1-3. (a) Ndawa chani ntumi Paulo adawawiwa ntima maninge padafika ku Atene? (b) Ko tingapfunzire chani pa vomwe Paulo adachita?

 PAULO padafika mu thaundi ya Atene dziko ya Girisi, adawawiwa ntima maninge. Ku Atene kwenze ku chimake kwa mapfunziro ya nzeru za wanthu ndipo mashasha ya mapfunziro mwaya ninge Socrates, Plato, komasoti Aristotle adapfunzisa pomwe mu thaundi momu. Wanthu wa muthaundi ya Atene enze okonda maninge kutumikira. Paulo ambandowona mafano yokhayokha kulikose, ninge m’makachisi, m’malo ya nkati mwa mpanda komasoti m’misewu, ndawa yakuti wanthu wa ku Atene ambatumikira milungu yosiyanasiyana. Koma iye ambadziwa momwe Yahova Mulungu yemwe ni Mulungu chaiye ambawonera kutumikira mafano. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Ntumi wokhulupirika moyu nayembo ambanyantsiwa na mafano ninge momwe Yahova achachitira!

² Vomwe Paulo adawona padangena mu bazali, venze vokhumudwisa maninge. Ku norte cha kumaulo, pafupi na nsuwo wongenera m’bazali momu, adaimisa mafano yawo yazinji ya mulungu wawo Heme yemwe wenze pezi. Komasoti mu bazali momu mwenze makachisi yazinji. Ko ntumi wakhama moyu adakalalikira tani wanthu azinji m’ dera mweyi momwe mwenze wanthu wokonda maninge kutumikira mafano? Ko iye adakauphata ntima nkuyamba kulalikira wanthu mwawo pakuphatisira basa mpfundo zomwe iwo adakabverana nazo? Ko adakakwanisa kuthandiza anango mwa wanthu mwawo kuti ayambe kufagafaga Mulungu chaiye na kumugumana?

³ Vomwe Paulo adayankhula na wanthu opfunzira maninge wa ku Atene, pa Machitidwe 17:22-31, ni chitsanzo chabwino maninge chowonesa kuyankhula mwabuya, mwa nzeru na mozindikira. Tikambapfunzira chitsanzo cha Paulo, tiwone vomwe tingachite polalikira, ninge mpfundo zomwe wanthu womwe tinkuwalalikira angabverane nazo komasoti kuwathandiza kuti ambaganizire mpfundo mwezo.

4, 5. Ko Paulo ambalalikira malo yaponi pomwe wenze ku Atene, ndipo adagumana na wanthu oshupa aponi?

⁴ Paulo padafika ku Atene pa ulendo wake wachiwiri wa umishonale cha  m’ma 50 EC. a Ninge mwa chizolowezi chake, iye “adayamba kukambirana na Ayuda mu sunagoge.” Pomwe angadikhira kuti Sila na Timoteyo afike kuchokera ku Bereya, Paulo adayenda pomwe mu bazali ya ku thaundi ya Atene kuti akalalikire wanthu womwe enzelini Ayuda. (Mac. 17:17) Bazali mweyi yenze ikulu pafupifupi mametro 250 ntalintali ndipo cha mu nfupinfupi yenze mametro 200 panango kuposha, ndipo yenze cha ku norte kumaulo kwa malo yochemerewa Acropole, yomwe yenze na mpanda wolimba maninge. Bazali mweyi yenze pomwe na malo ya muthaundi momu ndipo wanthu ambachitiramo vinthu vinango vizinji osati kugulisa na kugula malonda kokha neye. Bukhu inango idanena kuti malo mwaya kwenze kunikachiro kwa “malonda, ndale komasoti kwa chikhalidwe cha wanthu wa mu thaundi mweyo.” Wanthu wa ku Atene ambakonda kugumana pa bazali mwapa na kukambirana nkhani zosiyanasiyana zolewa va mapfunziro yapadzulu.

⁵ Pa bazali mwapa, Paulo ambagumana wanthu woshupa kulalikiriwa. Pa gulu ya wanthu omwe ambamubvesera, penze Aepikureya na Asitoiki, omwe enze wanthu opfunza maninge koma ambakhulupirira vinthu vosiyana. b Wanthu wanzeru za Aepikureya ambakhulupirira kuti vinthu va moyo vidandokhalambo mwa ngozi. Pa nkhani ya moyo, iwo ambakhulupirira kuti: “Palibe chifukwa chogopera Mulungu panango impfa ndipo ni vokwanisika kugumana vinthu vabwino komasoti kupirira vinthu voipa.” Wanthu wa nzeru za Asitoiki angalimbikisa kuti munthu ambaganize komasoti kuchita vinthu vomwe ankuvibvesa ndipo ambakhulupiriralini kuti Mulungu ni chaiye. Aepikureya na Asitoiki wose ambakhulupiriralini mpfundo yomwe opfunzira wa Khrisitu angapfunzisa yakuti wakufa adzamuke. Vinkuwonekeratu kuti mpfundo zomwe magulu yose mwaya zingafambira, zingabveranalini na chonadi chodekana maninge cha Chikhrisitu chaicho chomwe Paulo angalalikira.

6, 7. Ko Agiriki opfunza maninge adachita tani padabva vomwe Paulo angapfunzisa, ndipo isepano tigumana na vinthu viponi volingana na vimwevi?

⁶ Ko Agiriki opfunza maninge adachita chani padabva vomwe Paulo angawapfunzisa? Anango adayamba kumunena kuti ‘wanzodzo.’ (Mac. 17:18) Polewa va mawu mwaya ya Chigiriki shasha munango adalewa kuti: “Pakuyamba mawu mwayo ambayaphatisira basa pakulewa va tumbalani tomwe tumbalokotera mbewu. Koma nkuyenda kwa nthawe mawu mwaya yadayamba kuphatisiwa basa pakulewa va munthu yemwe ambalokotera vakudya komasoti vinthu vinango pa bazali. Patsogolo pake wanthu adayamba kuphatisira basa mawu mwaya mopitira pakulewa va aliyese yemwe angatenga nkhani zosiyanasiyana zomwe adabva kwa wanthu anango, makamaka yemwe alibe kuvibvesa bwino. Mwachigwato, tinganene kuti wanthu wopfunza maninge mwawo ambamulewa Paulo kuti wenze bulutu ndipo iye ambandobwerezera vomwe adabva kwa wanthu anango. Koma ninge momwe tiwonere, Paulo alibe kubva ulesi podiya kuti ambamuchemera madzina yonyoza.

⁷ Vinthu ninge vimwevi vichitikambo ntsiku zino. Isepano wa Mboni za Yahova nthawe zizinji wanthu atichemera madzina yoipa ndawa ya mpfundo za m’Baibolo  zomwe tichakhulupilira. Mwakulinganiza, ku shikola aticha achapfunzisa kuti vinthu va moyo vidachita kuchinja kuchokera ku vinthu vinango ndipo achanena kuti munthu aliyese wozindikira afunika kukhulupilira mpfundo mweyi. Iwo polewa vimwevi athandauza kuti aliyese yemwe akhulupiriralini mpfundo mweyi ni bulutu. Wanthu opfunza mwawa afuna kuti wanthu ambatiganizire kuti ndise wanzodzo tikambalalikira mpfundo za m’Baibolo komasoti tikambawaonesa vinthu va chilengedwe, potsimikiza kuti vinthu vidachita kulengewa. Koma isepano tikubvalini ulesi. M’malomwake, tichapitiriza kuyankhula molimba ntima tikambafotokoza vomwe timbakhulupilira kuti vinthu va moyo padziko yapasi vidachita kulengewa na Mulengi wanzeru, Yahova Mulungu.—Chiv. 4:11.

8. (a) Ko wanthu anango omwe adabva Paulo ankulalikira adachita chani? (b) Ko mpfundo yakuti Paulo adayenda naye ku malo ya Areopagui yachatanthauza chani? (Onani mawu ya m’nyantsi.)

