1-3. (a) Mɛni bɔfo Paulo na yɛ Atene ni esumɔɔɔ? (b) Kɛ́ wɔkase bɔ ni Paulo tsɔɔ nii ehã lɛ, mɛni wɔbaana?

 PAULO nyaaa nibii ni enaa lɛ he kwraa. Eyɛ Atene, yɛ Grees ni ji maŋ ko ni skul srɔtoi ni ehe gbɛ́i yɔɔ ni Socrates, Plato, kɛ Aristotle tsɔɔ nii yɛ lɛ. Atenebii lɛ sumɔɔ nyɔŋmɔjamɔ waa. Akɛni amɛjáa nyɔŋmɔi pii hewɔ lɛ, he fɛɛ he kwraa ni Paulo baakwɛ lɛ, enaa amagai pii yɛ sɔlemɔ shĩa amli, henaabuamɔhei, kɛ gbɛjegbɛi lɛ ahe. Paulo le bɔ ni Yehowa, anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ naa amagajamɔ ehãa. (2 Mo. 20:4, 5) Bɔfo anɔkwafo nɛɛ nyaŋeɔ amagai tamɔ bɔ ni Yehowa nyaŋeɔ amɛ lɛ nɔŋŋ!

² Nɔ ni Paulo na be ni eshɛ jara lɛ nɔ lɛ hã enaa kpɛ ehe waa. Ena nyɔŋmɔ ni atsɛɔ lɛ Herme lɛ he amagai babaoo ni ashɔ̃ lɛ bɔ ni ehiɛ ehe efolo ni ewooo nɔ ko, ni ato amɛnaa srɛnɛɛ yɛ jara lɛ kooyi-anaigbɛ, ni amɛbɛŋkɛ maŋ lɛ geeti wulu lɛ. Jarayelihe lɛ eyi obɔ kɛ hei ni ajaa amagai yɛ. Te Paulo, shiɛlɔ ni yɔɔ ekãa nɛɛ baafee tɛŋŋ eshiɛ etsɔɔ mɛi ni jáa amagai pii nɛɛ? Eyɛ mli akɛ esumɔɔɔ nɔ ni enaa lɛ moŋ, shi ani ebaajɛ bulɛ mli ekɛ amɛ awie nɔ ko ni ekɛ amɛ fɛɛ nyaa he lɛ he? Ani ebaanyɛ eye ebua amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi koni amɛle anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ ni amɛjá lɛ?

³ Aŋma nɔ ni Paulo kɛ hii nilelɔi ni yɔɔ Atene lɛ wie lɛ yɛ Bɔfoi 17:22-31 lɛ. Ejɛ bulɛ mli ekɛ amɛ wie, ni ewiemɔ lɛ kɔneɔ mɔ yiŋ waa. Kɛ́ wɔkase bɔ ni Paulo tsɔɔ nii ehã lɛ, wɔbaana bɔ ni wɔbaafee wɔkɛ mɛi awie nibii ni wɔ kɛ amɛ fɛɛ nyaa he, kɛ bɔ ni wɔbaafee wɔye wɔbua amɛ ni amɛsusu nii ahe jogbaŋŋ.

4, 5. Be ni Paulo yɔɔ Atene lɛ, nɛgbɛ eyashiɛ yɛ? Ni mɛni hewɔ enáŋ lɛ mlɛo akɛ ebaakɔne mɛi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ ayiŋ lɛ?

⁴ Paulo tee Atene aaafee afi 50 Ŋ.B. be ni efãa gbɛ ni ji enyɔ nɔ akɛ maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔ lɛ. a Be ni Paulo mɛɔ koni Sila kɛ Timoteo ajɛ Beroia aba lɛ, tamɔ efɔɔ feemɔ lɛ, ekɛ Yudafoi lɛ “bɔi niiahesusumɔ yɛ kpeehe lɛ.” Etee “jara lɛ nɔ” hu ejaakɛ jɛmɛ ji he ni ebaanyɛ ena mɛi ni jeee Yudafoi ni yɔɔ Atene lɛ yɛ, koni eshiɛ ehã amɛ. (Bɔf. 17:17) Atene jara lɛ da waa, edalɛ shɛɔ hekai 12, ni ebɛŋkɛ  gɔŋkpɔ ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Akropoli lɛ. Jeee nihɔɔmɔ kɛ nihemɔ pɛ yaa nɔ yɛ jara nɛɛ nɔ; eji henaabuamɔhe hu. Atsɔɔ mli yɛ wolo ko mli akɛ, “jarayelɔi, amralofoi, nilelɔi, kɛ woloŋmalɔi kpeɔ yɛ jɛmɛ.” Atenebii lɛ sumɔɔ ni amɛyabua amɛhe naa yɛ jɛmɛ ni amɛgbá kadaa.

