1, 2. Kubayini ukukhohlisa kurhagele kangaka namhlanjesi, begodu singakubona njani? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

UKUDLALA ngabantu, ukukhwabanisa, nokukhohlisa sekuziziga zangamalanga esikhathini esiphila kiswesi. Lokhu akusirari, ngani ngoba iBhayibheli liyatjho bona uSathana uDeveli sikghwari sokukhohlisa, begodu iphaseli lilawulwa nguye. (1 Thim. 2:14; 1 Jwa. 5:19) Njengombana silalamela emaphethelweni wephasi elimbeli, ilaka lakaSathana liyadlhabhaza ngombana “isikhathi sakhe sifitjhani.” (IsAm. 12:12) Yeke, sikulindele ukwanda kobukhohlakali kilabo abathonywa nguDeveli, ekukhwabaniseleni labo abasekela ukukhulekela kweqiniso.

² Ngasikhathi, iimbikiindaba zikhuluma ngemibiko edurhisako, zileye namala ngeenkhonzi zakaJehova nangeenkolelo zazo. Ezitjhujileko zamaphephandaba, amahlelo kamabonakude, namakhasi weZinzolwazi, sekusetjenziselwa ukuphadlhalaja amala. Umphumela vane ube kukuthi abanye bakhohliseka lula bese bawakholelwe amala anjalo.

3. Khuyini okungasisiza sivikeleke ekukhohlisweni?

³ Nokho, okuthabisako kukuthi singazivikela emaqhingeni kaSathana ngeliZwi lakaZimu elilungele “ukunqophisa imitjhapho.” (2 Thim. 3:16) Kuqakathekile-ke ukufunda kokwatlolwa ngumpostoli uPowula ukuthi amanye wamaKrestu weThesalokika adurhiswa, anyekele amukela nokungasi liqiniso. Wawakhuthaza bona ‘angadideki msinyana’ eengqondweni zawo. (2 Thes. 2:1, 2) Singafundani esinqophisweni sakaPowula sethandwesi, begodu esikufundakokho singakusebenzisa njani ebujamweni esiqalene nabo?

4. AmaKrestu weThesalonika ayeleliswa njani ‘ngelanga leKosi,’ begodu thina siyeleliswa njani?

⁴ Encwadinakhe yokuthoma ayitlolela ibandla leThesalonika, uPowula wayelelisa ‘ngelanga leKosi’  elizako. Bekangafuni bona abanakwabo basolo basebumnyameni, bangazazi ukuthi basidekiselo sayiphi ipoto. Kunalokho, wabakhuthaza ‘njengabantwana bokukhanya’ bona ‘bahlale baphapheme begodu baqaqulukile.’ (Funda 1 Thesalonika 5:1-6.) Namhlanjesi silindele ukurhayilwa kweBhabheli eliKhulu, umbuso wephasi wekolo yamala. Lesi kuzokuba sithomo selanga elikhulu lakaJehova. Thina sithokoziswa kukuthi siwuzwisisa ngconywana umnqopho kaJehova. Godu nangebandla sifumana iinkhumbuzo ezifike ngesikhathi ezisisiza sihlale siphapheme. Ukuhlala sizitjheja iinkhumbuzwezi ezibuyelelwa butjhilweni, kungaqinisa ukuzinikela kwethu ‘ekulotjheni’ uZimu sisebenzisa ikghono lokucabanga.—Rom. 12:1.

5, 6. (a) Encwadinakhe yesibili kwebeThesalonika, uPowula wakhuluma ngani? (b) Khuyini uZimu azokwenza kungasikade ngoJesu, begodu kufuze sizibuze ini?

⁵ Ngemva nje kokuthumelela amaKrestu weThesalonika incwadakhe yokuthoma, uPowula wathumela neyesibili. Kilokhu, wayelelisa ngesizi elizako lamhla iKosi uJesu iza nesigwebo sezulwini kilabo “abangamaziko uZimu nalabo abangalaleli ivangeli.” (2 Thes. 1:6-8) Okwembulwa sisahluko sesibili sencwadi le kukuthi abanye ebandleni besebathuswe nakukuza kwelanga lakaJehova kangangobana besebakholelwa nokuthi lizokufika khonokho. (Funda 2 Thesalonika 2:1, 2.) AmaKrestu wekadeni bekangawuzwisisi ngokuzeleko umnqopho kaJehova, kangangobana noPowula wanyekele wavuma ngokuphathelene nesiphorofido wathi: “Ngitjho ngombana sazi ingcenye begodu siphorofida ingcenye, kodwana nasele kufika ukupheleliswa, ukungakapheleliswa kuyanyamalala.” (1 Kor. 13:9, 10) Kodwana iinyeleliso ezakhulunywa nguPowula, uPitrosi, nabanye abazalwana abazesiweko bangesikhatheso, bezingabahlomisa beThesalonika bona baqinise ikholo labo.

⁶ Malungana nokunqophisa izinto, uPowula waphefumulelwa bona ahlathulule ukuthi bekuzokuba nokuhlubuka okukhulu ‘nabanganamthetho’ ngaphambi kwelanga lakaJehova. * Kuzakuthi-ke  ngesikhathi esifaneleko, iKosi uJesu ‘irhayile’ boke labo abakhohlisiweko. Umpostoli waliveza ibanga lokugwetjwa kwabo, okukukuthi “bale ukuthanda iqiniso.” (2 Thes. 2:3, 8-10) Senza kuhle ngokuzibuza: ‘Ngilithanda kangangani iqiniso? Ilwazi lami liyakhambisana na, nalokho esikufunde muva nje eencwadini zethu ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini zebandla labantu bakaZimu ephasini loke?’

7, 8. (a) AmaKrestu wekadeni bekufuze aqalane naziphi iingozi? (b) Ngiyiphi-ke ingozi ekhethekileko amaKrestu weqiniso aqalene nayo namhlanjesi?

⁷ Kuyavunywa ukuthi amaKrestu angaqalana neengozi, nanyana kungeze kwaba ngezabaphikisi namkha iimfundiso zabo. UPowula watlolela uThimothi bona “ukuthanda imali kumrabhu wakho koke okumbi.” Umpostoli lo waveza nokuthi “abanye ngokulangazela ukunjinga bahlubuke ekukholweni bebazihlaba ngeenhlungu ezinengi.” (1 Thim. 6:10) “Imisebenzi yenyama” nayo ngenye yeengozi.—Gal. 5:19-21.

⁸ Nokho, kungakuthabisa ukwazi ukuthi kubayini uPowula abayelelisa ngokuqinileko beThesalonika malungana nokusongelwa madoda ebewaziwa ‘ngabapostoli bamala.’ Hlangana nabo bekunalabo “abahlanekezela iqiniso ukuze bawunge abafundi babalandele.” (2 Kor. 11:4, 13; IzE. 20:30) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJesu wabuka ibandla le-Efesu ngebanga “lokubhalelwa kunyamezelela abambi.” AmaKrestu we-Efesu ‘bekabalinga’ labo ababapostoli bamala—abakhohlisi. (IsAm. 2:2) Okuthabisako kukuthi encwadinakhe yesibili ayitlolela beThesalonikha, uPowula wabakhuthaza ngelokuthi: “Nje-ke siyaniyala bazalwana ebizweni leKosethu uJesu Krestu bona niwagegede amakholwa [adondako].” Ngemva kwalokho wawadzubhula ngokunqophileko namaKrestu ‘angafuni ukusebenza.’ (2 Thes. 3:6, 10) Yeke, nengabe labo bebaqalwa njengabadondako, kuthiwani-ke ngalabo ebebanande bavunguzela ekuphikiseni? Kwamambala, ukuthelelana nabantu abanjalo ngesikhatheso bekungaba yingozi khulu, kungakho bekufuze kulahlwe njengombana kunjalo nanamhlanjesi.—IzA. 13:20.

9. Kubayini kufuze sihlale sibavulele amehlo abakhuluma nathi ngezinto ezingakhiko?

⁹ Sesilalamela esizini elikhulu nekupheleni kwephasi elimbeli, yeke iinyeleliso ezakhitjhwa ekadenezo, ziqakatheke khulu namhlanjesi. Khona vele asifuni ukulahlekelwa mnqopho womusa kaJehova owandileko bese siphundwa nasithembiso sokuphila isiphelani, kungaba sezulwini namkha ephasina. (2 Kor. 6:1) Nakungenzeka omunye esihlanganyela naye ebandleni alinge ukusidurhisa ngehlebo nangokusibuza imibuzo evivinya ikholo lethu, kufuze sihlale sibavulelele amehlo abanjalo.—2 Thes. 3:13-15.

