1. UPhetro waphefumulelwa ukuthi enzeni esezakufa?

 UMPHOSTOLI uPhetro wayekwazi ukuthi kwasekuseduze ukuthi afe futhi wayesekhonze ethembekile okwamatshumi eminyaka. Ngalesosikhathi wayehambe loJesu, waqalisa ukutshumayeza abantu bezinye izizwe futhi waba lilunga lequla elikhokhelayo. Kodwa le ayisiyo yodwa imisebenzi eyenziwa nguPhetro. Ngabo-62 kusiya kubo-64 C.E. esezakufa, waphefumulelwa ukuthi abhale incwadi ezimbili eziseBhayibhilini ezibizwa ngokuthi Eyokuqala ekaPhetro leYesibili ekaPhetro. UPhetro wayelethemba lokuthi incwadi lezi zazizanceda amaKhristu ngemva kokufa kwakhe.—2 Phet. 1:12-15.

2. Kungani incwadi ezabhalwa nguPhetro zaba luncedo ngesikhathi ezabhalwa ngaso?

² UPhetro wabhala incwadi zakhe ngesikhathi abafowabo labodadewabo ‘behlupheka ngenxa yezilingo ezitshiyeneyo.’ (1 Phet. 1:6) Kwakulabantu abasebezama ukuletha izimfundiso zamanga kanye lokuziphatha okulihlazo ebandleni. (2 Phet. 2:1, 2, 14) AmaKhristu ayehlala eJerusalema ayesezabona “ukuphela kwezinto zonke,” okutsho ukubhujiswa kwedolobho lelo ngamabutho eRoma lokuqedwa komumo wezinto wamaJuda. (1 Phet. 4:7) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi incwadi zikaPhetro zanceda amaKhristu abona ukuthi ayengenzani ukuze aqinisele phakathi kwenhlupho ayelazo lokuthi alungiselele inhlupho ayezaba lazo esikhathini esizayo. b

3. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sitaditshe incwadi zikaPhetro ezaphefumulelwayo?

³ Lanxa incwadi zakhe wayezibhalela amaKhristu okuqala, uJehova wenza ukuthi zibe seLizwini lakhe. Yikho lathi kungasinceda  lokho esikufunda encwadini zikaPhetro. (Rom. 15:4) Njengoba siphila emhlabeni ogcwele abantu abangaziphathanga, lathi sihlangana lezilingo ezingenza kube nzima ukuthi sikhonze uJehova. Kanti njalo sekuseduze ukuthi sibone ukuhlupheka okukhulu okwedlula lokho okwaqeda umumo wezinto wamaJuda. Incwadi zikaPhetro zilezifundo eziqakatheke kakhulu ezizasinceda ukuthi sihlale silulindele usuku lukaJehova, sinqobe ukwesaba abantu lokuthi sithandane kakhulu. Izifundo lezo zinganceda labadala babone ukuthi bangabancedisa njani abafowabo labodadewabo ukuthi bahlale belokholo oluqinileyo.

4. U-2 Phetro 3:3, 4, uthi kuyini okungaxegisa ukholo lwethu?

⁴ Siphila labantu abangazikholwayo iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini. Abasiphikisayo bangasihleka ngoba sekulesikhathi eside silindele ukuphela. Abantu abachothozayo bangathi vele akusoze kwafika. (Bala u-2 Phetro 3:3, 4.) Ukuzwa umuntu esimtshumayezayo, loba esisebenza laye kumbe omunye emulini ekhuluma izinto ezinjalo kungaxegisa ukholo lwethu. Kodwa uPhetro wasitshela lokho okungasinceda.

5. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singaboni angathi ukuphela sekuphuzile? (U-2 Phetro 3:8, 9)

⁵ Abanye bangabona angani uJehova uyaphuza ukuqeda umumo lo wezinto onzima. Amazwi kaPhetro angasinceda ukuthi sibone izinto ngendlela eyiyo ngoba asikhumbuza ukuthi indlela uJehova abona ngayo isikhathi itshiyene kakhulu lendlela abantu ababona ngayo. (Bala u-2 Phetro 3:8, 9.) Iminyaka eyinkulungwane ifana lelanga elilodwa kuJehova. UJehova uyabekezela njalo kafisi ukuthi loba ngubani abhujiswe. Kodwa umumo lo wezinto uzaphela nxa usuku lwakhe lungafika. Sisalindele ukuthi usuku lolo lufike, silesibusiso esihle esokuthi sitshumayeze abantu bezizwe zonke.

6. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi ‘siqhubeke sikhumbula’ usuku lukaJehova? (U-2 Phetro 3:11, 12)

⁶ UPhetro usikhuthaza ukuthi ‘siqhubeke sikhumbula’ usuku lukaJehova. (Bala u-2 Phetro 3:11, 12.) Singakwenza njani lokho? Okungasinceda yikuthi nsuku zonke sicabangisise ngezibusiso esizazithola emhlabeni omutsha. Zibone ngelihlo lengqondo uphefumula umoya ohlanzekileyo, usidla ukudla okwakha umzimba, usamukela izihlobo labangane abayabe sebevusiwe njalo ufundisa abantu abaphila kudala ngokugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho zeBhayibhili. Ukucabangisisa ngezinto lezi kuzakunceda ukuthi uhlale uzilindele, kuphinde kukuvikele ukuthi ungaboni angathi ukuphela kusesekhatshana. ‘Ukwazi lokho okuzakwenzakala’ esikhathini esizayo kuzasinceda ukuthi ‘singadukiswa’ ngabantu abafundisa izinto ezingamanga.—2 Phet. 3:17.

7. Ukwesaba abantu kungawuphambanisa njani umsebenzi wethu wokutshumayela?

⁷ Njengoba sikwazi ukuthi usuku lukaJehova seluseduze, senza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi sitshele abanye izindaba ezinhle. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi singathikaza ukutshumayela ngenxa yokuthi siyabe sisesaba ukuthi abantu bazasihlasela kumbe ukuthi bazacabangani ngathi. Lokhu kwenzakala kuPhetro. Ngobusuku uJesu athonisiswa ngabo uPhetro wakufihla ukuthi wayengomunye wabafundi bakhe, waze waphika lokuthi uyamazi. (Mat. 26:69-75) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uPhetro wakunqoba ukwesaba futhi wabhala wathi: “Lingakwesabi  lokho abakwesabayo njalo lingakhathazeki.” (1 Phet. 3:14) Amazwi kaPhetro ayasiqinisekisa ukuthi lathi singakunqoba ukwesaba abantu.

8. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singesabi abantu? (U-1 Phetro 3:15)

⁸ Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singesabi abantu? UPhetro wathi: “Vumani ezinhliziyweni zenu ukuthi uKhristu uyinkosi lokuthi ungcwele.” (Bala u-1 Phetro 3:15.) Lokhu kugoqela ukucabangisisa ngokuthi uJesu Khristu uyiNkosi yethu lokuthi ulamandla amakhulu. Nxa kungaba lethuba lokuthi utshele omunye umuntu izindaba ezinhle, ubususesaba kumbe utshaywe luvalo, khumbula iNkosi yethu. Mbone ngelihlo lengqondo uJesu ebusa ezulwini egonjolozelwe ngamamiliyoni ezingilosi. Khumbula ukuthi uphiwe “amandla wonke ezulwini lasemhlabeni” lokuthi ‘uzabe elawe kuze kube yisiphetho somumo lo wezinto.’ (Mat. 28:18-20) UPhetro usikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sihlale silungele’ ukutshela abanye lokho esikukholwayo. Uyafisa yini ukutshumayeza abanye emsebenzini, esikolo kumbe kwenye nje indawo? Nxa kunjalo cabanga ngokuthi kunini lapho okungavuleka khona ithuba ubusulungiselela lokho ongakutsho. Thandaza kuJehova ucela ukuthi akunike isibindi njalo ungathandabuzi ukuthi uzakuncedisa ukuthi unqobe ukwesaba.—Imiseb. 4:29.

9. Kunini lapho uPhetro ehluleka khona ukutshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda abafowabo labodadewabo? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

⁹ UPhetro wafunda ukutshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda abanye. Wazizwela ngezakhe uJesu esithi: “Ngilinika umlayo omutsha wokuthi lithandane. Thandanani ngendlela lami engilithande ngayo.” (Joh. 13:34) Lanxa kunjalo, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uPhetro wala ukudla labafowabo labodadewabo bezinye izizwe esesaba amaKhristu angamaJuda. Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi okwakusenziwa nguPhetro ‘kwakuyikuzenzisa.’ (Gal. 2:11-14) UPhetro wavuma ukuqondiswa wasetshintsha. Ezincwadini zakhe ezimbili wagcizelela ukuthi akumelanga siphonguthi siyabathanda abafowethu labodadewethu kodwa kumele sibatshengise ukuthi siyabathanda.

10. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi sibe “lothando lobuzalwane olungelakuzenzisa”? Chasisa. (U-1 Phetro 1:22)

¹⁰ UPhetro wathi kumele sibe “lothando lobuzalwane olungelakuzenzisa.” (Bala u-1 Phetro 1:22.) Sizabathanda ngendlela enjalo abafowethu labodadewethu nxa ‘silalela iqiniso.’ Iqiniso lelo lihlanganisa ukwazi ukuthi “uNkulunkulu kakhethi.” (Imiseb. 10:34, 35) Siyabe singawulaleli umlayo kaJesu omayelana lothando nxa sithanda abanye ebandleni kodwa kulabanye esingabathandiyo. Lanxa kunjalo kulabanye esingaba ngabangane babo abaseduze kulabanye njengoba nje kwakunjalo lakuJesu. (Joh. 13:23; 20:2) Kodwa uPhetro usikhumbuza ukuthi kumele sizame ngamandla ukuba “lothando lobuzalwane.” Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kumele sithande bonke abafowethu labodadewethu angathi sizalwa labo.—1 Phet. 2:17.

11. Kutshoni ‘ukuthandana kakhulu ngenhliziyo yonke’?

¹¹ UPhetro wasikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sithandane kakhulu ngenhliziyo yonke.’ Ivesi le nxa ikhuluma ngokuthanda “kakhulu” itsho ukuthanda umuntu lanxa kulezinto ezingenza kube nzima ukuthi umthande. Ngokwesibonelo, ungenzani nxa umzalwane angakuzwisa ubuhlungu kumbe akuphathe kubi? Ungezwa kusithi uphindisele njalo kungaba nzima ukuthi uqhubeke umthanda. Kodwa uPhetro wafunda kuJesu ukuthi ukuphindisela akumthokozisi uNkulunkulu. (Joh. 18:10, 11) Wabhala wathi: “Lingabuyiseli okubi ngokubi lokuthethisa ngokuthethisa. Kodwa buyiselani ngokubusisa.” (1 Phet. 3:9) Nxa ungabathanda kakhulu abazalwane uzakuba lomusa kubo futhi ubazwisise lanxa bengakuzwisa ubuhlungu.

12. (a) Ukuthandana kakhulu kuzasinceda ukuthi senzeni? (b) Kuyini ozimisele ukukwenza okubone kuvidiyo ethi Londoloza Isipho Esiqakathekileyo Sokumanyana?

¹² Lasencwadini yakhe yokuqala, uPhetro wasebenzisa amazwi athi “thandanani kakhulu.” Uthando olunjalo lusibekela “izono ezinengi” hatshi ezilutshwana nje kuphela. (1 Phet. 4:8) Mhlawumbe uPhetro wacabanga ngesifundo uJesu ayemfundise sona eminyakeni eyadlulayo esasimayelana lokuthethelela. Kumele ukuthi ngalesosikhathi uPhetro wayecabanga ukuthi wayeyabe elomusa kakhulu nxa ethethelela umfowabo “kasikhombisa.” Kodwa uJesu wafundisa ukuthi kumele sithethelele “kuze kube ka-77,” okutsho ukuthi kumele siqhubeke sithethelela sonke isikhathi. (Mat. 18:21, 22) Ungadani nxa ukubona kunzima ukuthi ukwenze lokhu. Zonke izinceku zikaJehova ziyake zithwale nzima ukuthi zithethelele. Okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi wenze konke ongakwenza ukuthi uthethelele umfowenu lokuthi wenze kube lokuthula phakathi kwenu. c

13. Kuyini okungenza kube nzima ukuthi abadala beluse abafowabo labodadewabo?

¹³ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uPhetro kazange akukhohlwe lokho akutshelwa nguJesu esanda kuvuswa. Wathi kuye: “Yelusa amazinyane ezimvu zami.” (Joh. 21:16) Nxa ungumdala uyakwazi ukuthi amazwi la ayasebenza lakuwe. Kodwa kungaba nzima kwezinye izikhathi ukuthi umdala athole isikhathi sokwenza umsebenzi lo oqakathekileyo. Phela abadala kumele baqale babe leqiniso lokuthi izimuli zabo ziyathola izinto zokuziphilisa eziqakathekileyo, lokuthi ziyabona ukuthi ziyathandwa futhi bazincedise ukuthi zisondele kuJehova. Kanti njalo bayakhokhela emsebenzini wokutshumayela, bayalungiselela futhi benze izinkulumo emihlanganweni yebandla, leyeziqinti leyezabelo. Abanye bangamalunga amaKhomithi Asebenzelana Lezibhedlela njalo abanye bakuHlangothi Lokudweba Amaplani Lokwakha. Abadala balemisebenzi eminengi sibili!

