1-2. Leliphi ithemba elivuyisayo abanalo abakhonzi bakaYehova?

SONKE siyafuna ukuba nento esinethemba layo. Abanye abantu banethemba lokuba baza konwaba emtshatweni, bakhulise abantwana abaphile qete; ukuba bagula kakhulu bayathemba ukuba baza kuphila. Nathi maKristu sisenokuba nethemba lazo ezo zinto. Kodwa elethu aliphelelanga apho, sinalo nethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade sikunye nabantu bethu abaswelekayo.

² Umpostile uPawulos wathi: ‘Ndinethemba lokuba uThixo uza kuvusa abantu abangamalungisa nabangengomalungisa.’ (IZe. 24:15) UPawulos wayengengomntu wokuqala ukuthetha ngethemba lovuko. Nosolusapho uYobhi wakha wathetha ngalo. Wayeqinisekile ukuba uThixo uza kumkhumbula aze amvuse emangcwabeni.​—Yobhi 14:7-10, 12-15.

3. Ama-1 Korinte isahluko 15 anokukunceda njani?

³ “Uvuko lwabafi” yenye ‘yeemfundiso zokuqala’ zamaKristu. (Heb. 6:1, 2) Izinto ezathethwa nguPawulos ngovuko zibhalwe kuma-1 Korinte isahluko 15. Inoba zawakhuthaza nyhani ezi zinto amaKristu awayephila ngexesha lakhe. Enoba sekukudala kangakanani ukholelwa kuvuko, ama-1 Korinte anokukukhuthaza aze akwenze uqiniseke kakhulu ukuba luza kubakho.

4. Yeyiphi eyona nto isenza siqiniseke ukuba abantu bethu abaswelekileyo baza kuvuswa?

⁴ UYesu Kristu usenza siqiniseke ukuba nokuba singafa, abantu bethu esibathandayo baza kuvuswa. Uvuko lukaYesu Kristu lwaluzezinye ‘zeendaba ezilungileyo’ uPawulos awayezishumayela kumaKorinte. (1 Kor. 15:1, 2) Wade wathi umKristu ongakholelwayo ukuba kuza kubakho uvuko,  ukholo lwakhe lwalufana nolungekhoyo. (1 Kor. 15:17) Ukukholelwa kuvuko lukaYesu kusenza sibe nokholo lokuba abantu abaswelekileyo baza kuvuswa.

5-6. Ama-1 Korinte 15:3, 4 asinceda njani?

⁵ Ukuqala kwakhe ukubhala ngovuko, uPawulos wathetha ngezi zinto zintathu zibalulekileyo: (1) “UKristu wafela izono zethu.” (2) “Wangcwatywa.” (3) “Wavuswa ngosuku lwesithathu, ngokutsho kweZibhalo.”​—Funda ama-1 Korinte 15:3, 4.

⁶ Kusinceda njani ukufa, ukungcwatywa nokuvuswa kukaYesu? Umprofeti uIsaya wathi uMesiya wayeza ‘kususwa kwabaphilayo aze angcwatywe kunye nabenzi-bubi.’ Ikhona nenye into uYesu awayeza kuyenza. UIsaya waphinda wathi uMesiya wayeza ‘kuthwala isono sabantu abaninzi.’ UYesu wayenza le nto ngokusihlawulela ngobomi bakhe. (Isa. 53:8, 9, 12; Mat. 20:28; Roma 5:8) Ngoko ukufa, ukungcwatywa nokuvuswa kukaYesu kulenza liqine ithemba esinalo lokuba siza kukhululwa kwisono nasekufeni size siphinde siphile nabantu esibathandayo abaswelekileyo.

7-8. Yintoni eyenza amaKristu akholelwe ukuba uYesu wavuswa?

⁷ Ukuze sikholelwe ukuba uvuko luza kubakho, kufuneka siqale sikholwe ukuba uYesu wavuswa. Yintoni esenza siqiniseke ukuba uYehova wamvusa uYesu?

