1. Ngaphambi nje kokuba umphostoli uPetru afe, waphefumulelwa ukuba enzeni?

 UMPHOSTOLI uPetru wayazi ukuthi wayezofa maduzane. Phakathi namashumi eminyaka enkonzo yakhe yokwethembeka, wahamba noJesu, waqala ukushumayeza abangewona amaJuda, waba nayilungu lendikimba ebusayo. Kodwa inkonzo kaPetru yayingakapheli. Cishe ngo-62-64 C.E., waphefumulelwa ukuba abhale izincwadi ezimbili—incwadi yeBhayibheli yokuqala neyesibili kaPetru. Wayenethemba lokuthi lezi zincwadi zaziyowasiza amaKristu ngemva kokufa kwakhe.—2 Pet. 1:​12-15.

2. Kungani izincwadi ezabhalwa uPetru zafika ngesikhathi esifanele?

² UPetru wabhala izincwadi zakhe eziphefumulelwe ngesikhathi akholwa nabo ‘bebhekene nosizi ngenxa yezilingo ezihlukahlukene.’ (1 Pet. 1:6) Amadoda akhohlakele ayezama ukufaka izimfundiso zamanga nokuziphatha okubi ebandleni lobuKristu. (2 Pet. 2:​1, 2, 14) AmaKristu ayehlala eJerusalema maduzane ayezobhekana ‘nokuphela kwezinto zonke’—ukubhujiswa kwalelo dolobha nesimiso sezinto samaJuda, kubhujiswa amabutho amaRoma. (1 Pet. 4:7) Akungabazeki ukuthi izincwadi zikaPetru zasiza amaKristu abona ukuthi ayengalukhuthazelela kanjani uvivinyo ayebhekene nalo ngaleso sikhathi, alungele novivinyo lwesikhathi esizayo. b

3. Kungani kufanele sizifunde izincwadi zikaPetru eziphefumulelwe?

 ³ Nakuba uPetru ayezibhalele amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala izincwadi zakhe, uJehova wenza ukuba zibe ingxenye yeZwi lakhe. Ngakho, singazuza kulezo zincwadi manje. (Roma 15:4) Njengoba siphila ezweni elikhuthaza ukuziphatha okubi, nathi sibhekana novivinyo olungenza kube nzima ukukhonza uJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sizobhekana nosizi olukhulu kunalolo olwaqeda isimiso sezinto samaJuda. Sithola izikhumbuzo ezibalulekile ezincwadini ezimbili zikaPetru. Zizosisiza sihlale silulungele usuku lukaJehova, sinqobe ukwesaba abantu futhi sithandane kakhulu. Lezi zikhumbuzo zingasiza nabadala babone ukuthi bangazinakekela kanjani ngokuphumelelayo izidingo zomhlambi.

4. Njengoba kuboniswe kweyesi-2 Petru 3:​3, 4, yini engenza ukholo lwethu lube buthaka?

⁴ Siphila nabantu abangazikholwa iziprofetho zeBhayibheli. Abaphikisi bangase bahlekise ngathi ngenxa yokuthi sekuphele iminyaka sithi ukuphela kuzofika. Abanye abantu bathi akusoze kwafika. (Funda eyesi-2 Petru 3:​3, 4.) Uma sizwa umuntu esimshumayezayo, esisebenza naye, noma ilungu lomndeni lisho kanjalo, ukholo lwethu lungase lube buthaka. UPetru wachaza ukuthi yini engasisiza.

5. Yini ezosisiza sihlale sinombono omuhle mayelana nokuphela kwaleli zwe? (2 Petru 3:​8, 9)

⁵ Kwabanye kungase kubonakale sengathi uJehova uyephuza ukuqeda leli zwe elibi. Amazwi kaPetru angasisiza sihlale sinombono omuhle, asikhumbuze ukuthi indlela uJehova abheka ngayo isikhathi ihluke kakhulu endleleni abantu abasibheka ngayo. (Funda eyesi-2 Petru 3:​8, 9.) KuJehova, iminyaka eyinkulungwane ifana nosuku olulodwa. UJehova uyabekezela, akafisi ukuba kubhubhe ngisho noyedwa. Nokho, lapho usuku lwakhe lufika, leli zwe liyophela. Kuyisibusiso ngempela ukusebenzisa isikhathi esisele ukuze sishumayeze abantu bazo zonke izizwe.

6. Yini esingayenza ukuze ‘silukhumbule njalo’ usuku lukaJehova? (2 Petru 3:​11, 12)

⁶ UPetru usinxusa ukuba ‘silukhumbule njalo’ usuku lukaJehova. (Funda eyesi-2 Petru 3:​11, 12.) Kanjani? Ngokuzindla—nsuku zonke uma kungenzeka—ngezibusiso esiyozithola ezweni elisha. Zibone ngeso lengqondo uphefumula umoya ohlanzekile, udla ukudla okunempilo, wamukela abantu obathandayo njengoba bevuswa, ufundisa nabantu abaphila eminyakeni eminingi edlule ngokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zeBhayibheli. Ukuzindla ngalezo zinto kuzokusiza uhlale ululungele usuku lukaJehova, kukusize nokuba unake ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina. Njengoba ‘vele sesilazi’ ikusasa lethu, ngeke ‘sidukiswe’ abafundisi bamanga.—2 Pet. 3:17.

7. Ukwesaba abantu kungasithinta kanjani?

⁷ Njengoba sihlale silukhumbula usuku lukaJehova, lokho kusenza sifune ukuxoxela abanye izindaba ezinhle. Noma kunjalo, ngezinye izikhathi singase sesabe ukukhuluma. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi singase sesabe abantu. Yilokho okwenzeka kuPetru. Ngobusuku okwakuqulwa ngalo icala likaJesu, uPetru wesaba ukuziveza ukuthi ungomunye wabafundi bakaJesu, waze waphika nokuthi uyamazi izikhathi eziningana. (Math. 26:​69-75) Nokho, kamuva yena kanye lo mphostoli, ngokuqiniseka washo la mazwi: “Into abayesabayo ningayesabi nina futhi ningakhathazeki.” (1 Pet. 3:14) Amazwi kaPetru asiqinisekisa ngokuthi singakwazi ukunqoba ukwesaba abantu.

8. Yini engasisiza sinqobe ukwesaba abantu? (1 Petru 3:15)

 ⁸ Yini engasisiza sinqobe ukwesaba abantu? UPetru uyasitshela: “Ngcwelisani uKristu njengeNkosi ezinhliziyweni zenu.” (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 3:15.) Lokhu kuhlanganisa ukuzindla ngesikhundla namandla eNkosi yethu, uKristu Jesu. Uma uzizwa wethukile noma wesaba lapho kuvela ithuba lokuxoxela abanye izindaba ezinhle, khumbula iNkosi yethu. Yibone ngeso lengqondo ibusa ezulwini izungezwe izigidi zezingelosi. Khumbula ukuthi inalo “lonke igunya ezulwini nasemhlabeni” nokuthi iyoba ‘nawe zonke izinsuku kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’ (Math. 28:​18-20) UPetru usinxusa ukuba ‘sihlale sikulungele’ ukuvikela ukholo lwethu. Ungathanda yini ukushumayela emsebenzini, esikoleni, noma kwenye indawo? Cabanga kusengaphambili ukuthi ungakwenza nini lokho, bese ulungiselela ozokusho. Thandaza ucele isibindi, uqiniseke ngokuthi uJehova uzokusiza unqobe ukwesaba abantu.—IzE. 4:29.

9. Ngesinye isikhathi, uPetru wahluleka kanjani ukubonisa uthando? (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁹ UPetru wafunda ukuthi kufanele alubonise kanjani uthando. Wayekhona lapho uJesu ethi: “Ngininika umyalo omusha, wokuba  nithandane; njengoba nje nami nginithandile, ukuba nani nithandane.” (Joh. 13:34) Noma kunjalo, kamuva uPetru wesaba, wenqaba ukudla nabafowabo nodadewabo bezinye izizwe. Umphostoli uPawulu wabiza lokho uPetru akwenza ngokuthi ‘ukuzenzisa.’ (Gal. 2:​11-14) UPetru wasamukela leso seluleko, wafunda kuso. Kuzo zombili izincwadi zakhe, ugcizelela ukuthi akufanele sigcine ngokuzizwa sibathanda abafowethu nodadewethu kodwa kufanele silubonise lolo thando.

10. “Uthando lobuzalwane lokungazenzisi” luwumphumela wani? Chaza. (1 Petru 1:22)

¹⁰ UPetru uthi kufanele sibathande ‘ngothando lobuzalwane lokungazenzisi’ esikholwa nabo. (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 1:22.) Lolo thando luwumphumela ‘wokulalela iqiniso.’ Leli qiniso lihlanganisa nemfundiso yokuthi “uNkulunkulu akakhethi.” (IzE. 10:​34, 35) Siyobe asiwulaleli umyalo kaJesu uma sithanda abathile ebandleni kodwa abanye singabathandi. Yiqiniso ukuthi singase sisondelane kakhulu nabathile kunabanye, njengoba kwakunjalo ngoJesu. (Joh. 13:23; 20:2) Kodwa uPetru usikhumbuza ukuthi kufanele silwele ukuba ‘nothando lobuzalwane’—ukusondelana okufudumele okunjengokwamalungu omndeni—ngabo bonke abafowethu nodadewethu.—1 Pet. 2:17.

11. Kusho ukuthini ukuthanda abanye “kakhulu ngokusuka enhliziyweni?

¹¹ UPetru usinxusa ukuba ‘sithandane kakhulu ngokusuka enhliziyweni.’ Kulo mBhalo, ukuthanda “kakhulu” kusho ukuthanda umuntu ngisho noma kunzima ukumbonisa uthando. Ngokwesibonelo, kuthiwani uma umzalwane esicasula noma esizwisa ubuhlungu ngandlela-thile? Ngokwemvelo singase sifune ukuziphindiselela kunokuba simbonise uthando. Nokho, uPetru wafunda kuJesu ukuthi ukuziphindiselela akumjabulisi uNkulunkulu. (Joh. 18:​10, 11) UPetru wabhala: “Ningabuyiseli okubi ngokubi noma ukuthukwa ngokuthuka. Kunalokho, buyiselani ngokubusisa.” (1 Pet. 3:9) Uma uthanda kakhulu, uyoba nomusa futhi ucabangele abanye, ngisho nalabo okungenzeka bakuzwise ubuhlungu.

12. (a) Yini enye ukuthanda kakhulu okuzosisiza siyenze? (b) Yini ozimisele ukuyenza njengoba kuboniswe kuyividiyo ethi Londoloza Isipho Sobunye Esiyigugu?

¹² Encwadini yakhe yokuqala, uPetru wathi ‘ukuthanda kakhulu’ kuzosisiza singagcini nje ngokuthethelela izono ezimbalwa kodwa sithethelele izono eziningi. (1 Pet. 4:8) Mhlawumbe uPetru wakhumbula isifundo sokuthethelela uJesu ayemfundise sona eminyakeni engaphambili. Ngaleso sikhathi, kungenzeka uPetru wayekholelwa ukuthi wayenomusa lapho ethi angathethelela umfowabo “kuze kube kasikhombisa.” Kodwa uJesu wafundisa yena—kanye nathi—ukuba sithethelele “izikhathi ezingu-77,” okusho ukuthi singabali. (Math. 18:​21, 22) Uma ukuthola kunzima ukusebenzisa lesi seluleko, ungapheli amandla! Zonke izinceku zikaJehova ezinesono ziye zakuthola kunzima ukuthethelela ngezikhathi ezithile. Into ebalulekile manje ukuba uthathe noma yiziphi izinyathelo ezidingekayo ukuze uthethelele umfowenu, ube nokuthula naye. c

13. Yini engenza kube nzima ngabadala ukuba beluse abafowabo nodadewabo?

¹³ Ngokuqinisekile uPetru akazange awakhohlwe amazwi uJesu amtshela wona ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, athi: “Yalusa amawundlu ami.” (Joh. 21:16) Uma ungumdala,  uyazi ukuthi lawo mazwi ayasebenza nakuwe. Nokho, kungaba nzima ngomdala ukuba athole isikhathi sokwenza lo msebenzi obalulekile. Abadala kumele baqale banikeze imindeni yabo izinto eziyidingayo, bayinakekele ngokomzwelo bayifundise nangoJehova. Baphinde bahole nasemsebenzini wokushumayela, ekulungiseleleni nasekufezeni izingxenye zabo emihlanganweni yebandla nasemihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu. Abanye bangamalungu amaKomiti Okubonisana Nezibhedlela noma basebenza eMnyango We-Local Design/Construction. Abadala bamatasa ngempela!

14. Yini engakhuthaza abadala ukuba beluse umhlambi? (1 Petru 5:​1-4)

¹⁴ UPetru wanxusa abadala ayekanye nabo, wathi: “Yalusani umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.” (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 5:​1-4.) Uma ungumdala, siyazi ukuthi uyabathanda abafowenu nodadewenu futhi uyafuna ukubelusa. Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi ungase ube nomuzwa wokuthi umatasa kakhulu noma ukhathele kakhulu ukuba ungafeza leso sabelo. Yini ongayenza? Tshela uJehova indlela ozizwa ngayo. UPetru wabhala: “Uma umuntu ekhonza, makakhonze njengoncike emandleni anikezwa nguNkulunkulu.” (1 Pet. 4:11) Kungenzeka ukuthi abafowenu nodadewenu babhekene nezinkinga ezingeke zixazululeke ngokuphelele manje. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi “umalusi omkhulu,” uJesu Kristu, angabasiza ngaphezu kwendlela wena ongabasiza ngayo. Angabasiza namuhla nasezweni elisha. Into nje uNkulunkulu ayicelayo kubadala ukuba bathande abafowabo, beluse abafowabo futhi babe “izibonelo emhlanjini.”

15. Omunye umdala uwelusa kanjani umhlambi? (Bheka nesithombe.)

¹⁵ UWilliam, osenesikhathi eside engumdala, uyakuqonda ukubaluleka kokwalusa. Ngesikhathi kuqala ubhubhane lwe-COVID-19, yena nabadala akanye nabo bakwenza umgomo wabo ukuba njalo ngeviki baxhumane nomuntu ngamunye oseqenjini labo lenkonzo yasensimini. Uyachaza ukuthi kungani: “Abafowethu abaningi babevaleleke ezindlini futhi kalula nje babengase bacabange izinto eziqeda amandla.” Lapho umuntu akholwa naye enezinkinga, uWilliam uyalalelisisa ukuze athole ukuthi yini ayidingayo nokuthi yini emkhathazayo. Ngemva kwalokho, ufuna  izincwadi noma amavidiyo aqondene naleyo nkinga kuwebusayithi yethu ukuze asize lowo mzalwane noma lowo dade. Uthi: “Ukwalusa kudingeka kakhulu manje kunanini ngaphambili. Sisebenza kanzima ukuze sisize abantu bafunde ngoJehova; kudingeka senze umzamo ofanayo ukuze saluse umhlambi, sisize izimvu zikaJehova zihlale eqinisweni.”

16. Yiziphi izindlela esingazisebenzisa ngazo izifundo esizifunde ezincwadini zikaPetru?

¹⁶ Sixoxe ngezifundo ezimbalwa kuphela ezitholakala ezincwadini zikaPetru ezimbili eziphefumulelwe. Mhlawumbe kukhona okuphawulile ongathanda ukuthuthukisa kukho. Ngokwesibonelo, ungathanda yini ukuzindla kakhudlwana ngezibusiso esiyozithola ezweni elisha? Usuwubekile yini umgomo wokushumayela emsebenzini, esikoleni noma kwenye indawo? Zikhona yini izindlela ongababonisa ngazo abafowenu nodadewenu ukuthi ubathanda kakhulu? Badala, nizimisele yini ukwalusa izimvu zikaJehova ngokuzithandela nangentshiseko? Ukuzihlola ngobuqotho kungase kuveze ukuthi kunezindawo okudingeka uthuthukise kuzo, kodwa ungapheli amandla. “INkosi inomusa,” izokusiza uthuthuke. (1 Pet. 2:3) UPetru uyasiqinisekisa: “UNkulunkulu . . . ngokwakhe uyoqedela ukuqeqeshwa kwenu. Uyonenza niqine, uyonenza nibe namandla, uyonisekela.”—1 Pet. 5:10.

17. Uma siphikelela ekukhonzeni uJehova futhi simvumela asiqeqeshe, uyoba yini umphumela?

¹⁷ Ngesinye isikhathi uPetru wayezizwa kungamfanele ukuba seduze kweNdodana kaNkulunkulu. (Luka 5:8) Kodwa ngenxa yokusekelwa uJehova noJesu ngothando, waphikelela ekubeni umlandeli kaKristu. Ngenxa yalokho, wavunyelwa ukuba ‘angene eMbusweni waphakade weNkosi noMsindisi wethu uJesu Kristu.’ (2 Pet. 1:11) Kwakuwumvuzo omangalisayo lowo! Uma uphikelela ekukhonzeni uJehova njengoba kwenza uPetru, uvume ukuqeqeshwa uJehova, nawe uyothola umvuzo wokuphila okuphakade. ‘Uyofinyelela umgomo wokholo lwakho, insindiso yakho.’—1 Pet. 1:9.