Obani Abayizikhonzi ZikaNkulunkulu Namuhla?

“Ukufaneleka kwethu ngokwanele kuvela kuNkulunkulu, lowo ngempela osenze sakufanelekela ngokwanele ukuba yizikhonzi zesivumelwano esisha.”—2 KORINTE 3:5, 6.

1, 2. Yimuphi umthwalo wonke amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayenawo, kodwa izinto zashintsha kanjani?

EKHULWINI lokuqala lesiKhathi sethu Esivamile, wonke amaKristu ayenomthwalo obalulekile—isibopho sokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Wonke ayegcotshiwe futhi eyizikhonzi zesivumelwano esisha. Amanye ayenemithwalo eyengeziwe, njengokufundisa ebandleni. (1 Korinte 12:27-29; Efesu 4:11) Abazali babenezibopho ezisindayo emkhayeni. (Kolose 3:18-21) Kodwa bonke babehlanganyela emsebenzini oyisisekelo nosemqoka wokushumayela. EsiGrekini sokuqala semiBhalo YamaKristu, lo mthwalo wawuyi-di·a·ko·niʹa—inkonzo.—Kolose 4:17.

² Njengoba isikhathi sihamba, izinto zashintsha. Kwavela isigaba esaziwa ngokuthi abefundisi, esazigodlela ilungelo lokushumayela. (IzEnzo 20:30) Abefundisi babeyidlanzana kwababezibiza ngamaKristu. Iningi laziwa ngokuthi abantu abavamile. Nakuba abantu abavamile beye bafundiswa ukuthi banezibopho ezithile, kuhlanganise nokwenza iminikelo yokondla abefundisi, iningi labo liye laba yizilaleli ezingenzi lutho ngokuqondene nokushumayela.

3, 4. (a) KweLobukholwa, abantu baba kanjani abefundisi? (b) Ubani obhekwa njengesikhonzi kweLobukholwa, futhi kungani kuhlukile koFakazi BakaJehova?

³ Abefundisi bathi bayizikhonzi (okuyigama elihumusha elesiLatini elithi minister, nalo elihumusha elithi di·aʹko·nos, “inceku”). * Ukuze babe  yizo, bathola iziqu emakolishi noma ezikoleni zokufundela ubufundisi bese begcotshwa. I-International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ithi: “Elithi ‘gcoba’ nelithi ‘ukugcotshwa’ ngokuvamile abhekisela esikhundleni esikhethekile esinikezwa abefundisi noma abapristi ngokwesiko eligunyazwe ngokomthetho, ligcizelela igunya lokumemezela iZwi noma lokwamukelisa isidlo, noma lokwenza kokubili.” Ubani ogcoba abefundisi? I-New Encyclopædia Britannica ithi: “Emasontweni aye asilondoloza isikhundla esingokomlando sombhishobhi, umfundisi ogcobayo kuhlale kungumbhishobhi. Emasontweni aseHabe, ukugcoba kwenziwa abefundisi besifunda.”

⁴ Ngakho, emasontweni eLobukholwa, ilungelo lokuba yisikhonzi (minister) liye lagodlwa kakhulu. Nokho, akunjalo phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova? Ngani? Ngoba kwakungenjalo ebandleni lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala.

Obani Ngempela Abayizikhonzi ZikaNkulunkulu?

5. NgokweBhayibheli, labo abayizikhonzi bahlanganisa obani?

⁵ NgokweBhayibheli, bonke abakhulekeli bakaJehova—ezulwini nasemhlabeni—bayizikhonzi. Izingelosi zakhonza uJesu. (Mathewu 4:11; 26:53; Luka 22:43) Izingelosi futhi ‘zikhonza ngenxa yalabo abayozuza insindiso njengefa.’ (Heberu 1:14; Mathewu 18:10) UJesu wayeyisikhonzi. Wathi: “INdodana yomuntu [ayizelanga] ukukhonzwa, kodwa ukukhonza nokunikela umphefumulo wayo ube isihlengo esenana abaningi.” (Mathewu 20:28; Roma 15:8) Ngakho-ke, njengoba abalandeli bakaJesu kufanele ‘balandele izinyathelo zakhe eduze,’ akumangalisi ukuthi nabo kumelwe babe yizikhonzi.—1 Petru 2:21.

6. UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi abafundi bakhe kwakufanele babe yizikhonzi?

⁶ Ngaphambi nje kokunyukela ezulwini, uJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina zonke izinto enginiyale ngazo.” (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Abafundi bakaJesu kwakufanele babe abenzi babafundi—izikhonzi. Abafundi abasha ababebenza babeyofunda ukugcina zonke izinto uJesu ayebayale ngazo, kuhlanganise nomyalo wokuhamba bayokwenza abafundi. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi owesilisa noma owesifazane, umuntu omdala noma ingane, umfundi wangempela kaJesu Kristu wayeyoba yisikhonzi.—Joweli 2:28, 29.

7, 8. (a) Yimiphi imibhalo ebonisa ukuthi wonke amaKristu eqiniso ayizikhonzi? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo ephakanyiswayo ngokugcotshwa?

⁷ Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., bonke abafundi bakaJesu ababekhona, abesilisa nabesifazane, bahlanganyela ekumemezeleni “ngezinto ezinhle kakhulu zikaNkulunkulu.” (IzEnzo 2:1-11) Ngaphezu kwalokho, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Ngenhliziyo umuntu ubonisa ukholo kube ukulunga, kodwa ngomlomo umuntu uvuma obala kube insindiso.” (Roma 10:10) UPawulu akawabhekisanga lawo mazwi esigabeni esincane sabefundisi, kodwa ‘kubo bonke ababeseRoma njengabathandekayo bakaNkulunkulu.’ (Roma 1:1, 7) Ngokufanayo, bonke ‘abangcwele ababese-Efesu nabakholekile ababesebunyeni noKristu Jesu’ kwakufanele ‘izinyawo zabo zigqokiswe ukuhlonyiselwa izindaba ezinhle zokuthula.’ (Efesu 1:1; 6:15) Futhi bonke labo abezwa incwadi eyayibhalelwe amaHeberu kwakufanele ‘bakubambe ngokuqinile ukulivuma kwasobala ithemba labo ngaphandle kokuntengantenga.’—Heberu 10:23.

⁸ Nokho, umuntu uba nini yisikhonzi sasobala? Ngamanye amazwi, ugcotshwa nini? Futhi ubani omgcobayo?

 Ukugcotshwa Njengesikhonzi—Kwenzeka Nini?

9. UJesu wagcotshwa nini, egcotshwa ngubani?

⁹ Mayelana nokuthi umuntu ugcotshwa nini egcotshwa ngubani, cabanga ngesibonelo sikaJesu Kristu. Wayengenaso isitifiketi sokugcotshwa noma iziqu zesikole esithile sokufundela ubufundisi zokufakazela ukuthi uyisikhonzi, futhi akagcotshwanga ngumuntu. Pho, singasho kanjani ukuthi wayeyiso isikhonzi? Ngoba amazwi ka-Isaya aphefumulelwe agcwaliseka kuye: “Umoya kaJehova uphezu kwami, ngoba ungigcobe ukuba ngimemezele izindaba ezinhle.” (Luka 4:17-19; Isaya 61:1) Lawo mazwi enza kucace ukuthi uJesu wayethunywe ukuba amemezele izindaba ezinhle. Wayethunywe ngubani? Njengoba agcotshwa umoya kaJehova ukuze enze lo msebenzi, kusobala ukuthi uJesu wagcotshwa nguJehova uNkulunkulu. Kwenzeka nini lokhu? Umoya kaJehova wafika kuJesu lapho ebhapathizwa. (Luka 3:21, 22) Ngakho-ke, wagcotshwa lapho ebhapathizwa.

