1. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi unguNkulunkulu okhuthazayo ngesikhathi u-Adamu lo-Eva behlamuka?

U-ADAMU lo-Eva bahlamukela uJehova futhi abakwenzayo kwaletha isono lokungapheleli emhlabeni. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi uJehova ubelokhu etshengisa ukuthi uyakuqakathekisa ukukhuthaza abanye. Ngokwesibonelo wakhupha isiphrofetho esasizakhuthaza abantwana baka-Adamu. Ukuzwisisa isiphrofetho esikuGenesisi 3:15 kwakuzanika abantu ithemba lokuthi ekucineni ‘inyoka endala’ uSathane uDeveli izabhujiswa futhi kuqedwe lemisebenzi yakhe emibi.​—Isam. 12:9; 1 Joh. 3:8.

2. UJehova wamkhuthaza njani uNowa?

² UNowa waphila ngesikhathi esibi kakhulu futhi yena lemuli yakhe yibo kuphela ababekhonza uJehova. Kumele ukuthi izinto ezazisenzakala zamqeda amandla uNowa ngoba iMibhalo iveza ukuthi umhlaba wawugcwele udlakela kanye lokuxhwala kobufebe. (Gen. 6:4, 5, 11; Jud. 6) Loba kunjalo uJehova wamtshela okuthile okwamkhuthaza ukuthi ahlale ethembekile  futhi esenza okuhle. (Gen. 6:9) UJehova wamtshela ukuthi uzabhubhisa bonke abantu abenza okubi. Ngemva kwalokho wasemchazela okwakumele akwenze ukuze yena lemuli yakhe basinde. (Gen. 6:13-18) Lakanye uNowa wakubona ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu okhuthazayo.

3. UJehova wamkhuthaza njani uJoshuwa? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

³ Ngokuya kwesikhathi uJehova wanika uJoshuwa umsebenzi owawunzima kakhulu. Kwakumele akhokhele abako-Israyeli ayebangenisa elizweni ababelithenjisiwe njalo anqobe zonke izizwe ezazikuleyondawo ezazilamabutho ayesidla ubhedu. Kungenzakala ukuthi uJoshuwa wafikelwa yikwesaba yikho uJehova watshela uMosi wathi: “Umkhuthaze njalo umqinise, ngoba uzakhokhela lababantu abachaphise, njalo uzakwenza balithathe lelolizwe ozalibona libe yilifa labo.” (Dute. 3:28) Kwathi uJoshuwa esezaqala umsebenzi lo uJehova wamkhuthaza wathi: “Angikulayanga na? Qina ube lesibindi ungethuki njalo ungalahli ithemba, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uzakuba lawe loba kungaphi lapho oyakhona.” (Josh. 1:1, 9) Kumele ukuthi amazwi la amqinisa uJoshuwa.

4, 5. (a) UJehova wabakhuthaza njani abantu bakhe endulo? (b) UJehova wayikhuthaza njani iNdodana yakhe?

⁴ Okunye uJehova ayekwenza yikukhuthaza abantu bakhe beliqembu. Ngokwesibonelo wayekwazi ukuthi abantu bakhe babezawadinga amazwi akhuthazayo ngesikhathi sebeyizigqili eBhabhiloni, yikho watsho isiphrofetho esasizabakhuthaza. Wathi kubo: “Ungesabi, ngoba ngilawe; ungakhathazeki, ngoba nginguNkulunkulu wakho. Ngizakuqinisa, ngikusize; ngizakusekela ngesandla sami sokudla esiqotho.” (Isaya. 41:10) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wakhuthaza amaKhristu okuqala njalo lathi uyasikhuthaza lamuhla.​—Bala u-2 Khorinte 1:3, 4.

⁵ UJehova waphinda wakhuthaza iNdodana yakhe. Ngesikhathi uJesu ebhabhathizwa wezwa ilizwi livela ezulwini lisithi: “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo.” (Mat. 3:17) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi amazwi la amqinisa uJesu waze waqeda inkonzo yakhe lapha emhlabeni.