⁸ Koma wanthu anango omwe adabvesera Paulo akulalikira pa bazali adachita vinthu vosiyana na vimwevi. Polewa va iye, iwo adati: “Akuwoneka kuti ankulalikira va milungu ya chilendo.” (Mac. 17:18) Koma ko nichaivo kuti Paulo angalalikira va milungu ya chilendo kwa wanthu wa ku Atene? Nkhani mweyi yenze yogopsya maninge, ndawa yenze yolingana na ibodzi mwa milandu yomwe Socrates ambatongewa ndipo adaweruziwa kuti aphewe magole yazinji kumbuyo uku. Ndipomwapa nivosadabwisa kuti wanthu mwawa adaphata Paulo nkuyenda naye ku malo ya Areopagi kukamubvunza kuti afotokoze bwinobwino vinthu vomwe ankupfunzisa, vomwe wanthu wa ku Atene ambaona kuti venze vachilendo. c Ko Paulo adakateteza tani ntontholo wake pa maso pa wanthu omwe ambadziwalini Malemba?

9-11. (a) Ko Paulo adayesesa tani kufotokoza mpfundo zomwe wanthu omwe angabvesera ulaliki wake angabverana nazo? (b) Ko tingatewedzere tani Paulo mu utumiki?

⁹ Kumbukirani kuti Paulo adawawiwa ntima maninge padawona mafano mu thaundi momu. M’malo mwakuwatsumula mwamphanvu wanthu omwe ambatumikira mafano mwawo, iye adapitiriza kuyankhula modekha. Paulo adayankhula nawo mwabuya mpfundo zomwe wanthu mwawo ambabverara nazo mwakuti adapitiriza kumubvesera. Iye adayamba na mawu yakuti: “Imwe wanthu wa ku Atene, nawona kuti pa vinthu vose mugopa maninge milungu kuposha momwe anango achitira.” (Mac. 17:22) Tingalewe kuti Paulo anganena kuti, ‘nawona kuti wanthu imwe mukonda kupemphera.’ Mwanzeru Paulo adawatembeja wanthu mwawo ndawa yakuti enze na ntima wokonda kutumikira. Iye adazindikira kuti anango mwa wanthu omwe adachitisiwa ulombe na vikhulupiriro vabodza enze na ntima wabwino ndipo adakakwanisa kubvesera chonadi. Ndipo Paulo ambadziwa kuti iyembo nthawe zinango wenze ‘wosadziwa Mulungu ndipo wenze alibe pomwe chikhulupiriro.’—1 Tim. 1:13.

 ¹⁰ Pakupitiriza kufotokoza mpfundo zomwe wanthu mwawa ambabverana nazo, Paulo adatomola umboni womwe adawona kuti wanthu wa ku Atene enze okonda kupemphera. Umboni wake wenze wa guwa ya ntsembe yonembewa kuti “Kwa Mulungu Wosadziwika.” Pa nkhani mweyi bukhu inango idalewa kuti: “Agiriki komasoti wanthu anango ambakonda kumangira maguwa ya ntsembe ‘milungu yosadziwika’ kugopa kuti pakumpemphera angayebwe kutomola dzina ya mulungu munango yemwe panango angamukalipise.” Guwa mweyi imbaonesa kuti wanthu waku Atene ambadziwa kuti kuli Mulungu yemwe iwo angamudziwalini. Paulo adaphatisira basa vomwe vidanembewa pa guwa mwapa kuti achinje nkhani nkuyamba kufotokoza va ntontholo wabwino womwe iye ambalalikira. Iye adafotokoza kuti: “Inepano nikulalikira kwa imwepo va Mulungu muyo wosadziwika yemwe imwepo mumutumikira.” (Mac. 17:23) Mpfundo yomwe Paulo adafotokoza yenze yamphanvu olo kuti alibe kuilewa mwasitiriti. Iye ambalalikiralini va mulungu wachilendo ninge momwe wanthu anango angalewera, koma angandofotokoza va Mulungu chaiye yemwe wenze wosadziwika kwa iwo.

