ngwo, Merkuriu. Chitanda chinazale too ni yihela ya uwayilo. Kuchi postolo yono mahasa kwambujola kuli atu wano akuzanga chinji kuwayila tuponya? Shina mahasa kulihumikiza ni kusolola vumbi ni kuhanjika yize atu jacho mazanga? Kutala mahasa kukwasa umwe kufupa Zambi wamwenemwene ni kumuwana?
3 Mukanda wa Yilinga 17:22-31 unasolola ngwo, Paulu kapwile ni kuhanjika ni shindakenyo hamwe ni vumbi. Kashika, kulilongesa hakutwala kuli iye muchihasa kutukwasa kuhanjika yuma yize atu mazanga mba atupanjike.
Paulu Malongesa “ha Yitanda” (Yilinga 17:16-21)
4, 5. (a) Muze Paulu ahetele mu Atene kulihi ambulwile? (b) Mumu liaka te kuchichi kupwa chashi kwambujola ha chihela chacho?
4 Paulu kayile mu Atene ha mwaka 50 M.J, ha mashimbu a wenyi wamuchiali wa umishionaliu. a Muze te anashimbwila Saila ni Timoteu, iye “yaputuka kulongesa A-Yunda mu masunangonga.” Kahetele nawa kuma kuze te mahasa kuhanjika ni akwa-mavungu, “ha yitanda.” (Yili. 17:17) Chihela chacho chapwile ni usuhwe wa 250 metros ni utohwe wa 200 metros. Chapwile chihela chinene chinji mu mbonge yeswe. Umwe mukanda wakwamba hakutwala ku chihela chacho ngwo: “Chapwile chihela cha mbongo, chihela cha yuma ya mafwefwe ni chihela chize akwa-mana apwile ni kulitakanyina.” A-Atene te kakuzanga chinji kupwa ha chihela chacho hanga ahanjeke ni kulihamika.
5 Te kuchichi kupwa chashi kwambujola kuli atu ha yitanda. Mumu, hali atu jacho hapwile A-Epikuria ni A-Stoiku, atu waze apwile ni kulihamika chinji. b A-Epikuria kapwile ni kutayiza ngwo, mwono walitangile wene. Kapwile ni kutayiza nawa ngwo: Kutwatambile kuvwila Zambi woma, mutu muze akufwa keshi kwivwa yikola, mutu mweswawo mahasa kulinga upeme, chikwo nawa chipwe muze mutu anevu yikola mahasa kunyongonona. A-Stoiku te keshi kutayiza ngwo, Zambi kapwa mutu. A-Epikuria ni A-Stoiku te keshi kufuliela ha longeso lia uhindukilo lize tumbaji twa Yesu apwile ni kulongesa. Kwamba pundu, yuma yize atu wano apwile ni kufuliela te yalisa chinji ni yize Akwa-Kristu apwile ni kutayiza, yize Paulu apwile neye ni kwambujola.
6, 7.Yika amwe A-Ngregu alingile muze evwile sango ja Paulu, mba yika atu amwe akwamba musono muze twakwambulwila?
6 Shina A-Ngregu katayijile sango ja Paulu? Amwe a kuli ayo kamwambile ngwo, “kakuhanjika chinji.” (Yili. 17:18) Umwe lunga kasonekene hakutwala ku liji liacho ngwenyi: “Chitangu, liji liacho liapwile ni kutala kuli kajila yoze te wakutongona-tongona yambu. Ha kupalika cha mashimbu, yalitalikisa kuli atu waze te akuya ni kutongona kulia ni yuma yikwo yize atu te akulelesa ha yitanda. Kulutwe, yaputuka kulizachisa kuli atu waze apwile ni kufunyina maliji waze evwile kuli umwe, chipwe ngwe kalumbunukine.” Chekwamba, malunga jacho kazangile kwamba ngwo, Paulu te kanafunyina wika yize evwile. Alioze, ngwe chize mutumona, yuma yacho kuyakahongesele Paulu.
7 Ni musono che chakulingiwa kuli Yela ja Yehova. Atu anji kakutwihia ni kutwamba-mba yuma yipi mumu lia yize twafuliela. Ngwe chilweza, alongeshi waze akulongesa ngwo, mwono walitangile wene kakwamba ngwo, mutu yoze wakanyama katamba kutayiza longeso liacho. Mu maliji akwo o kakwamba ngwo, atu waze keshi kutayiza nyonga liacho, kahepuka. Alongeshi jacho kakuzanga kunyongesa atu ngwo, yetu Yela ja Yehova twakufunyina wika yuma yize kutushi ni shindakenyo mumu lia kulongesa yize Mbimbiliya yakwamba hakutwala ku malilu ni hashi. Alioze, yuma yacho kuyishi kutuhongesa. Twakukalila ufulielo wetu ni hamu ni kusolola ngwetu, yuma yeswe yize yatwama hano hashi kayitangile kuli Sakatanga wetu, Yehova Zambi.—Uso. 4:11.
8. (a) Yika atu amwe ambile hali Paulu? (b) Muze Mbimbiliya yakwamba ngwo, Paulu kamutwalile ku Areopago, yika chino kota chinalumbunuka? (Tala maliji a mushi.)
8 Atu akwo muze evwile sango ja Paulu yamba ngwo: “Kanasoloka ngwe mukwa-kwambujola tuzambi twa yilambala.” (Yili. 17:18) Shina Paulu te kanambujola lume tuzambi aha kuli A-Atene? Nyi chamwenemwene lume Paulu kachilingile, kachi mwono wenyi mu ponde wapwile. Mumu ku mashimbu akunyima lunga avuluka ngwo, Sócrates, kamushihile mumu lia chikuma chacho. Kashika kota atwalile Paulu ku Areopago hanga alumbunune kanawa chikuma chacho. c Mba kuchi Paulu te mahasa kukalila sango jipema kuli atu waze kakapwile ni chinyingi chimwe cha Yisoneko?
‘Yenu Malunga A-Atene, Ami Ngunamono Ngwami’ (Yilinga 17:22, 23)
9-11. (a) Yika Paulu ambile hanga atu amupanjike? (b) Kuchi mutuhasa kwimbulula Paulu muze tuli mu munda?
9 Twiwulukenu ngwetu, Paulu te uli anevu mumu lia kumona atu anji mawayila tuponya. Shimbu aakumike, iye yalihumikiza, yafupa kuhanjika ni vumbi yuma yize muyikwasa atu hanga amupanjike. Yaputuka kuhanjika ngwenyi: ‘Yenu malunga A-Atene, ami ngunamono ngwami, yenu nwakuvwila chinji woma tuzambi kuhiana akwenu akwo eswe.’ (Yili. 17:22) Chapwile ngwe Paulu te kanambe ngwenyi, ngunamono ngwami ni yenu nwakuwayila Zambi. Paulu kamwene ngwenyi, atu jacho kakuvwila woma Zambi, kashika aachichimiekene. Iye kanyingikine ngwenyi, amwe a kuli ayo kapwile ni mbunge yipema. Paulu mwene kanyingikine ngwenyi, ‘kunyima kapwile ni kulinga yuma chakuhona kunyingika ni kuhona ufulielo.’—1 Timo. 1:13.
10 Paulu yatongola nawa chuma chikwo chize chasolwele ngwo, A-Atene kapwile ni kuvwila Zambi woma: Chilumbilo chakusonewa ngwo, “Kuli Zambi Yoze Kutwanyingikine.” Hakutwala ku chikuma chino, umwe mukanda wakwamba ngwo: A-Ngregu ni atu akwo kapwile ni kulingila yilumbilo tuzambi waze kanyingikine mumu lia woma wa kutuka kazambi yoze avulama kuwayila. Kupalikila mu chilumbilo chacho, A-Atene kapwile ni kusolola ngwo, kwatwama umwe Zambi yoze kanyingikine. Kutongola chilumbilo chize chapwile mu mbonge yacho, chakwashile Paulu kwambujola. Iye yalumbununa ngwenyi: “Zambi yoze nwakuwayila chakuhona kumunyingika mwe ngunanwambulwila.” (Yili. 17:23) Yize Paulu ahanjikile yapwile ni tachi. Iye te kaso kwambujola hali kazambi mwaha, ngwe chize amwe apwile ni kumuliongela. Alioze, te kanahanjika hali Zambi yoze ayo kanyingikine, Zambi wamwenemwene.
