1-3. (a) Mukonda dyahi poxolo Phawulu wathathamene kyavulu kyoso kyabhixila ku Atena? (b) O phangu ya Phawulu itulonga ihi?

 PHAWULU wathathamene kyavulu. Mwene wexile ku Atena, mu ixi ya Ngelexya. Athu avulu exile muya kudilonga kwenyoko. Sócrates, Platão ni Aristóteles alongele mu mbanza yiyi. Ku Atena kwexile jingeleja javulu. Mu ididi yoso kala mu jitembulu, mu itanda ni mu ikoka, Phawulu wamono iteka yavulu, mukonda akwa Atena exile mubheza jinzambi javulu. Phawulu wejidile kwila Jihova, o Nzambi ya kidi wazembe o iteka. (Mak. 20:4, 5) O poxolo yiyi yafiyele wexile we muzemba o iteka!

² O ima yamono Phawulu mu kitanda yamusasumukisa kyavulu. Mu kitanda, mu jimbandu ja mwelu wadikota, mwexile iteka yavulu ya nzambi Helemeze. Mu iteka yoso o nzambi Helemeze yazudile. Mu kitanda mwexile jikalatódyu javulu. Kyebhi o poxolo yiyi kyejiboka mu mbanza yezalele ni iteka? O kwila wejitena kukamba kulondekesa o kuzemba kwê ku iteka, ni kuzwela ima yejikwatekesa o jingivwidi jê? O kwila wejitena kukwatekesa muthu kusota o Nzambi ya kidi ni ku Musanga?

³ O diskulusu dyabhange Phawulu ku athu akwa Atena adilongele kyavulu, dyala mu Ikalakalu 17:22-31, phangu phal’etu yalungu ni kuzwela ni kuswina kwoso sé kuxinga o jingivwidi jetu. Mu kumona o phangu ya Phawulu tutena kudilonga kyavulu yalungu ni kuzwela o ima yejiya kyá o jingivwidi jetu ni kwakwatekesa kuxinganeka bhukaxi ka ima yiyi.

4, 5. Kwebhi kwaboko Phawulu mu mbanza ya Atena? Mukonda dyahi kwabhonzele kuxikinisa o athu kwenyoko?

⁴ Phawulu wayi mu mbanza ya Atena nange ku muvu wa 50 K.K.  mu njila yê ya kayadi kala mukunji wa jixi jengi. a Kyoso kyexile mukingila Sila ni Timote ku Atena, Phawulu “wamateka kukwatekesa o Jijudé,” kala kyexile o kifwa kyê. Mwene wasoto we kididi mwatenene kuzwela ni athu ki Jijudé ku Atena, “mu kitanda.” (Ika. 17:17) O kitanda kiki kya Atena, kyexile ku mbandu ya thunda ya Acropole. O kulebha kwexile 250 ja jimetulu, o kuzanza kwexile 200 ja jimetulu. Kyokyo kyexile o kitanda kyabetakota ku mbanza. Sayi divulu dyamba kuma mu kididi kiki “o athu exile mubatulamu maka alungu ni wenji, jinguvulu ni kubhangamu jifesa.” O akwa Atena awabhelele kudyongekamu phala kudilondekesa se ananyi exile dingi jinjimu.

⁵ Kwabhonzele kuxikinisa o athu mu kitanda kiki. Bhukaxi kâ kwexile o akwa Epikulu ni Jistoyiku, athu atokalele mu jixikola jexile muzoka mudyâ mu maka alungu ni unjimu. b O akwa Epikulu axikinine kwila o mwenyu wamoneka mu kingoho. O kibanzelu kyâ kyalungu ni mwenyu kyexile kiki: “Kitubhingi kukala ni wôma wa Nzambi ni kwila seku ndolo mu kufwa. O mbote tutena ku isanga, tutena kukolokota mu kuyibha.” O Jistoyiku exile mubhana dingi valolo ku ima yalungu ni kuxinganeka, kaxikinine kwila Nzambi Muthu wa kidi. Kikale o akwa Epikulu ni Jistoyiku kaxikinine ku difukunukinu kala kyexile mulonga o maxibulu a Kidistu. Sé phata, o ima yexile mulonga o ibuka yiyi ki yalungile ni kidi kya Mak’â Nzambi kyexile mulonga Phawulu.

