TIMOTEYO ankakhala m’tauni ina, yomwe inali pamwamba pa phiri. Tauniyi inkatchedwa Lusitara. Ndiyeno tsiku lina kwawo kunabwera alendo awiri. Anthuwa anali Paulo ndi Sila ndipo atamva za mbiri yabwino ya Timoteyo, anaganiza zomutenga kuti aziyenda naye pamaulendo awo aumishonale. Kenako anthu aja limodzi ndi Timoteyo ananyamuka ndipo n’kutheka kuti mayi komanso agogo ake ankawaperekeza. Timoteyo ayenera kuti ankangoti mwee, akaganizira za ntchito imene ankafunika kuchita. Koma kodi mwina ankada nkhawa kuti akusiyana ndi makolo ake? Nanga mayi komanso agogo ake ankamva bwanji? Ayenera kuti zinkawavuta kukhulupirira kuti mwana wawo akupitadi.

Anthuwa ankadutsa m’tinjira todutsa m’minda ndipo Paulo ankamwetulira Timoteyo n’kumamulimbikitsa kuti asade nkhawa. Ankadziwa kuti Timoteyo anali wamanyazi, komabe ankaona kuti ndi mnyamata wakhama. Pa nthawiyi, Timoteyo anali adakali wamng’ono. Mwina anali asanakwanitse zaka 20 kapena zitangopitirira pang’ono. Timoteyo ankakonda komanso kulemekeza kwambiri Paulo ndipo ayenera kuti ankanyadira akaganiza zoti aziyenda naye limodzi. Komatu ulendo wawowu unali wovuta, chifukwa ankayenda maulendo ataliatali. Nthawi zina ankafunika kuyenda wapansi komanso panyanja, ndipo maulendo oterewa ankakhala oopsa. Mwina mavuto amenewa ankapangitsa Timoteyo kuganiza kuti sadzabwereranso kwawo.

Koma kodi n’chiyani chinachititsa mnyamatayu kuti asankhe ntchito imeneyi? Kodi zimene Timoteyo anachita zingatithandize bwanji kuti tikhale ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba?

Tiyeni tibwerere m’mbuyo pang’ono zaka ziwiri kapena zitatu, izi zisanachitike. Monga tanenera kale, mzinda wa Lusitara unali pamwamba pa phiri ndipo m’mbali mwa phirilo munali mitsinje yambiri. Anthu a m’derali ankalankhula Chilukaoniya koma n’kuthekanso kuti ankamva komanso kulankhula Chigiriki. Tsiku lina amishonale awiri omwe ndi Paulo komanso Baranaba anafika m’tauniyi. Pa nthawiyo ankachokera ku Ikoniyo, mzinda wina waukulu womwe unali pafupi ndi tauniyi. Ndiyeno Paulo ndi Baranaba anayamba kulalikira anthu a m’tauniyo. Akulalikira, anaona munthu wina wolumala yemwe anasonyeza chikhulupiriro. Paulo atamuona, anamuchiritsa nthawi yomweyo.—Machitidwe 14:5-10.

Zikuoneka kuti anthu ambiri a ku Lusitara ankakhulupirira nthano zabodza zonena kuti milungu inkasintha n’kukhala anthu. Ndiye ataona kuti Paulo wachiritsa munthu wolumala, anayamba kuganiza kuti Paulo komanso Baranaba ndi milungu. Ankanena kuti Paulo ndi Heme, ndipo Baranaba ndi Zeu. Anthuwo anayamba kufuna kuwapatsa nsembe, koma Paulo ndi Baranaba sanalole zimenezi.—Machitidwe 14:11-18.

Komabe, panali anthu ena ochepa omwe sanachite nawo zimenezi. Anthuwa anasangalala kwambiri atamva zimene Paulo komanso Baranaba ankanena. Mwachitsanzo, panali mayi wina dzina lake Yunike komanso mayi ake, a Loisi. Yunike anali Myuda ndipo anakwatiwa ndi Mgiriki. * Iwo anasangalala kwambiri atamva kuti Mesiya anali atabwera kale ndiponso kuti anakwaniritsa maulosi ambiri omwe ankapezeka m’Malemba.

