1-3. (a) Kodi Paulo anayamba kuyenda ndi ndani, nanga mnzakeyo anali wotani? (b) Kodi tiphunzira chiyani m’mutuwu?

 MTUMWI Paulo ankachita chidwi ndi mnyamata amene anali naye, pamene ankayenda ulendo wapansi kudutsa mumsewu wa m’mapiri wolumikiza matauni awiri. Mnyamatayu dzina lake linali Timoteyo. Timoteyo anali mnyamata wamphamvu amene mwina pa nthawiyi anali atatsala pang’ono kukwanitsa zaka 20 kapena atangopitirira pang’ono. Iwo anayenda mtunda wautali kuchoka kwawo kwa Timoteyo ndipo pofika madzulo, anali ali kutali kwambiri ndi mizinda ya Lusitara ndi Ikoniyo. Kodi ankayembekezera kukumana ndi zotani? Paulo ankadziwa zimene angakumane nazo chifukwa umenewu unali ulendo wake wachiwiri waumishonale. Iye ankadziwa kuti angakumane ndi mavuto komanso zinthu zambiri zoopsa. Koma kodi mnyamata amene ankayenda nayeyo akanakwanitsa kupirira mavuto amenewo?

² Paulo ankakhulupirira kuti Timoteyo, yemwe anali wodzichepetsa, akwanitsa kugwira ntchito imeneyo mwinanso kuposa mmene Timoteyoyo ankadzionera. Zimene Paulo anakumana nazo masiku angapo m’mbuyomo zinam’chititsa kuganiza kuti ayenera kupeza munthu woyenda naye woyenerera. Paulo ankadziwa kuti iyeyo limodzi ndi munthu amene akuyenda naye, ayenera kukhala olimba mtima ndiponso ogwirizana kwambiri kuti akwanitse kugwira ntchito yawo yoyendera mipingo ndi kuilimbikitsa. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ankaganiza zimenezi? Mwina chifukwa chimodzi chimene chinam’chititsa kuganiza zimenezi ndi choti m’mbuyomu anasemphana maganizo ndi Baranaba ndipo zimenezi zinachititsa kuti asiyane.

³ M’mutuwu, tiphunzira njira zabwino za mmene tingathetsere kusamvana. Tionanso chifukwa chake Paulo anasankha Timoteyo kuti akhale mnzake woyenda naye, ndipo tidziwa ntchito yofunika imene oyang’anira madera amagwira masiku ano.

4. Kodi Paulo anali ndi zolinga zotani pa ulendo wake wachiwiri waumishonale?

⁴ M’mutu wapitawu, tinaona kuti abale 4 omwe anali Paulo, Baranaba, Yudasi ndi Sila, amene anatumizidwa kuchokera ku Yerusalemu, analimbikitsa mpingo wa ku Antiokeya ndi mfundo imene bungwe lolamulira  linagwirizana pa nkhani ya mdulidwe. Kodi tsopano Paulo anachita chiyani? Iye anauza Baranaba kuti: “Tiyeni tibwerere kumizinda yonse kumene tinalalikira mawu a Yehova kuti tikachezere abale ndiponso tikawaone kuti ali bwanji.” (Mac. 15:36) Apa Paulo sankanena za ulendo wokangocheza basi ndi Akhristu atsopanowo. Buku la Machitidwe limasonyeza zolinga zenizeni za ulendo wachiwiri waumishonale wa Paulo. Choyamba, iye ankafuna kupitiriza kupereka malamulo ochokera ku bungwe lolamulira m’mipingo. (Mac. 16:4) Chachiwiri, popeza Paulo anali woyang’anira woyendayenda, iye ankafunitsitsa kukalimbikitsa mipingo mwauzimu ndi kuithandiza kuti ilimbe m’chikhulupiriro. (Aroma 1:11, 12) Kodi gulu la Mboni za Yehova masiku ano limatsanzira bwanji chitsanzo cha atumwi chimenechi?

5. Kodi Bungwe Lolamulira masiku ano limatsogolera ndiponso kulimbikitsa bwanji mipingo?

⁵ Masiku ano, Khristu amagwiritsa ntchito Bungwe Lolamulira la Mboni za Yehova potsogolera mpingo wake. Amuna okhulupirika odzozedwa amenewa, amatsogolera ndiponso kulimbikitsa mipingo yonse padziko lapansi, ndipo amachita zimenezi kudzera m’makalata, mabuku apazipangizo zamakono komanso osindikizidwa, misonkhano ndi njira zina. Bungwe Lolamulira limayesetsanso kuti lizilankhula ndi mpingo uliwonse. Kuti zimenezi zitheke, bungweli limagwiritsa ntchito oyang’anira madera. Bungwe Lolamulira linasankha akulu oyenerera padziko lonse kuti akhale oyang’anira madera.