⁵ Paulo náŋ lɛ mlɛo akɛ ebaakɔne mɛi ni ebabua amɛhe naa yɛ jara lɛ nɔ lɛ ayiŋ. Epikuromɛi kɛ Stoamɛi, ni ji jeŋ nilelɔi akui srɔtoi enyɔ ni esoro amɛhemɔkɛyelii lɛ fata mɛi ni boɔ lɛ toi lɛ ahe. b Epikuromɛi lɛ heɔ amɛyeɔ akɛ je lɛ kɛ nibii ni yɔɔ mli lɛ ba trukaa, ni jeee mɔ ko ni bɔ. Amɛsusuɔ akɛ: “Ehe ehiaaa ni asheɔ Nyɔŋmɔ gbeyei; Kɛ́ wɔgboi lɛ wɔpiŋŋ; Abaanyɛ aná nɔ kpakpa; Abaanyɛ adamɔ saji fɔji anaa.” Stoamɛi lɛ tsɔɔ akɛ esa akɛ akɛ nilee kɛ sɛɛyoomɔ atsu saji ahe nii, ni amɛheɔ amɛyeɔ akɛ, Nyɔŋmɔ jeee mɔ ko, shi eji hewalɛ ko kɛkɛ. Epikuromɛi lɛ kɛ Stoamɛi lɛ fɛɛ heee gbohiiashitee ni Kristo kaselɔi lɛ tsɔɔ lɛ amɛyeee. Eyɛ faŋŋ akɛ susumɔi ni kui enyɔ nɛɛ hiɛ lɛ kɛ anɔkwa Kristofoi atsɔɔmɔi ni ji anɔkwalei krɔŋŋ lɛ kpãaa gbee kwraa, ni anɔkwalei nɛɛ ji nɔ ni Paulo shiɛɔ lɛ.

6, 7. Te Greek nilelɔi lɛ ekomɛi na Paulo tsɔɔmɔ lɛ amɛhã tɛŋŋ? Ni ŋmɛnɛ hu lɛ, te mɛi komɛi naa wɔtsɔɔmɔi lɛ amɛhãa tɛŋŋ?

⁶ Te Greek nilelɔi lɛ fee amɛnii yɛ Paulo tsɔɔmɔ lɛ he amɛhã tɛŋŋ? Amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi tsɛ lɛ “naagɔbigɔbitsɛ,” ni Greek wiemɔ ni amɛkɛtsu nii lɛ shishitsɔɔmɔ ŋmiiŋmi ji “dumɔwukɔlɔ.” (Bɔf. 17:18) Nilelɔ ko tsɔɔ Greek wiemɔ nɛɛ mli akɛ: “Kulɛ, akɛ wiemɔ nɛɛ tsɛɔ loofɔlɔ bibioo ko ni kpaa shi ekɔlɔɔ dumɔwui, ni sɛɛ mli lɛ akɛtsɛ mɛi ni loɔ niyenii shishi kɛ nibii krokomɛi ni atsi ashwie jara lɛ nɔ lɛ. Shi yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ, akɛtsɛ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ ni buaa saji srɔtoi anaa, titri lɛ mɔ ni nuuu saji ni ebua naa lɛ shishi.” No hewɔ lɛ, nɔ ni nakai nilelɔi lɛ taoɔ amɛtsɔɔ ji akɛ Paulo leee nii, ni eeti saji ni enu ni mɛi miiwie lɛ amli kɛkɛ. Ni tamɔ bɔ ni wɔbaana lɛ, Paulo hãaa jɛmɔ ni amɛjɛ lɛ nɛɛ aje enijiaŋ wui.

⁷ Wɔkɛ shihilɛ ni tamɔ nakai nɔŋŋ kpeɔ ŋmɛnɛ. Akɛni wɔji Yehowa Odasefoi ni wɔheɔ Biblia lɛ nɔ wɔyeɔ hewɔ lɛ, bei pii lɛ mɛi woɔ wɔ gbɛ́i ni amɛjɛɔ wɔ. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, tsɔɔlɔi komɛi tsɔɔ akɛ sutsakemɔ tsɔɔmɔ lɛ ji anɔkwale, ni amɛmaa nɔ mi veveeve akɛ, kɛ́ ohiɛ kã shi lɛ, obaana akɛ tsɔɔmɔ nɛɛ ji anɔkwale. Nɔ ni amɛtaoɔ amɛtsɔɔ ji akɛ, mɛi ni heee nakai tsɔɔmɔ lɛ amɛyeee lɛ ahiɛ kãaa shi. Tsɔɔlɔi nɛɛ miitao ni mɛi ana wɔ akɛ mɛi ni hiɛ kãaa shi, kɛ́ wɔɔkɛɛ lɛ ‘mɛi ni kɔlɔɔ dumɔwui’ ejaakɛ wɔtsɔɔ mɛi nɔ ni yɔɔ Biblia lɛ mli lɛ, ni wɔhãa mɛi nɛɛ naa odaseyelii ni tsɔɔ akɛ Bɔlɔ ko yɛ ni bɔ nibii fɛɛ ni yɔɔ lɛ. Shi wɔhãaa no aje wɔnijiaŋ wui. Moŋ lɛ, wɔkɛ ekãa fãa wɔhemɔkɛyeli lɛ he, ni wɔhãa mɛi naa akɛ Bɔlɔ ko ni hiɛ kã shi, ni ji Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ ji mɔ ni bɔ tsei kɛ kooloi ni yɔɔ shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ lɛ.​—Kpo. 4:11.