10. AmaKrestu weThesalonika akhuthazwa bona akakarele kiziphi iimfundiso?

¹⁰ UPowula wakhuthaza abazalwana beThesalonika bona ‘baqine’ bebakakarele kwabakufundileko. (Funda 2 Thesalonika 2:15.) ‘Ziimfundiso’ bani abafundiswa zonezo? Eqinisweni akusingezekolo yamala, lezo ebezithuthukiswa kwanga zingcono kayitjhumi nazimadaniswa nalokho okufundiswa miTlolo. Kunalokho, uPowula waqalisela eemfundisweni yena nabanye abazifumana kuJesu, nalokho uZimu alayela abapostoli bona bakurhatjhe, okunengi  kwakho ebekurabhulwe emiTlolweni ephefumulelweko. UPowula wababuka abazalwana bebandla leKorinte njengombana athi, “ningikhumbula ezintweni zoke begodu nibambelela eemfundisweni njengombana ngazidlulisela kini.” (1 Kor. 11:2) Iimfundiswezo bezivela emthonjeni wamambala, kungebangelo bezithenjwa.

11. Abanye bakhohliseka ngaziphi iindlela?

¹¹ Nekatlolela amaHebheru, uPowula wakhanyisa iindlela ezimbili ezingabangela bona amaKrestu abogaboge bekabhalelwe nakuhlala aqinile. (Funda amaHebheru 2:1; 3:12.) Wakhuluma ‘ngokutjhida nangokuhlubuka.’ Isikepe esitjhidako sisuke hlanu komlambo, singathoma kancanikancani. Kuthi ngokukhamba kwesikhathi kubonakale ngesikhala. Ngakelinye ihlangothi, umuntu osunduzela isikepe sakhe ngemlanjeni, usisusa ehlabathini ngokusitjhova. Zombili izenzwezi zikufanekisela kuhle ukuthi abanye bakhohliseka lula kangangani, ngokuvumela ukubogaboga ekuthembeni kwabo iqiniso.

12. Ngiziphi izinto ezingabogabogisa ingokomoya lethu namhlanjesi?

¹² Kungenzeka bekunjalo nangabanye beThesalonika. Namhlanje-ke? Zinengi izinto ezingasimorosela isikhathi. Cabanga ngesikhathi esingangesikhathi esimoroswa ngethungelelwano lezokuthintana, ukufunda nokuphendula imilayezo yethungelelwano-hlanganiso, ukutanasa ngezokuzilibazisa, namkha ukugijimisa amabizelo nezokuzithabisa. Nanyana ngikuphi kwalokhu, kungaliya itjiseko yomKrestu. Bese uba yini umphumela? Akusathandazwa, alisafundwa iliZwi lakaZimu, imihlangano yebandla ayisaziwa, ingasaphathwa yokutjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi! Khuyini-ke esingakwenza, bona sibalekele ukudida iingqondo zethu?

13. Njengombana kubikezelwe, inengi linamuphi umukghwa begodu khuyini okuzokuvikela ukusongelwa kwekholo lethu?

¹³ Okukuphela kwento okufuze sihlale siyiphaphamele esikhathini esiphila kiswesi kukuzihlanganisa nabantu ababhala ukwamukela ukuthi siphila “emalangeni wokuphela.” Naku okwatlolwa ngumpostoli uPitrosi malungana nesikhathesi: “Kuzafika abanyefuli banyefule balandele iinkanuko zabo zokonakala basithi: ‘Siphi isithembiso sokuza kwakhe ngombana soloko kwalala abobaba, zoke izinto ziraga njengombana bezinjalo kusukela ekuthomeni kwendalo.’” (2 Pit. 3:3, 4) Ukulifunda nokulitaditjha qobe iliZwi lakaZimu kuzosisiza silemuke ukuthi sikuphi nesikhathi—kusenze sitjheje nokuthi siphila “emalangeni wokuphela.” ‘Abanganamthetho’ solo bakhona begodu baragela phambili nokuphikisa iinkhonzi zakaZimu. Ekhabolakhona, kufuze sihlale sikuphaphamele ukufika kwelanga lakaJehova.—Zef. 1:7.

