1, 2. Iyiphi “incwadi” uJehova asibhalele yona, futhi kungani esibhalele?

 UYAKHUMBULA ukuthi wagcina nini ukuthola incwadi evela kumuntu omthandayo ohlala kude? Ziyabalwa izinto ezisijabulisa njengencwadi emnandi evela kumuntu esimkhonzile. Siyajabula ukuzwa ukuthi unjani, izinto zimhambela kanjani, nokuthi uhlela ukwenzani. Ukuxhumana okunjalo kusenza sibathande nakakhulu abantu esibathandayo, ngisho noma bekude.

² Kukhona-ke yini okungasijabulisa ngaphezu kokuthola incwadi evela kuNkulunkulu esimthandayo? Kunjengokungathi uJehova usibhalele “incwadi”—iZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli. Kulo, usitshela ukuthi ungubani, yini ayifezile, yini ahlose ukuyenza, nokunye okuningi. UJehova usinike iZwi lakhe ngoba efuna sisondele kuye. UNkulunkulu wethu ohlakaniphe kakhulu wakhetha indlela ezidlula zonke yokuxhumana nathi. Indlela iBhayibheli elibhalwe ngayo kanye nalokho elikuqukethe ibonisa ukuhlakanipha okungenakuqhathaniswa.

3. UJehova wawudlulisela kanjani uMthetho kuMose?

³ Abanye bangase bazibuze, ‘Kungani uJehova engasebenzisanga indlela eyisimanga—mhlawumbe nje, izwi elivela ezulwini—ukuze akhulume nabantu?’ Empeleni, uJehova wayeke akhulume nabantu esezulwini esebenzisa izingelosi. Ngokwesibonelo, wenze njalo ngenkathi enika u-Israyeli uMthetho. (Galathiya 3:19) Izwi elivela ezulwini lalethusa kangangokuthi ama-Israyeli ayethukile aze acela uJehova ukuba angakhulumi nawo ngale ndlela, kodwa asebenzise uMose. (Eksodusi 20:18-20) Lo Mthetho, owawunezimiso ezingaba ngu-600, wabe usudluliselwa ngomlomo kuMose.

4. Chaza ukuthi kungani ukudlulisela imithetho kaNkulunkulu ngomlomo kwakungeke kube indlela enokwethenjelwa.

 ⁴ Kwakuyokwenzekani ukube lo Mthetho wawungabhalwanga phansi? Ingabe uMose wayeyowukhumbula njengoba unjalo, izwi nezwi, akwazi nokuwudlulisela kuso sonke isizwe kungasali lutho? Kuthiwani ngezizukulwane ezaziyolandela? Ingabe kwakuyodingeka zithembele entweni eshiwo ngomlomo kuphela? Leyo kwakungeke kube indlela enokwethenjelwa yokudlulisela imithetho kaNkulunkulu. Cabanga ukuthi bekuyokwenzekani ukube bekungadingeka uxoxele abantu abame emgqeni indaba ethile, uxoxele owokuqala bese yena eyidlulisela kolandelayo naye ayidlulisele komunye. Umuntu obeyoyizwa ekugcineni cishe ubeyoyithola seyihluke kakhulu kulokho eqale iyikho. Amazwi oMthetho kaNkulunkulu awazange abe sengozini enjalo.

5, 6. UJehova wathi uMose akenzeni ngamazwi aKhe, futhi kungani sibusisekile ngokuba neZwi likaJehova elibhaliwe?

⁵ Ngokuhlakanipha, uJehova wakhetha ukuba amazwi akhe abhalwe phansi. Wathi kuMose: “Wabhale phansi la mazwi, ngoba ngokuvumelana nala mazwi, ngenza isivumelwano nawe no-Israyeli.” (Eksodusi 34:27) Kwaqala kanjalo-ke ukubhalwa kweBhayibheli, ngo-1513 B.C.E. Eminyakeni engu-1 610 eyalandela, uJehova “wakhuluma . . . izikhathi eziningi nangezindlela eziningi” nabalobi abangu-40 abangabantu ababe sebebhala iBhayibheli. (Hebheru 1:1) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abakopishi abazinikele baqikelela ukuthi benza amakhophi anembile ukuze imiBhalo ingashintshi.—Ezra 7:6; IHubo 45:1.