6, 7. Kyebhi kyadivu o jinjimu akwa Ngelexya mu kwivwa o milongi ya Phawulu? Kyebhi kyene mudivwa o athu evwa o milongi ya Bibidya?

⁶ Kyebhi kyadivu o jinjimu akwa Ngelexya mu kwivwa o milongi ya Phawulu? Sayi jindongixi ambe kwila Phawulu wexile “mu sabhula,” mba wexile “mubhongolodi wa jimbutu.” (tala o “nota de estudo mu Ika. 17:18, mu nwtsty, mu phutu.) Yalungu ni kizwelu kiki mu Ngeleku, sayi diyala mukwa kutokwesa wambe: “O kizwelu kiki kyalungile ni kanjila kofele kexile mubonga jimbutu. Ku pholo dya kwenda kyalungile ni athu exile mubonga ibhasu ya kudya ni ima yamukwá yakambele valolo ku kitanda. Mu kubhita kithangana exile mutumbula o kizwelu kiki phala kuzwela yalungu ni athu exile mubhitulula milongi sé ku itokwesa mba kwijiya.” Mu izwelu yamukwá, o athu exile muzwela kuma Phawulu watobhele, wexile ngó mubhitulula ima yevu sé ku itokwesa. Kala kitwandamona, né mwene ni kumulokalala Phawulu kadixibha.

⁷ Kiki kyene we mubhita lelu. Kuma tu Jimbangi ja Jihova o athu  ene mutulokalala mukonda dya ima ituxikina yala mu Bibidya. Mu kifika, sayi alongexi amba kwila o ima yamoneka ngó ni kwila o athu ala jinjimu axikina kuma o milongi yiyi ya kidi. Ene amba kuma o athu kaxikina o milongi yiyi, atobho. O jimesene jiji amesena kuxikinisa o athu kwila ‘tu abhongolodi a jimbutu’ mukonda tulonga o ima yala mu Bibidya ni kwila tulondekesa ima ituxikinisa kwila kwene mwene Mubhangi. Maji etu kitwene muzoza né mwene ni kutulokalala. Mu veji dya kiki, tuzwela ni kuswina kwoso kyoso kituzokela o milongi ya kwila o mwenyu mu ixi a ubhange ku Muthu wavu o unjimu woso, Jihova Nzambi.—Dij. 4:11.

8. (a) Ihi yabhange athu amukwá? (b) Kyoso Bibidya yamba kuma Phawulu amwambata ku Aleyopagu, ilombolola ihi? (Tala o nota mu difwe didi.)

⁸ Athu amukwá kalokalala Phawulu. Ene ambe: “Nange mwene muboki wa jinzambi ja jixi jengi.” (Ika. 17:18) O kwila Phawulu wexile mulondekesa jinzambi ja ubhe ku akwa Atena? Kiki kyexile kitatelu kyadikota, mukonda kyene kyexile o kima kyabhangesa Sócrates kumufundisa ni kumubalakala o kufwa ku jihama jabhiti. Kitudiwana mu kumona kwila, Phawulu amwambata mu Aleyopagu phala kujimbulula o milongi yamono akwa Atena kala ya ubhe. c Kyebhi Phawulu kyejizokela o njimbu yê mwaxaxi ka athu kejidile o Mikanda Ikôla?

9-11. (a) Kyebhi Phawulu kyasoto kuzwela o ima yejidile kyá o jingivwidi jê? (b) Kyebhi kitutena kukayela o phangu ya Phawulu mu ukunji wetu?

