Indlela Esalithola Ngayo IBhayibheli

Kuyamangalisa ngempela ukuthi iBhayibheli liye lasinda kwaze kwaba sosukwini lwethu lingonakalisiwe. Ukulotshwa kwalo kwaqedwa eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-1 900 edlule. Lalotshwa ezintweni ezigugayo—iphepha le-papyrus nesikhumba sezilwane—futhi imibhalo yokuqala yayingezilimi ezikhulunywa abantu abambalwa namuhla. Kanti nabantu abasezikhundleni eziphakeme, kusuka kubabusi kuya kubaholi benkolo, benza konke okusemandleni ukuqothula iBhayibheli.

LE NCWADI ephawulekayo yasinda kanjani isikhathi eside kangaka yaba incwadi eyaziwa kakhulu kunazo zonke esintwini? Cabangela amaphuzu nje amabili.

Ukwenziwa Kwamakhophi Amaningi Kulondoloza Imibhalo

Abantu ababenemibhalo yokuqala yeBhayibheli endulo, ama-Israyeli, bayigcina ngokucophelela imiqulu yokuqala futhi benza amakhophi amaningana. Ngokwesibonelo, amakhosi akwa-Israyeli atshelwa ukuba azibhalele ‘ikhophi yalo mthetho esusela kulowo ophathwa ngabapristi, amaLevi.’—Duteronomi 17:18.

Ama-Israyeli amaningi ayekuthanda ukufunda imiBhalo, eqaphela ukuthi iyiZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, ukukopisha imibhalo kwakwenziwa ngokucophelela okukhulu ababhali abaqeqeshiwe. Umbhali okuthiwa ngu-Ezra owayesaba uNkulunkulu kubhekiselwa kuye ngokuthi ‘umkopishi onekhono emthethweni kaMose, ababewunikwe nguJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.’ (Ezra 7:6) AmaMasorete, akopisha imiBhalo YesiHebheru, noma “iTestamente Elidala,” phakathi kwekhulu lesithupha neleshumi C.E., ayebala ngisho nezinhlamvu embhalweni ukuze agweme amaphutha. Ukukopisha ngokucophelela ngaleyo ndlela kwaqinisekisa ukunemba kombhalo nokusinda kweBhayibheli ngokwalo naphezu kwemizamo ephikelelayo yezitha yokulibhubhisa.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-168 B.C.E., umbusi waseSiriya u-Antiochus IV wazama ukubhubhisa wonke amakhophi emiBhalo YesiHebheru ayengawathola kulo lonke elasePalestina. Umlando wamaJuda uthi: “Yonke imiqulu yomthetho ababeyithola babeyidabula bayishise.” I-Jewish Encyclopedia ithi: “Amasosha ayephathiswe lo msebenzi awenza ngendluzula enkulu . . . Ababenencwadi engcwele . . . babethola isigwebo sokufa.” Kodwa amakhophi emiBhalo asinda phakathi kwamaJuda ayesePalestina naphakathi kwalawo ayehlala kwamanye amazwe.

Ngemva nje kokuba abalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, noma “iTestamente Elisha,” sebeqedile ngomsebenzi wabo, amakhophi ezincwadi zabo eziphefumulelwe, iziprofetho nemilando anda. Ngokwesibonelo, uJohane wabhalela iVangeli lakhe e-Efesu noma eduze nakhona. Kodwa insalela yalelo Vangeli, eyingxenye yekhophi ochwepheshe abathi yenziwa eminyakeni engaphansi kwengu-50 ngemva kokuba ebhale ukulandisa kwakhe, yatholakala eGibhithe eliqhele ngamakhulu amakhilomitha. Ukutholakala kwalesi siqephu kwabonisa ukuthi amaKristu emazweni aqhelile ayenamakhophi emibhalo ephefumulelwe eyayisanda kutholakala.

Ukusakazwa kabanzi kweZwi likaNkulunkulu nakho kwaba nengxenye ekusindeni kwalo amakhulu eminyaka ngemva kwesikhathi sikaKristu. Ngokwesibonelo, entathakusa ngo-February 23, ngonyaka ka-303 C.E., kuthiwa uMbusi WaseRoma uDiocletian wama wabukela amasosha akhe ebhodloza iminyango yesonto futhi eshisa amakhophi emiBhalo. UDiocletian wayecabanga ukuthi wayengaqeda ubuKristu ngokubhubhisa imibhalo yabo engcwele. Ngakusasa, wakhipha umyalo wokuba kushiswe obala wonke amakhophi eBhayibheli kuwo wonke uMbuso WaseRoma. Kodwa kunamakhophi asinda, futhi akopishwa. Empeleni, izingxenye ezinkulu zamakhophi amabili eBhayibheli lesiGreki okungenzeka  ayesanda kwenziwa ngesikhathi uDiocletian eshushisa amaKristu zisekhona kuze kube namuhla. Enye iseRoma; enye iseBritish Library eLondon, eNgilandi.