11 Kuchi mutuhasa kwimbulula Paulu muze tuli mu mulimo wa kwambujola? Mutuhasa kunyingika ngwetu mutu umwe kakuwayila Zambi ha kumona chize anazala ni yuma yize yili ku zuwo lienyi. Kashika, mutuhasa kumulweza ngwetu: ‘Ngunamono ni yena wakuwayila Zambi, kashika nakuzanga kuhanjika ni atu waze akuzanga kwivwa yuma ya Zambi.’ Kuhanjika ni vumbi ni kulemesa manyonga ja akwetu muchihasa kutukwasa kuhanjika yuma yize muyikwasa hanga lusango wetu anunge. Twiwulukenu ngwetu, muze tuli mu munda kutwatambile kupatwila akwetu mumu lia yize afuliela. Ni yetu tukwete mandumbu anji waze apwile mu uwayilo wa mahuza.
Hanjika yuma yize muyikwasa akwenu azange kukupanjika
‘Zambi Katwamine Kusuku ni Mweswe wa Kuli Yetu’ (Yilinga 17:24-28)
12. Kuchi Paulu alumwine majila akwambulwilamo?
12 Paulu kaputukile kanawa lusango wenyi. Shina te mahasa lume kwambujola sango jipema? Iye kalumwine majila akwambulwilamo mumu kanyingikine ngwenyi, atu waze te anamupanjika kanyingikine Mbimbiliya, alioze te kananyingika chinji malongeso A-Ngregu. Chitangu, iye yatongola malongeso a Mbimbiliya chakuhona kusolola zwalala ngwo kanakatuka mu Yisoneko. Chamuchiali, muze apwile ni kulongesa, iye kapwile ni kutongola liji “yetu” hanga asolole ngwo, iye kalisele ni atu waze te anamupanjika. Chamuchitatu, katongwele yikuma yize te yinakatuka mu mikanda ya A-Ngregu hanga ashindakenye ngwo, yize te anambe yinalite ni yize ayo afuliela. Haliapwila, tuhengwolenu yize Paulu ambile. Umwenemwene uka ulemu uze iye alongesele hakutwala kuli Zambi yoze A-Atene te kanyingikine?
13. (a) Yika Paulu ambile hakutwala ku malilu ni hashi? (b) Yika azangile kulongesa?
13 Zambi mwe watangile malilu ni hashi. Paulu yamba ngwenyi: “Zambi yoze watangile hashi ni yuma yeswe yiliho, se Iye kapwa Mwenya-lilu ni hashi, kashika iye keshi kutwama mu matembele akutunga ni moko ja atu.” d (Yili. 17:24) Malilu ni hashi ni yeswe yize yatwamamo, Yehova mwe wayitangile. (Samu 146:6) Yehova Zambi mwe Chitunda wa hashi heswe, kashika iye katwamine mu mazuwo waze akutunga kuli atu. (1 Mia. 8:27) Kashika, longeso lia Paulu liapwile ngwo: Zambi wamwenemwene kanahiana tuponya ni matembele.—Iza. 40:18-26.
14. Chilumbu chaka Zambi keshi kufupa ukwaso wa atu?
14 Zambi keshi kufupa hanga atu amwehe yiyulo hanji amukwase. Atu waze apwile ni kuwayila tuponya kapwile ni kuneha yawana yinji ngwe, walwa ni mazalo a ndando. Kapwile ni kunyonga ngwe tuponya kakufupiwa yuma yacho! Alioze, muchihasa kupwa ngwe akwa-mana amwe waze te anapanjika Paulu, kakufuliela ngwo, kazambi keshi kufupiwa chuma chimwe kuli atu. Nyonga lino linalite ni yize Paulu ambile ngwenyi: Zambi “keshi kumulingila ni moko ja atu ngwe kanahono chuma chimwe.” Ewa, Zambi keshi kufupiwa chuma chimwe hanji upite wa atu. Kwamba umwenemwene, iye mwe wakutwaha yize twakufupiwa ngwe: “Mwono, mwiku,” mwalwa, vula, hashi hapema haze twakulima ni yuma yeswe. (Yili. 17:25; Uputu. 2:7) Kashika, Zambi yoze wakutwaha yuma yeswe yize twakufupiwa, keshi kushimbwila chimwe hali yetu.
15. Kuchi Paulu akwashile A-Atene ha chize te akulimona, mba yika mutuhasa kulilongesa ha chilweza chenyi?
15 Zambi mwe watangile atu. A-Atene kapwile ni kulimona ngwe kali alemu chinji kuhiana akwo. Alioze, nyonga liamutapu au liakulimika ni yize Mbimbiliya yakulongesa. (Shimbi 10:17) Paulu kasolwele vumbi ni Zango muze asungile chikuma chacho. Iye yahanjika hali Alama chisemi wa atu eswe yoze anatongola mu mukanda wa Uputukilo ngwenyi: “[Zambi] watangile mavungu eswe a hashi kupalikila muli mutu umuwika.” (Yili. 17:26; Uputu. 1:26-28) Kwamba pundu, maliji jacho kaanyongesene, chikwo nawa, kakwashile kuwana longeso lize azangile kwalongesa. Yetweswe twakatukile kuli mutu umuwika, kashika niumwe wa kuli yetu katambile kulimona ngwe kanahiana mukwo. Chilweza chino chinatulongesa chikuma chilemu chinji: Chipwe ngwe twatamba kusolola vumbi ni zango muze tunambujola, nihindu twatamba kwiwuluka ngwetu, umwenemwene wa mu Mbimbiliya we muuhasa kwalumuna mwono wa mutu.
16. Mumu liaka Zambi atangile atu?
16 Zambi kanazange hanga atu akundame kuli iye. Chipwe akwa-mana waze te anapanjika Paulu kesekele ha miaka yinji kulumbununa mumu liaka atutangile, nihindu kakahashile. Alioze, Paulu yalumbununa mumu liaka Tangi yetu atutangile ha kwamba ngwenyi, Zambi katangile mutu “hanga akamufupe akapapate hali iye ni kumuwana, chipwe ngwe katwamine kusuku ni mweswe wa kuli yetu.” (Yili. 17:27) Zambi yoze A-Atene te kanyingikine kakapwile kusuku ni ayo. Iye keshi kusuku ni waze chamwenemwene lume anazange kumunyingika. (Samu 145:18) Paulu katongwele liji “yetu,” hanga asolole ngwenyi, neye te ‘kanafupiwa Zambi ni kumupapata.’
17, 18. Mumu liaka atu atamba kulilongesa kuzanga Zambi, mba yika mutuhasa kulilongesa ha chize Paulu ayemesene lusango wenyi?