⁶ UJehova uye wasibusisa ngempela ngokukubhala phansi lokho akushoyo kithi. Wake wayithola yini incwadi owayithanda kangangokuthi waze wayigcina, wayifunda uphindelela—mhlawumbe ngoba ikunika induduzo owawuyidinga? Injalo ‘nencwadi’ uJehova asibhalele yona. Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova uwabhale phansi amazwi akhe, siyakwazi ukuwafunda  siphindelela futhi sizindle ngawo. (IHubo 1:2) Singayithola noma yinini ‘induduzo evela emiBhalweni.’—Roma 15:4.

7. Ukusebenzisa kukaJehova abantu ukuba babhale iBhayibheli kukubonisa kanjani ukuhlakanipha kwakhe?

⁷ Ngokuhlakanipha kwakhe, uJehova wasebenzisa abantu ukuba babhale iZwi lakhe. Cabanga ngalokhu: Ukube uJehova wayesebenzise izingelosi ukuba zibhale iBhayibheli, ingabe laliyokhanga ngendlela elikhanga ngayo? Kuyiqiniso ukuthi izingelosi zaziyokwazi ukuchaza uJehova ngombono wazo ophakeme, zisho indlela ezizinikele ngayo kuye, zikhulume nangezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile ezingabantu. Kodwa besiyowuqonda ngempela yini umbono wezidalwa zomoya ezingenasono, eziphakeme kunathi ngolwazi, okuhlangenwe nakho nangamandla?—Hebheru 2:6, 7.

8. Ababhali beBhayibheli bavunyelwa kanjani ukusebenzisa amakhono abo okucabanga? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

⁸ Ngokusebenzisa ababhali abangabantu, uJehova wasinika kona kanye esikudingayo—umbhalo ‘ophefumulelwe uNkulunkulu’ ube ubathinta abantu. (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Wakwenza kanjani lokho? Ezimweni eziningi, kubonakala sengathi wavumela ababhali ukuba basebenzise amakhono abo okucabanga ekukhetheni “amazwi ajabulisayo” nasekubhaleni “amazwi eqiniso anembile.” (UmShumayeli 12:10, 11) Yilokho okwenza ihlukahluke indlela iBhayibheli elibhalwe ngayo; okubhaliwe kuveza isizinda nobuntu bombhali ngamunye. a Yize kunjalo, laba bantu “bakhuluma okuvela kuNkulunkulu njengoba babeqhutshwa umoya ongcwele.” (2 Petru 1:21) Ngakho, okwaphuma lapho kuyilo ngempela ‘izwi likaNkulunkulu.’—1 Thesalonika 2:13.

9, 10. Kungani ukusetshenziswa kwababhali abangabantu kwenza iBhayibheli lithinte imizwa futhi likhange nakakhulu?

 ⁹ Ukusetshenziswa kwababhali abangabantu kwenza iBhayibheli lithinte imizwa futhi likhange kakhulu. Ababhali balo babengabantu abanemizwa enjengeyethu. Njengoba babenesono, babhekana novivinyo nezingcindezi ezifana nezethu. Ezimweni ezithile, umoya kaJehova wabaphefumulela ukuba babhale ngemizwa nangezinkinga zabo. (2 Korinte 12:7-10) Ngakho babhala bathi “mina,” noma “ngi-,” okungamazwi okungekho ngelosi eyayingawasho.

¹⁰ Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngoDavide, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli. Ngemva kokwenza izono ezimbi kakhulu, uDavide waqamba ihubo athulula kulo imizwa yakhe, encenga uNkulunkulu ukuba amthethelele. Wabhala: “Ngihlanze esonweni sami. Ngoba ngizazi kahle iziphambeko zami, nesono sami ngihlale ngicabanga ngaso. Bheka! Ngazalwa nginesono, umama wangikhulelwa esonweni. Ungangixoshi phambi kwakho; ungawususi umoya wakho ongcwele kimi. Imihlatshelo ejabulisa uNkulunkulu iwumoya ophukile; O Nkulunkulu, inhliziyo ephukile nedabukile uyoyamukela.” (IHubo 51:2, 3, 5, 11, 17) Uyakuzwa yini ukudabuka kombhali? Ubani omunye ngaphandle komuntu onesono ongaveza imizwelo enjalo esuka enhliziyweni?

11. Hlobo luni lwezindaba ezingokoqobo zokuphila kwabantu ezafakwa eBhayibhelini ‘ukuze kufundiswe thina’?

¹¹ Kunokunye futhi okwenza iBhayibheli likhange. Ingxenye enkulu yalo ikhuluma ngabantu—abantu abangokoqobo—abamkhonzayo uNkulunkulu nabangamkhonzi. Sifunda ngokwabehlela, izinkinga zabo nezinto ezabajabulisa. Sibona imiphumela yezinqumo abazenza ekuphileni. Izindaba ezinjalo zafakelwa “ukuba kufundiswe thina.” (Roma 15:4) Ngokuveza lezi zindaba ezingokoqobo zokuphila kwabantu, uJehova ufundisa ngezindlela ezisithinta inhliziyo. Nazi ezinye zezibonelo.

12. Izindaba zeBhayibheli ezikhuluma ngabantu abangathembekile zisisiza kanjani?

¹² IBhayibheli likhuluma ngabantu abangathembekile ngisho nababi, nangalokho okwabehlela. Kulezo zindaba,  izimfanelo ezingathandeki zibonakala ngezenzo, okwenza kube lula kakhudlwana ukuba siziqonde. Ngokwesibonelo, yisiphi isixwayiso sokungathembeki ebesingaba namandla ngaphezu kwesibonelo esingokoqobo sale mfanelo sikaJuda owakhela uJesu uzungu? (Mathewu 26:14-16, 46-50; 27:3-10) Izindaba ezinjengalezi ziyakwazi ukusithinta inhliziyo, zisenze sibone futhi sigweme izimfanelo ezimbi.

13. IBhayibheli lisisiza kanjani siqonde izimfanelo ezinhle?

¹³ IBhayibheli libuye lichaze nezinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziningi ezithembekile. Sifunda ngokuzinikela nobuqotho bazo. Sibona izibonelo ezingokoqobo zezimfanelo okudingeka sizihlakulele ukuze sisondele kuNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngokholo. IBhayibheli liyaluchaza bese lisitshela indlela olubaluleke ngayo ukuze sijabulise uNkulunkulu. (Hebheru 11:1, 6) Kodwa iBhayibheli linanezibonelo ezicacile zokholo olwaboniswa ngezenzo. Cabanga ngokholo u-Abrahama alubonisa lapho ezama ukunikela ngo-Isaka. (Genesise, isahluko 22; Hebheru 11:17-19) Ngokulandisa okunjalo, igama elithi “ukholo” liba nencazelo ethe xaxa futhi kuba lula kakhudlwana ukuliqonda. Yeka ukuthi kuwukuhlakanipha kanjani ngoJehova ukuba angagcini ngokusinxusa ukuba sihlakulele izimfanelo ezinhle kodwa futhi asinike nezibonelo zabantu abazibonisa!

14, 15. IBhayibheli lisitshelani ngowesifazane owafika ethempelini, futhi yini esiyifundayo ngoJehova kule ndaba?

¹⁴ Izindaba ezingokoqobo eziseBhayibhelini zivame ukusifundisa okuthile ngohlobo lomuntu uJehova ayilo. Cabanga ngalokho esikufunda ngowesifazane uJesu ambona ethempelini. Lapho ehlezi ngasemabhokisini omnikelo, uJesu wayebuka abantu befaka iminikelo. Kwafika abaningi abacebile, banikela “okuvela enaleni yabo.” Kodwa amehlo kaJesu athi njo kumfelokazi ompofu. Isipho sakhe ‘sasiyizinhlamvu zemali ezimbili ezincane, eziyinani elincane kakhulu.’ b Kwakuyimadlana yakhe  yokugcina. UJesu, owayenombono ofana nse nokayise ngezinto, wathi: “Lo mfelokazi ohluphekayo ufake okungaphezu kokwabo bonke abafake imali emabhokisini omnikelo.” Lawo mazwi abonisa ukuthi wafaka okungaphezu kokwabo bonke abanye.—Marku 12:41-44; Luka 21:1-4; Johane 8:28.

¹⁵ Akuyona yini into ephawulekayo ukuthi kubo bonke abantu ababesethempelini ngalolo suku, yilo mfelokazi okukhulunywa ngaye eBhayibhelini? Ngalesi sibonelo, uJehova usifundisa ukuthi unguNkulunkulu onokwazisa. Uyakujabulela ukwamukela izipho zethu zomphefumulo wonke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zingakanani uma ziqhathaniswa nezabanye. Ayikho indlela edlula lena uJehova ayengasifundisa ngayo leli qiniso elithinta inhliziyo!

16, 17. Ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova kubonakala kanjani ngisho nakulokho akhetha ukungakufaki eZwini lakhe?

¹⁶ Lapho ubhalela umuntu omthandayo incwadi, kulinganiselwe ongakusho. Ngakho uyakukhetha okubhalayo. UJehova naye wakhetha ukukhuluma ngabantu abathile nezenzakalo ezithile eZwini lakhe. Kodwa kulokhu kulandisa, iBhayibheli alinikezi yonke imininingwane ngaso sonke isikhathi. (Johane 21:25) Ngokwesibonelo, lapho iBhayibheli likhuluma ngokwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu, izinto elisitshela zona zingase zingayiphenduli yonke imibuzo yethu. Ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova kubonakala ngisho nakulokho akhetha ukungakufaki eZwini lakhe. Kanjani?

¹⁷ Indlela elibhalwe ngayo iBhayibheli ivivinya lokho okusenhliziyweni yethu. EyamaHebheru 4:12 ithi: “Izwi [noma umyalezo] likaNkulunkulu liyaphila, linamandla futhi libukhali kunanoma iyiphi inkemba esika nhlangothi zombili, lihlaba kuze kuhlukane umphefumulo nomoya, . . . futhi liyakwazi ukuqonda imicabango nezinhloso zenhliziyo.” Umyalezo weBhayibheli uhlaba ujule, wembule imicabango  nezisusa zethu zangempela. Labo abalifunda ngenhliziyo egxekayo bavame ukukhutshwa ukulandisa okungenakho ukwaziswa okubanelisayo. Abanjalo bangase bangabaze nokuthi uJehova unothando, uhlakaniphile futhi unobulungisa ngempela.

18, 19. (a) Kungani kungafanele sikhathazeke uma ukulandisa okuthile kweBhayibheli kusenza sizibuze imibuzo esingeke sikwazi ukuthola izimpendulo zayo ngokushesha? (b) Yini esiyidingayo ukuze siqonde iZwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi lokhu kukubonisa kanjani ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova okukhulu?

¹⁸ Kodwa uma sitadisha iBhayibheli ngokucophelela ngenhliziyo eqotho, siyakwazi ukubona uJehova ngendlela iBhayibheli lilonke elimveza ngayo. Ngakho, asikhathazeki uma ukulandisa okuthile kusenza sizibuze imibuzo esingeke sikwazi ukuthola izimpendulo zayo ngokushesha. Ngokwesibonelo: Uma sithunga ingubo yomshado, futhi sesizisikile zonke izichibi zendwangu, mhlawumbe siqale singasitholi isichibi esithile noma singaboni ukuthi kufanele singenephi. Kodwa kungenzeka ukuthi izichibi zendwangu esesizithungile zanele ukuba sibone ukuthi iyoba njani le ngubo uma isiphelele. Ngokufanayo, lapho sitadisha iBhayibheli, kancane kancane siyathola ukuthi uJehova uluhlobo luni lukaNkulunkulu, bese siba nombono ogcwele. Ngisho noma ekuqaleni singayiqondi indaba ethile noma singaboni ukuthi ihlangana kanjani nobuntu bukaNkulunkulu, esesikufundile eBhayibhelini ngoJehova sekungaphezu kokwanele ukuba sazi ukuthi uhlale enguNkulunkulu onothando, ongakhethi nonobulungisa.

¹⁹ Ukuze-ke siliqonde iZwi likaNkulunkulu, kumele silifunde futhi silitadishe ngenhliziyo eqotho nengqondo evulekile. Lokhu akubonisi yini ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova okukhulu? Abantu abakhaliphile bakwazi ukubhala izincwadi eziqondwa ‘abahlakaniphile nabangongqondongqondo’ kuphela. Kodwa ukubhala incwadi eqondwa kuphela yilabo abanesisusa esihle enhliziyweni kudinga ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu!—Mathewu 11:25.

