1-2. Ngiliphi ibanga elisenza sibe nekareko encwadini yesAmbulo?

 INGA-KGHANI ukhe waqala incwadi yeenthombe yomunye umuntu? Njengombana ubukele iithombe, ubona ubuso obunengi ongakabujayeli. Kube nesithombe sinye esidosa ikarekwakho. Kubayini? Kungombana nawe usesithombeneso. Njengombana usiqalisisa, ulinga ukukhumbula ilanga enatjhuda ngalo isithombesi nokuthi nasitjhudela kuphi. Uqala nokuthi wazi woke umuntu osesithombeneso. Isithombesi siqakatheke khulu kuwe.

² Incwadi yesAmbulo ifana nesithombeso. Kubayini? Sinamabanga amabili wokutjho njalo. Ibanga lokuthoma kukuthi incwadi yeBhayibheli le yatlolelwa thina. Ivesi lokuthoma lencwadi le lithi: “Isambulo ngoJesu Krestu, asinikelwe nguZimu, ukutjengisa iinceku zakhe izinto ekufuze zenzeke msinyana.” (IsAm. 1:1) Yeke, okutlolwe encwadini le akusingokwabantu boke kodwana kutlolelwe thina ngombana silotjha uZimu. Njengombana sibabantu bakaZimu, akukafuzi kusirare ukuthi sinengcenye ekuzalisekeni kweemphorofido ezifumaneka encwadini le. Ngamanye amezwi, sizibona “esithombeni” esingokomfanekiso.

3-4. Ngokwencwadi yesAmbulo, iimphorofidwezi zizokuzaliseka nini begodu lokho kufuze kusithinte njani?

³ Ibanga lesibili libandakanya nesikhathi sokuzaliseka kweemphorofidwezi. Umpostoli uJwanisi ebesele aluphala waveza ukuthi iimphorofidwezi zizokuzaliseka nini, wathi: “Ngokuphefumulelwa ngaba selangeni leKosi.” (IsAm. 1:10) UJwanisi nakatlola amezwi la bekungu-96 C.E., ‘ilanga leKosi’ belisesekude. (Mat. 25:14, 19; Luk. 19:12) Ngokwesiphorofido seBhayibheli, ilangelo lathoma ngo-1914  uJesu nakaba yiKosi yezulwini. Kusukela ngomnyaka loyo kuye phambili, iimphorofido ezisencwadini yesAmbulo ezibandakanya abantu bakaZimu zathoma ukuzaliseka. Iye, namhlanjesi siphila ‘elangeni leKosi’!

⁴ Ngebanga lokuthi siphila esikhathini esikarisako, kufuze sisitjhejisise begodu silalele iseluleko esinethando esisencwadini yesAmbulo 1:3 esithi: “Uyathaba loyo ofunda ngokuzwakalako nalabo abezwa amezwi wesiphorofidwesi nabalalela izinto ezitlolwe kiso, ngombana isikhathi esibekiweko sitjhidele.” Kwamambala, kufuze ‘sifunde ngokuzwakalako’ bona ‘sizwe amezwi wesiphorofidwesi’ begodu ‘siwalalele’. Ngewasiphi isiphorofido amezwi okufuze siwalalele?

5. Incwadi yesAmbulo ikuveza njani ukuqakatheka kokuqinisekisa ukuthi indlela esilotjha ngayo uZimu iyamukeleka kuye?

⁵ Kusukela esahlukweni sokuthoma sencwadi yesAmbulo, sifunda ukuthi uJesu Krestu ukwazi kuhle okwenzeka emabandleni wabantu bakhe. (IsAm. 1:12-16, 20; 2:1) UJesu watjengisa ukuthi ukwazi kuhle okwenzekako emilayezweni ayithumela amabandla alikhomba wase-Asia Minor. Emilayezweni leyo, wanikela iinqophiso ezinqophileko zokusiza amaKrestu wangekhulu lokuthoma bona aqinisekise ukuthi ukulotjha kwabo kuyamukeleka kuJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akutjho emilayezweni le kuyasebenza nakibo boke abantu bakaZimu namhlanjesi. Khuyini esiyifundako? UmRholethu, uKrestu Jesu wazi kuhle ukuthi ubuhlobo bethu noJehova bunjani. Uyasinqophisa, asivikele begodu ubona zoke izinto. Uyazi bona khuyini ekufuze siyenze nasizakwamukeleka kuJehova. Ngisiphi isinqophiso asinikela sona ekufuze sisilalele namhlanjesi?

6. (a) Njengombana kuvezwe encwadini yesAmbulo 2:3, 4, ngiziphi izinto eziqakatheke khulu ezavela emlayezweni kaJesu oya ebandleni le-Efesu? (b) Ngiziphi iimfundo esizifunda kilokho?