17 Atu katamba kuzanga kunyingika Zambi. Paulu kambile ngwenyi, ‘tuli ni mwono, chikwo nawa twakwenda mumu lia Zambi.’ Atu amwe kakwamba ngwo, Paulu katongwele maliji a umwe poeta avuluka ngwo Epimênides, yoze watwamine mu Kreta ku sekulu yamuchisambano K.M.J. Lunga wacho kamunyingikine chinji mu Atene. Paulu yasolola nawa mumu liaka atu te atamba kulilongesa kuzanga Zambi ha kwamba ngwenyi: “Ngwe chize [ambile] akwenu amwe akwa-kusoneka ngwo: ‘Ni yetu nawa tuli ana jenyi.” (Yili. 17:28) Atu katamba kunyingika ngwo, Zambi kakwazanga, mumu mwe watangile chisemi chetu mutangu. Paulu yayemesa nawa lusango wenyi ha kutongola maliji anakatuka mu mikanda yize A-Ngregu apwile ni kuvumbika chinji. e Chizechene ngwe Paulu, ni yetu ha mashimbu amwe mutuhasa kutongola sango, mikanda ni yuma yize atu ananyingika chinji. Ngwe chilweza, kutongola chikuma chimwe chinakatuka mu mikanda yize atu akuvumbika chinji, muchihasa kukwasa mutu yoze hi Chela cha Yehova ko kumona ngwenyi, yuma yize akulinga mu mayingeleja, yili lume ya mahuza.
18 Ndo hano twamona ngwetu, Paulu kalongesele yikuma yilemu kuli A-Atene ni kwalumuna majila akwambulwilamo. Yika postolo Paulu azangile hanga A-Atene alinge? Chino kachisolwele ha kununga cha pande jenyi.
‘Zambi Kanazange Hanga Atu a ku Yihela Yeswe Alikonyeke’ (Yilinga 17:29-31)
19, 20. (a) Kuchi Paulu ahanjikile ni vumbi muze asolwele ngwenyi kuwayila tuzambi chili uhepuke? (b) Yika A-Atene atambile kulinga?
19 Paulu kazangile kukwasa atu hanga alumune yitanga yo. Chocho yatongola nawa amwe maliji anakatuka mu mikanda ya A-Ngregu ngwenyi: “Amu tuli ana ja Zambi, kutwatambile kunyonga ngwetu, Zambi kalifwa ni oru, ni prata, ni liwe hanji chuma chikwo chakusonga ni utotombo ni mana ja atu.” (Yili. 17:29) Mba nyi Zambi mwe watangile atu, kuchi nawa iye mahasa kupwa kaponya? Nyonga lino liasolwele ngwo, chili uhepuke kuwayila tuzambi waze akuwumba kuli atu. (Samu 115:4-8; Iza. 44:9-20) Kota chapwile chashi kuli mbunga kutayiza malongeso ja Paulu mumu iye katongwele liji “amu tuli.”
20 Paulu kasolwele lume zwalala ngwo, atu jacho te katamba lume kwalumuna yitanga yo ha kwamba ngwenyi: “Zambi keshi kwalula miaka ya kwalajala, alioze haliapwila kakwambila atu eswe a ku yihela yeswe hanga alikonyeke.” (Yili. 17:30) Atu amwe ha mbunga kota kaakomokene muze aalwezele ngwo, katamba kulikonyeka. Alioze Paulu kasolwele ngwenyi, atu jacho kaatangile kuli Zambi, kashika te makasopesa. A-Atene te katamba kufupa Zambi, kulilongesa hali iye ni kwalumuna yitanga yo. Kuli ayo, kulinga chino te chinalumbunuka kunyingika ngwo, uwayilo wa tuzambi a mahuza wapwile upi, kashika te katamba kulitwamina.
21, 22. Maliji aka a kasula waze Paulu ambile, chikwo nawa yika analumbunuka kuli yetu musono?
21 Paulu yahwisa pande jenyi ni maliji waze anyongesene atu anji ngwenyi: [Zambi] “hanatongola tangwa lize makasopesa akwa-hashi eswe ni ululi kupalikila muli mutu yoze mwene atongwele. Iye kahanyine shindakenyo ya chikuma chino kuli atu eswe ha kumuhindwisa mukachi ka afu.” (Yili. 17:31) A-Atene te katamba kufupa Zambi ni kumuwana mumu Zambi hanatongola Tangwa lize Makasopesa akwa-hashi eswe. Paulu kakatongwele jina lia ngaji yoze Yehova asakwile, alioze kambile wika hali ngaji wacho ngwenyi, iye kapwile hano hashi, kafwile ni kumuhindwisa kuli Zambi!
