Mra Be Mli Kristofoi Lɛ Kɛ Je Lɛ

AAFEE afii akpei enyɔ ni eho nɛ lɛ, nɔ ko ni yɔɔ naakpɛɛ fe fɛɛ ba mli yɛ Boka Teŋgbɛ. Atsu Nyɔŋmɔ Bi koome lɛ kɛjɛ eshihilɛ he ni yɔɔ ŋwɛi lɛ ni ebahi shi be kukuoo yɛ adesai aje lɛ mli. Te adesai ateŋ mɛi babaoo here lɛ nɔ amɛha tɛŋŋ? Bɔfo Yohane haa hetoo akɛ: “Je lɛ mli [Yesu] yɔɔ, ni enɔ atsɔ afee je lɛ, ni je lɛ leee lɛ. Lɛ diɛŋtsɛ emɛi [Israel] ŋɔɔ eba, ni mɛi ni ji lɛ diɛŋtsɛ emɛi lɛ hereee lɛ.”​—Yohane 1:​10, 11.

Je lɛ ekpɛlɛɛɛ Yesu, Nyɔŋmɔ Bi lɛ nɔ. Mɛni hewɔ? Yesu tsɔɔ yiŋtoo lɛ ekome mli beni ewie akɛ: “Je lɛ . . . nyɛɔ mi, ejaakɛ miyeɔ ehe odase akɛ enitsumɔi lɛ nitsumɔi fɔji ni.” (Yohane 7:⁠7) Yɛ naagbee lɛ, nɛkɛ je nɛɛ nɔŋŋ​—ni Yudafoi ajamɔ mli hiɛnyiɛlɔi komɛi, Edom maŋtsɛ ko, kɛ Roma maŋkwralɔ ko damɔ shi kɛha lɛ lɛ​—ha agbe Yesu. (Luka 22:​66–23:​25; Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 3:​14, 15; 4:​24-28) Ni Yesu sɛɛnyiɛlɔi lɛ hu? Ani je lɛ baafee klalo fe tsutsu lɛ akɛ amɛaakpɛlɛ amɛnɔ? Dabi. Beni eshwɛ fioo ni ebaagbo lɛ, Yesu bɔ amɛ kɔkɔ akɛ: “Eji je lɛŋ  nyɛjɛ kulɛ, je lɛ aaasumɔ lɛ diɛŋtsɛ emɛi, shi akɛni nyɛjɛɛɛ je lɛŋ, shi mi moŋ mihala nyɛ kɛjɛ je lɛŋ lɛ, no hewɔ je lɛ nyɛɔ nyɛ lɛ.”​—Yohane 15:⁠19.

Yɛ Bɔfoi lɛ Abeaŋ

Yesu wiemɔi lɛ bafee anɔkwale. Egbele lɛ sɛɛ otsii fioo ko lɛ, amɔmɔ ebɔfoi lɛ, ni awo amɛhe gbeyei, ni ayi amɛ. (Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 4:​1-3; 5: 17, 18, 40) No sɛɛ be fioo ko lɛ, agbala Stefano ni yɔɔ ekaa lɛ kɛtee Yudafoi a-Sanhedrin lɛ hiɛ ni no sɛɛ lɛ atswia lɛ tɛi ni egbo. (Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 6:​8-12; 7:​54, 57, 58) Yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ, Maŋtsɛ Herode Agripa I hu ha agbe bɔfo Yakobo. (Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 12:​1, 2) Awa Paulo yi yɛ emaŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ gbɛfaai lɛ amli, ni Yudafoi ni Yɔɔ Maji Asɛɛ lɛ ji mɛi ni wo yiŋ ni afee enɛ.​—Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 13:​50; 14:​2, 19.