6, 7. Kodi oyang’anira madera amagwira ntchito ziti?

⁶ Masiku ano, oyang’anira madera amayesetsa kuthandiza komanso kulimbikitsa mwauzimu munthu aliyense payekha m’mipingo yonse imene amaiyendera. Kodi amachita bwanji zimenezi? Amatsanzira chitsanzo cha Akhristu a m’nthawi ya atumwi monga Paulo. Iye analimbikitsa woyang’anira mnzake kuti: “Lalikira mawu. Uzilalikira modzipereka, pa nthawi yabwino ndi pa nthawi yovuta. Dzudzula, tsutsa, dandaulira, ndipo uzichita zimenezi ndi luso la kuphunzitsa ndiponso moleza mtima kwambiri. . . . Uzigwira ntchito ya mlaliki.”​—2 Tim. 4:2, 5.

⁷ Mogwirizana ndi mawu amenewa, woyang’anira dera limodzi ndi mkazi wake, ngati ali wokwatira, amalalikira limodzi ndi ofalitsa amumpingo umene akuchezera. Alaliki oyendayenda amenewa amachita utumiki wawo mwakhama komanso mwaluso ndipo zimenezi zimalimbikitsa nkhosa. (Aroma 12:11; 2 Tim. 2:15) Oyang’anira madera amadziwika kuti ndi anthu achikondi komanso odzimana. Iwo amatumikira ena mosanyinyirika ndipo amayenda ngakhale m’madera oopsa kapena pa nthawi imene nyengo sili bwino. (Afil. 2:3, 4) Komanso, iwo amalimbikitsa, kuphunzitsa ndi kupereka malangizo ku mpingo uliwonse pogwiritsa ntchito nkhani za m’Baibulo. Anthu onse mumpingo amapindula akamaganizira khalidwe la oyang’anira madera amenewa komanso akamatsanzira chikhulupiriro chawo.​—Aheb. 13:7.

8. Kodi Baranaba anatani Paulo atamupempha kuti ayendere limodzi?

⁸ Baranaba anagwirizana ndi maganizo a Paulo akuti ‘akachezere abale.’ (Mac. 15:36) M’mbuyomu, atumiki awiriwa anagwira ntchito limodzi yoyendera  mipingo ndipo onsewa ankadziwa bwino madera komanso anthu amene ankafuna kuwachezerawo. (Mac. 13:2–14:28) Choncho, mwina iwo anaona kuti ndi bwino kuti ayenderenso limodzi pokachita utumikiwu. Koma panachitika vuto linalake. Lemba la Machitidwe 15:37 limatiuza kuti: “Baranaba ankafunitsitsa kuti atenge Yohane, wotchedwanso Maliko.” Apa sikuti Baranaba ankangonena maganizo ake, koma “ankafunitsitsa” kutenga msuweni wake Maliko kuti ayende naye pa ulendo waumishonalewu.

9. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo anasemphana maganizo ndi Baranaba?

⁹ Koma Paulo sanagwirizane nazo. Chifukwa chiyani? Nkhaniyi imati: “Paulo anaona kuti si bwino kumutenga chifukwa ulendo wina Yohane anawasiya ku Pamfuliya ndipo sanapite nawo ku ntchitoyi.” (Mac. 15:38) Maliko anayenda ndi Paulo ndi Baranaba pa ulendo wawo woyamba waumishonale koma anabwerera panjira. (Mac. 12:25; 13:13) Chakumayambiriro kwa ulendowo asanachoke ku Pamfuliya, Maliko anasiya utumiki wake n’kubwerera kwawo ku Yerusalemu. Baibulo silinena chifukwa chake Maliko anabwerera, koma zikuoneka kuti mtumwi Paulo anaona kuti zimene anachitazo zinali zachibwana. Choncho, Paulo ayenera kuti ankakayikira zoti Maliko angakhale wodalirika.

10. Kodi chinachitika n’chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba atasemphana maganizo, nanga zotsatira zake zinali zotani?

¹⁰ Koma Baranaba anaumirirabe kuti Maliko apite nawo. Nayenso Paulo sanalolere kuti Maliko ayende nawo pa ulendowu. “Zitatero anakangana koopsa mpaka anasiyana.” (Mac. 15:39) Kenako Baranaba anatenga Maliko ndipo anayamba ulendo wa pamadzi wopita kuchilumba cha Kupuro, komwe kunali kwawo. Koma Paulo sanasinthe cholinga chake chofuna kukachezera abale. Nkhaniyi imati: “Paulo anasankha Sila, ndipo abale atamupempherera Pauloyo kuti Yehova amusonyeze kukoma mtima kwakukulu, ananyamuka.” (Mac. 15:40) Paulo ndi Sila anayamba ulendo wawo ndipo “anadzera ku Siriya ndi ku Kilikiya ndipo ankalimbikitsa mipingo.”​—Mac. 15:41.

11. Kodi ndi makhalidwe ati ofunika kwambiri amene tiyenera kukhala nawo kuti tipewe kudana ndi anthu amene atilakwira?

¹¹ Nkhaniyi imatikumbutsa mfundo yakuti anthufe si angwiro. Paulo ndi Baranaba anasankhidwa kuti akhale atumiki apadera oimira bungwe lolamulira. Ndipo n’kutheka kuti patapita nthawi, Paulo anakhala mmodzi wa abale a m’bungwe lolamulira. Komabe pa nthawiyi, Paulo ndi Baranaba anachita zinthu zosayenera chifukwa chakuti sanali angwiro. Kodi iwo analolera kuti adane chifukwa cha zimene zinachitikazi? Ngakhale kuti sanali angwiro, Paulo ndi Baranaba anali anthu odzichepetsa ndipo anali ndi maganizo a Khristu. Choncho n’zosakayikitsa kuti iwo anachita zimene abale a Chikhristu amayenera kuchita ndipo anakhululukirana. (Aef. 4:1-3) Patapita nthawi, Paulo ndi Maliko anagwira ntchito limodzi potumikira Mulungu. a​—Akol. 4:10.

12. Kodi oyang’anira masiku ano ayenera kukhala ndi makhalidwe otani potsanzira Paulo ndi Baranaba?

¹² Mkangano woopsa umene unabuka pakati pa Baranaba ndi Paulo sukusonyeza  kuti anthuwa anali okonda mikangano. Baranaba ankadziwika kuti anali munthu wachikondi komanso wopatsa moti atumwi sankamuitana ndi dzina lake lakuti Yosefe, koma anam’patsa dzina lakuti Baranaba, lomwe limatanthauza kuti “Mwana Wotonthoza.” (Mac. 4:36) Nayenso Paulo ankadziwika kuti anali munthu wachifundo komanso woganizira ena. (1 Ates. 2:7, 8) Potsanzira Paulo ndi Baranaba, oyang’anira onse a Chikhristu masiku ano limodzi ndi oyang’anira madera, ayenera kuyesetsa kukhala odzichepetsa komanso achifundo kwa akulu anzawo ndi kwa gulu lonse la nkhosa.​—1 Pet. 5:2, 3.

13, 14. (a) Kodi Timoteyo anali ndani ndipo ayenera kuti anakumana bwanji ndi Paulo? (b) N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo anachita chidwi ndi Timoteyo? (c) Kodi Timoteyo anapatsidwa utumiki wotani?

¹³ Pa ulendo wake wachiwiri waumishonale, Paulo anafika kuchigawo cha Galatiya chomwe chinkalamulidwa ndi Aroma ndipo kumeneko kunali mipingo ingapo. Kenako “Paulo anafika ku Debe ndiponso ku Lusitara.” Nkhaniyi imapitiriza kuti: “Kumeneko kunali wophunzira wina dzina lake Timoteyo, mwana wa mayi wa Chiyuda wokhulupirira, koma bambo ake anali Mgiriki.”​—Mac. 16:1. b

¹⁴ Zikuoneka kuti Paulo anadziwana ndi anthu a m’banja la Timoteyo pa ulendo wake woyamba cha m’ma 47 C.E. Tsopano Paulo ali pa ulendo wake wachiwiri, patapita zaka ziwiri kapena zitatu, anachita chidwi kwambiri ndi Timoteyo, yemwe pa nthawiyi anali wachinyamata. N’chifukwa chiyani anachita naye chidwi? Chifukwa chakuti abale “anapereka umboni wabwino wonena za iyeyo.” Iye sankangokondedwa ndi abale a m’tauni yakwawo yokha koma mbiri yake yabwino inamvekanso m’mipingo ina ya m’madera akutali. Nkhaniyi imati abale a ku Lusitara komanso ku Ikoniyo, womwe unali mtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 30, ankanena zabwino zokhudza Timoteyo. (Mac. 16:2) Motsogoleredwa ndi mzimu woyera, akulu anam’patsa Timoteyo, yemwe anali wachinyamata, udindo waukulu kuti azithandiza Paulo ndi Sila pa utumiki wawo woyendayenda.​—Mac. 16:3.

15, 16. Kodi n’chiyani chinachititsa kuti Timoteyo akhale ndi mbiri yabwino?

¹⁵ Kodi zinatheka bwanji kuti Timoteyo akhale ndi mbiri yabwino chonchi ali wachinyamata? Kodi chinali chifukwa chakuti anali wanzeru, mmene ankaonekera, kapenanso anali ndi maluso achibadwa? Kawirikawiri anthu amakopeka ndi zinthu ngati zimenezi. Ngakhale mneneri Samueli nthawi ina anakopeka ndi maonekedwe a anthu. Komabe, Yehova anamukumbutsa kuti: “Mmene munthu amaonera si mmene Mulungu amaonera. Munthu amaona zooneka ndi maso, koma Yehova amaona mumtima.” (1 Sam. 16:7) Akhristu ankanena zinthu zabwino zokhudza Timoteyo chifukwa chakuti iye anali ndi makhalidwe abwino, osati chifukwa chakuti anali wooneka bwino, wanzeru komanso wodziwa kuchita bwino zinthu.

¹⁶ Patapita zaka zingapo, mtumwi Paulo anatchula ena mwa makhalidwe a  Chikhristu amene Timoteyo anali nawo. Paulo anafotokoza kuti Timoteyo anali ndi mtima wabwino, anali wachikondi, wodzimana komanso anali wakhama potumikira Mulungu. (Afil. 2:20-22) Timoteyo ankadziwikanso kuti anali ndi ‘chikhulupiriro chopanda chinyengo.’​—2 Tim. 1:5.

17. Kodi achinyamata masiku ano angatsanzire bwanji Timoteyo?

¹⁷ Masiku ano, achinyamata ambiri amatsanzira Timoteyo poyesetsa kukhala ndi makhalidwe amene amasangalatsa Mulungu. Choncho amakhala ndi mbiri yabwino pamaso pa Yehova ndi anthu ake ngakhale ali ana. (Miy. 22:1; 1 Tim. 4:15) Iwo amasonyeza chikhulupiriro chopanda chinyengo popewa kukhala achiphamaso. (Sal. 26:4) Choncho, achinyamata ambiri mofanana ndi Timoteyo, angakhale odalirika potumikira mumpingo. Iwo amalimbikitsa kwambiri anthu onse okonda Yehova akayenerera kukhala ofalitsa uthenga wabwino, akadzipereka kwa Yehova kenako n’kubatizidwa.

18. (a) Kodi Paulo ndi Timoteyo anali ndi mwayi wapadera wotani monga atumiki oyendayenda? (b) Nanga mipingo inapindula bwanji?

¹⁸ Paulo ndi Timoteyo anatumikira Mulungu limodzi kwa zaka zambiri. Popeza iwo anali atumiki oyendayenda, anagwira ntchito zosiyanasiyana poimira bungwe lolamulira. Nkhani ya m’Baibulo imeneyi imati: “M’mizinda yonse imene ankadutsa, ankapatsa okhulupirira akumeneko malamulo oyenera kuwatsatira, mogwirizana ndi zimene atumwi ndiponso akulu ku Yerusalemu anagamula.” (Mac. 16:4) N’zodziwikiratu kuti mipingo inatsatira malangizo ochokera kwa atumwi ndi akulu ku Yerusalemu. Chifukwa chakuti iwo anamvera, “anthu m’mipingo anapitiriza kukhala ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba ndipo chiwerengero chinkawonjezeka tsiku ndi tsiku.”​—Mac. 16:5.

19, 20. N’chifukwa chiyani Akhristu ayenera kumvera ‘amene akuwatsogolera’ pakati pawo?

¹⁹ Masiku anonso, a Mboni za Yehova amadalitsidwa chifukwa chomvera malangizo ochokera kwa ‘amene akuwatsogolera’ pakati pawo. (Aheb. 13:17) Popeza kuti zochitika za m’dzikoli zikusintha nthawi ndi nthawi, m’pofunika kuti Akhristu azimvera malangizo ochokera kwa “kapolo wokhulupirika komanso wanzeru.” (Mat. 24:45; 1 Akor. 7:29-31) Kuchita zimenezi kungatiteteze kuti tisasiye choonadi ndiponso kungatithandize kuti tisatengere makhalidwe oipa a dzikoli.​—Yak. 1:27.

²⁰ N’zoona kuti oyang’anira a Chikhristu masiku ano, ngakhalenso abale a m’Bungwe Lolamulira, si angwiro mofanana ndi mmene analili Paulo, Baranaba, Maliko ndi akulu ena odzozedwa a m’nthawi yawo. (Aroma 5:12; Yak. 3:2) Komabe Bungwe Lolamulira ndi lodalirika kwambiri chifukwa chakuti nthawi zonse limagwiritsa ntchito Mawu a Mulungu komanso limatsatira chitsanzo cha atumwi. (2 Tim. 1:13, 14) Chifukwa cha zimenezi, mipingo imalimbikitsidwa ndipo imakhala ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba.