“Mina Míatsɔ Ŋɔŋlɔawo Asɔ Kple Wo Nɔewo”

ŊUTSU aɖe kpɔ trakt aɖe le keteke aɖe si wòɖo yina ɖe New York City la me. Nusi eƒe ŋku kli le trakt la dzie nye be ‘amegbetɔ ƒe luʋɔ kuna.’ Esia ʋã ŋutsu sia, si nye osɔfo la, wòte exexlẽ enumake. Nusiwo wòxlẽ la wɔ mo ya nɛ ŋutɔ elabena exɔ luʋɔ makumaku ƒe nufiafia dzi se ale gbegbe. Ɣemaɣi la, menya amesi ŋlɔ trakt la o. Ke hã, ekpɔe be numeɖeɖea yɔ fũ kple nyateƒenya siwo wotu ɖe Ŋɔŋlɔawo dzi eye be ele be yeawɔ numekuku tso nyatia ŋu vevie.

Osɔfoa ŋkɔe nye George Storrs. Nusia dzɔ le ƒe 1837 me, si nye ƒe si me Charles Darwin ŋlɔ susu siwo dzi wòva nɔ te ɖo to nɔnɔmetɔtrɔ ŋuti nufiafia vɛ la ɖi zi gbãtɔ. Ame akpa gãtɔ subɔa mawuwo ɣemaɣi, eye ame akpa gãtɔ hã xɔe se be Mawu vavã aɖe li. Ame geɖe xlẽa Biblia hekpɔa ŋusẽ si le esi la dzea si.

Emegbe Storrs va nya be Henry Grew, amesi nɔ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ye ŋlɔ trakt la. Nya vevi si gbɔ Grew melɔ̃a nu le o ye nye be “ŋɔŋlɔa . . . ŋutɔ koe ɖea eɖokui gɔme.” Grew kple eƒe zɔhɛwo nɔ Biblia srɔ̃m kple susu be yewoƒe agbenɔnɔ kple nu ɖesiaɖe si yewoawɔ la nasɔ ɖe Biblia ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖowo nu. Woƒe numekukuawo na wova ke ɖe Ŋɔŋlɔawo me nyateƒe adodoe aɖewo ŋu.

Nusi Grew ŋlɔ la de dzo Storrs me ale gbegbe be wòyi ɖadi nusiwo Ŋɔŋlɔawo gblɔ tso luʋɔ la ŋu eye wòdzro nyaa me kple ehati osɔfowo. Le nusɔsrɔ̃ movevieɖoɖotɔe ƒe atɔ̃ megbe la, Storrs va ɖoe mlɔeba be yeaɖe gbeƒã Ŋɔŋlɔawo me nyateƒe yeye si ŋu ye ke ɖo la. Gbã la, edzra mawunya aɖe ɖo yi ɖagblɔ le kwasiɖa aɖe gbe, le ƒe 1842 me. Gake ekpɔe be ehiã be yeagagblɔ mawunya bubuwo akpee hafi numeɖeɖeawo nade edeƒe. Mawunya ade sɔŋ ye wògblɔ ku ɖe luʋɔ makumaku ŋu. Mlɔeba, eva ŋlɔ mawunya siawo me nyawo ɖe agbalẽ si nye Six Sermons me heɖee ɖe go. Storrs tsɔ ŋɔŋlɔawo sɔ kple wo nɔewo heklo nu le nyateƒe nyui si dzi Kristodukɔa ƒe nufiafia, si medea bubu Mawu ŋu o, vu tsyɔ la dzi.

Ðe Luʋɔ Makumaku Nye Biblia ƒe Nufiafia?