 Zikuoneka kuti kubwera kwa Paulo kunathandiza kwambiri Timoteyo. Mayi ake a Timoteyo, a Yunike komanso agogo ake, a Loisi, anamuphunzitsa Malemba Achiheberi kuyambira ali “wakhanda.” (2 Timoteyo 3:15) Choncho nayenso Timoteyo ayenera kuti ankaona kuti zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba ankanena zinali zoona. Komanso taganizirani za munthu wolumala uja. N’kutheka kuti kungochokera ali mwana, Timoteyo ankaona munthuyo ali m’mbali mwa msewu n’kumapemphapempha. Timoteyo ayenera kuti anasoweratu chonena ataona munthu yemwe anali wolumalayo akuyenda bwinobwino. Zimene zinachitikazi zinachititsa kuti mayi ake a Yunike komanso agogo ake a Loisi akhale Akhristu. Ndipo nayenso Timoteyo anadzakhala Mkhristu. Masiku anonso, makolo angaphunzire zambiri kwa Yunike komanso Loisi pothandiza ana ndi zidzukulu zawo kuti adziwe Mulungu.

Anthu a ku Lusitara omwe anakhala Akhristu, ayenera kuti anasangalala kwambiri atamva za madalitso amene adzapeze pokhala otsatira a Khristu. Koma ankadziwanso kuti kukhala otsatira a Khristu si kophweka. Tikutero chifukwa Paulo atangochiritsa munthu wolumala uja, anthu ena otsutsa a ku Ikoniyo komanso a ku Antiokeya anachititsa anthu a ku Lusitara kuti aukire Paulo ndi Baranaba. Tangoganizani, anthu omwe ankafuna kumulambira aja, anasintha poyerayera n’kuyamba kugenda Paulo ndi miyala mpaka kumugwetsera pansi. Kenako anamukhwekhwerezera kunja kwa mzinda n’kumusiya kuti afe.—Machitidwe 14:19.

Ndiyeno zimenezi zitachitika, Akhristu a mumzinda wa Lusitara anapita pamene panali Paulo n’kumuzungulira. Anthuwo anadabwa kwambiri ataona kuti ali moyo. Kenako Paulo anadzuka n’kulowanso mumzinda wa Lusitara. Tsiku lotsatira Paulo ndi Baranaba anyamuka n’kupita ku Debe kuti akalalikire. Kumeneku anathandiza anthu ambiri kukhala otsatira a Yesu ndipo anaganiza zobwereranso ku Lusitara ngakhale ankadziwa kuti zikaika moyo wawo pangozi. Kodi n’chifukwa chiyani anachita zimenezi? Baibulo limanena kuti, “anali kulimbitsa mitima ya ophunzira ndi kuwalimbikitsa kuti akhalebe m’chikhulupiriro.” N’kutheka kuti pa nthawiyinso, Timoteyo anamva Paulo ndi Baranaba akulimbikitsa Akhristuwa kuti azipirira akamazunzidwa chifukwa madalitso amene akuyembekezera mtsogolo adzakhala aakulu. Paulo anawauza kuti: “Tiyenera kukumana ndi masautso ambiri kuti tikalowe mu ufumu wa Mulungu.”—Machitidwe 14:20-22.

Timoteyo analimbikitsidwa atamva zimene Paulo ananena ndipo ankadziwa kuti Paulo nayenso  ankayesetsa kulalikira uthenga wabwino ngakhale kuti ankakumana ndi mavuto ambiri. Choncho Timoteyo ankadziwa ndithu kuti ngati atatsatira Paulo, anthu a ku Lusitara ndiponso bambo ake azimutsutsa. Komabe sanalole kuti zimenezi zimulepheretse kutumikira Mulungu. Achinyamata ambiri masiku ano amatengera chitsanzo cha Timoteyo. Achinyamatawa amacheza ndi anthu omwe angawalimbikitse komanso kuwathandiza kuti akhale ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba. Mofanana ndi Timoteyo, amapitirizabe kutumikira Mulungu ngakhale akutsutsidwa ndi achibale kapena anzawo.

Monga tafotokozera kumayambiriro kwa nkhaniyi, patapita zaka zitatu Paulo anabwereranso ku Lusitara ndipo ulendo uno anali ndi Sila. N’zosakayikitsa kuti Timoteyo, mayi ake komanso agogo ake anasangalala kwambiri atakumananso ndi Paulo. N’kutheka kuti nayenso Paulo anasangalala kwambiri poona kuti anthu amene anawalalikira, akupitirizabe kutumikira Mulungu. N’zosakayikitsa kuti anasangalaladi kwambiri ataona kuti Yunike komanso Loisi anali ndi “chikhulupiriro chopanda chinyengo.”—2 Timoteyo 1:5.

