1. Msinyana ngaphambi kokuhlongakala kwakaPitrosi, khuyini uJehova amsebenzisa bona ayenze?

 UMPOSTOLI uPitrosi bekazi ukuthi uzokuhlongakala ingasikade. Walotjha uJehova ngokuthembeka isikhathi eside. Wakhamba noJesu emsebenzini wokutjhumayela, wathoma umsebenzi wokutjhumayela la bekungatjhunyayelwa khona bewaba lilunga lesihlopha esibusako. Nasele azi ukuthi uzokuhlongakala ingasikade, uJehova wamnikela umsebenzi omnengi bona awenze. Ngabo-62-64 C.E., uJehova wamsebenzisa bona atlole iincwadi ezimbili—iincwadi eziseBhayibhelini ezibizwa ngokuthi ngeyoku-1 neyesi-2 kaPitrosi. Bekanethemba lokuthi iincwadezi zizokusiza amaKrestu ngemva kokuhlongakala kwakhe.—2 Pit. 1:12-15.

2. Kubayini iincwadi ezatlolwa nguPitrosi bezitlhogeka?

² UPitrosi watlola iincwadi zakhe ngesikhathi abafowabo nabodadwabo ‘balisizi ngeenlingo ezihlukahlukeneko.’ (1 Pit. 1:6) Amadoda akhohlakeleko bewalinga ukuletha iimfundiso ezimamala nokuziphatha okusilapheleko ebandleni lobuKrestu. (2 Pit. 2:1, 2, 14) Msinyana amaKrestu ahlala eJerusalema bewazokuqalana ‘nokuphela kwazo zoke izinto’—ibutho lamaRoma nalitjhabalalisa idorobho beliqede nendlela yamaJuda yokwenza izinto. (1 Pit. 4:7) Akunakuzaza ukuthi iincwadi zakaPitrosi zasiza amaKrestu abona ukuthi khuyini angayenza bona akghodlhelele iinlingo aqalene nazo nokulungiselela ezizako. b

3. Kubayini kufuze sihlole iincwadi zakaPitrosi?

³ Nanyana uPitrosi bekatlolela amaKrestu ebekaphila ngesikhatheso,  uJehova wazifaka iincwadezo eliZwini lakhe. Singazuza eencwadinezo. (Rom. 15:4) NjengamaKrestu lawo, siphila ephasini elizele ukuziphatha okumbi, okwenza kube budisi ukulotjha uJehova. Ingasikade sizokuqalana nesizi elikhulu ukudlula lelo ebelikhona nakutjhatjalaliswa indlela yamaJuda yokwenza izinto. Sifumana iinkhumbuzo eziqakathekileko eencwadini ezimbili zakaPitrosi. Zizosisiza sihlale silindele ilanga lakaJehova, sihlule ukwesaba besithandane. Iinkhumbuzo ezinjalo zizokusiza nabadala babone ukuthi bangawutlhogomela njani umhlambi ngokuphumelelako.

4. Njengombana kutjengiswe kweyesi-2 kaPitrosi 3:3, 4, khuyini engabogabogisa ukukholwa kwethu?

⁴ Sibhodwe babantu abangakholelwa esiphorofidweni seBhayibheli. Abantu abasiphikisako bangasihleka ngebanga lokuthi sekuminyaka eminengi sithi ukuphela kuzokufika. Abanye abantu bathi angeze kwafika. (Funda yesi-2 kaPitrosi 3:3, 4.) Nasizwa izinto ezinjalo ebantwini esibatjhumayezako, kesisebenza nabo namkha emndenini, ukukholwa kwethu kungathinteka. UPitrosi wahlathulula ukuthi khuyini engasisiza.

5. Khuyini ezosisiza sibe nombono ofaneleko malungana nokuphela kwephaseli? (2 Pitrosi 3:8, 9)

⁵ Kwabanye kungabonakala ngasuthi uJehova uyariyada ukuqeda iphasi elimbeli. Amezwi kaPitrosi angasisiza, asikhumbuze ukuthi indlela uJehova aqala ngayo isikhathi ihlukile kuneyethu. (Funda yesi-2 kaPitrosi 3:8, 9.) KuJehova iminyaka eyikulungwana ifana nelanga linye. UJehova uyabekezela, akafuni kutjhatjalaliswe namunye. Nakufika ilanga lakhe, uzoliqeda iphaseli. Sinelungelo elihle khulu lokuthi sisebenzise isikhathi esiseleko ukuthi sitjhumayeze abantu ephasini loke.