⁹ Lembalala kwila Phawulu wasasumukine kyavulu mukonda dya iteka yamono. Mu veji dya kuzwela kyayibha yalungu ni ubhezelu wa iteka, mwene watululukile. Mu kuzwela ni kuswina kwoso sé kuxinga o jingivwidi jê, Phawulu wasoto kuzwela o ima yejidile kyá o jingivwidi jê. Wamateka mu kuzwela wixi: “Enu mu akwa Atena, ngimona kwila, mwa betakota mu kuxila o jinzambi, o athu mu jimbanza ja mukwá ndenge.” (Ika. 17:22) Kyedile kala Phawulu wexile muzwela kiki: ‘Ngimona kwila, enu mwawabhela kubheza nzambi.’ Ni unjimu woso Phawulu wa aximana mukonda dya kubhana valolo ku ima mu nzumbi. Mwene wejidile kwila sayi athu axikina mu milongi ya makutu ala ni mixima yambote. Phawulu walembalala  kuma mu ukulu mwene ‘kejidile o ima yexile mubhanga, kexile we ni kixikanu.’—1 Ti. 1:13.

¹⁰ Kyoso kyazubha kuximana o athu, Phawulu watumbula o kima kyamono, kima kyalondekesa kwila akwa Atena exile mubhana valolo ku ima mu nzumbi. Kalatódyu kosonekemu kiki: “Kobhakule kwa Nzambi twakambe ku Mwijiya.” Sayi divulu dyamba kuma “o jingeleku ni athu amukwá exile mubhakula jikalatódyu ku ‘jinzambi akambele kwa ejiya’ mukonda dya wôma wa kwaxinga mu kukamba kwatumbula mu ubhezelu wâ.” Bhukaxi ka kalatódyu kaka, o akwa Atena alondekesa kwila axikinine kwa Nzambi akambele kumwijiya. Mu kumona o kalatódyu koko Phawulu wamono kala dimatekenu dyambote phala kuboka o njimbu yambote ku akwa Atena. Phawulu wa ambela: “O yó mwa mu mubheza sé ku mwijiya, mwéne nga mu mibokela-n’ê.” (Ika. 17:23) O kima kyazwela Phawulu kyexile ni kutena kwavulu. Mwene kexile muboka nzambi ya ubhe mba ya ixi yengi, kala kyexile muzwela amoxi ku Atena. Mwene wexile mwalonga yalungu ni Nzambi akambele kumwijiya, o Nzambi ya kidi.

 ¹¹ Kyebhi kitutena kukayela o phangu ya Phawulu mu ukunji wetu? Se tutonginina kyambote o athu, nange twandamona kwila o athu ate musanga mba mu jinzo jâ, mba mu njaludim mwala ima ilondekesa kwila, abhana valolo ku ima mu nzumbi. Nange tutena kuzwela: ‘Ngimona kuma eye wawabhela kubheza Nzambi. Ngawabhela kuzwela ni athu abhana valolo ku ima mu nzumbi.’ Mu kuxila o ubhezelu wa muthu ni mu kusota kubhixidisa o maka ku muxima wê, twandazwela o ima yamubhangesa kuxikina o milongi itwamuboka. Tudilembalale kwila, kitwatokala kufundisa o athu mukonda dya ima yaxikina ene. Bhukaxi ka jiphange jetu avulu mu ukulu axikinine o milongi ya jingeleja ja makutu.

12. Kyebhi Phawulu kyabhangesa o jingivwidi jê kumubhana matwi?

¹² Twamono kuma Phawulu wazwela yalungu ni ima yejidile kyá o jingivwidi jê phala kwabhana umbangi. O kwila wejitena kwabhangesa kusuluka mu kumubhana matwi? Mu kwijiya kwila o jingivwidi jê adilongele kyavulu o milongi ya Jingeleku, maji kejidile o Mikanda Ikôla, wazwela o ima yeji kwabhangesa kumubhana matwi. Kyadyanga, wazwela yalungu ni Bibidya sé kutumbula jivelusu. Kya kayadi, walondekesa kwila wadifwanganene ni jingivwidi jê mu kutumbula o kizwelu “etu.” Katatu, watumbula madivulu a Jingeleku phala kulondekesa kuma sayi ima yexile mulonga yalungile ni madivulu axikina ene. Kindala tumone o diskulusu dyambote dyabhange Phawulu. Kidi kyahi kyabetakota kyalongo Phawulu yalungu ni Nzambi kejidile o akwa Atena?