Te mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ fee amɛnii yɛ shitee-kɛ-woo nɛɛ he amɛha tɛŋŋ? Beni, yɛ shishijee gbii lɛ amli lɛ, jamɔ mli nɔyelɔi lɛ gu bɔfoi lɛ akɛ amɛkashiɛ yɛ Yesu gbɛi amli dɔŋŋ lɛ, bɔfoi lɛ jaje akɛ: “Esa akɛ aboɔ Nyɔŋmɔ moŋ toi fe gbɔmɛi.” (Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 4:​19, 20; 5:29) Enɛ tee nɔ efee amɛsu, be fɛɛ be ni shitee-kɛ-woo aaate shi. Shi yɛ enɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, bɔfo Paulo wo Kristofoi ni hi Roma lɛ ŋaa ni ‘amɛba amɛhe shi amɛha [nɔyeli] hegbɛi ni yeɔ nɔ lɛ.’ Esaa ewo amɛ ŋaa hu akɛ: “Kɛ aaaho lɛ nyɛgbɛfaŋ lɛ, nyɛkɛ gbɔmɛi fɛɛ ahia shi yɛ hejɔlɛ mli.” (Romabii 12:​18; 13:⁠1) No hewɔ lɛ, ehe bahia ni mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ ana pɛpɛɛpɛ-ŋmɛɛ ko ni wa waa. Amɛbo Nyɔŋmɔ toi akɛ amɛ klɛŋklɛŋ Nɔyelɔ. Yɛ nakai beaŋ nɔŋŋ hu lɛ, amɛba amɛhe shi amɛha maŋ nɔyelii lɛ ni amɛbɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ amɛkɛ mɛi fɛɛ aaahi shi yɛ toiŋjɔlɛ mli.

Kristofoi ni Yɔɔ Romabii Aje lɛ Mli

Mra mli yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ afii oha lɛ mli Roma Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ je lɛ mli lɛ, ŋwanejee ko bɛ he akɛ Kristofoi ná Pax Romana, loo Roma Toiŋjɔlɛ, ni Roma asraafoi lɛ ha ehi shi lɛ he sɛɛ. Mla kɛ gbɛjianɔtoo nɔyeli ni yɔɔ shiŋŋ, gbɛjegbɛi kpakpai, kɛ ŋshɔ hiɛ gbɛfaa ni yɔɔ shweshweeshwe bɔ ni sa lɛ ha amɛna shihilɛ ni hi kɛha Kristojamɔ gbɛɛ-kɛ-shamɔ. Eka shi faŋŋ akɛ mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ yoo akɛ sɔ̃ ka amɛnɔ yɛ adesai ashihilɛ gbɛjianɔtoo ni amɛyɔɔ mli lɛ gbɛfaŋ, ni amɛbo Yesu famɔ lɛ toi akɛ “nyɛŋɔa Kaisare nii nyɛhaa Kaisare.” (Marko 12:17) Beni eŋma wolo eyaha Roma nɔyelɔ Antoninus Pius (138-161 Ŋ.B.) lɛ, Justin Martyr wie akɛ Kristofoi woɔ amɛtoo, “kɛ klalo-feemɔ fe mɛi fɛɛ ni eshwɛ.” (First Apology, yitso 17) Yɛ afi 197 Ŋ.B. lɛ, Tertullian kɛɛ Roma nɔyelɔi lɛ akɛ amɛ toohelɔi lɛ “hiɛ hiɛsɔɔ he nyɔmɔ ni amɛaawo Kristofoi lɛ” yɛ henilee kpakpa mli ni amɛjɛɔ amɛwoɔ amɛtoo lɛ hewɔ. (Apology, yitso 42) Enɛ ji gbɛ kome ni amɛtsɔ nɔ amɛnyiɛ Paulo ŋaawoo lɛ sɛɛ akɛ amɛba amɛhe shi amɛha hegbɛi ni yeɔ nɔ lɛ.