6. ‘Sihlala silikhumbula’ njani ilanga lakaJehova? (2 Pitrosi 3:11, 12)

⁶ UPitrosi usikhuthaza bona ‘sihlale sikhumbula’ ilanga lakaJehova. (Funda yesi-2 kaPitrosi 3:11, 12.) Singakwenza njani lokho? Qobe langa singalinga ukucabanga ngendlela ukuphila ekuzabe kukarisa ngayo ephasini elitjha. Zicabange uphefumula umoya ohlwengileko, udla ukudla okunepilo, wamukela umndeni nabangani abavusiweko begodu ufundisa abantu abaphile eminyakeni eminengi eyadlulako ngokuzaliseka kweemphorofido zeBhayibheli. Ukucabanga ngezintwezi kuzokwenza usiqale ngabomvu isikhatheso begodu uqiniseke ukuthi siphila emihleni yokuphela. ‘Ngokufumana ilwazeli kusesengaphambili’ ngengomuso lethu, ‘angekhe sidurhiswe’ bafundisi bamala.—2 Pit. 3:17.

7. Ukusaba abantu kungasithinta njani?

⁷ Ngebanga lokuthi siyazi bona ilanga lakaJehova litjhidele, sifuna ukwenza koke esingakwenza bona sicocele abantu iindaba ezimnandi. Kodwana ngezinye iinkhathi singasaba ukukhuluma nabo. Kubayini? Ngombana singasaba lokho abantu abangakucabanga ngathi namkha abangakwenza kithi. Lokho khekwenzeka kuPitrosi. Ngobusuku bokudenjwa komlandu kaJesu, uPitrosi wabhalelwa kuziveza ukuthi ungomunye wabafundi bakaJesu begodu wamphika kanengi ukuthi uyamazi. (Mat. 26:69-75) Kodwana uPitrosi wakghona ukuhlula ukusaba kwakhe ngombana ngokukhamba kwesikhathi watlola ngokuqiniseka wathi: “Ningakusabi abakusabako namkha nithikaziseke.” (1 Pit. 3:14) Amezwi kaPitrosi ayasiqinisekisa ukuthi singakuhlula ukusaba abantu.

8. Khuyini engasisiza bona sihlule ukusaba abantu? (1 Pitrosi 3:15)

 ⁸ Khuyini engasisiza sihlule ukusaba abantu? UPitrosi uyasitjela uthi: “Cwengisani uKrestu njengeKosi eenhliziyweni zenu.” (Funda yoku-1 kaPitrosi 3:15.) Lokhu kuhlanganisa ukucabangisisa ngamandla nesikhundla iKosethu uJesu Krestu enawo. Nange ubethwa livalo namkha usaba lokha nakuvela ithuba lokuthi ukhulume nabanye ngeendaba ezimnandi, khumbula iKosethu. Icabange ibusa ezulwini, ibhodwe ziingidi zeengilozi. Khumbula ukuthi unalo “loke ilawulo ezulwini nephasini” nokuthi ‘uzokuba nathi imihla yoke bekube sekupheleni kwephasi.’ (Mat. 28:18-20) UPitrosi usikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sihlale sikulungele’ ukuvikela ukukholwa kwethu. Ungakuthabela na ukutjhumayeza umuntu emsebenzini, esikolweni namkha kenye indawo? Cabanga kusesengaphambili ukuthi ungakwenza nini lokho bese ulungiselele ukuthi uzokuthini. Thandazela isibindi, ube nethemba lokuthi uJehova uzokusiza uhlule ukusaba abantu.—IzE. 4:29.

9. Kesinye isenzakalo, uPitrosi wabhalelwa njani kutjengisa ithando? (Qala godu nesithombe.)

⁹ UPitrosi wafunda ukuthi angatjengisa njani ukuthi uyabathanda abanye. Bekakhona lokha uJesu nakathi: “Ngininikela umyalo  omutjha, wokuthi nithandane; njengombana nami nginithandile, nani thandanani.” (Jwa. 13:34) Naphezu kwalokho, ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uPitrosi wala ukudla nabafowabo nabodadwabo abangasiwo amaJuda ngebanga lokuthi bekasaba amaKrestu amaJuda. Umpostoli uPowula wabiza lokho okwenziwa nguPitrosi ngokuthi ‘kuzenzisa.’ (Gal. 2:11-14) UPitrosi wakwamukela ukulungiswokho bewafunda kikho. Eencwadini zakhe ezimbilezi, wagandelela ukuthi akukafuzi sibathande kwaphela abafowethu nabodadwethu kodwana kufuze sibatjengise ukuthi siyabathanda.