20. Kungani kunguJehova kuphela ongasitshela indlela enhle kunazo zonke esingaphila ngayo, futhi iBhayibheli liquketheni engasisiza?

²⁰ EZwini lakhe, uJehova usitshela indlela enhle kunazo zonke esingaphila ngayo. Njengoba enguMdali wethu, uzazi kangcono kunathi izidingo zethu. Futhi izidingo eziyisisekelo zabantu—ezihlanganisa isifiso sokuthandwa, sokujabula, ukuphumelela ekusebenzelaneni nabanye—azishintshile. IBhayibheli linothile ‘ngokuhlakanipha’ okungasisiza siphile ukuphila okunenjongo. (IzAga 2:7) Ingxenye ngayinye yale ncwadi inesahluko esibonisa indlela esingasisebenzisa ngayo iseluleko seBhayibheli esihlakaniphile, kodwa okwamanje ake sibheke isibonelo esisodwa.

21-23. Yisiphi iseluleko esihlakaniphile esingasisiza sigweme ukufukamela intukuthelo nenzondo?

²¹ Uke waphawula yini ukuthi abantu ababamba amagqubu nabafukamela inzondo bavame ukuzigwaza ngowabo? Inzondo iwumthwalo osindayo. Uma siyifukamela, ibusa imicabango yethu, isiphuce ukuthula, isincishe nenjabulo. Ukucwaninga kososayensi kuveza ukuthi ukufukamela intukuthelo kungandisa amathuba okuthola isifo senhliziyo nezinye izifo eziningi ezingapheli. Esikhathini eside ngaphambi kwalokho kucwaninga kososayensi, ngokuhlakanipha iBhayibheli lathi: “Hlukana nentukuthelo uyeke ulaka.” (IHubo 37:8) Kodwa singakwenza kanjani lokho?

²² IZwi likaNkulunkulu lisinika lesi seluleko esihlakaniphile: “Ukuqondisisa komuntu nakanjani kuyaludambisa ulaka lwakhe, futhi kungubuhle kuye ukushalazelela ukoniwa.” (IzAga 19:11) Ukuqondisisa kuyikhono lokubona okungale kokusobala. Ukuqondisisa kwandisa ukuqonda kwethu, ngoba kungasenza sibone ukuthi kungani umuntu ekhulume noma enze njengoba enzile. Ukuzama ukuqonda izisusa zakhe zangempela, imizwa yakhe nezimo zakhe kungasenza siyeke ukumdlinzela.

²³ IBhayibheli linikeza nalesi seluleko: “Qhubekani nibekezelelana futhi nithethelelana ngokukhululekile.” (Kolose 3: 13) Inkulumo ethi “qhubekani nibekezelelana” isikisela ukuthi sibe nesineke kwabanye, sibekezelele izinto ezisicasulayo kubo. Ukubonelela okunjalo kungasisiza sigweme ukufukamela amagqubu ngezinto eziwubala. ‘Ukuthethelela’ kunikeza umqondo wokuyeka ukuthukuthela. UNkulunkulu wethu ohlakaniphile uyazi ukuthi kudingeka sibathethelele abanye lapho kunesisekelo esizwakalayo sokwenza kanjalo. Lokhu akuzuzisi esibathethelelayo kuphela kodwa nathi kusinika ukuthula kwengqondo nenhliziyo ezolile. (Luka 17:3, 4) Yeka ukuhlakanipha okuseZwini likaNkulunkulu!

24. Uba yini umphumela lapho sivumelanisa ukuphila kwethu nokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu?

²⁴ Eshukunyiswa uthando lwakhe olungenamingcele, uJehova wafuna ukukhuluma nathi. Wakhetha indlela ekahle kunazo zonke—“incwadi” ebhalwe abantu beqondiswa umoya ongcwele. Ngenxa yalokho, ekuqukethe kuwukuhlakanipha kukaJehova. Lokhu kuhlakanipha ‘kuthembeke kakhulu.’ (IHubo 93:5) Njengoba sivumelanisa ukuphila kwethu nako futhi sifundisa nabanye ngako, sivele sisondele kuNkulunkulu ohlakaniphe kakhulu. Esahlukweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngesinye isibonelo esivelele sokuhlakanipha kukaJehova okumangalisayo: ikhono lakhe lokubikezela ikusasa nokufeza injongo yakhe.