¹¹ Ko tingatewedzere tani Paulo mu utumiki? Peno tingakhale na chidwi maninge, tingaone umboni owonesa kuti munthu yemwe tinkuyankhula naye akonda kupemphera. Tingadziwe vimwevi panango tikaona vinthu va kutchetchi vomwe iye wavala panango vomwe waikha m’nyumba mwake komasoti pa msuwo pa nyumba  yake. Manje tingalewe kuti: ‘Ninkuona kuti ndimwe wanthu okonda maninge kupemphera. Nikomedzewa kucheza na wanthu okonda kupemphera.’ Tikambayankhula mawu yabwino yowonesa kuti tinkuzindikira komasoti kulemekeza vomwe munthu moyu achakhulupirira, vingatithandize kuti tingumane poyambira kuti tikwanise kuyakhula naye. Ayi kuti tiyebwe kuti cholinga chathu ni kuweruzalini anango ndawa ya vomwe achakhulupirira ku matchetchi kwawo. Timbakumbukire kuti Akhrisitu azinji wa Mboni za Yahova pakuyamba enze mu vipembedzo vabodza.

12. Ko Paulo adachinja tani ulaliki wake kuti ubverane na wanthu omwe angamubvesera?

¹² Paulo adayamba kufotokoza mpfundo zomwe wanthu omwe angamubvesera angabverana nazo. Koma, ko iye adapitiriza kuchita vimwevi mu utumiki wose moyu? Pakudziwa kuti wanthu omwe angamubvesera adapfunza maninge nzeru za Agiriki komasoti ambadziwalini Malemba, iye adachinja ulaliki wake mu njira zizinji. Chakuyamba, iye adapfunzisa mpfundo za m’Baibolo pakuleka kuphatisira basa mawu ya m’Malemba mwasitiliti. Chachiwiri iye adawonesa kuti wenzelini wosiyana na wanthu womwe angawalalikira wale ndipo nthawe zinango ambaphatisira basa mawu yakuti “ise”. Chachitatu adaphata mawu yanango ya mabukhu ya Chigiriki powonesa kuti vinthu vinango vomwe iye ambapfunzisa venzemo m’mabuku yawo. Manje naboni tikambirane mawu yophata ntima yomwe Paulo adayankhula. Ko iye adafotokoza mpfundo zofunika ziponi za Mulungu yemwe wenze wosadziwika kwa wanthu wa ku Atene?

13. Ko Paulo adafotokoza kuti vinthu vose vidakhalako tani, ndipo vomwe adalewa vimbatathauza chani?

¹³ Mulungu adalenga vinthu vose. Paulo adalewa kuti: “Mulungu yemwe adakonza dziko iyi na vinthu vose viri momu, akhalalini mu twakachisi tokonzewa na manja. Iye ndiye Ambuya wakudzulu na dziko yapasi.” d (Mac. 17:24) Vinthu vose viribe kundokhalako mwangozi koma vidachita kulengewa na Mulungu chaiye. (Sal. 146:6) Mosiyana na milungu yabodza ninge Atena, yomwe yangalemekezewa maninge akachisi na maguwa yake ya ntsembe, Mulungu wakudzulu na dziko yemwe ni Ambuya nkulu angakhalelini mu akachisi okonzewa na manja ya wanthu. (1 Maf. 8:27) Vomwe Paulo angatanthauza venze vowonekeratu. Iye ambatanthauza kuti Mulungu chaiye ni nkulu kuposha mafano yokonzewa na wanthu yomwe yangagumanika mu akachisi yokonzewa na wanthu.—Yes. 40:18-26.

14. Ko Paulo adawonesa tani kuti Mulungu athembalini wanthu kuti amuthandize?

¹⁴ Mulungu athembalini wanthu kuti amuthandize. Wanthu wotumikira mafano ambakonda kuvazika mafano yawo vovala va padzulu, kuyapasa mphaso panango kuyapasa vakudya na vakumwa ninge kuti mafano mwayo yankufunikira vinthu vimwevo. Koma anango mwa Agiriki opfunza maninge omwe ambabvesera  Paulo iwo ambakhulupirira kuti mulungu angafunikirelini kuthandiziwa na wanthu. Peno nishuwadi kuti venzedi teno, ndiye kuti adabverana na mpfundo yomwe Paulo adanena yakuti Mulungu “angafunikelini kuthandiziwa na manja ya wanthu” ninge kuti ankusowa chirichose. Shuwadi, palibe chinthu chirichose chomwe munthu angathandize nacho Mulengi moyu. M’malo mwake iye apasa wanthu vinthu vomwe ankufunikira va ntsiku na ntsiku. Awapasa ‘moyo, mphuwe na vinthu vose,’ vomwe vinkuphatanidzapo dzuwa, nvula na dongo yandovole. (Mac. 17:25; Gen. 2:7) Pamwapa vinkuoneka kuti Mulungu yemwe achapereka vinthu kwa wanthu athembalini wanthu omwe achatambira vinthu kwa iye kuti amuthandize.

15. Ko Paulo adalewa vinthu viponi pa vomwe wanthu wa ku Atene ambakhulupirira kuti iwo enze wapadzulu kuposha wanthu womwe enzelini Agiriki, ndipo tinkupfunzira mpfundo yodekana iponi pa chitsanzo mwechi?

¹⁵ Mulungu adalenga munthu. Wanthu wa ku Atene ambakhulupirira kuti enze wapadzulu kuposha wanthu anango omwe enzelini Akhrisitu. Wanthu omwe adziona kuti ni wofunika maninge ndawa ya khaindi yawo akhala kuti ankutsutsana na chonadi cha m’Baibolo. (Deut. 10:17) Paulo adafotokoza nkhani mweyi mwanzeru komasoti mwabuya maninge. Mosakaika mawu ya Paulo yakuti kuchokera kwa munthu m’bodzi “[Mulungu] adakonza makhaindi yose ya wanthu,” adachitisa wanthu omwe angamubvesera wale kuganizira maninge nkhani mweyi. (Mac. 17:26) Iye ambalewa va nkhani ya pa Genesis yomwe ilewa va baba wa wanthu wose Adamu. (Gen. 1:26-28) Pakuti wanthu wose baba wawo ni m’bodzi palibe khaindi panango dzinza yomwe ni yapadzulu kuposha inango. Vinkuwonekeratu kuti wanthu omwe ambabvesera Paulo adabvesesa bwinobwino mpfundo yake. Tinkupfunzira mpfundo yodekana maninge pa chitsanzo mwechi. Nshuwadi kuti tichadekana kukhala osamala komasoti oganizira anango pakuphata basa yathu yolalikira. Koma tichadekanalini kupepusa chonadi cha m’Baibolo kuti anango adawikize vomwe tinkunena ivo.

16. Ko Mulengi wathu afuna kuti wanthu achite chani?

 ¹⁶ Mulungu achada kuti wanthu amufenderere. Olo kuti wanthu opfunza omwe angabvesera Paulo adakambirana kwa magole yazinji va cholinga chomwe wanthu achakhalira na moyo. Iwo alibe kufotokoza cholinga mwecho mophata ntima. Koma Paulo adafotokoza mobveka bwino cholinga chomwe Mulengi wenze nacho pakulenga wanthu kuti “wanthu mwawo afagefage Mulungu, amufagefage na kumugumanadi, olo kuti iye akhalalini kutali na munthu aliyese payekha.” (Mac. 17:27) Venze vokwanisika kudziwa Mulungu yemwe wanthu wa ku Atene ambamudziwalini ndawa iye wenzelini kutali na aliyese yemwe angadekana kumugumana na kupfunzira va iye. (Sal. 145:18) Onani kuti Paulo adaphatisira basa mawu yakuti “ise”, ndipo vimwevi vinkuwonesa kuti iyembo adadziikha mu gulu ya wanthu omwe angadekana kuti ‘afagefage Mulungu na kumufagafaga.’

17, 18. Ndawa chani wanthu achadekana kukonda Mulungu, ndipo tinkupfunzira chani kwa Paulo yemwe adayankhula na wanthu mowafika pamoyo?