Biblia gblɔ tso Yesu yomedzelawo ŋuti be woado makumaku le woƒe nuteƒewɔwɔ ta. (Korintotɔwo I, 15:50-56) Storrs ɖe nu me be, ne makumakunyenye anye fetu na nuteƒewɔla la, ekema ame vɔ̃ɖi ƒe luʋɔ mate ŋu anye nu makumaku o. Le esi teƒe be eya ŋutɔ nasusu nane ko agblɔ la, etrɔ ɖe Ŋɔŋlɔawo ŋu. Edzro Mateo 10:28 me, si xlẽ be: “Mivɔ̃ amesi ate ŋu atsrɔ̃ luʋɔ kple ŋutilã siaa.” Eyata woate ŋu atsrɔ̃ luʋɔ. Eyɔ Xezekiel 18:4 hã, afisi gblɔ be: “Luʋɔ, si wɔ nuvɔ̃ la, eyae aku.” Biblia bliboa me dzodzroe ɖea nyateƒea ɖe go nyuie. Storrs ŋlɔ bena: “Ne nukpɔsusu si va su asinye be luʋɔ kuna la le eteƒea, ekema Ŋɔŋlɔawo ƒe akpa geɖe siwo do viviti tsã le luʋɔ  makumaku ƒe nufiafia si bɔ ŋutɔ ta la me kɔ nyuie azɔ, eye gɔmesese akuakua dze gaglã.”

Ke nya si ŋɔŋlɔ bubuwo, abe Yuda 7 ene, gblɔ ya ɖe? Afima xlẽ be: “Abe alesi wotsɔ Sodom kple Gomora kple du, siwo ƒo xlã wo, siwo wɔ ahasi akpa abe woawo ene, eye wodze ŋutilã bubu yome la, wɔ kpɔɖeŋu, esi wokpe dzo mavɔ ƒe fu la.” Ne ame aɖewo xlẽ kpukpui sia la, woate ŋu aƒo nya ta be wole fu wɔm amesiwo ku le Sodom kple Gomora la ƒe luʋɔwo le dzo mavɔ aɖe me. Storrs ŋlɔ bena: “Mina míatsɔ Ŋɔŋlɔawo asɔ kple wo nɔewo.” Azɔ eyɔ Petro II, 2:5, 6, si xlẽ be: “Eye mekpɔ blema xexeme la ƒe nublanui o, negbe Noa . . .  ko wòdzra ɖo, esime wòhe tɔɖɔɖɔ va ame mavɔ̃mawuwo ƒe xexeme dzi; eye wòna Sodom kple Gomora ƒe duwo zu afi, eye wòbu fɔ wo to wo tɔtrɔtsyɔanyi me, eye wòtsɔ wo ɖo kpɔɖeŋu na amesiwo ava nɔ agbe le mawumavɔ̃mavɔ̃ me.” Ẽ, Sodom kple Gomora zu afi, si fia be wotsrɔ̃ wo kple wo menɔlawo siaa gbidii.

Storrs ɖe nu me be: “Petro ƒe nya na míese nya si Yuda gblɔ la gɔme. Ne míetsɔ ŋɔŋlɔ eveawo sɔ kple wo nɔewo la, alesi gbegbe Mawu mekpɔ ŋudzedze ɖe nuvɔ̃wɔlawo ŋu o la dze ƒã. . . . Nusi Mawu tu kple blema xexeme siwo nye Sodom kple Gomora la nye nuxlɔ̃ame alo ‘kpɔɖeŋu’ mavɔ, si li ‘tegbee’ na amewo katã, ku ɖe xexeame ƒe nuwuwu ŋu.” Eyatae Yuda gblɔ be dzo mavɔe tsrɔ̃ Sodom kple Gomora ɖo. Ema metɔ tsi nyateƒenya si nye be amegbetɔ ƒe luʋɔ kuna la kuraa o.

Menye ŋɔŋlɔ siwo Storrs kpɔ be wowɔ ɖeka kple yeƒe nukpɔsusu la koe wòzã heŋe aɖaba ƒu bubuwo ya dzi o. Eléa ŋku ɖe nya siwo ƒo xlã kpukpui ɖesiaɖe ŋu nyuie hekpɔnɛ be ewɔ ɖeka kple Biblia hã. Ne edze abe ɖe ŋɔŋlɔ aɖe tsi tre ɖe bubu ŋu ene la, Storrs dina numeɖeɖe si kɔ la le Biblia ƒe teƒe bubuwo.

Russell Srɔ̃ Ŋɔŋlɔawo

Amesiwo va wɔ ɖeka kple George Storrs dometɔ ɖekae nye ɖekakpui aɖe si nɔ Biblia-nusɔsrɔ̃ ƒe ƒuƒoƒo aɖe dzi kpɔm le Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eŋkɔe nye Charles Taze Russell. Woɖe eƒe nyati gbãtɔ siwo wòŋlɔ tso Ŋɔŋlɔawo ŋu la dometɔ ɖeka ɖe go le ƒe 1876 me, le magazine si nye Bible Examiner, si Storrs ta, me. Russell lɔ̃ ɖe edzi be amesiwo te Biblia sɔsrɔ̃ do ŋgɔ na ye la kpe ɖe ye ŋu. Togbɔ be eyae va nye Zion’s Watch Tower ŋlɔla emegbe hã la, ekpɔ ŋudzedze ɖe kpekpeɖeŋu geɖe siwo Storrs nɛ, to nya aɖewo ŋɔŋlɔ nɛ loo, alo wo gbɔgblɔ nɛ be wòaŋlɔ me, ŋu.

Esime C. T. Russell xɔ ƒe 18 la, eɖo Biblia-nusɔsrɔ̃ ƒe suku aɖe heto Biblia nusɔsrɔ̃ wɔwɔ ƒe mɔnu aɖe vɛ. A. H. Macmillan, amesi nye Biblia-nusrɔ̃vi aɖe si nɔ Russell ŋu, ɖɔ mɔnu sia ale: “Ame ɖeka abia nya. Woadzro eme. Woaxlẽ ŋɔŋlɔ siwo katã ƒo nu tso nya ma ŋu eye ne wokpɔe be ŋɔŋlɔ mawo katã de nu wo nɔewo me heku ɖe nya ɖeka ma ŋu vavã la, ekema woƒoa nya ta heŋlɔnɛ ɖi.”

Russell ka ɖe edzi be Biblia bliboa me nyawo katã de nu wo nɔewo me hewɔ ɖeka eye wowɔ ɖeka kple Mawu, amesi ƒe agbalẽ wònye la, ƒe susuwo. Ɣesiaɣi si Russell kpɔe be Biblia ƒe akpa aɖe gɔmesese sesẽ la, esenɛ le eɖokui me be Biblia ƒe akpa bubu aɖe aɖe egɔme ahana eme nakɔ.

Wotsɔa Ŋɔŋlɔawo Sɔna Kple Wo Nɔewo tso Gbaɖegbe Ke

Menye Russell, alo Storrs, alo Grew ye to Ŋɔŋlɔawo tsɔtsɔ sɔ kple wo nɔewo vɛ o. Yesu Kristo, amesi ɖo Kristotɔnyenye anyi la, zã mɔnu sia gbaɖegbe ʋĩ ke. Ezã ŋɔŋlɔ gbogbo aɖewo tsɔ ɖe bubuwo mee. Le kpɔɖeŋu me, esime Farisitɔwo tsɔ nya ɖe eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo ŋu be woŋe lu le Sabat dzi la, ezã ŋutinya si woŋlɔ ɖe Samuel I, 21:6 tsɔ ɖe alesi wòle be woabu Sabat ŋuti se lae me na wo. Subɔsubɔhakplɔlaawo nya ŋutinya ma, si me Dawid kple eƒe amewo ɖu ŋkumeɖoboloa le la, nyuie. Emegbe Yesu yɔ Se la ƒe akpa si gblɔ be Aron kple eƒe dzidzimewo, amesiwo nye nunɔlawo, koe kpɔ mɔ aɖu ŋkumeɖoboloa.  (Mose II, 29:32, 33; Mose III, 24:9) Ke hã, woɖe mɔ na Dawid be wòaɖu aboloawo. Yesu wu eƒe numeɖeɖe sia si me kɔ nyuie la nu kple Hosea ƒe agbalẽa me nyawo hegblɔ be: “Ðe mienya nusia bena: ‘Nublanuikpɔkpɔ dim mele, eye menye numeme o’ gɔme la, anye ne miedo ɖe amesiwo ŋu nuvɔ̃ mele o la, ta o.” (Mateo 12:1-8) Ŋɔŋlɔawo tsɔtsɔ sɔ kple wo nɔewo hena gɔmesese akuakua gbɔ ɖoɖo ƒe kpɔɖeŋu nyui ka gbegbee nye si!