14. Kuyini okungenza abadala bakukhuthalele ukwelusa? (U-1 Phetro 5:1-4)

¹⁴ UPhetro wakhuthaza abadala wathi: “Yelusani umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.” (Bala u-1 Phetro 5:1-4.) Nxa ungumdala siyakwazi ukuthi uyabathanda abafowenu labodadewenu futhi uyafuna ukubelusa. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi ungabona angani ulemisebenzi eminengi kakhulu kumbe uzwe udiniwe okokuthi ngeke wenelise ukwenza umsebenzi lo. Manje ungenzani? Tshela uJehova indlela ozizwa ngayo. UPhetro wathi: “Onceda abanye kakwenze lokho angathi uthembele emandleni avela kuNkulunkulu.” (1 Phet. 4:11) Abafowethu labodadewethu bangabe belenhlupho ezingeke zilunge emhlabeni lo. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi “umelusi omkhulu” uJesu Khristu angabancedisa ukwedlula lokho wena ongenelisa ukukwenza. Angabancedisa khathesi lasemhlabeni omutsha. Lokho uJehova akufunayo ebadaleni yikuthi bathande abazalwane, babeluse futhi babe “yizibonelo emhlambini.”

15. Umdala okuthiwa nguWilliam uwelusa njani umhlambi? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹⁵ Umfowethu okuthiwa nguWilliam oselesikhathi eside engumdala uyakuzwisisa ukuqakatheka kokwelusa. Umkhuhlane weCOVID-19 wathi uqalisa, yena labanye abadala  babesiba leqiniso lokuthi bayathintana lommemezeli ngamunye oseqenjini labo maviki wonke. UWilliam uyasitshela ukuthi kungani babesenza njalo. Uthi: “Abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi babebodwa ezindlini zabo njalo kwakungaba lula ukuthi bakhulelwe yikukhathazeka.” UWilliam uyalalelisisa nxa umfowethu loba udadewethu emtshela ngohlupho lwakhe ukuze abone ukuthi kuyini okungabe kumkhathaza lokuthi angamncedisa njani. Ngemva kwalokho uyadinga amabhuku loba amavidiyo kuwebhusayithi yethu angawasebenzisa ukuthi akhuthaze umfowethu loba udadewethu lowo. Uthi: “Esikhathini lesi esiphila kuso abazalwane bayakudinga kakhulu ukweluswa. Sisebenza nzima sincedisa abantu ukuthi bafunde ngoJehova, yikho kumele sisebenze nzima futhi ukuthi seluse izimvu zikaJehova sizincedisa ukuthi zihlale ziseqinisweni.”

16. Singazisebenzisa njani izifundo esizithole ezincwadini zikaPhetro?

¹⁶ Sixoxe ngezifundo ezilutshwana esizithola ezincwadini ezimbili zikaPhetro eziphefumulelweyo. Mhlawumbe kukhona okunanzeleleyo ongafuna ukukuthuthukisa. Ngokwesibonelo ungafisa yini ukuhlala ucabangisisa ngezibusiso esizazithola emhlabeni omutsha? Uke wacabanga yini ngalokho ongakwenza ukuze utshumayele emsebenzini, esikolo kumbe lapho kuvela ithuba? Uyazibona yini indlela ongatshengisa ngazo ukuthi uyabathanda kakhulu abafowenu labodadewenu? Badala, lizimisele yini ukwelusa izimvu zikaJehova? Nxa ungazihlola ubusubona ukuthi kulalapho okumele ulungisise khona, ungapheli amandla. “INkosi ilomusa” futhi izakuncedisa ukuthi uthuthuke. (1 Phet. 2:3) UPhetro wasiqinisekisa wathi: ‘UNkulunkulu yena ngokwakhe uzaqedisa ukuqeqetshwa kwenu. Uzaliqinisa alenze libe lamandla njalo alimise phezu kwesisekelo esiqinileyo.’—1 Phet. 5:10.

17. Sizatholani nxa singaphikelela sivume ukuqeqetshwa nguJehova?

¹⁷ UPhetro wake wabona angathi akumfanelanga ukuthi abe seduze leNdodana kaNkulunkulu. (Luk. 5:8) Kodwa uJehova loJesu bamncedisa yikho waphikelela waqhubeka engumlandeli kaKhristu. Lokhu kwenza wathola isibusiso “sokungena eMbusweni waphakade weNkosi yethu loMsindisi wethu uJesu Khristu.” (2 Phet. 1:11) Nxa lawe ungaphikelela njengoPhetro njalo uvume ukuthi uJehova akuqeqetshe, uzathola umvuzo wokuphila okungapheliyo. Uzayithola sibili ‘insindiso yakho’ ngoba ‘yiyo inhloso yethu yokuba lokholo.’—1 Phet. 1:9.