1-3. (a) Ngubani Pawula lakhetse kuhamba naye nyalo, futsi ungumuntfu lonjani? (b) Yini lesitayifundza kulesehluko?

 NJENGOBE bahamba etindzaweni letigcwele ematje, futsi badzabula emadolobheni, umphostoli Pawula ubuka lelijaha lahamba nalo lokutsiwa nguThimothi futsi uyacabanga. Thimothi usemusha futsi unemandla; kungenteka useminyakeni yabo-20. Njengobe bachubeka bahamba, nelilanga lichubeka, bashiya emuva likhaya lakubo kanye nesifundza saseListra nesase-Ikhoniyumi. Batawuhlangana nani embili? Pawula uyati ngobe lolu luhambo lwakhe lwesibili asitfunywa selivangeli. Uyati nekutsi batawubhekana netinkinga letinyenti. Lelijaha lahamba nalo litawukhona yini kubhekana naletinkinga?

² Pawula uyametsemba Thimothi, futsi kungenteka umetsemba kwendlula indlela Thimothi latetsemba ngayo. Tintfo letisandza kwenteka tente Pawula wabona kutsi udzinga umuntfu lokahle langahamba naye. Uyati kutsi lomsebenti wekuvakashela emabandla kanye nekuwacinisa udzinga kutsi babambisane futsi batimisele kakhulu. Yini leyenta Pawula ative ngalendlela? Lokunye kwako kungenteka kungevani lokwabakhona emkhatsini wakhe naBhanabasi, futsi lokwabenta behlukana.

³ Kulesehluko sitawubona indlela lekahle yekulungisa kungaboni ngasolinye. Sitawuphindze sibone kutsi yini leyenta Pawula wakhetsa kuhamba naThimothi, futsi sitfole nendzima lebalulekile ledlalwa babonisi betigodzi.

4. Yini Pawula lahlela kuyenta eluhambweni lwakhe lwesibili asitfunywa selivangeli?

⁴ Esehlukweni lesisuka kuso, siyibonile indlela labazalwane labane, boPawula, Bhanabasi, Judasi kanye naSilasi labakhutsata ngayo bazalwane belibandla lase-Antiyokhi ngesincumo lesivela esigungwini lesibusako lesimayelana nendzaba yekusoka. Yini Pawula labese uyayenta  ngemuva kwaloko? Waya kuBhanabasi wamtjela ngeluhlelo lwakhe lolumayelana neluhambo lolulandzelako, watsi: “Asiphindze sivakashele bazalwane kuwo onkhe emadolobha lesamemetela kuwo livi laJehova, kuze sibone kutsi banjani.” (Imis. 15:36) Pawula bekangakhulumeli kuvakasha kuze batijabulise nalabazalwane labasandza kuba ngemaKhristu. Incwadzi yeMisebenti iyiveta kahle injongo yeluhambo lwesibili lwaPawula asitfunywa selivangeli. Kwekucala, bekufanele atjele bazalwane ngetincumo letivela esigungwini lesibusako. (Imis. 16:4) Kwesibili, njengembonisi lojikeletako, Pawula bekatimisele kukhutsata emabandla kanye nekuwasita acine ekukholweni. (Rom. 1:11, 12) Inhlangano yaBoFakazi BaJehova lamuhla isilandzela njani sibonelo lesabekwa baphostoli?

5. Sigungu Lesibusako lamuhla sisindlulisela njani sicondziso kanye nesikhutsato emabandleni?

⁵ Lamuhla, Khristu usebentisa Sigungu Lesibusako saBoFakazi BaJehova kuze acondzise libandla lakhe. Lamadvodza lagcotjiwe letsembekile endlulisela ticondziso kanye netikhutsato emabandleni lasemhlabeni wonkhe asebentisa tincwadzi (letters), tincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini letiphrintiwe naletitfolakala ku-internet, imihlangano kanye naletinye tindlela tekuchumana. Sigungu Lesibusako sisebentisa babonisi labajikeletako kuze sihlale sisondzelene nelibandla ngalinye. Kungako sibeke tinkhulungwane temadvodza lamadzala lafanelekako kutsi tibe babonisi betigodzi emhlabeni wonkhe.

6, 7. Ngumiphi leminye yemisebenti leyentiwa babonisi betigodzi?

⁶ Babonisi labajikeletako lamuhla banaka umuntfu ngamunye lokhona emabandleni labawavakashelako futsi bamkhutsate ebuhlotjeni bakhe naNkulunkulu. Kanjani? Ngekulingisa sibonelo semaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala lanjengaPawula. Pawula wancenga lombonisi lojikeletako lebekanaye watsi: “Shumayela livi; ushumayele ngekutimisela ngetikhatsi letivumako naletimatima; ukhalimele, wekhute, uyale ngako konkhe kubeketela nangelikhono lekufundzisa. . . . Uchubeke ushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi.”​—2 Thim. 4:2, 5.

⁷ Ngekuvumelana nalamavi, umbonisi wesigodzi—kanye nemkakhe, nangabe ashadile—uhlanganyela nebamemeteli etincenyeni letehlukahlukene temsebenti wekushumayela. Lababonisi labajikeletako bakhutsele emsebentini wekushumayela futsi banelikhono lekufundzisa, lokutintfo letinemtselela lomuhle emhlambini. (Rom. 12:11; 2 Thim. 2:15) Labo labasemsebentini wekujikeleta batiwa ngelutsandvo lwabo lwekutidzela. Ngekutitsandzela, basita labanye futsi bahambela emabandla ngisho nobe simo selitulu sisibi. Loku bakwenta ngisho nalapho kufanele bahambe etindzaweni letiyingoti. (Fil. 2:3, 4) Babonisi betigodzi baphindze bakhutsate, bafundzise futsi bayale libandla ngalinye basebentisa tinkhulumo letisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Bonkhe ebandleni bayazuza ngekucabangisisa ngesibonelo sebabonisi labajikeletako, kanye nekulingisa kukholwa kwabo.​—Heb. 13:7.

8. Bhanabasi wenta njani ngesikhatsi Pawula amcela kutsi ahambe naye?

⁸ Bhanabasi wasemukela simemo saPawula sekutsi bahambe ‘bayovakashela bazalwane.’ (Imis. 15:36) Bobabili bebasebente kahle ndzawonye batitfunywa telivangeli, futsi bebatati kahle letifundza kanye nalabantfu lebebatabavakashela. (Imis. 13:2–14:28) Ngako kuphindze basebente ndzawonye bekubonakala kunengcondvo futsi kutawuphumelela. Nobe kunjalo, kwabese kuphakama inkinga. Imisebenti 15:37 itsi: “Bhanabasi bekatimisele kuhamba naJohane, lobekutsiwa nguMakho.” Bhanabasi bekangamani nje abeka umbono, kunaloko “bekatimisele” kutsatsa Makho umzala wakhe kuze abe khona kuloluhambo lwabo lwetitfunywa telivangeli.

9. Yini leyenta Pawula wangavumelani naBhanabasi?

⁹ Pawula akazange avumelane naBhanabasi. Leni? Lokulandzisa kuyasitjela: “Pawula akazange akubone kukuhle kutsi bahambe naye [Makho], ngobe bekabashiyile ePhamfiliya futsi wangachubeki nabo kulomsebenti.” (Imis. 15:38) Makho bekahambe naPawula naBhanabasi eluhambweni lwabo lwekucala batitfunywa telivangeli kodvwa akazange ahlale nabo baze balucedze. (Imis. 12:25; 13:13) Nabasacala loluhambo, ngesikhatsi basePhamfiliya, Makho washiya sabelo sakhe wabuyela ekhaya eJerusalema. LiBhayibheli alisho kutsi yini leyabangela Makho kutsi abuyele emuva, kodvwa umphostoli Pawula watsatsa loku njengekubalekela sabelo. Kungenteka Pawula bekatibuta imibuto leminyenti lemayelana nekutsi angametsemba yini Makho.

10. Kungaboni ngasolinye kwaPawula naBhanabasi kwaholelaphi, futsi waba yini umphumela?

¹⁰ Nobe kunjalo, Bhanabasi bekasolo atimisele kuhamba naMakho, kantsi Pawula yena bekatimisele kungahambi naye. Imisebenti 15:39 itsi: “Ngako bacabana kabi baze behlukana.” Bhanabasi waya ekhaya lakhe esichingini saseSiphrosi ahamba naMakho. Pawula wachubeka naloku lebekakuhlelile. Lokulandzisa kutsi: “Pawula wakhetsa Silasi wase uyahamba ngemuva kwekutsi bazalwane bamfisele umusa lomkhulu lovela kuJehova.” (Imis. 15:40) ‘Bahamba badzabula iSiriya neSilisiya, bacinisa emabandla.’​—Imis. 15:41.

11. Ngubuphi buntfu lobubalulekile lokudzingeka sibe nabo kuze kube nekuthula nangabe singakaboni ngasolinye nalotsite nobe asivise buhlungu?

¹¹ Lendzaba isikhumbuta kutsi sonkhe sinesono. BoPawula naBhanabasi bebabameleli labakhetsekile besigungu lesibusako. Kungenteka Pawula waba lilunga lalesigungu lesibusako. Nobe kunjalo, kulesimo, boPawula naBhanabasi bavumela kuba nesono kwabo kwabalawula. Lesimo sabenta bachubeka bangevani yini? Ngisho nobe bebanesono, boPawula naBhanabasi bebangemadvodza latfobekile futsi lacabangisa kwaKhristu. Asingabati kutsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi bakhombisana lutsandvo lwaKhristu, futsi bacolelana. (Ef. 4:1-3) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, boPawula naMakho basebenta ndzawonye kuletinye tabelo letivela kuNkulunkulu. a​—Khol. 4:10.

12. Ngubuphi buntfu babonisi balamuhla lokufanele batiwe ngabo, njengobe bekunjalo ngaPawula naBhanabasi?

 ¹² Lokutfukutsela bekungesiyo intfo boPawula naBhanabasi lebebatiwa ngayo. Bhanabasi bekatiwa ngekutsi uyindvodza lenelutsandvo nemusa, kangangekutsi kunekutsi abitwe ngeligama lakhe lelitsi Josefa, baphostoli bametsa ligama lelitsi Bhanabasi, lokusho kutsi “Lokhutsata Labanye.” (Imis. 4:36) NaPawula bekatiwa ngekuba nemusa kanye nesineke. (1 Thes. 2:7, 8) Bonkhe babonisi labangemaKhristu lamuhla, lokufaka ekhatsi babonisi betigodzi, kufanele balingise boPawula naBhanabasi, balwele kuphatsa labadzala labakanye nabo kanye nawo wonkhe umhlambi ngemusa.​—1 Phet. 5:2, 3.

13, 14. (a) Bekangubani Thimothi, futsi kungenteka Pawula wahlangana njani naye? (b) Yini leyenta Pawula wanakisisa Thimothi? (c) Thimothi watfola siphi sabelo?

¹³ Luhambo lwaPawula lwesibili asitfunywa selivangeli lwamyisa eGalathiya, lokusifundza semaRoma, lapho bekusungulwe khona emabandla lambalwa. Ekugcineni ‘wafika eDebe naseListra.’ Lokulandzisa kutsi: “Kuleyo ndzawo bekunalomunye umfundzi lobekutsiwa nguThimothi, make wakhe bekangumJuda futsi akholwa, kantsi babe wakhe bekangumGriki.”​—Imis. 16:1. b

¹⁴ Kubonakala shengatsi Pawula wahlangana nemndeni waThimothi eluhambweni lwakhe lwekucala asitfunywa selivangeli cishe nga-47 C.E. Ngemuva kweminyaka lemibili nobe lemitsatfu, nasekaseluhambweni lwakhe lwesibili, Pawula walinakisisa lelijaha lelinguThimothi. Leni? Ngobe bazalwane “bebakhuluma kahle ngaThimothi.” Bekangatsandvwa nje kuphela bazalwane basedolobheni lakubo, kodvwa bekatsandvwa nabazalwane bakuletinye tindzawo. Lokulandzisa kutsi bazalwane baseListra kanye nebase-Ikhoniyumi, lekhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-30, bebakhuluma tintfo letinhle ngaye. (Imis. 16:2) Bacondziswa ngumoya longcwele, labadzala baniketa Thimothi losemusha umsebenti lomkhulu wekusita boPawula naSilasi njengobe bebenta umsebenti wekujikeleta.​—Imis. 16:3.

15, 16. Yini leyenta Thimothi wakhulunyelwa kahle?

¹⁵ Yini leyenta Thimothi wakhulunyelwa kahle ngisho nobe bekasemusha? Bekukuhlakanipha kwakhe yini, kubukeka kwakhe nobe emakhono akhe? Imvamisa bantfu batsandza tintfo letinjalo. Ngisho nemphrofethi Samuweli wake wanaka kakhulu indlela umuntfu labukeka ngayo ngephandle. Nobe kunjalo, Jehova wamkhumbuta kutsi: “Indlela umuntfu labuka ngayo ayifanani neyaNkulunkulu ngobe bantfu babuka lokubonakala ngephandle, kodvwa Jehova ubona lokusenhlitiyweni.” (1 Sam. 16:7) Ngephandle nje kwekubukeka kwangephandle, Thimothi bekanebuntfu lobuhle lobamenta waba neligama lelihle kumaKhristu lebekakanye nawo.

 ¹⁶ Ngemuva kweminyaka letsite, umphostoli Pawula wakhuluma ngebuntfu baThimothi bebuKhristu. Wachaza simo sengcondvo lesihle Thimothi lebekanaso, lutsandvo lwekutidzela, kanye nekutimisela kwakhe kwenta tabelo latinikwe nguNkulunkulu. (Fil. 2:20-22) Thimothi bekatiwa ngekuba nekukholwa “lokute kutentisa.”​—2 Thim. 1:5.

17. Bantfu labasha bangamlingisa njani Thimothi lamuhla?

¹⁷ Bantfu labasha labanyenti lamuhla balingisa Thimothi ngekuba nebuntfu lobuhle lobutsandvwa nguNkulunkulu. Ngaleyondlela, batakhela ligama lelihle naJehova kanye nebantfu bakhe ngisho nobe babancane. (Taga 22:1; 1 Thim. 4:15) Banekukholwa lokute kutentisa, futsi batiphatsa kahle ebandleni nangaphandle. (Hla. 26:4) Ngako, njengaThimothi, laba labasebasha badlala indzima lebalulekile ebandleni. Laba labasebasha nabafaneleka kuba bamemeteli betindzaba letimnandzi, batinikele kuJehova futsi babhajatiswe, basuke bakhutsata labo labatsandza Jehova!

18. (a) Ngumuphi umsebenti boPawula naThimothi lebebawenta njengebabonisi labajikeletako? (b) Emabandla azuza njani?

¹⁸ BoPawula naThimothi basebenta ndzawonye iminyaka leminyenti. Njengebabonisi labajikeletako, bebenta imisebenti leminyenti bamelela sigungu lesibusako. Kulandzisa kweliBhayibheli kutsi: “Njengobe bahamba kulamadolobha, bebatjela bazalwane ngetincumo letentiwe baphostoli nalabadzala eJerusalema kuze batigcine.” (Imis. 16:4) Siyaciniseka kutsi emabandla asilandzela lesicondziso lesibuya kubaphostoli nakumadvodza lamadzala eJerusalema. Ngenca yalokulalela, “kukholwa kwemabandla bekuchubeka kuciniswa, futsi bekandza malanga onkhe.”​—Imis. 16:5.

19, 20. Kubaluleke ngani kutsi emaKhristu ‘alalele labo labaholako’?

¹⁹ Ngendlela lefanako, BoFakazi BaJehova lamuhla batfola sibusiso ngekulandzela ticondziso labatitfola ‘kulabo labaholako’ labakanye nabo. (Heb. 13:17) Ngenca yekutsi tintfo emhlabeni tihlale tishintja, kubalulekile kutsi emaKhristu ahlale atilandzela ngekushesha ticondziso letivela ‘esisebentini lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile.’ (Mat. 24:45; 1 Khor. 7:29-31) Kwenta njalo kungasenta singakhweshi ecinisweni, futsi kungasisita sihlale singenabala kulelive.​—Jak. 1:27.

²⁰ Kuliciniso kutsi babonisi labangemaKhristu lamuhla, lokufaka ekhatsi emalunga eSigungu Lesibusako, banesono njengobe bekunjalo ngaPawula, Bhanabasi, Makho kanye nalamanye emadvodza lamadzala lebekagcotjiwe angelikhulu lekucala. (Rom. 5:12; Jak. 3:2) Nobe kunjalo, singasetsemba Sigungu Lesibusako ngenca yekutsi silandzela liVi laNkulunkulu ngekucophelela futsi silingisa sibonelo sebaphostoli. (2 Thim. 1:13, 14) Ngenca yaloko, emabandla ayachubeka aciniswa ekukholweni.