22 Maliji wano a kasula a Paulu no kanatulongesa yikuma yilemu chinji. Tunanyingika ngwetu, ngaji yoze Yehova atongwele kali Yesu. (Yoa. 5:22) Chikwo nawa, tunanyingika ngwetu, Tangwa lia Usopeso linakundama, mulikambata miaka kanunu. (Uso. 20:4, 6) Kutushi kwivwa woma wa tangwa liacho, mumu tunanyingika ngwetu, Akwa-Kristu waze ashishika makapwa ni yiwape yinji. Uhindukilo wa Yesu Kristu we unatwehe shindakenyo ngwetu, chamwenemwene lume kutalatala chetu cha kutwama mu chifuchi chaha, muchikamanunuka!
“Amwe Malunga . . . Yafuliela” (Yilinga 17:32-34)
23. Yika atu amwe ambile muze evwile sango ja Paulu?
23 Hi atu eswe ko azangile pande ja Paulu. Amwe muze evwile sango ja uhindukilo “yaputuka kumuseha.” Eka yasolola vumbi, chipwe chocho yamba ngwo: “Mutukakupanjika ha tangwa likwo nawa.” (Yili. 17:32) Alioze kwapwile amwe azangile yize evwile “Amwe malunga yalichinga nenyi, yafuliela. Hakachi ko hapwile Ndioniseu yoze wapwile ngaji mu Chota Chinene cha akwa-kuyula mu Atene ni umwe pwo avuluka ngwo Ndamari ni atu akwo nawa.” (Yili. 17:34) Ni musono twakulitakana ni atu a mutapu au muze tuli mu mulimo wa kwambujola. Amwe kakutuseha, akwo kakusolola vumbi, alioze keshi kutayiza sango jetu. Chipwe chocho, twakuwahilila chinji muze twakuwana atu waze akutayiza sango ja Wanangana.
24. Yika mutuhasa kulilongesa ha pande jize Paulu alingile ha chitanda?
24 Kupukuna ha pande ja Paulu muchihasa kutulongesa yuma yinji ngwe, chize mutuhasa kuputuka kanawa pande, chize mutuhasa kwalumuna majila akwambulwilamo, ulemu wa kupwa yihomboloji ni kuvumbika yize akwetu akufuliela. Nyi mutwimbulula Paulu, mutuhasa kupwa alongeshi apema muze tuli mu mulimo wa kwambujola. Makulwana no mahasa kulongesa kanawa mu chikungulwila. Kulinga chino, muchitujamisa hanga tukwase atu ‘afupe Zambi amupapate ni kumuwana.’—Yili. 17:27.
a Tala mushete unambe ngwo, “ Atene—Mbonge Yinene ya ku Shakulu.”
b Tala mushete unambe ngwo, “ A-Epikuria ni A-Stoiku.”
c Areopago chapwile chihela chize chapwile ku mulundu. Kuma kwacho kwe apwile ni kulikungulwila akwa-kuhana yiyulo mu Atene. Liji “Areopago” mulihasa kutala ha chizavu cha atu jacho hanji ha mulundu. Kashika, akwa-kuhengwola anji keshi ni shindakenyo nyi chamwenemwene lume Paulu kamutwalile ku mulundu wacho hanji hakamwihi, nyi hanji kamutwalile akunguluke hamuwika ni atu jacho nyi hanji kamutwalile ha chitanda.
d Mu limi lia Ngregu liji kó·smos, linalumbunuka “hashi.” Liji liacho lie A-Ngregu apwile ni kuzachisa muze apwile ni kutongola malilu ni hashi. Muchihasa kupwa, hanji ha shimbu liacho muze Paulu te anahanjika no, ulumbunwiso wa liji liacho kwe liatalile.
e Paulu katongwele maliji amwe waze asonekene kuli poeta avuluka ngwo, Arato. Maliji jacho kali nawa mu mikanda yimwe ngwe, Hino a Zeus, yize asonekene kuli poeta avuluka ngwo, Cleanto.