8. (a) Te mɛi ni nu Paulo shiɛmɔ lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi fee amɛnii amɛhã tɛŋŋ? (b) Mɛni ekolɛ wiemɔ ni ji akɛ ‘Paulo tee Areopago lɛ’ tsɔɔ? (Kwɛmɔ shishigbɛ niŋmaa ni yɔɔ baafa 142 lɛ.)

⁸ Mɛi ni nu Paulo shiɛmɔ lɛ yɛ jara lɛ nɔ lɛ ateŋ komɛi fee amɛnii yɛ gbɛ  kroko nɔ. Amɛmu sane naa akɛ: “Etamɔ nɔ ni ejajeɔ maŋsɛɛ nyɔŋmɔi ahe sane etsɔɔ.” (Bɔf. 17:18) Ani no mli lɛ, Paulo miiwie nyɔŋmɔi krokomɛi ahe eetsɔɔ Atenebii lɛ? Kɛ́ nakai ni lɛ, belɛ Paulo kɛ ewala miiwo oshãra mli, ejaakɛ afii pii komɛi ni eho lɛ, akɛ sane ni tamɔ nɛkɛ nɔŋŋ fɔ̃ jeŋ nilelɔ Socrates nɔ, ni aye esane ni agbe lɛ yɛ no kɛ nibii krokomɛi ahewɔ. Ebɛ naakpɛɛ mɔ akɛ akɛ Paulo tee Areopago lɛ, ni abi lɛ koni etsɔɔ tsɔɔmɔi ni Atenebii lɛ naa lɛ akɛ eji tsɔɔmɔ hee lɛ mli. c Te Paulo baafee tɛŋŋ eshiɛ ehã mɛi ni leee Ŋmalɛ lɛ he nɔ ko kwraa nɛɛ?

9-11. (a) Mɛni Paulo kɛje ewiemɔ lɛ shishi? (b) Te wɔɔfee tɛŋŋ wɔkase Paulo yɛ wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli?

⁹ Kaimɔ akɛ Paulo na amagai pii yɛ maŋ lɛ mli ni enyaaa nɔ ni ena lɛ he. Shi ewieee eshiii amagai ni amɛjáa lɛ tɛ̃ɛ, ni emli wooo la yɛ no hewɔ hu. Bɔ ni afee  ni ekawo amɛmli la lɛ eje ewiemɔ lɛ shishi kɛ nɔ ko ni ekɛ amɛ fɛɛ kpãa gbee yɛ he koni enyɛ ekɔne amɛyiŋ. Eje ewiemɔ lɛ shishi akɛ: “Ataamɛi Atenebii, mina akɛ yɛ nibii fɛɛ amli lɛ nyɛsheɔ nyɔŋmɔi lɛ gbeyei waa fe mɛi krokomɛi.” (Bɔf. 17:22) Yɛ gbɛ ko nɔ lɛ, Paulo miikɛɛ amɛ akɛ, ‘Miina akɛ nyɛsumɔɔ nyɔŋmɔjamɔ waa.’ Ehi waa akɛ Paulo jie amɛyi akɛ amɛsumɔɔ nyɔŋmɔjamɔ. Ele akɛ mɛi komɛi ni akɛ amale jamɔ elaka amɛ lɛ ji gbɔmɛi kpakpai ni miisumɔ ni amɛle anɔkwale lɛ. Paulo le akɛ be ko ni eho lɛ emɔɔɔ anɔkwale lɛ mli yɛ ‘lé ni eleee kɛ hemɔkɛyeli ni ebɛ hewɔ.’​—1 Tim. 1:13.

¹⁰ No sɛɛ lɛ, Paulo wie akɛ ena nɔ ko ni tsɔɔ akɛ Atenebii lɛ sumɔɔ nyɔŋmɔjamɔ waa. Ena afɔleshaa latɛ ko ni aŋma yɛ nɔ akɛ “Nyɔŋmɔ Ni Wɔleee Lɛ Lɛ Nɔ Ni.” Atsɔɔ mli yɛ wolo ko mli akɛ, “bei pii lɛ Greekbii lɛ kɛ mɛi krokomɛi mamɔɔ afɔleshaa latɛi amɛhãa ‘nyɔŋmɔi ni amɛleee.’ Amɛfeɔ nakai ejaakɛ amɛsheɔ gbeyei akɛ kɛ́ nyɔŋmɔ ko yɛ ni amɛjáaa lɛ lɛ, ekolɛ nakai nyɔŋmɔ lɛ mli baafu amɛ.” Afɔleshaa latɛ nɛɛ ni Atenebii lɛ ma lɛ tsɔɔ akɛ amɛkpɛlɛɔ nɔ akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ ko yɛ ni amɛleee lɛ. Paulo kɛ afɔleshaa latɛ nɛɛ tsu nii koni ekɛgbala amɛjwɛŋmɔ kɛya sane kpakpa ni eshiɛɔ lɛ nɔ. Etsɔɔ mli akɛ: “Mɔ ni nyɛleee lɛ ni nyɛjáa lɛ lɛ, lɛ ehe sane mijajeɔ mitsɔɔ nyɛ nɛɛ.” (Bɔf. 17:23) Paulo ewieee sane kpakpa lɛ he tɛ̃ɛ, shi gbɛ ni etsɔ nɔ etsɔɔ nii lɛ mɔ shi waa. Mɛi komɛi kɛɛ eeshiɛ nyɔŋmɔ hee ko eetsɔɔ, shi jeee nakai ni. Eetsɔɔ amɛ Nyɔŋmɔ ni amɛleee lɛ lɛ, anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ.

¹¹ Te wɔbaafee tɛŋŋ wɔkase Paulo yɛ wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli? Kɛ́ wɔkɛ wɔhiɛ fɔ̃ shi lɛ, wɔbaanyɛ wɔna nɔ ko ni tsɔɔ akɛ mɔ ko sumɔɔ nyɔŋmɔjamɔ, ekolɛ wɔbaana nɔ ko ni ewo, loo nɔ ko yɛ etsũ lɛ he loo eshĩa lɛ mli ni tsɔɔ nakai. Wɔbaanyɛ wɔkɛɛ akɛ: ‘Miina akɛ osumɔɔ nyɔŋmɔjamɔ waa. Misumɔɔ ni mikɛ mɔ ko ni sumɔɔ nyɔŋmɔjamɔ tamɔ bo agba sane.’ Kɛ́ wɔjie mɔ lɛ yi yɛ nɔ ko ni eheɔ eyeɔ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, no baanyɛ ahã wɔná sane ko ni wɔkɛ lɛ fɛɛ kpãa gbee yɛ he ni wɔkɛ lɛ asusu he. Kaimɔ akɛ wɔsumɔɔɔ ni wɔkojoɔ mɛi yɛ nibii ni amɛheɔ amɛyeɔ lɛ hewɔ. Be ko ni eho lɛ wɔnyɛmimɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo he amale tsɔɔmɔi amɛye dani amɛbatsɔmɔ anɔkwa Kristofoi.

12. Mɛɛ gbɛ nɔ Paulo tsɔ ehã etoibolɔi lɛ nya eshiɛmɔ wiemɔ lɛ he?

¹² Paulo kɛ saji ni ekɛ etoibolɔi lɛ kpãa gbee yɛ he lɛ je eshiɛmɔ lɛ shishi, shi ani ebaanyɛ eya nɔ efee nakai be ni eyeɔ amɛ odase lɛ? Akɛni ele akɛ, akɛ Greek jeŋ nilee etsɔse etoibolɔi lɛ, ni amɛleee Ŋmalɛ lɛ hu hewɔ lɛ, etsake eshiɛmɔ wiemɔ lɛ mli koni amɛnya he. Klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa lɛ, ewie saji ni yɔɔ Biblia lɛ mli lɛ ahe, shi etsɛɛɛ ŋmalɛi ayisɛɛ. Nɔ ni ji enyɔ lɛ, ehã etoibolɔi lɛ nu he akɛ enuɔ amɛ shishi, ni etamɔ amɛ. Bei komɛi lɛ ekɛ wiemɔ ni ji “wɔ” tsuɔ nii. Nɔ ni ji etɛ lɛ, etsɛ saji ayisɛɛ kɛjɛ Greekbii awoji amli koni ekɛtsɔɔ akɛ aŋmala nibii komɛi ni ewieɔ he lɛ yɛ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛwoji amli. Agbɛnɛ lɛ, nyɛhãa wɔpɛia Paulo wiemɔ ni kanyaa mɔ waa lɛ mli wɔkwɛa. Mɛɛ anɔkwalei komɛi ni he hiaa waa ehã ale yɛ Nyɔŋmɔ ni Atenebii lɛ leee lɛ lɛ he?