⁶ Funda IsAmbulo 2:3, 4. Akukafuzi siphelelwe lithando ebesinalo ngoJehova ekuthomeni. Umlayezo kaJesu oya ebandleni le-Efesu bewuveza ukuthi bakghodlhelela begodu baragela phambili balotjha uJehova naphezu kweentjhijilo ezihlukahlukeneko. Nanyana kunjalo, bebangasanalo ithando ebebanalo ekuthomeni ngoJehova. Bekutlhogeka bona bavuselele ithandwelo ngombana nabangenzi njalo, ukulotjha kwabo uZimu bengeze kwamukeleka. Ngendlela efanako, nanamhlanjesi sitlhoga ukwenza okungaphezu kokukghodlhelela. Kufuze sikghodlhelelele amabanga afaneleko. UZimethu akanakareko kilokho esikwenzako kwaphela kodwana nokuthi kubayini sikwenza. Iinhloso zethu ziqakatheke khulu kuye ngombana ulindele ukuthi indlela esimlotjha ngayo isekelwe ethandweni elidephileko esinalo ngaye nekuthokozeni.—IzA. 16:2; Mar. 12:29, 30.

7. (a) Njengombana kuvezwe encwadini yesAmbulo 3:1-3, khuyini uJesu ayitjhejako malunganga nebandla leSardisi? (b) Khuyini okutlhogeka bona siyenze?

⁷ Funda IsAmbulo 3:1-3. Kufuze sirage nokuhlala sitjhejile. Amalunga webandla leSardisi bewanomraro ohlukileko. Ngitjho nanyana bebanetjhebiswano elihle noZimu phambilini, besele bathoma ukuzigedla emsebenzini abamenzela wona. Yeke uJesu wabatjela bona ‘bavuke.’ Isiyeleliswesi sisifundisani thina namhlanjesi? Iye, uJehova angekhe ayikhohlwe imisebenzethu. (Heb. 6:10) Nanyana kunjalo, akukafuzi sithembele  kilokho esakwenzela uJehova esikhathini esidlulileko. Kungenzeka kunezinto esingasakghoni ukuzenza njengekuthomeni kodwana kutlhogeka bona sihlale sinokunengi kokukwenza “emsebenzini weKosi,”sihlale siphapheme begodu sitjheje bekube sekupheleni.—1 Kor. 15:58; Mat. 24:13; Mar. 13:33.

8. Khuyini esiyifunda emlayezweni kaJesu oya kubafowethu beLawodikeya ofumaneka kusAmbulo 3:15-17?

⁸ Funda IsAmbulo 3:15-17. Kufuze sikhuthale begodu simlotjhe ngehliziyo yethu yoke uJehova. Umlayezo kaJesu oya ebandleni leLawodikeya waveza omunye umraro godu. ‘Bebasivuvu’ ekulotjheni kwabo uJehova. Ngebanga lobuvila babo, uJesu wabatjela ukuthi ‘bebalisizi begodu batlhuwisa’. Bebatlhoga ukuba nokukholwa okungeziweko kuJehova begodu bamlotjhe ngokuzimisela. (IsAm. 3:19) Khuyini esiyifundako? Nasilahlekelwe yitjiseko ekukholweni kwethu, kufuze sithokoze uZimu ngazo zoke izinto ezihle asinikela zona. (IsAm. 3:18) Akukafuzi sivumele ukunjinga nokuphila mabothobotho kusithikazise, kusenze bona singaqali ukulotjha uZimu njengokuqakathekileko ekuphileni kwethu.

9. Njengombana uJesu aveza emlayezwenakhe oya ebandleni lePhargamu neleThiyathira, ngiyiphi ingozi okutlhogeka bona siyibalekele?

⁹ Kufuze sibalekele iimfundiso zeenhlubuki. UJesu wakhalima abanye ebandleni lePhergamu ngokuthuthukisa amahlelo nokuhlukana. (IsAm. 2:14-16) Wabuka beThiyathira ebebazibalekela ‘izinto ezidephileko zakaSathana’ bewabakhuthaza bona ‘babambelele’ eqinisweni. (IsAm. 2:24-26) AmaKrestu abogabogako besele athome ukulawulwa ziimfundiso zamala, yeke bekufuze aphenduke. Kuthiwani ngathi namhlanjesi? Kufuze sibalekele nanyana ngiyiphi ifundiso ephikisana nefundiso kaJehova. Iinhlubuki zingabonakala ‘zizinikele kuZimu’ kodwana ‘ziwaphika amandla wokuzinikelokho.’ (2 Thim. 3:5) Kubulula ukubona nokubalekela iimfundiso zamala nasibafundi abazimiseleko beliZwi lakaZimu.—2 Thim. 3:14-17; Jud. 3, 4.

10. Ngisiphi esinye isifundo esingasifunda kilokho uJesu akutjela ibandla lePhargamu neleThiyathira?

¹⁰ Akukafuzi sihlanganyele, silalele namkha sithuthukise nanyana ngiliphi ihlobo lokuziphatha okusilapheleko. Bekunomunye godu umraro ePhargamu neThiyathira. UJesu wakhalimela abanye emabandleni la ngokungakubalekeli ukuziphatha  okusilapheleko. (IsAm. 2:14, 20) Khuyini esiyifundako? Angekhe silindele bona uJehova akghodlhelelele ukuziphatha kumbi kwethu, ngitjho nanyana simlotjhe iminyaka eminengi begodu sinamalungelo amanengi ehlanganwenakhe. (1 Sam. 15:22; 1 Pit. 2:16) Ulindele bona siphile ngokukhambisana neenkambiso zakhe zokuziphatha, nanyana ukuziphatha kwabantu esiphila nabo kuba kumbi kangangani.—Efe. 6:11-13.

11. Sifundeni bekube nje? (Qala ibhoksi elithi “ Esikufundako Namhlanjesi).”

¹¹ Sifundeni bekube nje? Sifunde ukuthi kuqakatheke kangangani ukuqinisekisa bona indlela esilotjha ngayo iyamukeleka kuJehova. Nasenza okuthileko okwenza ukulotjha kwethu kungamukeleki kuJehova, kufuze sithathe amagadango wokulungisa izinto msinya. (IsAm. 2:5, 16; 3:3, 16) UJesu waveza okhunye emlayezwenakhe oya emabandleni. Khuyini ayivezako?

12. Khuyini uJesu ayitjela abafowethu beSmirna nebeFiladelfiya esithintako nathi namhlanjesi? (IsAmbulo 2:10)

¹² Akhesicoce ngomlayezo kaJesu oya ebandleni leSmirna neleFiladelfiya. Watjela amaKrestu walapho bona angasabi ukuhlunguphazwa njengombana bewazokufumana umvuzo ngebanga lokukholwa. (Funda IsAmbulo 2:10; 3:10) Khuyini esiyifundako namhlanjesi? Kufuze silindele ukuhlunguphazwa begodu sikulungele ukukukghodlhelelela. (Mat. 24:9, 13; 2 Kor. 12:10) Kubayini isikhumbuzwesi siqakathekile?

13-14. Izenzakalo ezisencwadini yesAmbulo 12 zibathinte njani abantu bakaZimu?

¹³ Incwadi yesAmbulo isitjela ukuthi abantu bakaZimu bazokuhlunguphazwa esikhathini esiphila kiswesi, ‘ngelanga leKosi.’ IsAmbulo isahluko 12 siveza ukuthi kuzokuba nepi ezulwini ezokulandelwa kubelethwa komBuso kaZimu msinyana. UMikhayeli, oyingilozi esephazimulweni uJesu Krestu nebutho lakhe balwa noSathana namadimonakhe. (IsAm. 12:7, 8) Umphumela waba kuhlulwa kwamanaba kaZimu bewaqothelwa ephasinapha, alethela abantu abaphila ephasini ubuhlungu obukhulu. (IsAm. 12:9, 12) Indaba le ibathinta njani abantu bakaZimu?

¹⁴ IsAmbulo sisitjela ukuthi uSathana wasabela njani. Akasanalo ilungelo lokubuyela embusweni wezulwini, yeke udzimelelise ilaka lakhe kilabo abazesiweko abaseleko, abajamele umBuso kaZimu ephasini “nabanomsebenzi wokufakaza ngoJesu.” (IsAm. 12:17; 2 Kor. 5:20; Efe. 6:19, 20) Isiphorofidwesi sizaliseke njani?

15. Bobani abafanekiselwa ‘bofakazi ababili’ okukhulunywa ngabo encwadini yesAmbulo isahluko 11 begodu kwenzekani kibo?

 ¹⁵ USathana wabangela bona abafowethu abazesiweko ebebadosa phambili emsebenzini wokutjhumayela ngomBuso bahlaselwe. Abafowethwaba bebafanekiselwa ‘bofakazi ababili’ encwadini yesAmbulo, ababulawa. * (IsAm. 11:3, 7-11) Ngo-1918, abafowethu ababunane abadosa phambili bavalelwa ngejele, bavulelwa umlando wamala begodu ngamunye wabo wagwetjwa isikhathi eside ejele. Ebantwini, kwabonakala ngasuthi umsebenzi wabazesiweko besele ‘ubulewe.’

16. Ngiziphi izenzakalo ezikarisako ezenzeka ngo-1919 kodwana khuyini uSathana aragela phambili nokuyenza kusukela ngesikhatheso?

¹⁶ Isiphorofido esisencwadini yesAmbulo isahluko 11 saveza nokuthi ‘abofakazi ababili’ bebazokuvuswa ngemva kwesikhatjhana. Isiphorofidwesi sazaliseka ngendlela ekarisako ngesikhathi esingaphasi komnyaka ngemva kokubotjhwa kwabo. Ekuthomeni kwaka-1919 abafowethu abazesiwekwaba batjhatjululwa ejele, ngokukhamba kwesikhathi imilandu ebebabekwe yona yasulwa. Abafowethwaba bathoma khonokho ukudosa phambili godu emsebenzini wokutjhumayela nokufundisa. Lokho akhenge kukhandele uSathana bona aragele phambili nokuhlasela abantu bakaZimu. Kusukela ngesikhatheso, uSathana bekanqophisa ‘umlambo’ wokuhlunguphazwa kwabo boke abantu bakaZimu. (IsAm. 12:15) Kwamambala, “lapha kulapho kutlhogeka khona ukukghodlhelela nokukholwa” komunye nomunye wethu.—IsAm. 13:10.

17. Ngiliphi isizo elingakalindeleki abantu bakaZimu abalifumeneko ngitjho nanyana uSathana azimisele ukubahlasela?

¹⁷ IsAmbulo 12 siveza ukuthi abantu bakaZimu bazokufumana isizo ebebangakalilindeli. Kuzokuba ngasuthi “iphasi” liginye “umlambo” wokuhlunguphaza. (IsAm. 12:16) Ngilokho okwenzekako. Ngezinye iinkhathi, izinto uSathana azisebenzisako ephasini lakheli njengeminye yemithetho yokwahlulela, zisekele abantu bakaZimu begodu zabatjhaphulula. Kanengi, abantu bakaJehova bathumba imilandu ababekwa yona okwenza bafumane  itjhaphuluko. Bayisebenzise njani itjhaphulukwabo? Basebenzise woke amathuba abavulekelako ngokuzeleko bona benze umsebenzi uJehova abanikele wona. (1 Kor. 16:9) Kuhlanganisa ini lokhu?

18. Uyini umsebenzethu oyihloko emalangeni wokuphela la?

¹⁸ UJesu waphorofida ukuthi abantu bakhe bazokutjhumayela “iindaba ezimnandi zomBuso [kaZimu]” ephasini loke ngaphambi kobana kufike isiphelo. (Mat. 24:14) Nabatjhumayelako bafumana isizo elivela engilozini yinye namkha ezinengi, ‘eziineendaba ezimnandi zokuzimemezela kilabo abahlala ephasini, kizo zoke iintjhaba, iinkoro, amalimi nabantu.’—IsAm. 14:6.

19. Ngimuphi omunye umlayezo okufuze utjhunyayelwe ngilabo abathanda uJehova?

¹⁹ Iindaba ezimnandi zomBuso azisikuphela komlayezo abantu bakaZimu abazowumemezela. Kutlhogeka nokuthi basekele umsebenzi weengilozi ohlathululwa kusAmbulo 8 ukufikela kusahluko-10. Iingilozezi zimemezela abomaye ngokujamelene nalabo abangafuni ukwamukela umBuso kaZimu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, aboFakazi bakaJehova bebakhupha umlayezo wesahlulelo ofaniswa “nesinanja nomlilo,” oveza isahlulelo sakaJehova ngokujamelene nazo zoke iingcenye zephasi lakaSathana elimbeli. (IsAm. 8:7, 13) Kutlhogeka abantu bazi ukuthi isiphelo sitjhidele ukwenzela bona benze amatjhuguluko ekuphileni kwabo begodu basinde ngelanga lelaka lakaJehova. (Zef. 2:2, 3) Umlayezo lo awusimnandi ebantwini. Kutlhogeka bona sibe nesibindi nasizawumemezela. Ngesizi elikhulu, umlayezo wesahlulelo sokugcina uzobasilinga khulu abantu.—IsAm. 16:21.

20. Khuyini esizokucoca ngayo eenhlokweni ezimbili ezilandelako?

²⁰ Kuqakatheke kwamambala ukulalela “amezwi wesiphorofidwesi” ngombana nathi sibandakanyekile ekuzalisekeni kwalokho esikufunda encwadini yesAmbulo. (IsAm. 1:3) Singakukghodlhelela njani ngokuthembeka ukuhlunguphazwa begodu siragele phambili sidlala indimethu ekutjhumayeleni ngesibindi? Sizokuqiniswa zizinto ezimbili: kokuthoma, ngilokho incwadi yesAmbulo ekuvezako ngamanaba kaZimu begodu kwesibili, kucabanga ngeembusiso esizozifumana ngesikhathi esizako nasihlala sithembekile. Sizokucoca ngamaphuzu amabili la eenhlokweni ezimbili ezilandelako.