Yesu yomedzelawo lé ŋɔŋlɔwo zazã atsɔ akɔ ŋɔŋlɔ bubu aɖe me ƒe kpɔɖeŋu sia me ɖe asi. Esime apostolo Paulo nɔ nu fiam amewo le Tesalonika la, ‘eɖo dze na wo tso ŋɔŋlɔawo me; eye wòle eme ʋum fia wo kɔte bena, ele na Kristo be, wòakpe fu, eye wòatsi tre tso ame kukuwo dome.’ (Dɔwɔwɔwo 17:2, 3) Paulo gazã Biblia ƒe akpa aɖewo tsɔ ɖe akpa bubuwo me le lɛta siwo Mawu ƒe gbɔgbɔa ʋãe wòŋlɔ la hã me. Le kpɔɖeŋu me, esime wònɔ agbalẽ ŋlɔm ɖo ɖe Hebritɔwo la, eyɔ ŋɔŋlɔ bubuwo tsiã ɖe wo nɔewo nu tsɔ ɖee fia be nu nyui, siwo le vava ge la, ƒe vɔvɔli ye Mose ƒe se la nye.—Hebritɔwo 10:1-18.

Le nyateƒe me la, Kristotɔ gbãtɔawo ƒe afɔɖoƒe koe amesiwo va te Biblia sɔsrɔ̃ vevie tso ƒe 1800-awo me la to. Wogatsɔa ŋɔŋlɔawo sɔna kple wo nɔewo le Gbetakpɔxɔ me egbea hã. (Tesalonikatɔwo II, 2:15) Yehowa Ðasefowo zãa mɔnu sia ne wole ŋɔŋlɔ aɖe me dzrom.

Lé Ŋku Ðe Nya Siwo Ƒo Xlãe Ŋu

Alekee míate ŋu asrɔ̃ Yesu kple eyomedzela wɔnuteƒeawo ƒe kpɔɖeŋu ne míele Biblia xlẽm? Gbã la, míate ŋu alé ŋku ɖe nya siwo ƒo xlã ŋɔŋlɔ si gɔme míedi be míase la ŋu nyuie. Aleke nya siwo ƒo xlãe ate ŋu akpe ɖe mía ŋu míase egɔmee? Mina míatsɔ Yesu ƒe nya siwo dze le Mateo 16:28 me la, awɔ eƒe kpɔɖeŋui. Afima xlẽ be: “Vavã mele egblɔm na mi bena, ame aɖewo le amesiwo le tsi tre ɖe afisia la dome, siwo mele ku ɖɔ ge akpɔ o, vaseɖe esime woakpɔ Amegbetɔvi la le eƒe fiaɖuƒe la me gbɔna.” Ame aɖewo ate ŋu ase le wo ɖokui me be nya siawo meva eme o, elabena Yesu ƒe nusrɔ̃la siwo katã nɔ afima esime wògblɔ nyaa la, ku hafi woɖo Mawu ƒe Fiaɖuƒea anyi le dziƒo. Biblia gɔmeɖegbalẽ aɖe (The Interpreter’s Bible) gblɔ tso kpukpui sia ŋu gɔ̃ hã be: “Nyagblɔɖi sia meva eme o, eyata Kristotɔwo va kpɔe emegbe be ele be yewoagblɔ be kpɔɖeŋunyagbɔgblɔ koe wònye.”