Paulo anasangalalanso ataona kuti Timoteyo wakula n’kukhala mnyamata wodalirika kwambiri. Ndipotu “abale a ku Lusitara ndi ku Ikoniyo anamuchitira umboni wabwino.” Tangoganizani, mbiri ya Timoteyotu inafika mpaka ku Ikoniyo. Mpingowu unali pa mtunda wa makilomita 32 kuchokera ku Lusitara. (Machitidwe 16:2) N’chifukwa chiyani Timoteyo ankadziwika ndi mbiri yabwino chonchi?

Kumbukirani kuti mayi ake a Yunike komanso agogo ake a Loisi ankamuphunzitsa Timoteyo “malemba oyera” kuyambira ‘pamene anali wakhanda.’ M’malemba amene ankamuphunzitsawa munalinso malangizo othandiza achinyamata. (2 Timoteyo 3:15) Mwachitsanzo, munkapezeka malangizo ngati awa: “Kumbukira Mlengi wako Wamkulu masiku a unyamata wako.” (Mlaliki 12:1) Malangizowa anamuthandiza kwambiri Timoteyo atakhala Mkhristu. Nayenso anayamba kuona kuti njira ina yokumbukira Mlengi, ndi kulalikira uthenga wabwino wonena za Yesu. Monga tanenera kale, Timoteyo anali wamanyazi. Koma m’kupita kwa nthawi anasiya kuchita manyazi ndipo ankalalikira uthenga wabwino wonena za Yesu Khristu molimba mtima.

Akulu a mumpingo wa ku Lusitara anayamba kuona kuti Timoteyo ndi munthu wodalirika. Anaonanso kuti ankathandiza komanso kulimbikitsa ena. Koposa zonse, Yehovanso ankasangalala naye, moti ananeneratu zimene Timoteyo adzachite pomutumikira m’mipingo yosiyanasiyana. Ndiyeno pa ulendowu, Paulo anaona kuti akhoza kumutenga kuti aziyenda naye. Choncho abale a ku Lusitara anamuika manja Timoteyo, kutanthauza kuti anamusankha kuti azichita utumiki wapadera.—1 Timoteyo 1:18; 4:14.

N’zosakayikitsa kuti Timoteyo anasangalala kwambiri atapatsidwa udindo wapaderawu ndipo sakanalola kuti chilichonse chimusokoneze. * Koma kodi bambo ake akanagwirizana nazo zoti mwana wawo akhale mmishonale? N’kutheka kuti ankafuna kuti Timoteyo adzachite zakupsa pamoyo wake, moti mwina anakhumudwa kwambiri Timoteyo atasankha zimenezi. Nanga bwanji mayi ake? Monga kholo, n’kutheka kuti ankadera nkhawa kuti mwana wawo zimuthera bwanji, ndipo sikuti ankalakwitsa kuganiza choncho.

Kaya anakumana ndi mavuto otani, Timoteyo anapitira limodzi ndi Paulo. Monga tafotokozera muja, zinkangokhala ngati kutulo pamene Timoteyo ankasiyana ndi makolo ake ndipo sankadziwa kuti adzakumana nawonso liti. Atayenda ulendo wa tsiku lathunthu, anafika ku Ikoniyo. Ali kumeneko, Timoteyo anamva Paulo ndi Sila akupereka malangizo atsopano ochokera ku Bungwe Lolamulira la ku Yerusalemu komanso akulimbikitsa Akhristu a mumpingo wa ku Ikoniyo.—Machitidwe 16:4, 5.

Atachoka kumeneko anapita ku Galatiya ndipo kenako anayenda ulendo wautali m’misewu yafumbi kulowera kumpoto kenako kumadzulo, m’chigawo cha Fulugiya. Kenako mzimu woyera unawatsogolera ku Torowa. Ali kumeneko, anakwera ngalawa n’kupita ku Makedoniya. (Machitidwe 16:6-12) Pa nthawiyi Paulo anaona kuti Timoteyo ndi munthu wodalirika kwambiri moti anamusiya ku Bereya limodzi ndi Sila. (Machitidwe 17:14) Chifukwa choti Timoteyo ankachita zinthu mokhulupirika, Paulo anamutumiza ku  Tesalonika. N’zodziwikiratu kuti ali kumeneku ankatsanzira Paulo komanso anthu ena okhulupirika ndipo ankalimbikitsa Akhristu a kumeneko.—1 Atesalonika 3:1-3.