10. Isikhonzi esingumKristu senziwa ngubani ukuba ‘sifaneleke ngokugcwele’?

¹⁰ Kuthiwani ngabalandeli bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala? Nabo isimo sabo njengezikhonzi sasivela kuJehova. UPawulu wathi: “Ukufaneleka kwethu ngokwanele kuvela kuNkulunkulu, lowo ngempela osenze sakufanelekela ngokwanele ukuba yizikhonzi zesivumelwano esisha.” (2 Korinte 3:5, 6) UJehova ubenza kanjani abakhulekeli bakhe ukuba bafanelekele ukuba yizikhonzi? Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaThimothewu, uPawulu ambiza ngokuthi ‘isikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu ezindabeni ezinhle mayelana noKristu.’—1 Thesalonika 3:2.

11, 12. UThimothewu wathuthukela kanjani ekubeni yisikhonzi?

¹¹ Amazwi alandelayo ayebhekiswe kuThimothewu asisiza siqonde indlela aba yisikhonzi ngayo: “Nokho, wena qhubeka ezintweni owazifunda futhi wathonyelwa ukuba uzikholelwe, wazi ukuthi wazifunda kubaphi abantu nokuthi kusukela uwusana uye wazi imibhalo engcwele, ekwazi ukukuhlakaniphisela insindiso ngokholo olumayelana noKristu Jesu.” (2 Thimothewu 3:14, 15) Isisekelo sokholo lukaThimothewu, olwaluyomshukumisela ukuba enze ukuvuma kwasobala, sasiwulwazi lwemiBhalo. Ingabe kwakudingeka ukuba azifundele nje kuphela? Cha. UThimothewu wayedinga usizo ukuze athole ulwazi olunembile nokuqonda okungokomoya ngalokho ayekufunda. (Kolose 1:9) Ngakho, uThimothewu ‘wathonyelwa ukuba akholwe.’ Njengoba azi imiBhalo ‘kusukela ewusana,’ abafundisi bakhe bokuqala kumelwe ukuba kwakungunina  noninakhulu, njengoba ngokusobala uyise ayengakholwa.—2 Thimothewu 1:5.

¹² Nokho, kwakuhileleke okwengeziwe ekubeni kukaThimothewu yisikhonzi. Phakathi kokunye, ukholo lwakhe lwaqiniswa ukuzihlanganisa namaKristu emabandleni aseduze. Sazi kanjani? Ngoba lapho uPawulu eqala ukuhlangana noThimothewu, le nsizwa ‘yayikhulunyelwa kahle abafowethu eListra nase-Ikoniyu.’ (IzEnzo 16:2) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngalezo zinsuku abazalwane abathile babebhalela amabandla ukuze bawaqinise. Futhi ababonisi babewahambela ukuze bawakhe. Amalungiselelo anjalo asiza amaKristu anjengoThimothewu ukuba athuthuke ngokomoya.—IzEnzo 15:22-32; 1 Petru 1:1.

13. UThimothewu wagcotshwa nini njengesikhonzi, futhi kungani ungase uthi intuthuko yakhe engokomoya ayigcinanga lapho?

¹³ Ngenxa yomyalo kaJesu okuMathewu 28:19, 20, singaqiniseka ukuthi ngesikhathi esithile ukholo lukaThimothewu lwamshukumisela ukuba alingise uJesu, abhapathizwe. (Mathewu 3:15-17; Heberu 10:5-9) Lesi kwakuyisibonakaliso sokuzinikezela kukaThimothewu kuNkulunkulu ngomphefumulo wonke. Lapho ebhapathizwa, uThimothewu waba yisikhonzi. Kusukela lapho, ukuphila kwakhe, amandla akhe nakho konke ayenakho, kwaba ngokukaNkulunkulu. Lena kwakuyingxenye eyinhloko yokukhulekela kwakhe, “inkonzo engcwele.” Nokho, uThimothewu akazange aneliswe yilokho nje. Waqhubeka ekhula ngokomoya, waba yisikhonzi esivuthiwe esingumKristu. Lokhu kwenzeka ngenxa yokuzihlanganisa kukaThimothewu eduze namaKristu avuthiwe anjengoPawulu, ngenxa yesifundo sakhe somuntu siqu nangenxa yokushumayela kwakhe ngentshiseko.—1 Thimothewu 4:14; 2 Thimothewu 2:2; Heberu 6:1.

14. Namuhla, umuntu ‘othambekele ngokufanele ekuphileni okumi phakade’ uyenza kanjani intuthuko aze abe yisikhonzi?

¹⁴ Namuhla, ukugcotshelwa inkonzo yobuKristu kuyafana. Umuntu ‘othambekele ngokufanele ekuphileni okumi phakade’ usizwa ukuba afunde ngoNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe ngesifundo seBhayibheli. (IzEnzo 13:48) Umuntu ufunda ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuphileni kwakhe nokuthandaza kuNkulunkulu ngendlela enenjongo. (IHubo 1:1-3; IzAga 2:1-9; 1 Thesalonika 5:17, 18) Uzihlanganisa namanye amakholwa futhi asizakale ngamalungiselelo enziwe “yisigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo.” (Mathewu 24:45-47; IzAga 13:20; Heberu 10:23-25) Kanjalo wenza intuthuko ngenqubo ehlelekile yemfundo.

15. Kwenzekani lapho umuntu ebhapathizwa? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

¹⁵ Ekugcineni, njengoba umfundi weBhayibheli esakhé uthando ngoJehova uNkulunkulu nokholo oluqinile emhlatshelweni wesihlengo, ufisa ukuzinikezela ngokuphelele kuYise wasezulwini. (Johane 14:1) Lokho kuzinikezela ukwenza ngomthandazo womuntu siqu abese ebhapathizwa, okuyisibonakaliso sasobala saleso senzo sangasese. Ukubhapathizwa kwakhe kuwumkhosi wokugcotshwa kwakhe ngoba kungaleso sikhathi lapho eqashelwa njengenceku ezinikezele ngokugcwele, i-di·aʹko·nos kaNkulunkulu. Kumelwe ahlale ehlukile ezweni. (Johane 17:16; Jakobe 4:4) Uye wazinikela ngokuphelele ukuba  abe “umhlatshelo ophilayo, ongcwele, owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu,” ngaphandle kokuzigodla noma imibandela. (Roma 12:1) * Uyisikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu, ulingisa uKristu.

Iyini Inkonzo YobuKristu?

16. Yayiyini eminye yemithwalo kaThimothewu njengesikhonzi?

¹⁶ Yayihlanganisani inkonzo kaThimothewu? Wayenemisebenzi ekhethekile njengomngane kaPawulu ekujikelezeni. Lapho eba ngumdala, uThimothewu wazikhandla ekufundiseni nasekuqiniseni amaKristu ayekanye nawo. Kodwa ingxenye eyinhloko yenkonzo yakhe, njengoba kwakunjalo ngoJesu noPawulu, kwakuwukushumayela izindaba ezinhle nokwenza abafundi. (Mathewu 4:23; 1 Korinte 3:5) UPawulu watshela uThimothewu: “Nokho, wena hlala usangulukile kuzo zonke izinto, ukhuthazelele okubi, wenze umsebenzi womvangeli, uyifeze ngokugcwele inkonzo yakho.”—2 Thimothewu 4:5.

17, 18. (a) Iyiphi inkonzo amaKristu ahlanganyela kuyo? (b) Ubaluleke kangakanani umsebenzi wokushumayela esikhonzini esingumKristu?

¹⁷ Kungokufanayo ngezikhonzi ezingamaKristu namuhla. Zihlanganyela enkonzweni yasobala, umsebenzi wobuvangeli, ziqondisa abanye ensindisweni ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu futhi zifundisa abathobekileyo ukubiza igama likaJehova. (IzEnzo 2:21; 4:10-12; Roma 10:13) Zibonisa ngeBhayibheli ukuthi uMbuso uwukuphela kwethemba lesintu esihluphekayo nokuthi ngisho kwamanje izinto ziba ngcono uma siphila ngezimiso zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. (IHubo 15:1-5; Marku 13:10) Kodwa isikhonzi esingumKristu asishumayeli ivangeli lezenhlalo. Kunalokho, sifundisa ukuthi ‘ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kunesithembiso sokuphila kwamanje nalokho okuzayo.’—1 Thimothewu 4:8.

¹⁸ Yiqiniso, iningi lezikhonzi linezindlela ezengeziwe zokukhonza, ezingase zingafani nezamanye amaKristu. Eziningi zinezibopho zemikhaya. (Efesu 5:21–6:4) Abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo banemisebenzi ebandleni. (1 Thimothewu 3:1, 12, 13; Thithu 1:5; Heberu 13:7) AmaKristu amaningi asiza ekwakhiweni kwamaHholo OMbuso. Amanye anelungelo elimangalisayo lokuba yizisebenzi zokuzithandela kwelinye lamakhaya aseBethel e-Watch Tower Society. Nokho, zonke izikhonzi ezingamaKristu ziyahlanganyela ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle. Azikho ezikhethiwe. Ukuhlanganyela kulo msebenzi yiko okuveza umuntu obala njengesikhonzi esingumKristu ngempela.

Isimo Sengqondo Sesikhonzi EsingumKristu

19, 20. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo okumelwe izikhonzi ezingamaKristu zisihlakulele?

¹⁹ Iningi labefundisi beLobukholwa lilindela ukuba lihlonishwe ngokukhethekile, futhi lamukela iziqu ezinjengokuthi “mfundisi” (reverend) nokuthi “baba.” Nokho, isikhonzi esingumKristu siyazi ukuthi nguJehova kuphela ofanelwe yinhlonipho (reverence). (1 Thimothewu 2:9, 10) Akukho sikhonzi esingumKristu esifuna inhlonipho ephakeme kanjalo noma esifisa iziqu ezikhethekile. (Mathewu 23:8-12) Siyazi ukuthi incazelo eyisisekelo yelithi di·a·ko·niʹa “inkonzo.” Ngezinye izikhathi eBhayibhelini isenzo esihlobene nalo sisetshenziswa mayelana nezinkonzo umuntu azenzayo, njengokuba ngumlindi ematafuleni. (Luka 4:39; 17:8; Johane 2:5) Nakuba ukusetshenziswa kwalo ngokuphathelene nenkonzo yobuKristu kuphakeme kunalokho, i-di·aʹko·nos iseyinceku.

²⁰ Ngakho-ke, akukho sikhonzi esingumKristu esinesizathu sokuzizwa sibalulekile kunezinye. Izikhonzi ezingamaKristu ngempela—ngisho nalezo ezinemithwalo ekhethekile ebandleni—ziyizigqila ezithobekile. UJesu wathi: “Noma ubani ofuna ukuba mkhulu phakathi kwenu kumelwe abe isikhonzi senu, futhi noma ubani ofuna ukuba owokuqala phakathi kwenu kumelwe abe isigqila senu.” (Mathewu 20:26, 27) Lapho ebonisa abafundi bakhe isimo sengqondo esifanele sokuhlakulelwa, uJesu wabageza izinyawo, enza umsebenzi wesigqila esiphansi kunazo zonke. (Johane 13:1-15) Yeka inkonzo yokuthobeka! Ngakho, izikhonzi ezingamaKristu zikhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu ngokuthobeka. (2 Korinte 6:4; 11:23) Zibonisa ukuthobeka kwengqondo ngokukhonzana. Futhi lapho zishumayela  izindaba ezinhle, zibakhonza ngokungabi nabugovu omakhelwane bazo abangakholwa.—Roma 1:14, 15; Efesu 3:1-7.

Khuthazela Enkonzweni

21. UPawulu wavuzwa kanjani ngokukhuthazela enkonzweni?

²¹ KuPawulu, ukuba yisikhonzi kwakudinga ukukhuthazela. Watshela abaseKolose ukuthi wahlupheka kakhulu ukuze ashumayele izindaba ezinhle kubo. (Kolose 1:24, 25) Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi wakhuthazela, abaningi bamukela izindaba ezinhle futhi baba yizikhonzi. Bazalwa njengamadodana kaNkulunkulu nabafowabo bakaJesu Kristu, benethemba lokuba yizidalwa zomoya kanye naye ezulwini. Yeka umvuzo okhazimulayo wokukhuthazela!

22, 23. (a) Kungani izikhonzi ezingamaKristu namuhla kudingeka zikhuthazele? (b) Yiziphi izithelo ezimangalisayo ezivezwa ukukhuthazela kobuKristu?

²² Ukukhuthazela kuyadingeka namuhla kulabo abayizikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ngempela. Abaningi nsuku zonke bahlushwa ukugula noma izinhlungu zokuguga. Abazali basebenza kanzima—abaningi babo bengenaye umngane womshado—bekhulisa izingane zabo. Ngesibindi, izingane esikoleni zimelana namathonya angalungile eziphakathi kwawo. AmaKristu amaningi abhekene nomshikashika onzima wezomnotho. Amaningi ayashushiswa noma abhekane nezinkinga ngenxa ‘yezikhathi [zanamuhla] ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo’! (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Yebo, izikhonzi zikaJehova ezicela ezigidini eziyisithupha namuhla zingasho nomphostoli uPawulu ukuthi: “Ngazo zonke izindlela sizitusa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu, ngokukhuthazelela okuningi.” (2 Korinte 6:4) Izikhonzi ezingamaKristu aziliphonsi ithawula. Kumelwe zituswe ngempela ngokukhuthazela kwazo.

²³ Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba kwaba njalo ngoPawulu, ukukhuthazela kuveza izithelo ezimangalisayo. Ngokukhuthazela, silondoloza ubuhlobo bethu obuseduze noJehova senze inhliziyo yakhe ijabule. (IzAga 27:11) Siqinisa olwethu ukholo futhi senze abafundi, sinezela ebuzalwaneni bobuKristu. (1 Thimothewu 4:16) UJehova uye wasekela izikhonzi zakhe futhi wabusisa inkonzo yazo phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina. Ngenxa yalokho, abokugcina babangu-144 000 sebebuthiwe, futhi izigidi ezengeziwe ziyaqiniseka ngethemba lokujabulela ukuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. (Luka 23:43; IsAmbulo 14:1) Ngempela, inkonzo yobuKristu iwukubonakaliswa kwesihe sikaJehova. (2 Korinte 4:1) Kwangathi sonke singayazisa futhi sibonge ngokuthi izithelo zayo ziyohlala phakade.—1 Johane 2:17.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Ungachaza?

• Yimuphi umthwalo wonke amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayenawo?

• Isikhonzi esingumKristu sigcotshwa nini futhi sigcotshwa ngubani?

• Yisiphi isimo sengqondo okufanele sihlakulelwe isikhonzi esingumKristu ?

• Kungani isikhonzi esingumKristu kufanele sikhuthazele lapho sibhekene nezinkinga?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

UThimothewu wafundiswa iZwi likaNkulunkulu kusukela ewusana. Waba yisikhonzi esigcotshiwe lapho ebhapathizwa

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Ubhapathizo lubonisa ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu futhi lusho ukugcotshwa komuntu njengesikhonzi

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

Izikhonzi ezingamaKristu zizimisele ukukhonza