6. Umzekeliso wamathalenta ukukhuthaza njani?

⁶ UJesu laye walingisela uYise ngokukhuthaza abanye ukuthi bahlale bethembekile. Wakwenza lokhu ngesikhathi elandisa umzekeliso wamathalenta. Umzekeliso lo utshengisa ukuthi ukuthembeka kulomvuzo ngoba ekucineni umqhatshi watshela isisebenzi ngasinye esithembekileyo ukuthi: “Wenze kuhle, nceku elungileyo lethembekileyo! Uthembekile ezintweni ezilutshwana; ngizakuphathisa izinto ezinengi. Woza uzojabula kanye lenkosi yakho!” (Mat. 25:21, 23) Amazwi la abakhuthaza abalandeli bakaJesu futhi abenza bazimisela ukuhlala bethembekile kuJehova.

7. UJesu wabakhuthaza njani abaphostoli bakhe, ikakhulu uPhetro?

⁷ Abaphostoli bakaJesu babephikisana njalonje ngendaba yesikhundla. Kodwa uJesu wakhuluma labo ngesineke ebakhuthaza ukuthi bazithobe babezinceku, kulokufuna ukuba ngamakhosi phezu kwabanye. (Luk. 22:24-26) UPhetro wenza amaphutha amanengi futhi wamdanisa kanengi uJesu. (Mat. 16:21-23; 26:31-35, 75) Lanxa kunjalo uJesu kamlahlanga uPhetro kodwa wamkhuthaza  waze wamphathisa umsebenzi wokuqinisa abanye.​—Joh. 21:16.

8. UHezekhiya wenzani ngesikhathi ama-Asiriya efuna ukuhlasela iJerusalema?

⁸ Ngesikhathi uJesu engakabuyi emhlabeni izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo zazikunanzelela ukuthi ukukhuthaza abanye kuqakathekile. Omunye owakwenzayo lokho nguHezekhiya. Ngesikhathi ama-Asiriya esefuna ukuhlasela iJerusalema, uHezekhiya wabuthanisa izikhulu zebutho kanye labantu bakoJuda wabakhuthaza. IBhayibhili lithi: ‘Abantu baba lesibindi ngenxa yalokho okwatshiwo yinkosi uHezekhiya.’​—Bala u-2 ImiLando 32:6-8.

9. Indaba kaJobe isifundisani ngokukhuthaza abanye?

⁹ UJobe laye wasitshiyela isibonelo esihle endabeni yokukhuthaza abanye. Lanxa wayephakathi kobuhlungu, watshela u-Elifazi loBhilidadi loZofa amazwi ayezabasiza babone ukuthi ukukhuthaza abanye kuqakathekile. Wabatshela wathi, ‘aluba yini elisesikhundleni sami; umlomo wami ngabe uyaliqinisa; induduzo yezindebe zami ipholise ubuhlungu elibuzwayo.’ (Jobe. 16:1-5) Ekucineni u-Elihu loJehova bamduduza uJobe futhi lokhu kwamkhuthaza.​—Jobe. 33:24, 25; 36:1, 11; 42:7, 10.

10, 11. (a) Kungani indodakazi kaJefitha yayikudinga ukukhuthazwa? (b) Ngobani abanye abadinga isikhuthazo esifananayo?

¹⁰ Indodakazi kaJefitha layo yayikudinga ukukhuthazwa. Uyise uJefitha wenza isifungo kuJehova ngesikhathi esiyahlasela ama-Amoni. Watshela uJehova ukuthi nxa anganikela ama-Amoni ezandleni zakhe loba ngubani ophuma kuqala emnyango wendlu yakhe emhlangabeza uzanikelwa kuJehova. Lowomuntu kwakuzamele ayesebenza ethabanikeli okwempilo yakhe yonke. Lakanye abako-Israyeli banqoba futhi uJefitha wathi ethutsha, indodakazi yakhe eyiyo yodwa ayelawo yiyo eyaphuma kuqala imhlangabeza. IBhayibhili lithi uJefitha wadabuka, waba lusizi. Lanxa kunjalo kazange asephule isifungo ayesenzile futhi wanikela indodakazi yakhe eShilo ukuze iyekhonza ethabanikeli.​—Abahlu. 11:30-35.