⁸ Baninzi abantu abazibonelayo ukuba uYesu uvusiwe, baza baxelela nabanye. (1 Kor. 15:5-7) UPawulos uyathetha ngabo. Owokuqala athetha ngaye ngumpostile uPetros (uKefas). Nabanye abafundi bathi uPetros wambona uYesu emva kokuba evusiwe. (Luka 24:33, 34) Kanti nabapostile abaliShumi Elinesibini bambona. Emva koko “wabonakala kubazalwana abangaphezu kwe-500 ngexesha elinye,” mhlawumbi xa babedibene eGalili, bonwabile, njengokuba uMateyu 28:16-20 esitsho. ‘Wabonakala nakuYakobi’ umntakwabo, owayengakholwa ukuba uYesu nguMesiya. (Yoh. 7:5) Wakholwa emva kokuba ezibonele ukuba uvusiwe. Enye into eyenza umdla kukuba, xa uPawulos wayebhala le leta, malunga no-55 C.E., abanye abantu abambonayo uYesu emva kokuba evusiwebabesaphila. Ngoko umntu owayethandabuza ukuba uvusiwe, wayenokuzivela kubo.

9. Yintoni ethethwa kwiZenzo 9:3-5, ebonisa ukuba uPawulos wayeqinisekile ukuba uYesu uvusiwe?

⁹ Ekuhambeni kwexesha, noPawulos wambona uYesu. (1 Kor. 15:8) Esendleleni eya eDamasko, uPawulos (uSawule) weva ilizwi likaYesu ovusiweyo, waza wabona umbono kaYesu esezulwini. (Funda iZenzo 9:3-5.) Into eyenzeka kuPawulos yayibonisa ukuba nyhani uYesu uvusiwe.​—IZe. 26:12-15.

10. Yintoni awayenzayo uPawulos akuqiniseka ukuba uYesu uvusiwe?

¹⁰ Abanye abantu babeza kufuna nyhani ukuva into ethethwa nguPawulos kuba ngaphambi kokuba uYesu abonakale kuye, wayewatshutshisa amaKristu. Wathi akuqiniseka ukuba uvusiwe, wasebenza nzima ukuze enze nabanye baqiniseke ngale nto. Xa wayeshumayela ngoYesu obefile waphinda wavuswa, wanyamezela ukubethwa, ukuvalelwa etrongweni nokwaphukelwa yinqanawa. (1 Kor. 15:9-11; 2 Kor. 11:23-27) UPawulos wayeqiniseke nyhani ukuba uYesu uvusiwe kangangokuba wayekulungele nokufa ngenxa yokuba eshumayela ngolu vuko. Ngaba la maKristu ambonayo akakwenzi uqiniseke ukuba uYesu wavuswa nokuba abantu  baza kuvuswa emangcwabeni kwixesha elizayo?

11. Inoba yintoni eyayisenza amanye amaKristu aseKorinte angalukholelwa uvuko?

¹¹ Kwisixeko saseGrisi, iKorinte, kwakukho amaKristu awayengalukholelwa uvuko, ayede athi “alukho uvuko.” Yintoni eyayiwenza acinge ngolo hlobo? (1 Kor. 15:12) Iintanda-bulumko zesinye isixeko saseGrisi, iAthene, zazihlekisa ngento yokuba uYesu uvusiwe. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba namanye amaKristu aseKorinte ayefana nazo. (IZe. 17:18, 31, 32) Mhlawumbi amanye ayengacingi ukuba uvuko luthetha ukuvuswa komntu engcwabeni. Ayecinga ukuba abantu abanesono kunokuthiwa bafile, baze xa bengamaKristu kuthiwe bavusiwe kuba izono zabo zixolelwe. Nokuba yayizeziphi izizathu zawo, ukungakholelwa kwawo kuvuko lukaYesu, kwakusenza ukholo lwawo lufane nolungekhoyo. Ukuba uThixo wayengamvusanga uYesu, zazingazukuhlawulelwa izono, ngoko zazingazukuxolelwa. Abantu ababengakholelwa ukuba abantu baza kuvuswa, babengenalo ithemba lovuko.​—1 Kor. 15:13-19; Heb. 9:12, 14.

12. U-1 Petros 3:18, 22 usinceda njani sibone ukuba uvuko lukaYesu lwalungafani nolwabanye abantu abakhe bavuswa?

¹² UPawulos wazibonela ngawakhe ukuba “uKristu uvusiwe ekufeni.” Olu uvuko lwalungafani tu nolwabantu abakhe bavuswa, kuba bona baphinda basweleka emva kwexesha. UPawulos wathi uYesu “ngowokuqala ukuvuswa kwabo bafileyo.” Wayengowokuqala njani? Waba ngumntu wokuqala owavuswa enomzimba womoya nowavuselwa ezulwini.​—1 Kor. 15:20; IZe. 26:23; funda u-1 Petros 3:18, 22.

13. UPawulos wathi yintoni umahluko phakathi kuka-Adam noYesu?

¹³ Ingenzeka njani into yokuba ukufa komntu omnye kwenze abantu abaninzi baphile? Impendulo kaPawulos icacile. Uchaza umahluko phakathi kwento esayifumana ngenxa ka-Adam nento esiza kuyifumana ngenxa yokuba uYesu wasihlawulela ngobomi bakhe. Xa wayethetha ngoAdam wathi: “Ukufa kweza ngomntu omnye.” Ngenxa yesono awasenzayo uAdam wafa, nenzala yakhe iyafa. Sehlelwa zizinto ezibuhlungu ngenxa yokungathobeli kwakhe. Kodwa kuba uThixo wamvusa uNyana wakhe, sinethemba lokuphila ubomi obumnandi kwixesha elizayo. “Nokuvuswa ekufeni kuza kubakho ngenxa yomntu omnye,” uYesu. UPawulos wayichaza ngolu hlobo le nto: “Kanye njengokuba bonke besifa ngenxa ka-Adam, ngokunjalo bonke baza kwenziwa baphile ngenxa kaKristu.”​—1 Kor. 15:21, 22.

14. Ngaba uAdam uza kuvuswa? Kutheni usitsho?

¹⁴ UPawulos wayethetha ukuthini xa wayesithi ‘sonke sifa ngenxa ka-Adam’? Wayethetha ngenzala ka-Adam efayo ngenxa yesono nokungafezeki ekufumene kuye. (Rom. 5:12) UAdam akakho phakathi kwabantu ‘abaza kwenziwa baphile.’ Akahlawulelwanga ngegazi likaKristu kuba wayefezekile waza akamthobela ngabom uThixo. Into eyenzeka kuye iyafana nento eza kwenzeka kwabo “uNyana womntu” aza kubagweba ‘njengeebhokhwe,’ baze ‘bafe ngonaphakade.’​—Mat. 25:31-33, 46; Heb. 5:9.

15. Ngoobani aba kuthiwa “bonke baza kwenziwa baphile”?

¹⁵ Uvile ukuba uPawulos uthi “bonke baza kwenziwa baphile ngenxa kaKristu.” (1 Kor. 15:22) Le leta wayeyibhalela  amaKristu athanjisiweyo aseKorinte awayeza kuvuswa aze aye kuphila ezulwini. Loo maKristu ‘enziwa ngcwele ukuze abe ngabalandeli bakaKristu uYesu, akhethwa ukuba abe ngabangcwele.’ Wathetha nangabo “bafe bengabalandeli bakaKristu.” (1 Kor. 1:2; 15:18; 2 Kor. 5:17) Kwenye incwadi yeBhayibhile wathi abo ‘bafe njengaye [uYesu], baza kuvuswa njengaye [uYesu].’ (Rom. 6:3-5) UYesu wavuswa enomzimba womoya waza waya ezulwini. Kuza kwenzeka loo nto kubo bonke ‘abalandeli bakaKristu’ abathanjisiweyo.

16. Wayethetha ukuthini uPawulos xa wayesithi uYesu “ngowokuqala”?

¹⁶ UPawulos wathi uKristu waba “ngowokuqala ukuvuswa kwabo bafileyo.” Khumbula kaloku ukuba abanye abafana noLazaro, emva kokuba bevusiwe, baphinda baphila apha emhlabeni. Yena uYesu waba ngowokuqala owavuswa emangcwabeni enomzimba womoya waza waphila ngonaphakade. Wayenokufaniswa nesivuno sokuqala amaSirayeli awayesinikela kuThixo. Ngoko xa uPawulos wayesithi uYesu “ngowokuqala,” wayethetha ukuba bakhona nabanye abantu abaza kuvuswa emva koYesu baze baye kuphila ezulwini. Ngexesha elifanelekileyo, abapostile kunye nabanye “abalandeli bakaKristu” babeza kuvuswa baze baye ezulwini njengoYesu.

17. “Abalandeli bakaKristu” babeza kuvuswa nini ukuze baye kuphila ezulwini?

¹⁷ Xa uPawulos wayebhalela amaKristu aseKorinte, babengekavuswa “abalandeli bakaKristu” abaza kuphila ezulwini. Wathi le nto yayiza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo: “Bonke bavuswa ngokulandelelana kwabo: Kuqala uKristu, emva koko ibe ngabo bangabakaKristu ebudeni bobukho bakhe.” (1 Kor. 15:23; 1 Tes. 4:15, 16) Thina siphila kwixesha ‘lobukho’ bukaKristu. Abapostile kunye namanye amaKristu athanjisiweyo aswelekayo kwafuneka alinde emangcwabeni de kufike ixesha lobukho bukaKristu ngaphambi kokuba ‘avuswe njengoYesu aze amanyane naye’ ezulwini.

18. (a) Kutheni sisithi kuza kubakho olunye uvuko emva kolwabo baza kuvuselwa ezulwini? (b) Sifunda ntoni kuma-1 Korinte 15:24-26 ebonisa into eza kwenzeka ezulwini?

¹⁸ Kuza kwenzeka ntoni kwamanye amaKristu angenalo ithemba lokuphila ezulwini kunye noKristu? Nawo analo  ithemba lovuko. IBhayibhile ithi uPawulos nabanye abaza kuphila ezulwini baza ‘kuvuswa kuqala ekufeni.’ (Fil. 3:11) Le nto ibonisa ukuba bakhona abantu abaza kuvuswa emva kwabo. Lolo vuko uYobhi awayekholelwa ukuba luza kwenzeka kuye kwixesha elizayo. (Yobhi 14:15) ‘Abo bangabakaKristu ebudeni bobukho bakhe’ baza kube besezulwini kunye noYesu xa etshabalalisa bonke oorhulumente namagunya. ‘Notshaba lokugqibela, ukufa’ luza kupheliswa. Abo bavuselwe ezulwini abasoze baphinde bafe. Kodwa kuza kwenzeka ntoni kwabanye abantu?​—Funda ama-1 Korinte 15:24-26.

19. Abantu abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni banokulindela ntoni?

¹⁹ Abantu abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni bona banokulindela ntoni? Banokuba nethemba lento eyathethwa nguPawulos esithi: “Ndinethemba lokuba uThixo uza kuvusa abantu abangamalungisa nabangengomalungisa.” (IZe. 24:15) Umntu ongelolungisa akanakuphila ezulwini, ngoko kucacile ukuba loo mazwi athetha ngabantu abaza kuvuselwa emhlabeni.

20. Ithemba onalo ngovuko liqiniswe njani?

²⁰ Siqinisekile ukuba ‘uThixo uza kubavusa abantu’! Abo baza kuvuselwa emhlabeni banethemba lokuhlala kuwo ngonaphakade. Yithembe ukuba iza kwenzeka le nto. Ukuba uyayithemba, uza kuthuthuzeleka xa ucinga ngabantu bakho abaswelekileyo. UKristu uza kubavusa emangcwabeni xa ‘engukumkani kunye nabanye iminyaka eyi-1 000.’ (ISityhi. 20:6) Nawe qiniseka ukuba, ukuba uye wasweleka ngaphambi kokuba iqale iminyaka eyi-1000, uza kuvuswa. Elo themba alisoze ‘likudanise.’ (Roma 5:5) Linokukwenza womelele uze ukuvuyele kakhulu ukukhonza uThixo. Kwinqaku elilandelayo siza kubona ezinye izinto esinokuzifunda kuma-1 Korinte isahluko 15.