Kɛfata he lɛ, mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ bɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ amɛkɛ amɛnanemɛi aaahi shi yɛ toiŋjɔlɛ mli, yɛ bɔ ni amɛ Kristofoi ashishitoo mlai baaŋmɛ amɛ gbɛ lɛ naa. Shi enɛ feemɔ efeee mlɛo. Jeŋ ni ebɔle amɛhe kɛkpe lɛ efite kwraa yɛ jeŋba mli, ni ekɛ ehe ewo Hela kɛ Roma wɔŋjamɔ, ni etsɛko tsɔ ni akɛ maŋtsɛ lɛ jamɔ hu bafata he lɛ mli vii. Roma wɔŋjalɔi ajamɔ lɛ ebatsɔ Maŋ jamɔ titri, no hewɔ lɛ abuɔ kpoomɔ ni mɔ aaakpoo jamɔ nɛɛ akɛ eji mɔ lɛ shitee-kɛ-woo kɛha Maŋ lɛ. Nɛgbɛ enɛ kɛ Kristofoi lɛ yaje?

Oxford woloŋlelɔ E. G. Hardy ŋma akɛ: “Tertullian to naa ni etsi nibii pii ni Kristofonyo nyɛŋ ajɛ henilee kpakpa mli efee, akɛni eji wɔŋjamɔ lɛ atã: akɛ nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ lɛ, kita ni  afɔɔ kamɔ yɛ gbeekpamɔi amli; kanei ni asuɔ yɛ shinaai anaa yɛ gbijurɔyelii amli, kɛ ekrokomɛi; Wɔŋjalɔi ajamɔ mli kusumii fɛɛ; shwɛmɔi kɛ hiɛtserɛjiemɔi lɛ; nitsumɔ ni ji je lɛŋ [wɔŋjalɔi ablema je lɛŋ] woji amli nilee tsɔɔmɔ; asraafoi anitsumɔ; kɛ maŋ sɔɔmɔ gbɛhei.”​—Christianity and the Roman Government.

Hɛɛ, ewa akɛ aaahi shi yɛ Romabii aje lɛ mli ni ajieee Kristofoi ahemɔkɛyeli lɛ kpo. French Katolek niŋmalɔ A. Hamman ŋma akɛ: “Enyɛŋ ebalɛ akɛ mɔ ko aaafee nɔ ko ni ekɛ Nyɔŋmɔ jamɔ he sane ekpeee. Kristofonyo lɛ shidaamɔ kɛ naagbai baa enɔ daa gbi; ehiii shi tamɔ bɔ ni mɛi krokomɛi fɛɛ yɔɔ lɛ . . . Ekɛ naagbai ni baa daa kpeɔ yɛ shia, yɛ gbɛjegbɛi anɔ, yɛ jara nɔ . . . Kɛ enyiɛ gbɛjegbɛ nɔ lɛ, kɛ Romanyo ji lɛ jio, ejeee maŋnyo jio, esa akɛ Kristofonyo lɛ ajie eyihaanɔ kɛji eetsɔ sɔlemɔtsu loo amaga ko he. Te eeefee tɛŋŋ ekpoo nakai feemɔ ni anaŋ ehe susumɔ fɔŋ ko lɛ, ni kɛlɛ, te eeefee tɛŋŋ eye nɔ hu ni etsɔɔɔ hetuu-kɛhamɔ kɛha nakai nii lɛ? Kɛ eetsu lɛ diɛŋtsɛ enitsumɔ ni ehe miihia ni efa shika lɛ, esa akɛ ekã shika-falɔ lɛ kita yɛ nyɔŋmɔi lɛ gbɛi amli. . . . Kɛ ekpɛlɛ maŋ sɔɔmɔ gbɛhe ko nɔ lɛ, akpaa lɛ gbɛ akɛ ebaasha afɔle. Kɛ ahe lɛ akɛ asraafonyo lɛ, te eeefee tɛŋŋ etsi ehe kɛjɛ kitakamɔ, kɛ ehe ni ekɛaawo asraafoi anitsumɔ mli nifeemɔi amli lɛ ahe?”​—La vie guotidienne des premiers chrétiens (95-197 ) (Daa Gbi Shihilɛ yɛ Mra Be Mli Kristofoi lɛ Ateŋ, 95- 197 Ŋ.B.).

Maŋbii Kpakpai, Kɛlɛ Awieɔ Amɛhe Efɔŋ

Aaafee afi 60 loo 61 Ŋ.B., beni Paulo yɔɔ Roma ni emɛɔ ni Maŋtsɛ Nero abakojo lɛ lɛ, Yudafoi ahiɛnyiɛlɔi lɛ wie yɛ mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ ahe akɛ: “Nɛkɛ kuu fã nɛɛ wɔle akɛ awieɔ he efɔŋ yɛ he fɛɛ he.” (Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 28:22) Yinɔsane mli nii ni aŋma afɔ shi yeɔ he odase akɛ awieɔ ashiɔ Kristofoi​—shi yɛ gbɛ ni ejaaa nɔ. E. W. Barnes wie yɛ ewolo The Rise of christianity lɛ mli akɛ: “Anaa kɛjɛɔ emra be mli niŋmaai ni kudɔɔ lɛ lɛ mli akɛ Kristofoi akuu lɛ yɛ jeŋba kpakpa, ni amɛyeɔ mla nɔ hu. Emlibii lɛ sumɔɔ ni amɛfee maŋbii kpakpai kɛ mɛi ni yeɔ anɔkwa. Amɛtsi amɛhe kwraa kɛjɛ wɔŋjamɔ mli sui gbohii lɛ ahe. Amɛbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ amɛaahi shi akɛ kuuŋbii ni sumɔɔ toiŋjɔlɛ kɛ nanemɛi ni aheɔ amɛ ayeɔ, yɛ amɛ daa gbi shihilɛ mli. Atsɔɔ amɛ ni amɛhi shi kɛ hiɛshikamɔ, akɛ mɛi ni tsuɔ nii kɛ ekaa ni amɛhe tse hu. Yɛ juu-kɛ-fɔ̃ kɛ jeŋba shara ni yɔɔ babaoo lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, kɛ amɛhi shi yɛ amɛ shishitoo mlai lɛ anaa lɛ, amɛfeɔ mɛi ni wieɔ ni amɛyeɔ anɔkwa hu. Amɛ bɔlɛnamɔ he mlai anɔ kwɔlɔ: abuɔ gbalashilɛ tsakpaa lɛ ni weku shihilɛ hu he tse. Yɛ nɛkɛ sui kpakpai ni amɛyɔɔ nɛɛ hewɔ lɛ, kulɛ mɔ ko aaasusu akɛ amɛfeŋ maŋbii ni agbaa amɛnaa. Shi kɛlɛ agbe amɛhe guɔ, awie amɛhe efɔŋ, ni anyɛ amɛ hu yɛ be kakadaŋŋ mli.”

Bɔ ni blema je lɛ nuuu Yesu shishi lɛ, nakai nɔŋŋ hu enuuu Kristofoi lɛ ashishi ni no hewɔ lɛ enyɛ amɛ. Akɛni amɛjaaa maŋtsɛ lɛ kɛ wɔŋjalɔi anyɔŋmɔi lɛ hewɔ lɛ, afolɔ amɛnaa akɛ amɛkɛɔ akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ bɛ. Kɛ amanehulu ko ba lɛ, ashwaa amɛ akɛ amɛha nyɔŋmɔi lɛ amli efu. Akɛni amɛkpoo akɛ amɛyaaa jeŋba shara mli shwɛmɔi aloo tabilɔi alashwishwiemɔ nifeemɔi ashishi hewɔ lɛ, abu amɛ akɛ amɛkɛ amɛhe wooo maŋ nifeemɔi amli, kɛ ‘adesai aweku lɛ henyɛlɔi’ po. Amɛhenyɛlɔi lɛ kɛɔ akɛ Kristofoi “[a]kuu” lɛ ji mɛi ni gbulɔɔ mɛi ashiai amɛwoɔ mli lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ amɛhe yɛ oshara kɛha shihilɛ kpakpa namɔ. Tertullian wie wumɛi wɔŋjalɔi komɛi ahe akɛ amɛsumɔɔ ni amɛŋamɛi afite gbala moŋ po fe ni amɛaatsɔmɔ Kristofoi.

Awie ashi Kristofoi ejaakɛ amɛteɔ shi amɛwoɔ hɔ jiemɔ, ni afeɔ yɛ he fɛɛ he yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ. Ni kɛlɛ, amɛhenyɛlɔi lɛ folɔ amɛnaa akɛ amɛgbeɔ gbekɛbii. Akɛɔ akɛ amɛnuɔ gbekɛbii ni akɛsha afɔle lɛ ala yɛ amɛkpeei ashishi. Yɛ nakai beaŋ nɔŋŋ lɛ, amɛhenyɛlɔi lɛ ka akɛ amɛbaanyɛ amɛnɔ ni amɛye la boloŋ, tsɛbelɛ amɛle akɛ enɛ teɔ shi ewoɔ amɛhenilee. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ nɛkɛ shitee-kɛ-wolɔi nɛɛ te shi amɛwo amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛnaafolɔmɔi lɛ.​—Tertullian, Apology, yitso 9.

 Awie Amɛhe Efɔŋ akɛ Mligbalamɔ Kuu Hee

Yinɔsaneŋmalɔ Kenneth Scott Latourette ŋma akɛ: “Kɛlɛ naafolɔmɔi krokomɛi hu ha Kristojamɔ baje hefɛoyeli shishi yɛ eshishijee ni etsɛko lɛ hewɔ, ni akɛ lɛ to ekrokomɛi ni ekɛshiɔ mple [Yuda jamɔ kɛ Hela kɛ Roma wɔŋjalɔi ajamɔi] lɛ ablema nibii lɛ ahe.” (A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Volume 1, baafa 131) Yɛ Ŋ.B. afii ohai enyɔ lɛ shishijee gbɛ lɛ, Roma yinɔsaneŋmalɔ Suetonius tsɛ Kristojamɔ akɛ “hemɔkɛyeli folo hee, kɛ hemɔkɛyeli fɔŋ.” Tertullian ye he odase akɛ aahi gbɛi Kristofonyo lɛ kwraa, ni ákɛ Kristofoi akuu lɛ ji kuu ko ni asumɔɔɔ amɛsane. Beni ewieɔ bɔ ni Roma Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ mli onukpai lɛ buɔ Kristofoi amɛhaa yɛ afii ohai enyɔ lɛ mli lɛ he lɛ, Robert M. Grant ŋma akɛ: “Amɛ klɛŋklɛŋ susumɔ ji akɛ, yɛ kukufoo mli lɛ, Kristofoi ajamɔ lɛ he ehiaaa kwraa, aloo ekolɛ eji jamɔ ni yeɔ awui po.”​—Early christianity and Society.

Afolɔ Amɛnaa akɛ Amɛkɛ Tutuamɔ Tsakeɔ Mɛi Heei Lɛ

Sorbonne univɛsiti nilelɔ Jean Bernardi ŋma yɛ ewolo Les premiers siécles de l’Eglise (Sɔlemɔ lɛ Klɛŋklɛŋ Afii Oha Lɛ) mli akɛ: “Esa akɛ [Kristofoi lɛ] aje kpo ni amɛyawie yɛ he fɛɛ he amɛtsɔɔ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ. Yɛ gbɛjegbɛi anɔ kɛ maŋtiasei amli, yɛ maŋ kpeehei kɛ shiai amli hu. Ahereɔ amɛ loo ahereee amɛ hiɛmɛɛ. Kɛha ohiafoi, kɛ niiatsɛmɛi ni amɛnii ni amɛyɔɔ lɛ tsiɔ amɛ gbɛ lɛ. Kɛha mɛi bibii kɛ Roma shikpɔŋ kukuji lɛ anɔ amralofoi lɛ . . . Esa akɛ amɛfa gbɛ yɛ gbɛjegbɛ nɔ, yɛ lɛlɛ mli, ni amɛya shikpɔŋ lɛ naagbee hei lɛ.”

Ani amɛfee enɛ? Eka shi faŋŋ akɛ amɛfee. Nilelɔ Léon Homo wieɔ akɛ maŋbii lɛ wieɔ amɛshiɔ mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ yɛ “ekaa ni amɛkɛtsakeɔ mɛi heei lɛ” hewɔ. Nilelɔ Latourette wieɔ akɛ eyɛ mli akɛ Yudafoi lɛ laaje ekaa ni amɛyɔɔ ni amɛkɛtsakeɔ mɛi kɛbaa amɛjamɔ lɛ mli lɛ moŋ, “shi yɛ gbɛ kroko nɔ lɛ, Kristofoi lɛ kɛ mɔ tutuamɔ fee maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi, ni no hewɔ lɛ eha mɛi ahe tsɛ̃ amɛ.”

Yɛ Ŋ.B. afii ohai enyɔ lɛ mli lɛ, Romanyo jeŋ nilelɔ Celsus wie eshi gbɛ ni Kristofoi lɛ tsɔɔ nɔ amɛshiɛɔ lɛ. Ewie akɛ Kristojamɔ yɛ kɛha mɛi ni leee woloŋ lɛ pɛ, ni ákɛ ‘kwashiai, nyɔji, yei, kɛ gbekɛbii bibii pɛ ayiŋ enyɛɔ ekɔneɔ.’ Efolɔ Kristofoi lɛ anaa akɛ amɛkɛ amɛtsɔɔmɔi tsakeɔ “mɛi ni lakamɔ waaa lɛ,” ni amɛhaa “amɛheɔ amɛyeɔ ni amɛsusuuu saji ahe jogbaŋŋ.” Ewie akɛ amɛkɛɛ amɛkaselɔi heei lɛ akɛ: “Kaabi sane ko kwraa; he oye kɛkɛ.” Ni kɛlɛ, taakɛ Origen tsɔɔ lɛ, Celsus diɛŋtsɛ kpɛlɛ nɔ akɛ “jeee mɛi ni leee woloŋ kɛ mɛi ni baa shi lɛ pɛ Yesu tsɔɔmɔ lɛ kɔne amɛyiŋ ni amɛkpɛlɛ E-jamɔ lɛ nɔ.”

Amɛfataaa Jamɔi Sɔrɔtoi Akuu ko He

Atee nɔ awie waa ashi mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ lolo ejaakɛ amɛwieɔ akɛ amɛ amɛhiɛ anɔkwale ni kɔɔ anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ kome lɛ he lɛ. Amɛfataaa jamɔi sɔrɔtoi akuu ni efee ekome, loo hemɔkɛyeli futumɔ ko he. Latourette ŋma akɛ: “Ãkɛ nɔ ni tamɔɔɔ hemɔkɛyelii babaoo ni yɔɔ nakai beaŋ lɛ, [Kristofoi lɛ] teɔ shi amɛwoɔ jamɔi krokomɛi lɛ. . . Kɛ akɛ amɛ to bɔ ni aŋmɛɔ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ feemɔ gbɛ babaoo, taakɛ anaa yɛ jamɔi krokomɛi amli lɛ he lɛ, amɛjajeɔ akɛ amɛ amɛhiɛ anɔkwale ni anyɛŋ aje he ŋwane lɛ.”