13. Mɛni Paulo wie yɛ bɔ ni fee ni je lɛ ba lɛ he? Ni mɛni ehã efee faŋŋ?

 ¹³ Nyɔŋmɔ bɔ jeŋ muu lɛ fɛɛ. Paulo kɛɛ akɛ: “Nyɔŋmɔ ni fee je lɛ kɛ nibii fɛɛ ni yɔɔ mli lɛ, akɛni lɛ ji ŋwɛi kɛ shikpɔŋ Nuŋtsɔ hewɔ lɛ, ehiii sɔlemɔ shĩai ni akɛ niji mamɔ amli.” d (Bɔf. 17:24) Je lɛ baaa trukaa. Anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ ji mɔ ni bɔ nibii fɛɛ. (Lala 146:6) Lɛ ji ŋwɛi kɛ shikpɔŋ lɛ Nuŋtsɔ, ni ehiii sɔlemɔ shĩai ni adesai mamɔ amli. Etamɔɔɔ Atena loo nyɔŋmɔi krokomɛi ni ja amamɔ sɔlemɔ shĩai, kɛ afɔleshaa latɛi ahã amɛ dani abaanyɛ awo amɛhiɛ nyam lɛ. (1 Maŋ. 8:27) Paulo hã efee faŋŋ akɛ anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ yɛ hewalɛ kwraa fe amagai ni adesai feɔ ni amɛkɛwoɔ sɔlemɔ shĩai ni amɛmamɔ lɛ amli lɛ.​—Yes. 40:18-26.

14. Mɛɛ gbɛ nɔ Paulo hã ana akɛ adesai ayelikɛbuamɔ he ehiaaa Nyɔŋmɔ?

¹⁴ Adesai ayelikɛbuamɔ he ehiaaa Nyɔŋmɔ. Amagajalɔi kɛ atadei fɛfɛji wulaa amɛmagai lɛ, amɛkeɔ amɛ nibii wuji, ni amɛhãa amɛ niyenii kɛ dãa​—oookɛɛ nɔ ni nakai nibii lɛ ahe miihia amagai lɛ! Shi ekolɛ Greek jeŋ nilelɔi lɛ ekomɛi ni fata Paulo toibolɔi lɛ ahe lɛ heɔ amɛyeɔ akɛ adesai ayelikɛbuamɔ he ehiaaa nyɔŋmɔ ko. Kɛ́ nakai ni lɛ, belɛ eyɛ faŋŋ akɛ amɛkɛ wiemɔ ni Paulo wie akɛ ‘akɛ gbɔmɛi aniji sɔmɔɔɔ Nyɔŋmɔ oookɛɛ nɔ ko he hiaa lɛ’ lɛ kpãa gbee. Hɛɛ, adesai aheloonaa nɔ ko nɔ ko he ehiaaa Bɔlɔ lɛ! Lɛ moŋ ekɛ nibii ni he hiaa adesai lɛ hãa amɛ. Ehãa amɛ “wala kɛ mumɔ kɛ nibii fɛɛ,” ni nibii nɛɛ ateŋ ekomɛi ji hulu, nugbɔnɛmɔ, kɛ shikpɔŋ ni baa nii. (Bɔf. 17:25; 1 Mo. 2:7) Hɛɛ, Nyɔŋmɔ ji mɔ ni kɛ nibii fɛɛ hãa adesai, no hewɔ lɛ adesai ayelikɛbuamɔ ko he ehiaaa lɛ.

15. Mɛɛ gbɛ nɔ Paulo tsɔ ejaje susumɔ ni Atenebii lɛ hiɛ akɛ amɛhi fe mɛi ni jeee Greekbii lɛ? Ni mɛɛ sane ko ni he hiaa waa wɔbaanyɛ wɔkase yɛ nɔ ni Paulo wie lɛ mli?

¹⁵ Nyɔŋmɔ bɔ gbɔmɔ. Atenebii lɛ naa amɛhe akɛ amɛhi fe mɛi ni jeee Greekbii lɛ. Shi Biblia lɛ kɛɔ akɛ esaaa akɛ wɔkɛ maŋ nɔ ni wɔjɛ loo wɔhewolonɔ su shiɔ wɔtsitsi. (5 Mo. 10:17) Paulo kɛ hiɛshikamɔ tsu nii ni ewie anɔkwa sane nɛɛ he bɔ ni woŋ etoibolɔi lɛ amli la. Be ni Paulo kɛɛ akɛ, ‘Gbɔmɔ kome  mli Nyɔŋmɔ jɛ efee gbɔmɛi ajeŋmaji fɛɛ’ lɛ, ekã shi faŋŋ akɛ wiemɔi nɛɛ hã etoibolɔi lɛ susu nii ahe kɛtee shɔŋŋ. (Bɔf. 17:26) No mli lɛ eewie Mose Klɛŋklɛŋ Wolo lɛ mli sane ni kɔɔ Adam, mɔ ni adesai fɛɛ jɛ emli kɛba lɛ he. (1 Mo. 1:26-28) Akɛni adesai fɛɛ jɛ gbɔmɔ kome mli hewɔ lɛ, maŋ ko nɔ bii ehiii fe maŋ kroko nɔ bii. Ekã shi faŋŋ akɛ Paulo toibolɔi lɛ fɛɛ nu sane nɛɛ shishi jogbaŋŋ. Wɔkaseɔ sane ko ni he hiaa waa kɛjɛɔ nɔ ni Paulo wie lɛ mli. Eyɛ mli akɛ esa akɛ wɔnu mɛi ni wɔshiɛɔ wɔhãa lɛ shishi ni esaaa akɛ wɔwoɔ amɛmli la moŋ, shi esaaa akɛ wɔtsĩmɔɔ Biblia mli anɔkwalei lɛ anɔ akɛni wɔmiitao ni mɛi anya he lɛ hewɔ.

16. Mɛni ji yiŋtoo hewɔ ni Bɔlɔ lɛ bɔ adesai?

¹⁶ Nyɔŋmɔ miisumɔ ni adesai abɛŋkɛ lɛ. Kɛji jeŋ nilelɔi ni fata Paulo toibolɔi lɛ ahe lɛ kɛ bei babaoo etaa sane naa yɛ nɔ hewɔ ni adesai yɔɔ shihilɛ mli lɛ he diɛŋtsɛ po lɛ, amɛnyɛŋ amɛtsɔɔ mli jogbaŋŋ kɔkɔɔkɔ. Shi Paulo hã yiŋtoo hewɔ ni Bɔlɔ lɛ bɔ adesai lɛ fee faŋŋ, etsɔɔ mli akɛ, “koni amɛtao Nyɔŋmɔ sɛɛ gbɛ, ni amɛkɛ hiɛdɔɔ po afee nakai ni amɛna lɛ lɛɛlɛŋ, shi anɔkwa, ekɛ wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ teŋ jekɛɛɛ.” (Bɔf. 17:27) Abaanyɛ ale Nyɔŋmɔ ni Atenebii lɛ leee lɛ lɛ. Ekɛ mɛi ni sumɔɔ lɛɛlɛŋ akɛ amɛle lɛ ni amɛkase ehe nii lɛ ateŋ jekɛɛɛ. (Lala 145:18) Kadimɔ akɛ Paulo kɛ wiemɔ ni ji “wɔ” tsu nii, ni tsɔɔ akɛ lɛ hu efata mɛi ni esa akɛ “amɛtao Nyɔŋmɔ sɛɛ gbɛ, ni amɛkɛ hiɛdɔɔ” afee nakai lɛ ahe.

17, 18. Mɛni hewɔ esa akɛ adesai asumɔ akɛ amɛle Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ? Ni mɛni wɔbaanyɛ wɔkase yɛ gbɛ nɔ ni Paulo tsɔ eshɛ etoibolɔi lɛ atsui he lɛ mli?

¹⁷ Esa akɛ adesai asumɔ akɛ amɛle Nyɔŋmɔ. Paulo tsɔɔ mli akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ mli “wɔyɔɔ wala ni wɔtsiɔ wɔhe ni wɔyɔɔ shihilɛ mli yɛ.” Nilelɔi komɛi kɛɔ akɛ Paulo tsɛ wiemɔi nɛɛ ayisɛɛ kɛjɛ Epimenides ni jɛ Kreta lɛ lalawiemɔi amli;  nuu nɛɛ hi shi yɛ afi 500 D.Ŋ.B. afii lɛ amli ni “eji mɔ ko ni abuɔ lɛ waa yɛ Atenebii lɛ ateŋ.” Paulo tsɔɔ nɔ kroko hewɔ ni esa akɛ adesai asumɔ akɛ amɛle Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ mli. Ekɛɛ akɛ: ‘Nyɛ diɛŋtsɛ nyɛteŋ mɛi ni ŋmaa lalawiemɔi lɛ ekomɛi po ekɛɛ akɛ, “Ebii ji wɔ hu.”’ (Bɔf. 17:28) Esa akɛ adesai anu he akɛ tsakpaa ko yɛ amɛ kɛ Nyɔŋmɔ teŋ, ejaakɛ lɛ ebɔ klɛŋklɛŋ adesa, mɔ ni wɔ fɛɛ wɔjɛ emli lɛ. Bɔ ni afee ni Paulo ashɛ etoibolɔi lɛ atsui he lɛ, etsɛ sane yisɛɛ tɛ̃ɛ kɛjɛ Greek niŋmai ni ekã shi faŋŋ akɛ etoibolɔi lɛ buɔ waa lɛ amli, ni nilee yɛ nɔ ni efee lɛ mli. e Tamɔ Paulo fee lɛ, wɔ hu bei komɛi lɛ wɔbaanyɛ wɔtsɛ saji fioo komɛi ayisɛɛ kɛjɛ blemasaji awoji, ɛnsaiklopidiai srɔtoi, loo woji krokomɛi ni abuɔ waa lɛ amli. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, kɛ́ wɔtsɛ sane ko ni sa yisɛɛ kɛjɛ wolo ko ni abuɔ waa lɛ mli lɛ, no baanyɛ aye abua mɔ ko ni jeee Odasefonyo koni ena bɔ ni fee ni aná amale jamɔŋ kusumii komɛi.

¹⁸ Kɛjɛ Paulo wiemɔ lɛ shishijee aahu kɛbashi biɛ lɛ, ehã ale Nyɔŋmɔ he anɔkwalei ni he hiaa waa, ni etsɔ ŋaa gbɛ nɔ ehã ewiemɔi lɛ kɔ etoibolɔi lɛ ahe. Mɛni Paulo taoɔ akɛ Atenebii ni boɔ lɛ toi lɛ afee yɛ sane ni he hiaa waa nɛɛ he? Eshashaooo shi kwraa, etee nɔ etsɔɔ amɛ nɔ ni esa akɛ amɛfee be ni etsaa ewiemɔ lɛ nɔ lɛ.

19, 20. (a) Mɛɛ gbɛ nɔ Paulo kɛ hiɛshikamɔ tsu nii ni ehã efee faŋŋ akɛ nilee bɛ mli akɛ abaajá amagai ni adesai fee lɛ? (b) Mɛni ehe bahia ni Paulo toibolɔi lɛ afee?

¹⁹ Agbɛnɛ lɛ, Paulo efee klalo akɛ ebaawo etoibolɔi lɛ hewalɛ ni amɛfee nɔ ko. Ewie sane ni etsɛ yisɛɛ kɛjɛ Greek niŋmai lɛ amli lɛ he ekoŋŋ ni ekɛɛ akɛ: “No hewɔ lɛ, akɛni wɔna akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ bii ji wɔ hewɔ lɛ, esaaa akɛ wɔsusuɔ akɛ mɔ ni ji Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ tamɔ shika tsuru loo jwiɛtɛi loo tɛ, tamɔ nɔ ko ni gbɔmɛi kɛ amɛŋaa kɛ amɛjwɛŋmɔ fee.” (Bɔf. 17:29) Eji anɔkwale akɛ, kɛ́ Nyɔŋmɔ ni bɔ adesai lɛ, belɛ te aaafee tɛŋŋ ni Nyɔŋmɔ su baatamɔ amagai ni gbɔmɛi fee lɛ? Bɔ ni Paulo kɛ amɛ susu nii ahe lɛ hã efee faŋŋ akɛ nilee bɛ mli akɛ abaajá amagai ni adesai fee lɛ. (Lala 115:4-8; Yes. 44:9-20) Wiemɔ ni Paulo wie akɛ ‘esaaa akɛ wɔsusuɔ . . . ’ lɛ tsɔɔ akɛ Paulo dɔ elilɛi mli koni ewiemɔ lɛ akawo etoibolɔi lɛ amli la.

²⁰ Paulo hã amɛle nɔ ni esa akɛ amɛfee lɛ faŋŋ, ekɛɛ akɛ: “Nyɔŋmɔ ku ehiɛ efɔ̃ bei amli ni mɛi leee nɔ ko lɛ [ni ji be ni asusu akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ náa adesai ni jáa amagai lɛ ahe miishɛɛ lɛ] anɔ; shi amrɔ nɛɛ eekɛɛ gbɔmɛi ni yɔɔ he fɛɛ he lɛ akɛ amɛtsake amɛtsui.” (Bɔf. 17:30) Ekolɛ Paulo toibolɔi lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi anaa kpɛ amɛhe akɛ aakɛɛ amɛ akɛ amɛtsake amɛtsui. Shi ewiemɔ ni kanyaa mɔ lɛ fee lɛ faŋŋ akɛ, Nyɔŋmɔ ni hã amɛ wala, ni no hewɔ lɛ amɛbaabu amɛhe akɔntaa amɛhã lɛ. Esa akɛ amɛtao Nyɔŋmɔ sɛɛ gbɛ, amɛkase anɔkwale ni kɔɔ ehe lɛ, ni amɛhã amɛshihilɛ gbɛ fɛɛ kɛ nakai anɔkwale lɛ akpã gbee. Enɛ baabi ni Atenebii lɛ ayɔse akɛ amagajamɔ ji esha, ni amɛtsi amɛhe kɛje he.

21, 22. Mɛɛ wiemɔi ni kanyaa mɔ waa Paulo kɛmu ewiemɔ lɛ naa? Ni ŋmɛnɛ lɛ, te wɔnuɔ ewiemɔi lɛ ashishi jogbaŋŋ wɔhãa tɛŋŋ?

 ²¹ Paulo kɛ wiemɔi ni kanyaa mɔ waa nɛɛ mu ewiemɔ lɛ naa: “[Nyɔŋmɔ] eto gbi ko, ni ekpɛ eyiŋ akɛ nakai gbi lɛ nɔ lɛ, ebaatsɔ nuu ko ni ehala lɛ lɛ nɔ ekojo shikpɔŋ lɛ fɛɛ yɛ jalɛ naa, ni etee lɛ shi kɛjɛ gbohii ateŋ kɛma nɔ mi ehã gbɔmɛi fɛɛ.” (Bɔf. 17:31) Akɛni amɛna akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ Kojomɔ Gbi ko miiba hewɔ lɛ, esa akɛ amɛtao esɛɛ gbɛ ni amɛna lɛ! Paulo tsɛɛɛ Kojolɔ lɛ gbɛ́i. Moŋ lɛ, Paulo wie nɔ ko ni sa kadimɔ waa yɛ Kojolɔ nɛɛ he: Ehi shi pɛŋ akɛ gbɔmɔ, agbe lɛ, ni Nyɔŋmɔ tee lɛ shi kɛjɛ gbohii ateŋ!

²² Ŋmɛnɛ lɛ wɔnuɔ sane ni kanyaa mɔ ni Paulo kɛmu ewiemɔ lɛ naa lɛ shishi jogbaŋŋ. Wɔle akɛ Yesu Kristo ni atee lɛ shi lɛ ji Kojolɔ ni Nyɔŋmɔ ehala lɛ lɛ. (Yoh. 5:22) Wɔle hu akɛ Kojomɔ Gbi lɛ baahe afii akpe, ni eebɛŋkɛ oyayaayai. (Kpo. 20:4, 6) Wɔsheee Kojomɔ Gbi lɛ gbeyei, ejaakɛ wɔle akɛ ebaahã mɛi ni abaabu amɛ anɔkwafoi lɛ aná jɔɔmɔi babaoo ni baahã amɛnaa akpɛ amɛhe. Naakpɛɛ nii ni fe fɛɛ, ni ji Yesu Kristo shitee lɛ, maa nɔ mi akɛ hiɛnɔkamɔ ni wɔyɔɔ akɛ wɔbaaná shihilɛ kpakpa wɔsɛɛ lɛ baaba mli lɛɛlɛŋ!

23. Te mɛi fee amɛnii yɛ Paulo wiemɔ lɛ he amɛhã tɛŋŋ?

²³ Esoro bɔ ni amɛteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ fee enii yɛ Paulo wiemɔ lɛ he. Be ni amɛnu gbohiiashitee lɛ he lɛ “mɛi komɛi bɔi fɛoyeli.” Mɛi komɛi yeee ehe fɛo, shi amɛtsakeee amɛtsui hu, amɛkɛɛ kɛkɛ akɛ: “Wɔbaasaa wɔbo bo toi ekoŋŋ yɛ enɛ hewɔ.” (Bɔf. 17:32) Shi mɛi fioo komɛi fee tsakemɔ. Abɔ amaniɛ akɛ: “Hii komɛi kɛ amɛhe kpɛtɛ ehe ni amɛbahe Nuŋtsɔ lɛ nɔ amɛye. Amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi ji Dionisio, ni ji kojolɔ yɛ Areopago saneyelihe lɛ, kɛ yoo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Damari, kɛ mɛi krokomɛi ni fata amɛhe.” (Bɔf. 17:34) Mɛi feɔ amɛnii yɛ gbɛ ni tamɔ nakai nɔŋŋ nɔ yɛ wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he. Mɛi komɛi yeɔ wɔhe fɛo, ni mɛi komɛi hu boɔ wɔ toi shi amɛfeee tsakemɔ ko. Shi kɛlɛ, mɛi komɛi kpɛlɛɔ Maŋtsɛyeli sane lɛ nɔ ni amɛbatsɔmɔɔ Kristofoi, ni enɛ hãa wɔnáa miishɛɛ waa.

24. Mɛni wɔbaanyɛ wɔkase kɛjɛ wiemɔ ni Paulo hã be ni akɛ lɛ tee Areopago lɛ mli?

²⁴ Kɛ́ wɔjwɛŋ wiemɔ ni Paulo hã lɛ nɔ lɛ, wɔbaana bɔ ni wɔbaafee wɔgbala saji amli koni mɛi anya he kɛ bɔ ni wɔbaafee wɔkɔne mɛi ayiŋ ni amɛna akɛ nɔ ni wɔtsɔɔ amɛ lɛ ji anɔkwale. Kɛfata he lɛ, wɔbaana akɛ esa akɛ wɔto wɔtsui shi wɔhã mɛi ni yɔɔ tsui kpakpa ni akɛ amale tsɔɔmɔi elaka amɛ lɛ, ni wɔkɛ amɛ awie bɔ ni amɛmli woŋ la. Wɔbaana anɔkwa sane ni he hiaa waa nɛɛ hu: Esaaa akɛ wɔtsimɔɔ Biblia mli anɔkwalei lɛ anɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ koni no ahã wɔtoibolɔi lɛ anya he. Kɛ́ wɔkase bɔfo Paulo lɛ, wɔbaatsɔmɔ tsɔɔlɔi ni he esa jogbaŋŋ yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Kɛfata he lɛ, kɛ́ nɔkwɛlɔi ni yɔɔ asafo lɛ mli lɛ hu kase Paulo lɛ, amɛbaatsɔmɔ tsɔɔlɔi ni sa jogbaŋŋ fe tsutsu lɛ. Enɛ baahã wɔ fɛɛ wɔfee mɛi ni sa jogbaŋŋ ni baaye abua mɛi koni ‘amɛtao Nyɔŋmɔ sɛɛ gbɛ, ni amɛna lɛ lɛɛlɛŋ.’​—Bɔf. 17:27.