¹¹ Indaba le yayingalula kuJefitha. Kodwa kumele ukuthi indodakazi yakhe yiyo eyezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu. Lanxa kunjalo yasamukela isifungo esasenziwe nguyise. (Abahlu. 11:36, 37) Yavuma ukulahlekelwa ngamalungelo ayegoqela ukutshada, ukuba labantwana, ukukhulisa usendo lukayise kanye lelifa okwakumele ilithole. Yayikudinga sibili ukududuzwa lokukhuthazwa. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kulokhu yikho okuvela khona umkhuba wama-Israyeli wokuthi minyaka yonke izintombi zako-Israyeli ziyaphuma okwezinsuku ezine ukuba zikhumbule indodakazi kaJefitha umGileyadi.” (Abahlu. 11:39, 40) Lathi lamuhla kumele sibancome futhi sibakhuthaze abafowethu labodadewethu abangatshadanga abazinikele emsebenzini ‘weNkosi.’—1 Khor. 7:32-35.

12, 13. UPhetro wabaqinisa ngayiphi indlela abazalwane?

¹² Kwathi uJesu esezabulawa watshela umphostoli uPhethro wathi: “Simoni, Simoni uSathane usecele ukulihlungula lonke njengengqoloyi. Kodwa sengikukhulekele wena, Simoni, ukuthi ukholo lwakho lungehluleki. Akubokuthi nxa usubuyile kimi uqinise abafowenu.”​—Luk. 22:31, 32.

 ¹³ Lakanye uPhethro waba lusizo kakhulu ebandleni. (Gal. 2:9) Ukuzimisela kwakhe kwabakhuthaza abazalwane kusukela ngePhentekhosti kusiyaphambili. Kwathi sekudlule iminyaka eminengi esebenza gadalala enkonzweni, uPhetro wabhalela abazalwane wathi: “Ngililobele ngamafitshane ngilikhuthaza njalo ngifakaza ukuthi lo ngumusa oqotho kaNkulunkulu. Bambelelani kuwo.” (1 Phet. 5:12) Kusukela kudala kuze kube lamuhla izincwadi eziphefumulelweyo ezabhalwa nguPhetro bezilokhu zibakhuthaza abazalwane. Lathi siyasidinga isikhuthazo esinjalo njengoba silindele ukuthi uJehova agcwalise izithembiso zakhe.​—2 Phet. 3:13.

14, 15. Amazwi aphefumelelweyo alotshwa ngumphostoli uJohane awasize njani amaKhristu?

¹⁴ Umphostoli uJohane laye waba lusizo kakhulu ebandleni lobuKhristu. Sekwedlule iminyaka eminengi iVangeli likaJohane likhuthaza amaKhristu futhi lathi lamuhla liyasikhuthaza. Ngokwesibonelo yilo kuphela elilamazwi kaJesu aphathelane lokuthi abalandeli bakhe beqiniso bazakhanya ngokuba lothando.​—Bala uJohane 13:34, 35.

¹⁵ UJohane waphinda wabhala izincwadi ezintathu futhi kunengi esikufunda kuzo. Kwezinye izikhathi siyadana ngenxa yamaphutha esiwenzayo kodwa siyaduduzeka nxa sibala ukuthi ‘igazi likaJesu . . . liyasihlambulula ezonweni zonke.’ (1 Joh. 1:7) Ikanti nxa siqhubeka sizisola ngenxa yalokho esakuphambanisayo amazwi athi “uNkulunkulu mkhulu kakhulu kulezinhliziyo zethu” ayasiduduza futhi asenze sihlaliseke. (1 Joh. 3:20) UJohane nguye kuphela owabhala ukuthi “uNkulunkulu uluthando.” (1 Joh. 4:8, 16) Kanti njalo encwadini yakhe yesibili leyesithathu uyabancoma bonke abaqhubeka ‘bephila ngokumayelana leqiniso.’​—2 Joh. 4; 3 Joh. 3, 4.

16, 17. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabakhuthaza ngaziphi izindlela abazalwane?

 ¹⁶ Omunye owasitshiyela isibonelo esihle endabeni yokukhuthaza abanye ngumphostoli uPhawuli. Ngesikhathi ibandla lobuKhristu lisanda kubunjwa abaphostoli abanengi babehlala eJerusalema futhi yikho lapho iqula elibusayo elalisebenzela khona. (ImiSeb. 8:14; 15:2) AmaKhristu aseJudiya ayetshumayela ngoKhristu ebantwini ababevele bekholwa ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu oyedwa. Kodwa umoya ongcwele wakhokhela umphostoli uPhawuli ukuthi ayetshumayela kumaGrikhi, amaRoma kanye labanye abantu ababekhonza onkulunkulu abanengi.​—Gal. 2:7-9; 1 Tim. 2:7.

¹⁷ UPhawuli wahamba waze wayafika endaweni esibizwa ngokuthi yiTurkey njalo wangena eGreece lase-Italy etshumayela kwabezizweni futhi ebumba amabandla. Labobantu ababesanda kuba ngamaKhristu eqiniso babekudinga ukukhuthazwa ngoba babehlukuluzwa ngabantu bakibo. (1 Thes. 2:14) Ngakho ngabo-50 C.E., uPhawuli wabhalela ibandla elitsha elaliseThesalonika wathi: “Sihlala silibongela lonke kuNkulunkulu, siliqamba emikhulekweni yethu. Siwukhumbula kokuphela phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu uBaba umsebenzi wenu ongenxa yokukholwa, lokusebenza kwenu okufuqwa luthando, kanye lokubekezela kwenu.” (1 Thes. 1:2, 3) Waphinda wabakhuthaza wathi: “Qinisanani njalo lakhane, njengoba impela likwenza.”​—1 Thes. 5:11.

18. Iqula elibusayo lamkhuthaza njani uFiliphu?

¹⁸ Ngesikhathi sabaphostoli, iqula elibusayo lalikhuthaza abakhokhelayo kanye labo bonke ababesemabandleni. Ngesikhathi uFiliphu etshumayeza amaSamariya ngoKhristu, iqula elibusayo lamsekela ngokuthumela uPhetro loJohane ukuthi bayethandazela amaSamariya ukuthi athole umoya ongcwele. (ImiSeb. 8:5, 14-17) Kumele ukuthi lokhu kwamkhuthaza uFiliphu kanye lalabo abasebephendukile baba ngamaKhristu eqiniso.

19. Incwadi eyalotshwa liqula elibusayo yawasiza njani amabandla?

¹⁹ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwadingeka ukuthi iqula elibusayo lenze isinqumo esasiphathelane lokuthi amaKhristu angasiwo maJuda kumele asokwe yini, njengalokhu okwakusenziwa ngamaJuda elandela uMthetho kaMosi. (ImiSeb. 15:1, 2) Ngemva kokuhlola iMibhalo kanye lokusizwa ngumoya ongcwele, iqula elibusayo laphetha ngokuthi kasikho isidingo sokuthi abezizwe asebengamaKhristu basokwe. Ngakho kwalotshwa incwadi njalo kwathunyelwa abameli bequla elibusayo ukuthi bayihambise emabandleni. Kwaba lempumela bani? IBhayibhili lithi: “Abantu bayibala bathokoza ngenxa yamazwi ayo aqinisayo.”​—ImiSeb. 15:27-32.

20. (a) Ngobani abakhuthazwa liQula Elibusayo? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ Lanamuhla iQula Elibusayo laboFakazi bakaJehova likhuthaza amalunga emuli zeBhetheli, abasenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke kanye labo bonke abafowethu labodadewethu abasemhlabeni wonke. Kanti njalo ngo-2015 iQula Elibusayo lethula ibhukwana elithi Buyela KuJehova. Ibhukwana leli selikhuthaze abanengi kakhulu emhlabeni jikelele. Umsebenzi wokukhuthaza abanye owenziwa liQula Elibusayo ulempumela emihle ngoba uyabaqinisa abazalwane futhi ubenza bathokoze. Kodwa umbuzo osalayo ngothi: Abafowethu abakhokhelayo yibo bodwa yini okumele bakhuthaze abanye? Impendulo sizayithola esihlokweni esilandelayo.