Ke hã, nya siwo ƒo xlã kpukpui sia, kpakple etsɔtsɔ asɔ kple nya mawo tɔgbe siwo dze le Marko kple Luka ƒe agbalẽawo me, akpe ɖe mía ŋu míase egɔme nyuie. Nudzɔdzɔ ka ŋue Mateo ƒo nu tsoe le nya siwo míeyɔ le etame la ŋɔŋlɔ vɔ megbe teti? Eŋlɔ bena: “Le ŋkeke ade megbe la Yesu tsɔ Petro kple Yakobo kple nɔvia Yohanes kpe ɖe eɖokui ŋuti, eye wòkplɔ wo yi to kɔkɔ aɖe dzi, woawo ɖeɖe. Eye eƒe nɔnɔme trɔ le woƒe ŋku me.” (Mateo 17:1, 2) Marko kple Luka hã ɖee fia be nya si Yesu gblɔ tso Fiaɖuƒea ŋu la do ƒome kple eƒe nɔnɔmetɔtrɔa. (Marko 9:1-8; Luka 9:27-36) Yesu ɖe alesi wòava le Fiaɖuƒeŋusẽ me la ƒe kpɔɖeŋu fia le eƒe nɔnɔmetɔtrɔa me, esime apostolo etɔ̃awo kpɔe le ŋutikɔkɔe me. Petro ɖee fia be gɔmesese nyuitɔe nye ema esime wònɔ te ɖe nɔnɔmetɔtrɔ si teƒe eya ŋutɔ kpɔ dzi ƒo nu tso “mía Aƒetɔ Yesu Kristo ƒe ŋusẽ kple eƒe vava” ŋu.—Petro II, 1:16-18.

Ètsɔa Ŋɔŋlɔawo Sɔna Kple Wo Nɔewoa?

Ke ne èlé ŋku ɖe nya siwo ƒo xlã ŋɔŋlɔ aɖe ŋu nyuie gake mese egɔme o ya ɖe? Ekema etsɔtsɔ asɔ kple ŋɔŋlɔ bubuwo ahakpɔe ɖa be ewɔ ɖeka kple Biblia bliboa hã, ate ŋu aɖe vi na wò. Àte ŋu akpɔ nu nyui aɖe si ate ŋu akpe ɖe ŋuwò le esia wɔwɔ me la le New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, si gɔme woɖe ɖe gbegbɔgblɔ 57 me la me. Nu nyui siae nye mawunyakpukpui bubuwo  diƒe si le eƒe tata vovovowo ƒe axa ɖesiaɖe titina. Àkpɔ mawunyakpukpui siawo dometɔ 125,000 le New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With Reference me. Wogblɔ le Biblia ma ƒe “Ŋgɔdonya” me be: “Mawunyakpukpui siwo le mawunyakpukpui bubuwo diƒe la tsɔtsɔ asɔ kple wo nɔewo nyuie kple etenuŋɔŋlɔ siwo kpe ɖe eŋu me dzodzro ana nàkpɔe be ɖekawɔwɔ le Biblia-gbalẽ 66-awo dome, si ɖo kpe edzi be enye agbalẽ ɖeka, si tso Mawu ƒe gbɔgbɔ me.”