13. Ihi yambe Phawulu yalungu ni ngongo? Ihi yexile mwatangela Phawulu?

¹³ Nzambi wabhange o ngongo. Phawulu wambe: “O Nzambi wabhange o ngongo ni yoso yala-mu, Mwéne o Ngana ya dyulu ni ixi, mwene katungu mu jitembulu jobhange ku athu.” d (Ika. 17:24) O ngongo ki yamoneka ngó. O Nzambi ya kidi mwéne wabhange o ima yoso. (Jisá. 146:6) O mbanza ya Atena ni jinzambi jâ phala kukala ni fuma jabhindamene jitembulu ni jikalatódyu. Maji o Ngana, Sukeku ya dyulu ni ixi, katungu mu jitembulu jobhange ku athu. (1 Jis. 8:27) Phawulu wexile mwatangela kwila, o Nzambi ya kidi wabeta dingi kota, kiteka kyoso kyoso mba jitembulu jobhange ku athu, ndenge.—Iza. 40:18-26.

14. Kyebhi Phawulu kyalondekesa kwila Nzambi kabhindamena o kikwatekesu kya athu?

 ¹⁴ Nzambi kabhindamena o kikwatekesu kya athu. O abhezi a iteka exile muzwika o iteka ni izwatu yafwama, kwabhana ima yatele kyavulu mba kwabhana makudya ni makunwa, sumbala o iteka ki yabhindamena o ima yiyi. Sayi jindongixi Jingeleku exile mu kwivwa Phawulu, nange axikinine kwila o jinzambi ki jabhindamena o ima yiyi. Se kyene, nange axikinine o izwelu ya Phawulu ya kwila Nzambi “kabhingi muthu u mu kwatekesa, kala wabhindamena kima.” Mu kidi o athu katena kubhana ima mu xitu ku Mubhangi! Maji Nzambi mwene ubhana ku athu o ima yoso yabhindamena: O “mwenyu ni kubhwima ni ima yoso,” kala o mwanya, o mvula ni mavu ambote abhana idima. (Ika. 17:25; Dim. 2:7) Kyenyiki, Nzambi o Mubhani wa ima yoso, kabhindamena o kikwatekesu kya athu. O athu éne akatula mbote ku maujitu ene mwabhana Nzambi.

15. Kyebhi Phawulu kyazwela yalungu ni katombo kexile naku o Jingeleku? Ihi itutena kudilonga ku phangu yê?

¹⁵ Nzambi mwéne wabhange o athu. O akwa Atena exile mudimona kwila abetele kota, akwa jixi jengi ndenge. O kubanza kuma akwa kikonda kyetu mba o akwa ixi yetu abetakota, ki yalungu ni vondadi ya Nzambi. (Mate. 10:17) Phawulu wazwela yalungu ni maka yá ni uhete woso sé kuxinga o jingivwidi jê. Mu kuzwela yosoneke mu divulu dya Dimatekenu yalungu ni tat’etu ya dyanga, Adá, Phawulu wambe: “Bhukaxi ka muthu umoxi mwene wabhange o ifuxi yoso mu ngongo.” (Dim. 1:26-28; Ika. 17:26) Sé phata o izwelu ya Phawulu yabhangesa o jingivwidi jê kuxinganeka ni kutendela kwila, se athu oso mu ngongo atundu ku tata imoxi, seku kikonda mba ixi yabetakota. O phangu yiyi itulonga kwila, sumbala mu ukunji wetu twamesena kuzwela ni uhete sé kuxinga o athu, maji kitutokala kusweka o kidi kya Bibidya phala o athu atuxikine ngó.

16. Yebhi o vondadi ya Nzambi phala o athu?

 ¹⁶ Nzambi wamesena kwila o athu amuzukama. Né mwene o jindongixi exile mukwivwa Phawulu, tundé ukulu amesenene kwijiya se mukonda dyahi twala ku mwenyu, ene kejitena kujimbulula o maka yá. Maji Phawulu walondekesa ku akwa Atena o vondadi ya Nzambi phala o athu kyoso kyambe: “Phala ene asote Nzambi. Se aswina mu ku musota, anda musanga, mukonda sé-ku muthu wa mukala dikanga.” (Ika. 17:27) O akwa Atena ejitena kwijiya o Nzambi akambele kumwijiya. Mukonda kala dikanga dya athu amesena kudilonga yalungu ni mwene phala kumwijiya. (Jisá. 145:18) Kikale Phawulu ni athu amukwá, se asotele Nzambi, ejitena kumusanga.

17, 18. Mukonda dyahi o athu abhingi kuzola Nzambi? O ukexilu wa Phawulu kubhixidisa o milongi ku mixima ya jingivwidi jê utulonga ihi?

¹⁷ O athu abhingi kuzola Nzambi. Phawulu wambe kwila, “mukonda dya mwene twala ku mwenyu, twene mukwenda, etu twalaku.” Sayi akwa kutokwesa amba kwila Phawulu watumbula izwelu ya ngimbidi amwixana Epimênides, mukwa kikôlo kya Keleta wexile ku mwenyu ku hama ya kasamanu A.K.K., “muthu exile kumuxila kyavulu mu ubhezelu wa akwa Atena.” Phawulu wazwela ima yamukwá yejibhangesa o athu kuzola Nzambi, wixi: “Kala kyambe amoxi ku jingimbidi jenu, exi: ‘Etu we twala tu an’ê.’” (Ika. 17:28) O athu abhingi kukala ni ukamba ni Nzambi mukonda Mwene wabhange o tat’etu yadyanga. Phala kubhixidisa o maka ku mixima ya jingivwidi jê, Phawulu watumbula o izwelu ya madivulu a Ngeleku. Sé phata o  athu exile muxila o madivulu yá. e Kala kyabhange Phawulu, sayi bhabha tutena we kutumbula madivulu ejiya o athu ku mundu. Mu kifika, ima yosoneke mu divulu adixila ku athu, itena kuxikinisa muthu ki Mbangi ya Jihova kwila o jifesa ja mundu jalungu ni ubhezelu wa makutu.

¹⁸ Katé bhabha, Phawulu walongo o kidi kya Nzambi ku jingivwidi jê ni uhete woso. Mwene wamesenene kwila o jingivwidi jê abhanga ihi ni milongi yiyi? Sé kukalela wazwela o kima kyamesenene.

19, 20. (a) Kyebhi Phawulu kyalondekesa ku jingivwidi jê ni masunga kwila, kutobha kubheza o iteka? (b) O jingivwidi ja Phawulu atokalele kubhanga ihi?

¹⁹ Phawulu wamesenene kwila o jingivwidi jê akumbidila o ima yexile mu kwivwa. Mu kutumbula dingi o madivulu a Ngeleku, mwene wambe: “Kuma tu an’â Nzambi, ki twatokala kubanza kwila o Nzambi wa difwangana ni ulu, phalata, mba ditadi dyosonge ku muthu wala hete.” (Ika. 17:29) Se Nzambi mwéne wabhange o athu, kyebhiphe Nzambi kyejidifwangana ni iteka yobhange ku athu? O izwelu yiyi ya Phawulu yalondekesa o kutobha kwa kubheza o iteka. (Jisá. 115:4-8; Iza. 44:9-20) Mu kuzwela “ki twatokala . . . ,” Phawulu walondekesa kwila kamesenene kuxinga o jingivwidi jê.

²⁰ Phawulu walondekesa ni kidi kyoso kwila, ene atokalele kubhanga kima mu kwamba kwila: “Nzambi ka suwu o jithembu jenyojo kyoso o athu kyakambele o ku mwijiya, maji kindala mwene wa mutangela o athu mu ngongo yoso n’a dyele o ituxi yâ.” (Ika. 17:30) Nange sayi athu adivu kyayibha mu kwivwa kwila atokalele kudyela o ituxi yâ. Maji o diskulusu dya Phawulu dyalondekesa kuma Nzambi wa abhana mwenyu, mu kiki atokalele ku Mubhakula jikonda. O akwa Atena abhingile kusota Nzambi, kudilonga o kidi kyalungu ni mwene ni kulunga o ukexilu woso wa myenyu yâ ni kidi kya Bibidya. Phala kubhanga kiki, o akwa Atena atokalele kuxikina kwila kituxi kubheza o iteka, atokalele we kuxisa o ubhezelu yú.