Yɛ afi 202 Ŋ.B. lɛ, Maŋtsɛ Septimius Severus wo akpɔ ko ni miigu Kristofoi akɛ amɛkatsake mɔ ko kwraa dɔŋŋ. Shi kɛlɛ, enɛ etsiii amɛnaa yɛ amɛhemɔkɛyeli lɛ he odaseyeli mli.   Latourette tsɔɔ nɔ ni jɛ mli ba, akɛ: “Yɛ kpoomɔ ni ekpoo akɛ eŋmɛŋ saji ahe ni ekɛ wɔŋjamɔ ni yɔɔ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ kɛ edaa gbi shihilɛ mli kusumii kɛ jeŋba he nifeemɔi ni yɔɔ lɛ afee ekome hewɔ lɛ, eha [mra be mli Kristojamɔ lɛ] bana ekomefeemɔ kɛ gbɛjianɔtoo ko ni ha maŋbii krokomɛi ni eshwɛ lɛ te shi wo amɛ. Bɔ ni ehe hiaa ni mɔ kɛ ekrokomɛi lɛ afo tako mli kwraa dani ebafata amɛhe lɛ ha mɛi ni bafata amɛhe lɛ na nɔmimaa ko ni bafee hewalɛwoo jɛɛhe ni amɛkɛkpeeɔ yiwaa naa, kɛ ekaa ni amɛkɛtsakeɔ mɛi kɛbaa amɛjamɔ lɛ mli.”

No hewɔ lɛ, yinɔsane ni aŋma afɔ shi lɛ mli ka shi faŋŋ. Yɛ amɛteŋ mɛi pii agbɛfaŋ lɛ, yɛ be mli ni mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ ni amɛfee maŋbii kpakpai, ni amɛkɛ mɛi fɛɛ ahi shi yɛ toiŋjɔlɛ mli lɛ, kɛlɛ amɛhi shi akɛ mɛi ni “jɛɛɛ je lɛŋ.” (Yohane 15:19) Amɛbuɔ maŋ nɔyelɔi lɛ. Shi kɛ Kaisare gu akɛ amɛkashiɛ lɛ, amɛbɛ nɔ kroko kwraa ni amɛaafee, fe akɛ amɛya nɔ amɛshiɛ. Amɛbɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ amɛkɛ mɛi fɛɛ aaahi shi yɛ toiŋjɔlɛ mli, shi amɛŋmɛɛɛ saji ahe ni akɛsaa yɛ jeŋba he tɛi kɛ wɔŋjamɔ gbɛfaŋ. Yɛ enɛɛmɛi fɛɛ hewɔ lɛ, agbe amɛhe guɔ, awie amɛhe efɔŋ, anyɛ amɛ, ni awa amɛ yi, taakɛ Kristo egba efɔ shi akɛ abaafee amɛ lɛ.​—Yohane 16:⁠33.

Ani amɛhe ni amɛtsi kɛjɛ je lɛ he lɛ tee nɔ? Aloo beni be shwie mli lɛ, ani mɛi ni kɛɔ akɛ amɛkɛ amɛhe woɔ Kristojamɔ mli lɛ tsake amɛsu yɛ enɛ gbɛfaŋ?

[Wiemɔ ni akɔ ni akɛmiitsu nii ni yɔɔ baafa 4]

Kristofonyo lɛ shidaamɔ kɛ naagbai baa enɔ daa gbi; ehiii shi tamɔ bɔ ni mɛi krokomɛi fɛɛ yɔɔ lɛ

[Wiemɔ ni akɔ ni akɛmiitsu nii ni yɔɔ baafa 6]

Kristojamɔ [yaje] hefɛoyeli shishi yɛ eshishijee ni etsɛko lɛ hewɔ, ni akɛ lɛ to ekrokomɛi ni ekɛshiɔ mple. . . lɛ ablema nibii lɛ ahe”

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 3]

Akɛni Kristofoi jaaa Roma maŋtsɛ lɛ kɛ wɔŋjalɔi anyɔŋmɔi lɛ hewɔ lɛ, afolɔ amɛnaa akɛ amɛkɛɔ akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ bɛ

[He ni Sane lɛ Jɛ]

Museo della Civiltà Romana, Roma

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 7]

Ale klɛŋklɛŋ afii oha lɛ mli Kristofoi lɛ akɛ Maŋtsɛyeli shɛɛ sane lɛ he shiɛlɔi ni yɔɔ ekaa

 [He ni Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 2 lɛ Jɛ]

Cover: Alinari/Art Resource, N.Y.