10. Khuyini esisiza bona sitjengise “ithando elinganabuzenzisi” ngomunye nomunye? Hlathulula. (1 Pitrosi 1:22)

¹⁰ UPitrosi uthi kufuze sibe ‘nethando elinganabuzenzisi’ ngabafowethu nabodadwethu. (Funda yoku-1 kaPitrosi 1:22.) Sizokuba nethando elinjalo ‘nasilalela iqiniso.’ Iqinisweli lihlanganisa ukuthi ‘uZimu akakhethi.’ (IzE. 10:34, 35) Angekhe salalela umyalo kaJesu wokuthandana nange sithanda abanye ebandleni kuthi abanye singabathandi. Kuliqiniso ukuthi singazizwa sitjhidelene nabanye khulu ukudlula abanye njengombana kwenza uJesu. (Jwa. 13:23; 20:2) Kodwana uPitrosi usikhumbuza ukuthi kufuze silwele ‘ukuthanda yoke ihlangano yabafowethu’—okutjho ukuthi sifuna ukuthanda boke abafowethu nabodadwethu ngombana bayingcenye yomndenethu.—1 Pit. 2:17.

11. Kutjho ukuthini ukuthanda abanye “ngokusuka ehliziyweni”?

¹¹ UPitrosi usikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sithandane khulu ngokusuka ehliziyweni.’ Ngokomongo lo, ‘ukuthanda khulu’ kutjho ukuthanda umuntu ngitjho nanyana kubudisi ukutjengisa bonyana uyamthanda. Ngokwesibonelo, kuthiwani nange umfowethu asikhuba namkha asizwisa ubuhlungu ngenye indlela? Kokuthoma, singafuna ukuzibuyiselela kunokobana simtjengise ithando. UPitrosi wafunda kuJesu ukuthi ukuzibuyiselela akumthabisi uZimu. (Jwa. 18:10, 11) Watlola wathi: “Ningabuyiseli ubumbi ngobumbi namkha ukuthukana ngokuthukana. Kunalokho, buyiselani ngokubusisa.” (1 Pit. 3:9) Vumela ithando elikhulu likwenze ube nomusa begodu ucabangele ngitjho nalabo okungenzeka bakuzwise ubuhlungu.

12. (a) Khuyini ithando elikhulu elingasisiza siyenze? (b) Khuyini ozimisele ukuyenza njengombana kutjengiswe evidiyweni ethi, Londoloza Isipho Sobunye Esiyigugu?

¹² Encwadinakhe yokuthoma, uPitrosi wasebenzisa amezwi athi “thandanani khulu.” Ithando elinjalo aligubuzesi kwaphela izono ezimbalwa kodwana ligubuzesa “izono ezinengi.” (1 Pit. 4:8) Kungenzeka uPitrosi wakhumbula isifundo esimalungana nokulibalela uJesu amfundisa sona eminyakeni eyadlulako. Ngesikhatheso kungenzeka uPitrosi bekacabanga bona unomusa nakathi uzokulibalela umfowabo “amahlandla alikhomba.” Kodwana uJesu wafundisa uPitrosi nathi ukulibalela “amahlandla ama-77” okutjho ukuthi ngokunganasilinganiso. (Mat. 18:21, 22) Nangabe ukufumana kubudisi ukusebenzisa iselulekwesi, ungapheli amandla! Boke abantu bakaJehova abanesono bakufumene kubudisi ukulibalela ngezinye iinkhathi. Okuqakatheke khulu nje kukobana wenze nanyana yini ongakghona ukuyenza bona ulibalele umfowenu bewenze nokuthula naye. c

13. Khuyini engenza kube budisi ngabadala bona bafumane isikhathi sokukhuthaza abafowabo nabodadwabo?

¹³ Kwamambala uPitrosi akhenge akukhohlwe lokho uJesu amtjela khona ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe: “Lusa izimvana zami.” (Jwa. 21:16) Nange umdala, uyazi ukuthi iinqophiswezo ziyasebenza nakuwe. Kungaba budisi ngomdala ukufumana isikhathi sokwenza isabelo esiqakathekilekwesi. Kokuthoma, abadala kufuze baqinisekise ukuthi imindenabo inakho koke ekutlhogako bona iphile, izizwe ithandwa nokuyisiza itjhidelane noZimu. Badosa phambili ekutjhumayeleni, ekulungiseleleni nekubekeni iinkulumo esifundweni, emhlanganweni emincani nemikhulu. Abanye bamalunga wamaKomidi aBonisana neemBhedlela namkha basebenza nomNyango wezoKwakha. Abadala bamajadu khulu!

14. Khuyini engakhuthaza abadala bona baluse umhlambi? (1 Pitrosi 5:1-4)

¹⁴ UPitrosi wakhuthaza abadala ukuthi ‘baluse umhlambi kaZimu.’ (Funda yoku-1 kaPitrosi 5:1-4.) Nange umdala, siyazi ukuthi uyabathanda abodadwenu nabafowenu begodu ufuna ukubelusa. Nanyana kunjalo, ngezinye iinkhathi ungazizwa kwangathi udiniwe namkha umajadu khulu ukuthi ungasenza isabelwesi. Khuyini ongayenza? Tjela uJehova ngakho koke okukutshwenyako. UPitrosi watlola wathi: “Nangabe kukhona osizako, akasize njengosame emandleni anikelwe nguZimu.” (1 Pit. 4:11) Abafowenu nabodadwenu kungenzeka baqalene nemiraro ekungenzeka angeze yararululeka ephasineli. Khumbula ukuthi “umelusi omkhulu,” uJesu Krestu angabasiza ukudlula nanyana ngubani. Angakwenza nje nephasini elitjha. UZimu ubawa abadala bona bathande abafowabo, babeluse begodu ‘babe ziimbonelo emhlanjini.’

15. Omunye umdala wawulusa njani umhlambi? (Qala nesithombe.)

¹⁵ U-William, osele amdala isikhathi eside uyakuzwisisa ukuqakatheka kokwelusa. Nakuthoma isindabelaphi i-COVID-19, yena nabanye abadala bazibekela umnqopho wokuthintana nelunga ngalinye elisesiqhemeni sabo sesimu. Uyahlathulula ukuthi kubayini bebenza njalo: “Abafowethu abanengi bebasemakhaya babodwa, nje-ke ukucabanga  kwabo bekungatjhuguluka msinyana kube ngokungakhiko.” Lokha umfowethu namkha udadwethu nakaba nemiraro, u-William bekamlalelisisa athole ukuthi utlhogani. Ulinga ukufumana iinsetjenziswa ezithileko ezinjengamavidiyo kuzinzolwazi yethu angawasebenzisa bona abasize. Uthi: “Ukwelusa kutlhogeka khulu nje kunanini ngaphambilini. Sisebenza budisi bona sisize abantu abangasibafowethu bona bafunde ngoJehova; yeke sitlhoga ukwenza imizamo efanako ukusiza abafowethu bahlale baseqinisweni.”

16. Kungayiphi indlela esingasebenzisa ngayo iimfundo esizifunde eencwadini zakaPitrosi?

¹⁶ Sicoce ngeemfundo ezimbalwa eziseencwadini ezimbili zakaPitrosi. Mhlamunye ulemuke bona kunalapha ekufuze uthuthukise khona. Ngokwesibonelo, kghani ungakuthabela na ukucabangisisa ngeembusiso esizozifumana ephasini elitjha? Kghani uzibekele umnqopho wokutjhumayela emsebenzini, esikolweni namkha kenye indawo ungakahleli? Zikhona na iindlela ongatjengisa ngazo abafowenu bona ubathanda khulu? Badala inga-kghani nizimisele ukulusa izimvu zakaZimu ngomusa nangekuthalo? Zihlole ngokuthembeka ubone ukuthi kukuphi la utlhoga ukuthuthukisa khona begodu ungadani. “IKosi inomusa,” begodu izokusiza uthuthukise. (1 Pit. 2:3) UPitrosi uyasiqinisekisa: “UZimu . . . uzokuqedelela ukubandulwa kwenu. Uzonenza niqine, uzonenza nibe namandla, uzonibeka esisekelweni esiqinileko.”—1 Pit. 5:10.

17. Nange sikghodlhelela besivume ukubandulwa nguJehova, uzokuba yini umphumela?

¹⁷ UPitrosi khewazizwa angafaneleki ukuba noJesu. (Luk. 5:8) Kodwana ngesekelo lethando lakaJehova noJesu, uPitrosi wakghodlhelela njengomlandeli kaKrestu. Ngebanga lalokho, uPitrosi wavunyelwa “ukungena emBusweni ongapheliko weKosethu noMsindisi uJesu Krestu.” (2 Pit. 1:11) Lokhu bekukarisa kwamambala! Nange ukghodlhelela njengoPitrosi bewuvumele uJehova akubandule, nawe uzokufumana ukuphila okungapheliko. ‘Uzokwamukela umphumela wokukholwa kwakho, okukusindiswa kwakho.’—1 Pit. 1:9.