1, 2. Ziziphi iimeko ababezinandipha uAdam noEva ekuqaleni, ibe yiyiphi imibuzo ephakamayo?

UADAM noEva badalwa bengenalo nolunye utshaba. Babengabantu abafezekileyo ababephila eparadesi. Babenandipha ukusondelelana noMdali wabo, bengunyana nentombi kuye. (Gen. 2:7-9; Luka 3:38) Into ababenethemba lokuyenza ebomini ichazwe kakuhle kumyalelo uThixo awabanika wona. (Funda iGenesis 1:28.) Ukuzalisa umhlaba nokuwoyisa kwakunokwenziwa kuze kugqitywe ngexesha elithile. Kodwa ukuhlala ‘benobukhosi kuzo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ezinambuzelayo emhlabeni,’ kwakuya kufuna ukuba uAdam noEva baphile ngonaphakade, uAdam angashenxiswa kukufa.

² Kodwa kutheni kwahlukile nje namhlanje? Kwenzeka njani ukuba kubekho izinto eziziintshaba ezininzi kangaka ezingabonwabisiyo abantu? Kwenzeka njani ukuba ukufa kube lolona tshaba lukhulu? UThixo uza kuzitshitshisa njani ezi zinto ziziintshaba? Iimpendulo zale mibuzo neminye efana nale ziyafumaneka eBhayibhileni. Makhe sizihlole.

3, 4. (a) UYehova wabanika wuphi umyalelo uAdam noEva? (b) Kwakubaluleke kangakanani ukuwuthobela?

³ Nangona babenethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade, uAdam noEva babenganikwanga ubomi bokungafi. Ukuze bahlale bephila, kwakufuneka baphefumle, basele, balale baze batye. Ngaphezu koko, ubomi babo babuxhomekeke kulwalamano lwabo noMniki-Bomi. (Dut. 8:3) Ukuthobela ukhokelo lukaThixo yeyona nto yayiya kubenza bonwabe ebomini baze baqhubeke bephila. UYehova wayibeka yacaca le nto kuAdam kwangaphambi kokuba uEva adalwe. Njani? “UYehova uThixo wamwisela lo myalelo umntu: ‘Kuyo yonke imithi yomyezo ungadla wanele. Kodwa wona umthi wokwazi okulungileyo nokubi uze ungadli kuwo, kuba mhla uthe wadla kuwo uya kufa ngokuqinisekileyo.’”—Gen. 2:16, 17.

⁴ “Umthi wokwazi okulungileyo nokubi” wawumela ilungelo likaThixo lokuba ekugqibeleni ibe nguye ogqibayo ukuba kukuphi okulungileyo kukuphi okubi. Kakade ke, uAdam wayesele eyazi intwana yokulungileyo nokubi; wayedalwe ngokomfanekiso kaThixo ibe wayenesazela. Lo mthi wawuza kubonisa kuAdam noEva ukuba babeya kusoloko beludinga ukhokelo lukaYehova. Ukutya kwabo emthini kwakuya kuthetha ukuba bafuna ukuziphatha, nto leyo eyayiya kuba yingozi kakhulu kubo nakwinzala yabo. Umthetho kaThixo nesohlwayo esihambisana nawo zazibonisa ukuba lo yayingumbandela onzulu.

5. UAdam noEva baqhathwa njani ukuze bangathobeli?

⁵ Emva kokuba uEva edaliwe, uAdam wamazisa ngomthetho kaThixo. Wayewazi kakuhle kuba wakwazi ukuwuphinda phantse ngokwelizwi nelizwi. (Gen. 3:1-3) Wawuphinda kumntu owayezenza inyoka, isidalwa esilumkileyo. Umntu owayethetha esebenzisa inyoka yayinguSathana uMtyholi, ingelosi kaThixo eyazivumela yaba nomqweno wokuzimela nokuba negunya. (Thelekisa uYakobi 1:14, 15.) Ukuze afezekise iminqweno yakhe emibi, watyhola uThixo ngokuthi ulixoki. Waqinisekisa uEva ukuba ukufuna ukuzimela kwakungayi kuphumela ekufeni, kodwa kwakuya kubenza bafane noThixo. (Gen. 3:4, 5) UEva wamkholelwa, wafuna ukuzimela geqe ngokuthi atye isiqhamo, waphembelela noAdam ukuba asitye. (Gen. 3:6, 17) UMtyholi wayexoka. (Funda eyoku-1 kuTimoti 2:14.) Sekunjalo, uAdam ‘waphulaphula ilizwi lomfazi wakhe.’ Nangona kusenokwenzeka ukuba inyoka yayibonakala inobuhlobo, uSathana uMtyholi wayelutshaba olungenanceba olwalusazi ukuba baza kufa xa belumamela.

6, 7. UYehova wabagweba njani aboni?

⁶ Ngenxa yezizathu eziphuthileyo, bobabini uAdam noEva bamvukela lowo wayebanike ubomi nayo yonke eny’ into ababenayo. Kakade ke, uYehova wayeyibona yonke le nto yayisenzeka. (1 Kron. 28:9; funda iMizekeliso 15:3.) Wavumela uAdam, uEva noSathana ukuba babonise indlela abavalelwa ngayo ngaye. Ngenxa yokuba enguBawo, ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova waba buhlungu kakhulu. (Thelekisa iGenesis 6:6.) NjengoMgwebi, kwafuneka enze into ibonakale, ababonise ukuba wayenyanisile ngale nto wayeyithetha.

⁷ UThixo wayethe kuAdam: “Mhla uthe wadla [kumthi wokwazi okulungileyo nokubi] uya kufa ngokuqinisekileyo.” Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uAdam wayecinga ukuba loo “mhla” lusuku oluneeyure  eziyi-24. Emva kokuba ophule umthetho kaThixo, mhlawumbi wayelindele ukugwetywa ngaphambi kokuba kutshone ilanga. Ngexesha ‘lempepho yasemini,’ uYehova weza kubo. (Gen. 3:8) Kwaba ngathi ubafaka enkundleni njengoko wayefumanisa eyona nto yayenzekile kwiimpendulo zika-Adam noEva. (Gen. 3:9-13) Emva koko wawisa isigwebo. (Gen. 3:14-19) Ukuba wayebatshabalalise ngoko nangoko, injongo yakhe ngoAdam noEva nangenzala yabo yayingayi kuzaliseka. (Isa. 55:11) Nangona wakhupha isohlwayo esikukufa yaza nemiphumo yesono yaqalisa ngoko nangoko, wavumela uAdam noEva ukuba bazale abantwana ababeza kuba nekamva eliqaqambileyo. Ngenxa yoko, ngokwembono kaThixo, uAdam noEva bafa kwangosuku abona ngalo, ibe bafa ngokoqobo ingekapheli “imini” enye ebunjwa yiminyaka eyi-1 000.—2 Pet. 3:8.

8, 9. Inzala ka-Adam yachatshazelwa njani sisono? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

⁸ Ngaba abantwana baka-Adam noEva babeza kuchaphazeleka ngenxa yoko kwakwenziwe ngabazali babo? Ewe. AmaRoma 5:12 ayicacisa kanje le nto: “Isono sangena ngamntu mnye ehlabathini nokufa ngaso isono, ngaloo ndlela ukufa kwasasazeka kubo bonke abantu ngenxa yokuba bonke bonayo.” Kwaqala kwafa indoda ethembikeleyo uAbheli. (Gen. 4:8) Emva koko neny’ inzala ka-Adam yaluphala yaza yafa. Ngaba nayo yayosulelwe sisono nokufa? Uthi uPawulos xa ephendula: “Ngokungathobeli komntu omnye abaninzi benziwa aboni.” (Roma 5:19) Ngaloo ndlela isono nokufa ezeza noAdam zaba ziintshaba ezingenanceba ebantwini, ababengenakukwazi ukuziphepha abantu abangafezekanga. Asazi ukuba ngokoqobo kwenzeka njani kanye kanye ukuze isono sika-Adam sidluliselwe kwinzala yakhe, kodwa ke yasifumana.

⁹ Itsho idibane ke ngoku xa iBhayibhile isithi isono nokufa esosulelwe ngako ‘sisigubungelo esigubungela zonke izizwana, nomsebenzi olukiweyo ogubungela zonke iintlanga.’ (Isa. 25:7) Akukho mntu unokusinda esonweni nasekufeni. Ngoko yinyaniso engenakuphikwa into yokuba ‘kuAdam bonke bayafa.’ (1 Kor. 15:22) Ngokuzenzekelayo nje, nathi sizibuza umbuzo ofanayo nokaPawulos: “Ngubani na oya kundihlangula kulo mzimba usisisulu sokufa?” Ngubani ke nyhani?—Roma 7:24.

10. (a) Ziziphi eziny’ iivesi zeBhayibhile ezibonisa ukuba uYehova uya kusitshitshisa isono eseza noAdam? (b) Ezi vesi zisixelela ntoni ngoYehova nangoNyana wakhe?

¹⁰ UYehova wayenako ukumhlangula uPawulos. Kanye emva kokuba ethethe ngesigubungelo, uIsaya wathi: “Uya kuginya ukufa ngonaphakade, yaye iNkosi enguMongami uYehova ngokuqinisekileyo iya kosula iinyembezi ebusweni bonke.” (Isaya 25:8) Njengotata okhulula abantwana bakhe ekuhluphekeni aze abathuthuzele, uYehova uyayoliswa kukutshitshisa ukufa okweza noAdam! Kodwa ke akayedwanga kule nto. Eyokuqala kwabaseKorinte 15:22 ithi: “Kanye njengoko kuAdam bonke besifa, ngokunjalo nakuKristu bonke baya kwenziwa baphile.” Kanti nasemva kokuba ethe “Ngubani na oya kundihlangula?” uPawulos waqhubeka wathi: “Ndiyambulela uThixo ngaye uYesu Kristu iNkosi yethu!” (Roma 7:25) Itsho icace ke ngoku into yokuba, uthando lukaYehova olwambangela ukuba adale abantu zange luphele nasemva kokuba  uAdam noEva bevukele. Nalowo wayesebenza noYehova xa wayedala isibini sokuqala zange ayeke ukuyithanda inzala yaso. (IMize. 8:30, 31) Kodwa ke babeza kuhlangulwa njani abantu?

11. UYehova wabanceda ngantoni abantu?

¹¹ Xa uAdam wonayo, uYehova wamgwebela ukufa. Ngenxa yoko, bonke abantu basulelwa ngokungafezeki nokufa. (Roma 5:12, 16) Sifunda oku: “Ngesigqitho esinye umphumo kubantu bazo zonke iintlobo waba ngumgwebo wesohlwayo.” (Roma 5:18) UYehova wayenokuwuzisa njani umgwebo wesohlwayo ngendlela engayi kungqubana nemithetho yakhe? Nantsi impendulo kumazwi kaYesu: “UNyana womntu weza . . . ukuze . . . anikele ngomphefumlo wakhe ube yintlawulelo ngenxa yabaninzi.” (Mat. 20:28) UYesu, wayenza yacaca into yokuba ngokuzalwa kwakhe engumntu ofezekileyo emhlabeni, wayeza kuba “yintlawulelo.” Le ntlawulelo yayiza kubuphumeza njani ubulungisa?—1 Tim. 2:5, 6

12. Yintlawulelo kabani eyazisa ubulungisa?

¹² Kuba engumntu ofezekileyo, noYesu wayeza kuphila ngonaphakade. Injongo kaYehova yayikukugcwalisa umhlaba ngenzala ka-Adam efezekileyo. Yiyo loo nto, kuba wayethanda uYise nenzala ka-Adam, uYesu wanikela ngobomi bakhe baba lidini. UYesu wanikela ngobomi obufezekileyo obabulingana nobo balahlwa nguAdam. Emva koko, uYehova wamvusa enomzimba womoya uNyana wakhe. (1 Pet. 3:18) UYehova walamkela idini laloo ndoda ifezekileyo, uYesu, liyintlawulelo, okanye ixabiso lentlawulo lokuthenga intsapho ka-Adam nokuyinika ithemba lobomi elalahlwa nguAdam. Ngandlela ithile, uYesu wathatha indawo ka-Adam. UPawulos uthi xa eyicacisa: “Ngokukwanjalo kubhaliwe kwathiwa: ‘Umntu wokuqala uAdam waba ngumphefumlo ophilayo.’ UAdam wokugqibela waba ngumoya onik’ ubomi.”—1 Kor. 15:45.

13. “UAdam wokugqibela” uza kubanceda njani abafileyo?