21, 22. Phawulu wazubha o diskulusu dyê ni izwelu yebhi? Mukonda dyahi o izwelu yasukina ya Phawulu yala ni valolo phal’etu?

²¹ Phawulu wazubha o diskulusu dyê ni izwelu yakatunda: “Mukonda bhukaxi ka muthu wa musolo, [Nzambi] waxindi kizuwa phala kufundisa ni kuyuka o athu oso atungu mu ngongo. Mwene walondekesa  ku athu oso kwila kiki kidi, mu ku mufukununa mw’alunga.” (Ika. 17:31) Kwivwa yalungu ni kizuwa kya kufundisa, kweji bhangesa o jingivwidi ja Phawulu kusota o Nzambi ya kidi ni kumusanga! Phawulu katumbula o dijina dya muthu amusolo phala kufundisa. Mu veji dya kiki, wambe ima ya abhangesa kudiwana kwila, o Mufundixi wexile mu ngongo, wafu anga Nzambi wamufukununa!

²² O izwelu yasukina ya Phawulu yala ni valolo yavulu phala etu. Twejiya kwila o mufundixi wasolo Nzambi, Jezú Kidistu. (Nzw. 5:22) Twejjiya we kwila o kizuwa kya kufundisa kyazukama kyá, kyandanangenena midi ya mivu. (Dij. 20:4, 6) Kitwala ni wôma wa kizuwa kya kufundisa, mukonda kyandabheka mabesá avulu kwa yó anda kwamona kala jifiyele. Twandatena ngó kutambula mabesá avulu kuhádya mukonda dya madiwanu abetakota: o difukunukinu dya Jezú Kidistu!

23. Ihi yabhange o athu kyoso kyevu o diskulusu dya Phawulu?

²³ Sayi athu kyoso kyevu Phawulu kuzwela yalungu ni difukunukinu, “amateka ku mu xongwena.” Amukwá amwivu, ya amwambela: “Twanda ku kwívwa dingi kuzwela yalungu ni maka enyá.” (Ika. 17:32) O Bibidya yamba: “Maji amoxi adibundu kumoxi ni mwene, ya axikana Ngana. Mwaxaxi kâ mwakexile Diyonizyu watokalele mu inzo ya kufundisa ya Aleyopagu, ni muhatu amwixana Damali, ni amukwá dingi.” (Ika. 17:34) Lelu kyoso kituboka tusanga we athu ala ni ukexilu yú. Sayi athu kyoso kyevwa o njimbu yetu, atuxongwena, amukwá atwivwa ngó ni kuxila kwoso. Maji amukwá hanji, asanguluka kyavulu, axikina o njimbu yambote anga akituka Jikidistá.

24. Madisá ebhi utudilonga mu diskulusu dyabhange Phawulu mu Aleyopagu?

²⁴ Kubanza mu diskulusu dya Phawulu kutulonga madisá avulu: twadilongo kyebhi kitutena kukwatekesa o athu kuxinganeka, kuzwela o ima yejiya kyá o jingivwidi jetu, kulondekesa mwanyu, kuzwela ni kuxila kwoso sé kuxinga o athu atokala mu jingeleja ja makutu ni kuzwela o kidi kya mak’â Nzambi sé kusweka kima phala kusangulukisa ngó o athu. Mu kutala o phangu ya Phawulu tutena kukala alongexi ambote mu ukunji. O tufunga atena we kukala alongexi ambote mu kilunga. Mu kubhanga kiki twandakwatekesa o athu ‘kusota Nzambi ni kumusanga.’—Ika. 17:27.