¹⁷ Wanthu afunika kukhala na ntima wofuna kudziwa Mulungu. Paulo adalewa kuti: ‘Pale ndawa ya iye tinamoyo, tifamba ndipo tilipo.’ Mashasha yanango yadanena kuti Paulo angalewa mawu yomwe yadanenewa na munthu munango (dzina yake Epimenides) wonemba nthano wa ku Kerete cha m’magole ya 500 AEC, yemwe wenze “wobvekera maninge pa nkhani ya miyambo ya vipembedzo ya ku Atene.” Paulo adapereka chifukwa chinango chomwe wanthu angadekana kukondera Mulungu polewa kuti: “Wanthano wanu anango alewa kuti, ‘pale ndise wana wake.’” (Mac. 17:28) Wanthu angadekana kuwona kuti penze ubale wapadera pakati pa iwo na Mulungu ndawa yakuti wenze Ababa wa munthu woyamba yemwe ni m’beleki wa wanthu wose. Pakufuna kuwafika pantima wanthu omwe angawalalikira, mwanzeru Paulo adaphata mawu yochokera nkhani za Chigiriki  zomwe panango wanthu mwawo ambazikonda maninge. e Pakutewedzera chitsanzo cha Paulo isembo nthawe zinango tingaphate mawu ya mu mbiri za kalekale panango mu mabukhu yomwe wanthu ayaphatisira basa. Mwakulinganiza, mawu yodekana yomwe tayatenga mu bukhu yomwe wanthu achayakonda yangathandize munthu yemwe ni Mbonilini kubvesa kuyamba kwa miyambo na vinthu vinanngo vomwe wanthu wachipembedzo chonyenga achachita.

¹⁸ Pakufika pamwapa, Paulo wenze adanena mpfundo zosiyanasiyana za chonadi cha Mulungu ndipo mwabuya adaphatisira basa mawu yomwe wanthu omwe angawalalikira wale angabverana nayo. Ko ntumi moyu ambafuna kuti wanthu wa ku Atene achite chani akambabva ntontholo moyu? Iye alibe kuzeza kuwauza vodekana kuchita.

19, 20. (a) Ko Paulo adawonesa tani mosamala maninge kuti ni kupusa kutumikira mafano? (b) Ko wanthu omwe Paulo angawalalikira angadekana kuchita chani?

¹⁹ Pamwapa Paulo wenze wokonzeka kulimbikisa wanthu omwe angawalalikira kuti achinje. Iye adalewa pomwe va mpfundo yochokera m’mabukhu ya Chigiriki yale yakuti: “Pakuti ndise wana wa Mulungu, ayi kuti timbaganize kuti Mulungu muyo ali ninge golide, siliva, mwala panango chirichose chosemewa na wanthu wabuya.” (Mac. 17:29) Shuwadi, peno wanthu adalengewa na Mulungu, ko vingakwanisike tani kuti Mulungu alingane na mafano yokonzewa na wanthu? Mpfundo zophata ntima zomwe Paulo adafotokoza zidaonesa bwino kuti ni kupusa kutumikira mafano yokonzewa na wanthu. (Sal. 115:4-8; Yes. 44:9-20) Pakulewa kuti “ayi kuti timbaganize kuti,” mosakaika Paulo adafewesako pang’ono mphanvu ya uphungu womwe angapereka.

²⁰ Ntumi moyu adalewa mobveka bwino kuti wanthu mwawa angadekana kuchinja maninge. Iye adati: “Mulungu adalekerera nthawe yomwe wanthu ambadziwalini vinthu [vakuti iye akondwalini na wanthu otumikira mafano], koma manjeuno ankuwuza wanthu kulikose kuti wose alape.” (Mac. 17:30) Vingachitike kuti wanthu anango omwe angabvesera Paulo, adadabwa maninge padabva kulimbikisiwa kwateneuyu kuti alape. Koma mpfundo yophata ntima yomwe iye adanena idaonesa kuti Mulungu ni yemwe adapasa wanthu mwawo moyo ndipo wenze na mphanvu zonena kuti anamulandu ndawa ya vochita vawo. Ndipomwapa angadekana kufagafaga Mulungu, kupfunzira chonadi chonena va Mulungu, komasoti kuchinja moyo wawo kuti vochita vawo vibverane na chonadi mwecho. Wanthu wa ku Atene angadekana kuzindikira kuti kutumikira mafano ni chimo ndipo angadekana kuleka kuchita vimwevi.

21, 22. Ko Paulo adamaliza kuyankhula mawu yamphanvu yaponi, ndipo mawu yake mwawa yankutanthauza chani kwa isepano ntsiku zino?

²¹ Paulo adamaliza kuyankhula mawu yamphanvu yakuti: “[Mulungu] wakhazikisa ntsiku yomwe akufuna kudzaweruza mwachilungamo dziko yose yapasi, pakuphatisira  basa munthu yemwe iye wamusankhula. Ndipo watsimikizira wanthu wose vimwevi pomumukisa.” (Mac. 17:31) Iwo angadekanadi kugafagafadi Mulungu na kumugumana kuti adzapulumuke pa ntsiku yachiweruzo. Paulo alibe kutomola dzina ya oweruza yemwe Mulungu adamuikha. Koma iye adanena vinthu vinango vodabwisa va woweruza moyu kuti adakhalako, adaphewa patsogolo pake Mulungu adamumukisa kwa akufa!

²² Mawu yomaliza yochitisa chidwi mwaya yanatanthauzo ikulu kwa isepano ntsiku zino. Tinkudziwa kuti Yesu Khrisitu yemwe adamukisiwa ndiye woweruza yemwe adaikhiwa na Mulungu. (Yoh. 5:22) Tinkudziwa kuti ntsiku ya chiweruzo idzakhale nthawe ya magole 1000 ndipo yafendera maninge. (Chiv. 20:4, 6) Koma isepano tinkugopalini ntsiku yachiweruzo mweyi ndawa tinkudziwa kuti idzabwerese madaliso yazinji kwa wanthu omwe ni okhulupirika pa maso pa Mulungu. Tinkudikhirira tsogolo yabwino ndawa Mulungu watitsimikizira vimwevi pakuchita chodabwisa chikulu maninge. Chodabwisa chimwechi ni kumukisiwa kwa Yesu Khrisitu!

23. Ko wanthu adachita chani padabva ntontholo wa Paulo?

²³ Wanthu adachita vinthu vosiyanasiyana padabva ntontholo wa Paulo. Padabva va kumusiwa kwa wakufa, “anango adayamba kuseka monyoza.” Anango enze na ulemu koma ambafunalini kulapa na kukhala Akhrisitu, ndipo adalewa kuti: “Viri bwino, udzatiuze pomwe vimwevi nthawe inango.” (Mac. 17:32) Koma “wanthu anango [adikidiki] adabverana naye ndipo adakhala ateweri wa Yesu. Anango pa wanthu mwawo wenze Diyoniziyo, yemwe ambatonga milandu mu nyumba ya Areopagi, mayi munango dzina yake Damarisi komasoti wanthu anango.” (Mac. 17:34) Vinthu vateneuyu vichachitika pomwe mu utumiki. Wanthu anango atinyoza pomwe anango akhala waulemu koma abveralini ntontholo wathu. Koma tikhala okondwa maninge wanthu akabvesera ntontholo wa Ufumu nkukhala Akhrisitu.

24. Ko tinkupfunzira chani pa vomwe Paulo adayankhula padaimirira m’nyumba ya Areopagi?

²⁴ Tikaganizira momwe Paulo adayankhulira, tingapfunzire mpfundo yobveka bwino komasoti mophata ntima na kupfunzira kutomola mpfundo zomwe wanthu omwe tinkuwalalikira angabverane nazo. Kuingizira pamwapa, tingapfunzire kudekana kokhala odekha komasoti osamala pakuyankhula na wanthu omwe achitisiwa ulombe na vikhulupiriro va bodza va chipembedzo. Tingapfunzire pomwe mpfundo yodekana maninge yakuti: Ayi kuti timbapepuse chonadi cha m’Baibolo kundofuna kukondweresa wanthu omwe ankutibvesera. Ndipo tikambatewedzera ntumi Paulo, tidzakhale apfunzisi wabuya mu utumiki komasoti akulu adzakwanise kupfunzisa mophata ntima mu mpingo. Vimwevi vidzathandize kukhala okonzeka kuthandiza anango kuti “afagefage Mulungu . . . na kumugumanadi.”—Mac. 17:27.