Mína míakpɔ alesi mawunyakpukpui bubuwo diƒea zazã akpe ɖe mía ŋu míase ŋɔŋlɔ aɖe gɔmee la ɖa. Míatsɔ kpɔɖeŋu aɖe tso Abram, alo Abraham, ƒe ŋutinya me. Biabiae nye be: Amekae xɔ ŋgɔ esime Abram kple eƒe ƒomea ʋu tso Ur? Míexlẽ le Mose I, 11:31 be: “Eye Tarax ʋu kple via Abram kple tɔgbuiyɔvia Lot, . . . hekpe ɖe Sarai, via Abram srɔ̃ ŋuti tso Ur le Kaldea, bene woayi Kanaan-nyigba dzi. Ke esi wova Xaran la, wonɔ afima.” Ne ame aɖe xlẽ kpukpui sia ɖeɖe dzaa la, agblɔ be Abram fofo, Tarax, ye xɔ ŋgɔa. Gake le New World Translation me la, woyɔ mawunyakpukpui 11 sɔŋ le mawunyakpukpui bubuwo diƒe si le titina la, siwo ƒo nu tso nya sia ke ŋu. Mamlɛtɔa enye Dɔwɔwɔwo 7:2, 3, afisi Stefano xlɔ̃ nu Yudatɔ siwo nɔ anyi le ƒe alafa gbãtɔa me le be: ‘Ŋutikɔkɔe ƒe Mawu la ɖe eɖokui fia mía fofo Abraham, esime wòle Mesopotamia, hafi wòva nɔ Xaran, eye wògblɔ nɛ bena: Ʋu tso wò anyigba dzi kple ƒowòmeawo gbɔ, eye nayi anyigba, si mafia wò la dzi.’ (Dɔwɔwɔwo 7:2, 3) Ðe Stefano ƒe nyaa na Abram ƒe ʋuʋu tso Xaran ŋutinya la tro gbo viea? Kura o, elabena Mawu ƒe Nya si tso gbɔgbɔ me ƒe akpe aɖee, eye ewɔ ɖeka kple nya si le Mose I, 12:1-3 hã.

Ke nukatae Mose I, 11:31 ya gblɔ be “Tarax ʋu kple via Abram” kpakple ƒomea me tɔ bubuwo tso Ur ɖo? Terax ye kpɔtɔ nye ame tsitsi si xɔa ŋgɔ le ƒomea ƒe nyawo me. Elɔ̃ faa kplɔ Abram ɖo woʋu tae wogblɔ be eyae ʋu kple ƒomea yi Xaran ɖo. Ŋɔŋlɔ eve siawo tsɔtsɔ sɔ kple wo nɔewo ana míate ŋu akpɔ alesi tututu nua dzɔe la le susu me. Abram ƒoe ɖe fofoa nu bubutɔe be yewoaʋu tso Ur abe alesi Mawu de see ene.

Ne míele Ŋɔŋlɔawo xlẽm la, ele be míalé ŋku ɖe nya siwo ƒo xlã kpukpui si gɔme míedi be míase la ŋu nyuie ahakpɔe ɖa be ewɔ ɖeka kple Biblia bliboa hã. Apostolo Paulo xlɔ̃ nu Kristotɔwo be: “Míawo la míexɔ xexeme ƒe gbɔgbɔ la o, hafi Gbɔgbɔ, si tso Mawu gbɔ la boŋ míexɔ, bene míate ŋu anya nusi Mawu na mí la. Eye nusiawo míegblɔna hã, eye míetsɔa nya, siwo amewo ƒe nunya fia mí la o, hafi míetsɔa nya, siwo Gbɔgbɔ la fia mí la boŋ, eye míetsɔa gbɔgbɔmenuwo heɖoa gbɔgbɔmenuwo ŋuti.” (Korintotɔwo I, 2:11-13) Ẽ, ele be míaƒo koko na Yehowa be wòakpe ɖe mía ŋu míase eƒe Nyaa gɔme ahanɔ “gbɔgbɔmenuwo” tsɔm anɔ “gbɔgbɔmenuwo ŋuti” ɖom to ŋkulelé ɖe nya siwo ƒo xlã ŋɔŋlɔ si gɔme míedi be míase la ŋu nyuie kple etsɔtsɔ asɔ kple ŋɔŋlɔ bubuwo me. Neva eme be míayi edzi anɔ nyateƒe akuakuawo dim to Mawu ƒe Nyaa sɔsrɔ̃ me.

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Ƒe alafa 19 lia me Biblia-srɔ̃vi siwo tsɔ Ŋɔŋlɔawo sɔ kple wo nɔewo: George Storrs, Henry Grew, Charles Taze Russell, A. H. Macmillan

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Foto gbãtɔ: SIX SERMONS, by George Storrs (1855); tso foto evelia dzi: Collection of The New-York Historical Society/69288

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Apostolo Paulo yɔ ŋɔŋlɔ bubuwo tsɔ ɖo kple eƒe nyawo dzii