Patapita nthawi, Paulo analemba kuti: “Ndilibe wina wamtima ngati iye, amene angasamaledi za inu moona mtima.” (Afilipi 2:20) Zimenezi zikusonyeza kuti Timoteyo anali adakali ndi mbiri yabwino. Ankapitirizabe kuchita zinthu mwakhama, modzichepetsa komanso mokhulupirika ngakhale kuti ankakumana ndi mavuto. Masiku anonso, achinyamata akhoza kuphunzira zambiri kwa Timoteyo. Dziwani kuti zimene mumachita zikhoza kupangitsa kuti mukhale ndi mbiri yabwino kapena ayi. Mukhoza kukhala ndi mbiri yabwino ngati mutamachita zimene Mulungu amafuna komanso kuchita zinthu moganizira ena.

Timoteyo anayenda limodzi ndi mtumwi Paulo kwa zaka zoposa 14. Pa nthawiyi anakumana ndi zinthu zosangalatsa ndipo nthawi zina ankakumana ndi mavuto. (2 Akorinto 11:24-27) Mwachitsanzo, nthawi ina Timoteyo anamangidwapo chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chake. (Aheberi 13:23) Mofanana ndi Paulo, nayenso Timoteyo ankakonda Akhristu anzake. Mwina n’chifukwa chake pa nthawi ina Paulo analemba kuti: ‘Ndikukumbukira misozi yako.’ (2 Timoteyo 1:4) Zikuoneka kuti Timoteyo ‘ankalira ndi amene akulira,’ ndipo ankachita zonse zomwe angathe kuti awalimbikitse. (Aroma 12:15) Nafenso tingachite bwino kutengera chitsanzo chimenechi.

N’zosadabwitsa kuti patapita nthawi, Timoteyo anakhala mkulu wodalirika mumpingo wachikhristu. Paulo anamupatsanso udindo woyendera, kulimbikitsa komanso kusankha amuna amene ankayenera kukhala akulu ndi atumiki othandiza m’mipingo.—1 Timoteyo 5:22.

Paulo ankamukonda kwambiri Timoteyo, ndipo ankamulangiza ngati mwana wake. Mwachitsanzo, anamulimbikitsa kuti apitirizebe kuchita zinthu mwakhama komanso mwaluso. (1 Timoteyo 4:15, 16) Anamuuza kuti asalole kuti manyazi azimulepheretsa kuchita zinthu zabwino. Anamulimbikitsanso kuti asalole kuti anthu azimuderera. (1 Timoteyo 1:3; 4:6, 7, 11, 12) Zikuonekanso kuti Timoteyo anali ndi vuto la m’mimba ndipo Paulo anamupatsa malangizo omuthandiza kulimbana ndi vutolo.—1 Timoteyo 5:23.

Paulo atadziwa kuti watsala pang’ono kuphedwa, analemba kalata yake yomaliza yopita kwa Timoteyo. Ndipo m’kalatayo analemba kuti: “Uchite chilichonse chotheka kuti ubwere kwa ine posachedwa.” (2 Timoteyo 4:9) Paulotu ankamukonda wambiri Timoteyo moti anamutchula kuti, “mwana wanga wokondedwa ndi wokhulupirika mwa Ambuye.” (1 Akorinto 4:17) Sizodabwitsa kuti pa nthawi yovutayi, Paulo ankafuna kuti Timoteyo abwere kuti adzamulimbikitse. Ndiyetu nafenso ndi bwino kumadzifunsa kuti, ‘Kodi anthu ena akamakumana ndi mavuto, amafuna nditakhala nawo pafupi kuti ndiziwalimbikitsa?’

Sitikudziwa ngati Timoteyo anapitadi kwa Paulo asanaphedwe. Chomwe tikudziwa n’choti Timoteyo ankayesetsa kuchita zotheka kuti alimbikitse komanso kuthandiza ena. Ankachita zinthu mogwirizana ndi tanthauzo la dzina lake lakuti, “Amene Amalemekeza Mulungu.” Tiyeni tonse tiziyesetsa kutsanzira chikhulupiriro chake.