Bakundaga Ijambo ry’Imana

AKENSHI ubutumwa bw’ingenzi buhindurwa mu ndimi nyinshi kugira ngo abantu benshi cyane bashobore kubusobanukirwa. Ijambo ry’Imana Bibiliya na ryo, ririmo ubutumwa bw’ingenzi. Nubwo Bibiliya yanditswe kera, ibyo tuyisangamo “byandikiwe kutwigisha,” kandi biraduhumuriza bigatuma tugira ibyiringiro by’igihe kizaza.—Abaroma 15:4.

Ku bw’ibyo, byari bikwiriye ko Bibiliya ihindurwa mu ndimi nyinshi kubera ko ari igitabo gikubiyemo ubutumwa bw’ingenzi kurusha ubundi bwose bwabayeho. Kuva kera, abantu bagiye bakora uko bashoboye bagahindura Bibiliya nubwo babaga bahanganye n’uburwayi bukomeye, barwanywa n’ubutegetsi cyangwa bashobora kwicwa. Kuki bemeraga gushyira ubuzima bwabo mu kaga? Ni uko bakundaga Ijambo ry’Imana. Reka turebe bimwe mu bintu byaranze umurimo wo guhindura Bibiliya mu zindi ndimi.

“Abongereza biga neza amategeko ya Kristo iyo bayize mu Cyongereza”

Ahagana mu mwaka wa 1330, igihe John Wycliffe yavukaga, misa zo mu Bwongereza zasomwaga mu Kilatini. Nyamara kandi, abantu bo muri rubanda bavugaga Icyongereza gusa. Baganiraga n’abaturanyi babo mu Cyongereza, kandi bagasenga mu Cyongereza.

Wycliffe wari umupadiri yari azi neza Ikilatini. Ariko kandi, yumvaga ko gukoresha Ikilatini mu kwigisha Ibyanditswe bidakwiriye, kubera ko yabonaga ko urwo ari ururimi rw’abantu bo mu rwego rwo hejuru. Yaranditse ati “amategeko y’Imana yagombye kwigishwa mu rurimi abantu bashobora kumva bitabagoye, kuko ibyo baba biga ari ijambo ry’Imana.” Ku bw’ibyo, Wycliffe n’abo bari bafatanyije bishyize hamwe kugira ngo bahindure Bibiliya mu rurimi rw’Icyongereza. Uwo murimo wamaze imyaka 20.

Kiliziya Gatolika ntiyishimiye icyo gitekerezo cyo guhindura Bibiliya mu rundi rurimi. Hari igitabo cyasobanuye impamvu kiliziya yarwanyije icyo gitekerezo, kigira kiti “byari gutuma abayoboke  ba kiliziya bashobora kugereranya imibereho y’Abakristo bo mu gihe cya kera n’inyigisho zabo zumvikana neza, n’uburyo kiliziya Gatolika yari imeze muri icyo gihe. . . . Byahise bigaragara neza ko inyigisho z’uwashinze Ubukristo, ntaho zari zihuriye n’inyigisho za [papa] wihandagazaga avuga ko ari we umwungirije.”—The Mysteries of the Vatican.

Papa Grégoire wa XI yashyizeho amategeko agera kuri atanu agamije kwamagana Wycliffe. Ariko kandi, ibyo ntibyatumye uwo muhinduzi ahagarika uwo murimo. Yaravuze ati “Abongereza biga neza amategeko ya Kristo, iyo bayize mu Cyongereza. Mose yabwiwe amategeko y’Imana mu rurimi rwe, kandi ni na ko byagenze ku ntumwa za Kristo.” Ahagana mu mwaka wa 1382, mbere gato y’urupfu rwa Wycliffe, we n’abo bari bafatanyije basohoye Bibiliya ya mbere yuzuye yo mu rurimi rw’Icyongereza. Nyuma y’imyaka igera ku icumi, umwe mu bo bari bafatanyije yasubiyemo iyo Bibiliya y’Icyongereza, maze yongera kuyisohora ihinduye neza ku buryo abantu bayisoma bitabagoye.

Kubera ko imashini zicapa zari zitarabaho, bagombaga gukora umurimo utoroshye wo kwandukura buri mwandiko wandikishijwe intoki babyitondeye, ku buryo uwo murimo washoboraga kumara amezi icumi. Nyamara kuba kopi za Bibiliya zarakwirakwizwaga, byahangayikishije kiliziya cyane ku buryo hari umwarikiyepiskopi watanze itegeko rivuga ko umuntu wese wari gusoma Bibiliya yagombaga kwirukanwa muri kiliziya. Hashize imyaka irenga 40 Wycliffe apfuye, abayobozi ba kiliziya, babitegetswe n’inama y’abakaridinali yatumijwe na papa, bataburuye amagufwa ye barayatwika maze ivu barijugunya mu mugezi witwa Swift. Ariko kandi, abantu bari bafite inyota yo kumenya ukuri bakomeje gushakisha Bibiliya yahinduwe na Wycliffe. Porofeseri William M. Blackburn yaravuze ati “handitswe kopi nyinshi za Bibiliya yahinduwe na Wycliffe, zirakwirakwizwa cyane, kandi abantu barazihererekanya.”

Bibiliya ishobora gusomwa n’umwana w’umuhinzi

Mu gihe cy’imyaka 200 yakurikiyeho, Icyongereza cyakoreshejwe na Wycliffe cyari kitakivugwa. Umuvugabutumwa ukiri muto wari utuye hafi y’umugi wa Bristol yababazwaga n’uko abantu bake cyane ari bo bashoboraga gusobanukirwa Bibiliya. Hari igihe uwo muvugabutumwa witwaga William Tyndale yumvise umugabo wize, avuga ko icyiza ari uko abantu babaho badafite amategeko y’Imana, kuruta ko babaho badafite amategeko ya papa. Tyndale yashubije avuga ko iyo Imana ibimushoboza, yari gukora ikintu cyari gutuma n’umwana w’umuhinzi amenya Bibiliya neza kurusha umuntu wize.

Wycliffe yari yarahinduye Bibiliya mu Cyongereza yifashishije Bibiliya y’Ikilatini yitwa Vulgate, kandi asohora kopi zayo zandikishijwe intoki. Mu mwaka wa 1524, Tyndale wari warimukiye mu Budage avuye mu Bwongereza, yatangiye guhindura Bibiliya mu Cyongereza yifashishije inyandiko z’umwimerere z’Igiheburayo n’Ikigiriki, maze yifashisha icapiro ryari mu mugi wa Cologne kugira ngo akore kopi zayo. Bidatinze, abarwanyaga Tyndale bamenye ko yarimo ahindura Bibiliya, maze basaba Sena yo muri uwo mugi gutanga itegeko ryo gufatira kopi zose z’iyo Bibiliya.

Tyndale yahungiye mu mugi wa Worms mu Budage maze akomeza umurimo we. Hashize igihe gito, kopi z’Icyongereza z’Ibyanditswe  bya Kigiriki za Tyndale, zinjijwe mu Bwongereza rwihishwa. Mu mezi atandatu, hari hamaze kugurishwa kopi nyinshi z’iyo Bibiliya, ku buryo byatumye hatumizwa inama y’abasenyeri ikitaraganya, maze bemeza ko kopi za Bibiliya zitwikwa.

Musenyeri wa Londres yasabye More kurwanya Tyndale akoresheje inyandiko, ibyo abikorera kugira ngo abantu benshi badakomeza gusoma Bibiliya, kandi ahagarike icyitwaga ubuhakanyi bwa Tyndale. More yababazwaga cyane no kuba Tyndale yarakoresheje ijambo “itorero” aho gukoresha “kiliziya,” n’ijambo “umusaza,” aho gukoresha “padiri.” Ayo magambo yatumye abantu bibaza niba ubutware papa yari afite abukwiriye, kandi yatumye bibaza niba itandukaniro riri hagati y’abayobozi ba kiliziya n’abayoboke bayo rifite ishingiro. Nanone Thomas More yamaganye Tyndale kubera ko yafashe ijambo ry’Ikigiriki a·gaʹpe akarihinduramo “urukundo,” aho kurihinduramo “kugira neza.” Hari igitabo cyagize kiti “guhindura iryo jambo muri ubwo buryo, na byo byari gukururira ibibazo Kiliziya, kubera ko wabonaga bitesha agaciro ibikorwa byo kugira neza [batanga amaturo], ibyo bikaba byarashoboraga gutuma idakomeza kubona impano zatumaga igira ubutunzi. Muri zo harimo amaturo asanzwe, ayavaga mu kugurisha za indulugensiya n’indi mitungo abayoboke bayiragaga, maze bakizezwa ko nibapfa bazajya mu ijuru.”—If God Spare My Life.

Thomas More yashyigikiye ko abo yitaga abahakanyi batwikwa, ibyo bituma Tyndale bamwica bamunize, maze batwikira umurambo we ku giti mu Kwakira 1536. Nyuma yaho, Thomas More na we yaciwe umutwe kubera ko yari atakemerwa n’umwami. Icyakora, mu mwaka 1935 Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma yamugize umutagatifu, hanyuma mu mwaka wa 2000, Papa Yohani Pawulo wa Kabiri amugira umutagatifu w’abanyapolitiki.

Tyndale we ntiyigeze ahabwa icyubahiro nk’icyo. Ariko kandi, mbere y’uko apfa, incuti ye Miles Coverdale yakusanyije ibice bitandukanye bya Bibiliya Tyndale yari yarahinduye, maze akoramo Bibiliya yuzuye. Iyo ni yo yabaye Bibiliya ya mbere yo mu rurimi rw’Icyongereza yahinduwe ivanywe mu ndimi z’umwimerere. Icyo gihe noneho, n’umwana w’umuhinzi yashoboraga gusoma Ijambo ry’Imana. Ariko se twavuga iki ku bihereranye no guhindura Bibiliya mu zindi ndimi zitari Icyongereza?

“Byasaga n’aho bidashoboka”

Umumisiyonari w’Umwongereza witwaga Robert Morrison yiyemeje amaramaje gusohora Bibiliya yuzuye mu rurimi rw’Igishinwa, nubwo abagize umuryango we hamwe n’incuti ze batashyigikiye icyo gitekerezo. Ku bw’ibyo, mu mwaka wa 1807, yafashe urugendo yerekeza mu Bushinwa. Uwo murimo we w’ubuhinduzi ntiwari woroshye. Charles Grant, icyo gihe wayoboraga isosiyeti y’ubucuruzi (East India Company), yaravuze ati “gukora uwo murimo byasaga n’aho bidashoboka.”

Morrison akigerayo yamenye ko Umushinwa wari gufatwa yigisha abanyamahanga ururimi rw’Igishinwa yari kwicwa. Yamaze igihe runaka adasohoka mu nzu kugira ngo we n’abari bemeye kumwigisha urwo rurimi badafatwa. Hari abavuga  ko “nyuma y’imyaka ibiri yamaze yiga, yashoboraga kuvuga Ikimandare [ururimi ruvugwa mu Bushinwa] n’urundi rurimi rumwe rushamikiye kuri urwo. Usibye kuvuga Ikimandare, yashoboraga kugisoma no kucyandika.” Hagati aho, umwami w’abami yaciye iteka ryabuzanyaga gucapa ibitabo by’Abakristo, kubirengaho bikaba byarahanishwaga igihano cy’urupfu. Nubwo Morrison yari azi ko byashoboraga gutuma ahasiga ubuzima, yarangije guhindura Bibiliya yose mu Gishinwa ku itariki ya 25 Ugushyingo 1819.

Mu mwaka wa 1836, hari hamaze gucapwa kopi zigera ku 2.000 za Bibiliya yuzuye, izigera ku 10.000 z’Ibyanditswe bya Kigiriki, n’izigera ku 31.000 z’ibice byayo mu rurimi rw’Igishinwa. Urukundo yakundaga Ijambo ry’Imana rwatumye “ibyasaga n’aho bidashoboka” bishoboka.

Bibiliya yo mu musego

Muri Gashyantare 1812, igihe umumisiyonari w’Umunyamerika Adoniram Judson n’umugore we Ann bari bamaze ibyumweru bibiri bashakanye, bafashe urugendo rurerure rwaje kubageza muri Birimaniya mu mwaka wa 1813. * Bahise batangira kwiga ururimi rwo muri icyo gihugu, akaba ari rumwe mu ndimi zikomeye cyane ku isi. Judson amaze imyaka mike yiga urwo rurimi, yaranditse ati ‘twiyemeje kwiga ururimi ruvugwa n’abantu batuye mu kandi gace ka kure k’isi, batekereza mu buryo butandukanye cyane n’ubwacu. Nta nkoranyamagambo dufite, habe n’umusemuzi wo kudusobanurira ijambo n’iri rimwe.’

Izo ngorane z’ururimi ntizatumye Judson areka uwo murimo we. Yarangije guhindura Ibyanditswe bya Kigiriki bya Gikristo mu Kinyabirimaniya muri Kamena 1823. Nyuma yaho, muri icyo gihugu habaye intambara. Kubera ko bakekaga ko Judson yari umutasi, baramufunze, bamubohesha iminyururu itatu maze bamuzirika ku giti kirekire kugira ngo atava aho ari. Mu gitabo uwitwa Francis Wayland yanditse mu mwaka wa 1853 ku bihereranye n’ubuzima bwa Judson, yaravuze ati “Judson akimara kwemererwa kuvugana n’umugore we mu rurimi rw’Icyongereza, kimwe mu bintu yabanje kumusaba, ni inyandiko y’Isezerano Rishya yari yarahinduye. Iyo nyandiko yari yandikishijwe intoki.” Kubera ko Ann yatinyaga ko iyo nyandiko yandikishijwe intoki yakwangizwa n’ubukonje kandi igatora uruhumbu iramutse itabwe, yayiboheye mu musego maze awushyira umugabo we muri gereza. Iyo nyandiko yararokotse, nubwo kuyandika no kuyirinda bitari byoroshye na gato.

Nyuma y’amezi menshi Judson yamaze afunze, yaje gufungurwa. Icyakora, ibyishimo bye ntibyateye kabiri. Nyuma yaho muri uwo mwaka, Ann yafashwe n’indwara yamuteye umuriro mwinshi, maze nyuma y’ibyumweru bike, aba arapfuye. Nyuma y’amezi atandatu gusa ibyo bibaye, umukobwa we Maria wari hafi kugira imyaka ibiri, na we yafashwe n’indwara idakira maze iramuhitana. Nubwo Judson yari yishwe n’agahinda, yongeye gukora umurimo we. Yarangije guhindura Bibiliya yose mu mwaka wa 1835.

Ese nawe ukunda Ijambo ry’Imana?

Abo bahinduzi si bo ba mbere bagaragaje ko bakunda Ijambo ry’Imana. Umwanditsi wa Zaburi wo muri Isirayeli ya kera, yaririmbiye Yehova Imana agira ati “amategeko yawe nyakunda ubu bugeni, ni yo nibwira umunsi ukira” (Zaburi 119:97). Bibiliya irenze ibi byo kuba igitabo cyanditswe mu buryo buhambaye. Irimo ubutumwa bw’ingenzi. Ese nawe ugaragaza ko ushishikazwa n’Ijambo ry’Imana urisoma buri gihe? Izere udashidikanya ko niba ubikora kandi ukihatira gushyira mu bikorwa ibyo wiga, ‘uzagira ibyishimo nubigenza utyo.’—Yakobo 1:25.

[Ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji]

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 8]

“Abongereza biga neza amategeko ya Kristo iyo bayize mu Cyongereza.”—JOHN WYCLIFFE

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 9]

William Tyndale hamwe n’ipaji yo muri Bibiliya yahinduye

[Aho ifoto yavuye]

Tyndale: From the book The Evolution of the English Bible

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 10]

Robert Morrison hamwe na Bibiliya yuzuye yahinduye mu rurimi rw’Igishinwa

[Aho amafoto yavuye]

In the custody of the Asian Division of the Library of Congress

Robert Morrison, engraved by W. Holl, from The National Portrait Gallery Volume IV, published c.1820 (litho), Chinnery, George (1774-1852) (after)/Private Collection/Ken Welsh/The Bridgeman Art Library International

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 11]

Adoniram Judson hamwe na Bibiliya yahinduye yo mu rurimi rw’Ikinyabirimaniya

[Aho ifoto yavuye]

Judson: Engraving by John C. Buttre/Dictionary of American Portraits/Dover

[Aho amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 8 yavuye]

Wycliffe: From the book The History of Protestantism (Vol. I); Bible: Courtesy of the American Bible Society Library, New York