¹³ Liyeza ixesha lokuba “uAdam wokugqibela” abe “ngumoya onik’ ubomi” kubo bonke abantu. Abantu abaninzi abayinzala ka-Adam baza kuvuswa. Ngoba? Kuba babekhe baphila ngaphambili. Kufuneka bavuswe, babuyele ebomini aph’ emhlabeni.—Yoh. 5:28, 29.

14. UYehova useke ntoni ukuze akhulule abantu kumakhamandela okungafezeki okweza noAdam?

¹⁴ Abantu baza kukhululwa njani kumakhamandela okungafezeki? UYehova waseka uBukumkani obubunjwa ‘nguAdam wokugqibela’ nabanye abantu abakhethileyo abaza kulawula naye. (Funda iSityhilelo 5:9, 10.) Abo baza kulawula noYesu ezulwini baza kube besazi kakuhle ukuba kunjani ukungafezeki. Kangangeminyaka eliwaka, ulawulo lwabo luza kunceda abo basemhlabeni ukuba nabo bafezeke.—ISityhi. 20:6.

15, 16. (a) Kukuphi ukufa okulutshaba lokugqibela, ibe kuza kutshitshiswa nini? (b) Eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 15:28 ithi uYesu uza kwenza ntoni ethubeni?

¹⁵ Xa kuphela iminyaka eliwaka uBukumkani bulawula, abantu abathembekileyo baza kube bekhululwe kuzo zonke izinto eziziintshaba ezeza ngenxa yokungathobeli kuka-Adam. IBhayibhile iyibeka kanje le nto: “Kanye njengoko kuAdam bonke besifa, ngokunjalo nakuKristu bonke baya kwenziwa baphile. Kodwa ngamnye kuluhlu lwakhe: UKristu intlahlela, emva koko abo bangabakaKristu [abaza kulawula naye] ebudeni bobukho bakhe. Kwandule ke kufike isiphelo, xa enikela ubukumkani kuThixo wakhe noYise, xa etshitshise wonke  urhulumente nalo lonke igunya namandla. Kuba umele alawule njengokumkani ade uThixo azibeke phantsi kweenyawo zakhe zonke iintshaba. Olokugqibela utshaba oluya kutshitshiswa kukufa.” (1 Kor. 15:22-26) Ekugqibeleni, ukufa okweza noAdam kuza kuphela. ‘Isigubungelo’ esibambisa bonke abantu siya kususwa ngonaphakade.—Isa. 25:7, 8.

¹⁶ UPawulos uthi xa eyishwankathela yonke le nto: “Zakuba zithotyelwe phantsi kwakhe zonke izinto, uya kwandula ke noNyana ngokwakhe azithobe kuLowo wazithobela phantsi kwakhe zonke izinto, ukuze uThixo abe zizinto zonke kubo bonke.” (1 Kor. 15:28) Ngelo xesha, injongo yolawulo lukaNyana iya kube izalisekile. Uya kuthi emva koko, anelisekile, abuyisele igunya lakhe nabantu abafezekileyo kuYehova.

17. Uza kuthiwani uSathana?

¹⁷ Kuthekani ngoSathana, owabangela ukuba uluntu luntyumpantyumpeke ezingxakini? Impendulo ikwiSityhilelo 20:7-15. Kuvavanyo lokugqibela, uSathana uza kuvunyelwa ukuba azame ukulahlekisa abantu abafezekileyo. UMtyholi nabo baza kumlandela baza kutshatyalaliswa ngonaphakade. Oko ‘kukufa kwesibini.’ (ISityhi. 21:8) Ekubeni bengasayi kuphinda babekhona, oku kufa akuyi kutshitshiswa. Noko ke, “ukufa kwesibini” akulotshaba kwabo bamthandayo nabamkhonzayo uMdali.

18. Umsebenzi uThixo owawunika uAdam uza kwenziwa njani?

¹⁸ Ngelo xesha, bonke abantu baya kube befezekile, bekufanelekela emehlweni kaYehova ukuphila ngonaphakade. Baya kuthi belukhangela utshaba lube lungasekho. Umsebenzi owanikwa uAdam, uza kwenziwa, nangona yena eza kube engekho. Umhlaba uza kuba ugcwele abantwana bakhe, abaza kube besongamela umhlaba bephila nobomi obutofotofo. Kwanga singahlala siyixabisa into yokuba uYehova eza kulutshitshisa utshaba lokugqibela olukukufa!