14. Kusivikela ngayiphi indlela ukuba majadu ngomsebenzi kaZimu?

¹⁴ Enye indlela yokubalekela ukudideka engqondweni, kutjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi ngaso soke isikhathi. Yeke, iHloko yebandla, uKrestu Jesu ngesikhathi alayela abalandeli bakhe bona benze abafundi ebantwini beentjhaba zoke, babafundise ukwenza koke abayale ngakho, bekabanikela isiyeleliso esizobavikela. (Mat. 28:19, 20) Lokho singakwenza kwaphela nesiwutjhisekelako umsebenzethu wokutjhumayela. Khewucabange ukuthi bekuzokuba njani ngathana abazalwana beThesalonika bebatjhumayela ngombana kufanele batjhumayele! Khumbula ukuthi uPowula wathini kibo: “Ningamcimi uMoya. Ningawanyazi amezwi womphorofidi.”  (1 Thes. 5:19, 20) Enjekhona lezo ziimphorofido ezikarisako esizihlanganyela nabantu!

15. Ngiziphi izinto ezilisizo esingacoca ngazo ekukhulekeleni komndeni?

¹⁵ Sifuna ukusiza imindenethu ithuthukise amakghono wokutjhumayela. Abazalwana nabodade abanengi baqunte ukuthi ngezinye iinkhathi khebakhulume ngekonzo ekukhulekeleni komndeni. Kungaba lisizo ukucoca ngokuthi amanye amalunga womndeni enza njani nakafumene umuntu onekareko esimini. Azokukhuluma ngani nakabuyela kuye? Ngiziphi iindaba ezingamenza aragele phambili nokufunda? Nokuthi, ngisiphi isikhathi esihle sokubuyela kuye? Abanye ekukhulekeleni kwabo komndeni bazipha isikhathi sokuqalaqala nalokho okuzabe kudenjwa emihlanganweni yebandla, khona bazokuzuza emihlanganweni leyo. Ungathuthukisa na ekulungiseleleni ukuhlanganyela emihlanganweni enjalo? Phela ukuhlanganyela kwakho kuzokuqinisa ikholo lakho bekukusize nokuthi ingqondwakho ingadideki lula. (Rhu. 35:18) Kwamambala ukukhulekela komndeni kuzosivikela khulu ekukhulumeni ngezinto ezingakahlathululwa eBhayibhelini nekungabazeni.

16. AmaKrestu azesiweko kufuze angazididi ngamuphi umnqondo iingqondo zawo?

¹⁶ Nasicabangisisisa kuhle ngendlela uJehova ababusise ngayo abantu bakhe ngokuzwisisa isiphorofido seBhayibheli yoke iminyaka le, singabona ukuthi kuhle kangangani asasiphathele khona. Abazesiweko banethemba lokuyobusa noKrestu ezulwini. Yeke, qala bona kuqakatheke kangangani-ke ngabo ukuthi bangazididi iingqondo zabo! Amezwi uPowula awatlolela beThesalonika ayasebenza nakwabazesiweko namhlanjesi: “Sifanele sithokoze uZimu ngani bazalwana abathandwa yiKosi ngombana uZimu wakhetha nina . . . ngokucwengiswa nguMoya nangokukholwa eqinisweni.”—2 Thes. 2:13.

17. Ngisiphi isikhuthazo osithola kweyesi-2 Thesalonika 3:1-5?

¹⁷ Nalabo abanethemba lokuphila isiphelani ephasini kufuze balinge ngamandla ukungazididi iingqondo zabo. Nengabe unethemba lokuphila ephasini, zindla ngesikhuthazo samezwi uPowula awatlolela abazesiweko beThesalonika. (Funda 2 Thesalonika 3:1-5.) Ngamunye wethu kufuze amthabise amezwi la. Kwamambala, iincwadi eziya kwebeThesalonika zineenyeleliso eziqakathekileko ezisifundisa bona singarayi ngezinto ezingakahlathululwa eBhayibhelini, namkha sibenemibono ephakamisa imibuzo. Njengombana siphila emihleni yokuphela nje, iinyeleliswezi ziyasithabisa thina esimaKrestu namhlanjesi.