Nakuba ingekho imibhalo yokuqala yeBhayibheli esatholakele, kunezinkulungwane zamakhophi abhalwe ngesandla alo lonke iBhayibheli noma izingxenye zalo ezisekhona kuze kube namuhla. Ezinye sezigugile. Ingabe umyalezo owawusemibhalweni yokuqala washintsha njengoba ukopishwa? Sikhuluma ngemiBhalo YesiHebheru, isazi uW. H. Green sathi: “Singasho ngaphandle kokungabaza ukuthi ayikho enye incwadi yasendulo eyakopishwa ngokunembe kangaka.” Sikhuluma ngemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, isazi esihlonishwayo semibhalo yeBhayibheli, uSir Frederic Kenyon, sabhala: “Igebe eliphakathi kwezinsuku zokulotshwa kombhalo wokuqala kanye nobufakazi basendulo lincane kakhulu kangangokuba liyinto okungafanele inakwe, futhi asisekho isisekelo sanoma yikuphi ukungabaza ukuthi imiBhalo yafika kithi isenjengoba yayinjalo. Kokubili ubuqotho kanye nokwethembeka kwezincwadi zeTestamente Elisha kungase kubhekwe njengosekuzinzile.” Waphinde wathi: “Singagomela ukuthi umbhalo weBhayibheli usenjengoba wawunjalo. . . . Lokhu akunakushiwo nganoma iyiphi enye incwadi yasendulo emhlabeni.”

Ukuhunyushwa KweBhayibheli

Isizathu sesibili esiyinhloko esiye sasiza iBhayibheli ukuba libe incwadi eyaziwa kakhulu esintwini ukutholakala kwalo ngezilimi eziningi. Leli qiniso lihambisana nenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokuthi abantu bazo zonke izizwe nezilimi bamazi futhi bamkhulekele “ngomoya nangeqiniso.”—Johane 4:23, 24; Mika 4:2.

Inguqulo yokuqala eyaziwayo yemiBhalo YesiHebheru kwakuyinguqulo ye-Septuagint ngesiGreki. Yayenzelwe amaJuda akhuluma isiGreki ayehlala ngaphandle kwasePalestina futhi yaqedwa cishe emakhulwini amabili eminyaka ngaphambi kwenkonzo kaJesu yasemhlabeni. Lonke iBhayibheli, kuhlanganise nemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, lahunyushelwa ezilimini eziningi ngokushesha nje phakathi namakhulu ambalwa eminyaka ngemva kokuqedwa kwalo. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, amakhosi ngisho nabapristi okwakufanele benze konke okusemandleni abo ukuba iBhayibheli lifinyelele kubantu benza okuphambene kakhulu. Bazama ukugcina imihlambi yabo isebumnyameni obungokomoya ngokwenqaba ukuba iZwi likaNkulunkulu lihunyushelwe ezilimini zabantu abavamile.

Ephikisana neSonto noMbuso, amadoda anesibindi afaka ukuphila kwawo engozini ukuze ahumushe iBhayibheli ngezilimi zabantu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1530, indoda eyiNgisi uWilliam Tyndale, eyayifunde e-Oxford, yakhipha inguqulo ye-Pentateuch, izincwadi ezinhlanu zokuqala zemiBhalo YesiHebheru. Naphezu kokuphikiswa okukhulu, waba ngowokuqala ukuhumusha iBhayibheli elisusela ngokuqondile olimini lwesiHebheru eliyisa esiNgisini. UTyndale waba umhumushi wokuqala oyiNgisi owasebenzisa igama likaJehova. Isazi seBhayibheli saseSpain uCasiodoro de Reina sahlala sisengozini yokubulawa abashushisi abangamaKatolika njengoba sasihumusha inguqulo yokuqala yeBhayibheli leSpanishi. Waya eNgilandi, eJalimane, eFrance, eHolland naseSwitzerland njengoba ayesebenzela ukuqeda le nguqulo yakhe. *

Namuhla iBhayibheli liyaqhubeka lihunyushelwa ezilimini eziningi ezengeziwe futhi kusakazwa izigidi zamakhophi. Ukusinda kwalo lize libe yincwadi eyaziwa kakhulu esintwini kubonisa iqiniso lamazwi aphefumulelwe omphostoli uPetru: “Utshani buyabuna, imbali iwe, kodwa izwi likaJehova lihlala phakade.”—1 Petru 1:24, 25.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

 [Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 14]

IYIPHI INGUQULO OKUFANELE NGIYIFUNDE?

Izilimi eziningi zinezinguqulo eziningi zeBhayibheli. Ezinye izinguqulo zisebenzisa ulimi lwasendulo okunzima ukuluqonda. Ezinye zisebenzisa ulimi olukhululekile ukuze zifundeke kalula kunokuba zinembe. Noma kunjalo ezinye zilandela indlela yokuhumusha yezwi nezwi.

Inguqulo yesiNgisi ye-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo Engcwele, enyatheliswa oFakazi BakaJehova, yathathwa ngokuqondile ezilimini zokuqala okwabhalwa ngazo iBhayibheli yikomiti eyimfihlo. Empeleni, le nguqulo isisetshenziswe ngokuyinhloko ekuhumusheleni imibhalo kwezinye izilimi ezingaba ngu-60. Nokho, abahumushi balezo zilimi bayiqhathanisa kabanzi nemibhalo yokuqala okwalotshwa ngayo iBhayibheli. Injongo ye-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha kwakuwukuhumusha izwi nezwi lemibhalo yolimi lokuqala uma ukuhumusha ngaleyo ndlela kungeke kufihle incazelo yalo. Abahumushi balwela ukwenza iBhayibheli liqondakale kubafundi namuhla njengoba imibhalo yokuqala yayinjalo kubafundi bezikhathi zeBhayibheli.

Ezinye izazi zezilimi ziye zahlola izinguqulo zanamuhla zeBhayibheli—kuhlanganise ne-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha—ukuze zithole ukuthi kukhona yini ukunganembi noma ukuchema kuzo. Esinye salezo zazi nguJason David BeDuhn, uprofesa oyilungu lezifundo zezenkolo eNorthern Arizona University e-United States. Ngo-2003 wakhipha umqulu onamakhasi angu-200 wocwaningo lwakhe ‘lwamaBhayibheli angu-9 asetshenziswa kakhulu ezindaweni okukhulunywa kuzo isiNgisi.’ * Ucwaningo lwakhe lwahlaziya izingxenye eziningana zemibhalo ezazivusa impikiswano, ngoba kulapho ngokuvamile “ukuchema kwakukhinyabeza khona ukuhumusha.” Engxenyeni ngayinye wayeqhathanisa umbhalo wesiGreki nendlela obekwe ngayo enguqulweni ngayinye yesiNgisi, futhi wayebheka ukuchema okuthambekele ekushintsheni incazelo. Waba yini umphumela wocwanigo lwakhe?

UBeDuhn uveza ukuthi umphakathi ovamile nezazi eziningi zeBhayibheli zicabanga ukuthi umehluko nge-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha (NW) ubangelwa ukuchema ngokwenkolo kwabahumusi bayo le nguqulo. Nokho uthi: “Ukwehluka okuningi kubangelwa ukunemba okukhulu kwe-NW njengenguqulo yezwi nezwi futhi engaguquguquki.” Nakuba uBeDuhn engavumelani nendlela ezinye izinto ezihunyushwe ngayo e-Nguqulweni Yezwe Elisha, uthi le nguqulo “ibonakala inembe kakhulu kunazo zonke uma iqhathaniswa nezinye ezahlolwa.” Uyibiza ngokuthi inguqulo “enhle ngokumangalisayo.”

UDkt. Benjamin Kedar, isazi sesiHebheru sakwa-Israyeli, washo okufanayo ngokuqondene nge-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha. Ngo-1989 wathi: “Lo msebenzi ubonisa ukuzimisela ngobuqotho ukufinyelela ukuqonda imibhalo ngokunembe ngangokunokwenzeka. . . . E-Nguqulweni Yezwe Elisha angikaze ngithole noma yikuphi ukuthambekela kokunezela okuthile okungekho embhalweni.”

Zibuze: ‘Uyini umgomo wami ngokufunda iBhayibheli? Ingabe ngifuna iBhayibheli elufundeka kalula nje kodwa elinganembile ngokuphelele? Noma, ingabe ngifuna ukufunda imiqondo eveza umbhalo wokuqala futhi ophefumulelwe, onembe ngangokunokwenzeka?’ (2 Petru 1:20, 21) Umgomo wakho kufanele unqume ukuthi ukhetha yiphi inguqulo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe]

“INguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo Engcwele” itholakala ngezilimi eziningi

[Isithombe ekhasini 12, 13]

Imibhalo yamaMasorete

[Isithombe ekhasini 13]

Insalela enoLuka 12:7, “. . . ningesabi; nina nibaluleke ngaphezu kondlunkulu abaningi”

[Imithombo Yezithombe ekhasini 13]

Foreground page: National Library of Russia, St. Petersburg; second and third: Bibelmuseum, Münster; background: © The Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin