1, 2. Ekuqaleni u-Adamu no-Eva babephila ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo, futhi imiphi imibuzo ephakamayo?

LAPHO u-Adamu no-Eva bedalwa, babengenazo nhlobo izitha. Babengabantu abaphelele abahlala epharadesi. Babenobuhlobo obuseduze noMdali wabo njengendodana nendodakazi yakhe. (Gen. 2:7-9; Luka 3:38) Ukuthi ukuphila kwabo kwakuzoba njani kwaboniswa kuwo kanye umyalo uNkulunkulu abanika wona. (Funda uGenesise 1:28.) ‘Ukugcwalisa umhlaba nokuwunqoba’ kwakungenzeka phakathi nesikhathi esithile. Kodwa ukuze u-Adamu no-Eva baqhubeke ‘bethotshelwa yizo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ezihamba phezu komhlaba,’ kwakuyodingeka baphile phakade, kungadingeki ukuba u-Adamu alahle ubunhloko bakhe ngokuba afe.

² Pho kungani izimo zihluke kangaka manje? Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba injabulo yabantu ibe nezitha eziningi kangaka, esikhulu kunazo zonke esiwukufa? Yini uNkulunkulu ayezoyenza ukuze azenze ize lezi zitha? Izimpendulo zale mibuzo neminye ehlobene nayo zingatholakala ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli. Ake sihlole ezinye izingxenye ezibalulekile zako.

3, 4. (a) Yimuphi umyalo uNkulunkulu awunika u-Adamu no-Eva? (b) Kwakubaluleke kangakanani ukulalela lowo myalo?

³ Nakuba u-Adamu no-Eva babenethemba lokuphila phakade, kwakungenzeka bafe. Ukuze baqhubeke bephila, kwakufanele baphefumule, baphuze, balale futhi badle. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, ukuphila kwabo kwakuxhomeke ebuhlotsheni babo noMniki-kuphila. (Dut. 8:3) Kwakusemqoka ukuba bamukele isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu ukuze baqhubeke bejabulela ukuphila. UJehova wakwenza kwacaca lokhu ku-Adamu ngisho nangaphambi kokuba u-Eva adalwe. Kanjani? “UJehova uNkulunkulu wamnika lo myalo umuntu: ‘Kuyo yonke imithi yensimu ungadla usuthe. Kodwa ngokuqondene nomuthi wolwazi lokuhle nokubi ungadli kuwo, ngoba ngosuku oyodla ngalo kuwo uyokufa nokufa.’”—Gen. 2:16, 17.

⁴ ‘Umuthi wolwazi lokuhle nokubi’ wawumelele ilungelo likaNkulunkulu lokunquma ukuthi yikuphi okuhle nokubi. U-Adamu wayesenawo kakade umuzwa wokuhle nokubi; phela wayedalwe ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu futhi enonembeza. Lo muthi wawubonisa u-Adamu no-Eva ukuthi bayohlale besidinga isiqondiso sikaJehova. Ukudla kwabo kulo muthi kwakuyosho ukuthi bazifunela inkululeko yokuzibusa, okwakuyobangela omkhulu umonakalo kubo nasenzalweni yabo. Umyalo kaNkulunkulu nesijeziso sawo wembula ukungathi sína kwaleyo nkambo.

5. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba u-Adamu no-Eva bangalaleli?

⁵ Lapho u-Eva esedaliwe, u-Adamu wamtshela umyalo kaNkulunkulu. U-Eva wayewazi kahle, nakhu akwazi ukuwusho njengoba unjalo. (Gen. 3:1-3) Wawusho lapho ewutshela othile owaziveza eyinyoka, isidalwa esiqaphile. Lona owayezenza inyoka kwakunguSathane uDeveli, indodana kaNkulunkulu ewumoya eyayifukamele isifiso sokuzibusa nesokuthola igunya. (Qhathanisa noJakobe 1:14, 15.) Ukuze afeze izinjongo zakhe ezimbi wathi uNkulunkulu uqamba amanga. Waqinisekisa u-Eva ngokuthi ukuzibusa kwakuyomenza afane noNkulunkulu, kwakungeke kumholele ekufeni. (Gen. 3:4, 5) U-Eva wamkholwa, wenza kwaqapheleka ukuthi usenenkululeko ngokuba adle isithelo, wanxenxa no-Adamu ukuba naye asidle. (Gen. 3:6, 17) UDeveli wayeqambe amanga. (Funda eyoku-1 Thimothewu 2:14.) Noma kunjalo u-Adamu ‘walalela izwi lomkakhe.’ Nakuba le nyoka yayingase ibonakale ingumngane, uSathane uDeveli empeleni wayeyisitha esinonya esasiyazi imiphumela emibi yalokho esasikusikisela ku-Eva.

6, 7. UJehova wasisingatha kanjani isahlulelo sabenzi bobubi?

⁶ Ngezizathu zabo, u-Adamu no-Eva bahlubuka kuLowo owayebanike ukuphila nakho konke ababenakho. Yiqiniso, uJehova wayekwazi konke okwakwenzekile. (1 IziKr. 28:9; funda izAga 15:3.) Wayevumele lezi zidalwa ezintathu ukuba zibonise indlela ezazizizwa ngayo ngaye. NjengoBaba, ngokuqinisekile uJehova wezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu kakhulu. (Qhathanisa noGenesise 6:6.) Kwabe sekudingeka ukuba abe uMahluleli, asekele lokho ayethe kuzoba umphumela futhi akwenze kwenzeke.

⁷ UNkulunkulu wayetshele u-Adamu: “Ngosuku oyodla ngalo [emthini wolwazi lokuhle nokubi] uyokufa nokufa.” Kungenzeka u-Adamu wayecabanga ukuthi lolu “suku” lungamahora angu-24. Ngemva kokwephula umyalo kaNkulunkulu, kungenzeka wayelindele ukuba uJehova athathe isinyathelo lingakashoni ilanga. “Ngesikhathi sokuvunguza komnyelele,”  uJehova weza kubo. (Gen. 3:8) Kwaba njengokungathi uJehova ubaqulisa icala enkantolo, ethola amaqiniso ezimpendulweni zabo. (Gen. 3:9-13) Wabe esebagweba laba benzi bobubi. (Gen. 3:14-19) Ukube wababulala ngaso leso sikhathi, injongo yakhe ngokuphathelene no-Adamu no-Eva kanye nenzalo yabo yayingeke ifezeke. (Isaya 55:11) Nakuba aqinisekisa ukuthi bazosithola isijeziso sokufa nemiphumela yesono yaqala ngaso leso sikhathi, wabavumela ukuba bazale abantwana ababengazuza emalungiselelweni ayezowenza. Ngakho, ngokubheka kukaNkulunkulu u-Adamu no-Eva bafa ngalo lolo suku abona ngalo, empeleni bafa lungakapheli “usuku” oluyiminyaka eyinkulungwane.—2 Pet. 3:8.

8, 9. Isono sika-Adamu sayithinta kanjani inzalo yakhe? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁸ Ingabe okwakwenziwe u-Adamu no-Eva kwakuyozithinta izingane zabo? Yebo. EyabaseRoma 5:12 iyachaza: “Ngomuntu oyedwa isono sangena ezweni nokufa kwangena ngesono, futhi kanjalo ukufa kwasakazekela kubantu bonke ngenxa yokuthi bonke bonile.” Owokuqala owafa kwaba u-Abela othembekile. (Gen. 4:8) Ngemva kwalokho nabanye abayinzalo ka-Adamu baguga futhi bafa. Ingabe nabo basizuza njengefa isono nokufa? Umphostoli uPawulu uyaphendula: “Ngokungalaleli komuntu oyedwa abaningi baba yizoni.” (Roma 5:19) Ngakho isono nokufa esakuthola ku-Adamu kwaba yizitha ezinamathele isintu, lezo abantu abangaphelele abangeke bakwazi ukuphunyula kuzo. Ngeke sikwazi ukukuchaza kahle hle konke okwakuhilelekile ekudluliseleni ifa labo elidabukisayo kubantwana babo nasezizukulwaneni ezaziseza, kodwa lona ladluliselwa kuzo.

⁹ Kuyafaneleka ukuba iBhayibheli libhekisele esonweni nasekufeni esikuthole njengefa ngokuthi ‘kuwubuso besigubuzelo esigubuzele zonke izizwe, nokwelukiweyo okulukwe kwahlanganiswa phezu kwazo zonke izizwe.’ (Isaya 25:7) Lesi sigubuzelo esiyisiqalekiso esisincisha umoya sigubuzele bonke abantu. Ngakho, iqiniso liwukuthi ‘bonke [abantu] bayafa ku-Adamu.’ (1 Kor. 15:22) Uma-ke kunjalo, umbuzo olandelayo unjengoba nje uPawulu awubeka: “Ubani oyongophula kulo mzimba othola lokhu kufa?” Ukhona yini owayengamophula? *—Roma 7:24.

10. (a) Yimaphi amavesi eBhayibheli abonisa ukuthi uJehova uzokwenza ize ukufa okwabangelwa u-Adamu? (b) La mavesi embulani ngoJehova neNdodana yakhe?

¹⁰ Yebo, uJehova wayengamophula uPawulu. Ngemva nje kokukhuluma ‘ngesigubuzelo,’ u-Isaya wabhala: “Uyokugwinya ukufa kuze kube phakade, iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngokuqinisekile iyosula izinyembezi ebusweni bonke.” (Isaya 25:8) Njengobaba osusa imbangela yokuhlupheka kwezingane zakhe abese ezesula izinyembezi, kumthokozisa kakhulu uJehova ukukwenza ize ukufa okwabangelwa u-Adamu! Akuyena yedwa othokozayo. Eyoku-1 Korinte 15:22 ithi: “Njengoba nje bonke befa ku-Adamu, kanjalo nakuKristu bonke bayokwenziwa baphile.” Ngokufanayo, ngemva kokuba uPawulu ebuze ukuthi “Ubani oyongophula?” waqhubeka: “Makabongwe uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu!” (Roma 7:25) Ngokusobala, uthando olwenza uJehova wadala abantu aluzange luncishiswe ukuhlubuka kuka-Adamu no-Eva. Futhi lowo owahlanganyela noJehova emsebenzini wokwenza  kube khona abantu ababili bokuqala akazange aphelelwe uthando olukhethekile ngenzalo ka-Adamu no-Eva. (IzAga 8:30, 31) Kodwa babeyokophulwa kanjani abantu?

11. Yiliphi ilungiselelo uJehova alenza ukuze asize isintu?

¹¹ Ukungapheleli kwabantu nokufa kwabo kuwumphumela wesono sika-Adamu nesahlulelo sikaJehova esilungile. (Roma 5:12, 16) Siyafunda: “Ngesiphambeko esisodwa umphumela kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo waba ukulahlwa.” (Roma 5:18) Yini uJehova ayengayenza ukuze asuse isahlulelo sakhe esiwukulahla abantu kodwa angazenzi ize izindinganiso zakhe? Impendulo siyithola emazwini kaJesu: ‘INdodana yomuntu yezela ukunikela umphefumulo wayo ube yisihlengo sabaningi.’ (Math. 20:28) Indodana kaJehova yokuqala ewumoya yakwenza kwacaca ukuthi, njengoba yayizalwe emhlabeni ingumuntu ophelele, yayiyoba isihlengo. Lesi sihlengo sasiyohlangabezana kanjani nezimfuneko zobulungisa?—1 Thim. 2:5, 6.

12. Isiphi isihlengo esihambelanayo esahlangabezana nezimfuneko zobulungisa?

¹² Njengomuntu ophelele, uJesu wayenamathemba afana naka-Adamu engakoni. Injongo kaJehova yayiwukugcwalisa umhlaba ngenzalo ephelele ka-Adamu. Ngakho, ngenxa yothando olujulile ngoYise nenzalo ka-Adamu, uJesu wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe kwaba isihlengo. Yebo, uJesu wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe okuphelele okwakuhambelana nalokho okwalahlwa u-Adamu. Ngemva kwalokho, uJehova wabuyisela iNdodana yakhe ekuphileni komoya. (1 Pet. 3:18) UJehova wayengawamukela kufanele umhlatshelo walowo muntu oyedwa ophelele, uJesu, njengesihlengo noma inani lokuthenga, ukuze athenge umkhaya ka-Adamu futhi awunikeze amathemba okuphila okwakulahlwe u-Adamu. Kufana nokuthi uJesu wathatha indawo ka-Adamu. UPawulu uyachaza: “Kulotshiwe ngisho nakanje: ‘Umuntu wokuqala u-Adamu waba ngumphefumulo ophilayo.’ U-Adamu wokugcina waba umoya onika ukuphila.”—1 Kor. 15:45.

13. Yini “u-Adamu wokugcina” ayoyenza ukuze asize abafileyo?

¹³ Ekugcineni siyofika isikhathi sokuba “u-Adamu wokugcina” abe “umoya onika ukuphila” esintwini sisonke. Iningi lenzalo ka-Adamu liyobuyiselwa ekuphileni. Kungani? Kungoba kakade seliphilile futhi lafa. Kuyodingeka livuswe liphinde liphile emhlabeni.—Joh. 5:28, 29.

14. Yiliphi ilungiselelo likaJehova elaliyosiza liguqule ukungapheleli u-Adamu akudlulisela enzalweni yakhe?

¹⁴ Isintu siyokhululwa kanjani ekushikilisweni ukungapheleli? UJehova wenza ilungiselelo loMbuso owuhulumeni owakhiwa “u-Adamu wokugcina” nabanye abakhethwe esintwini. (Funda isAmbulo 5:9, 10.) Labo abazobusa noJesu ezulwini bayobe bezwile ukuthi kunjani ukuba abantu abangaphelele. Ukubusa kwabo iminyaka eyinkulungwane yonke kuyoba usizo kubantu abasemhlabeni, kuyobasiza banqobe ukungapheleli abangeke bakunqobe ngawabo amandla.—IsAm. 20:6.

15, 16. (a) Siyini ‘isitha sokugcina, ukufa,’ futhi siyokwenziwa nini ize? (b) Ngokweyoku-1 Korinte 15:28, yini eyokwenziwa uJesu ekugcineni?

¹⁵ Ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa koMbuso, isintu esilalelayo siyobe sesikhululiwe kuzo zonke izitha ezibe khona ngenxa yokungalaleli kuka-Adamu. IBhayibheli lithi: “Njengoba nje bonke befa ku-Adamu, kanjalo nakuKristu bonke bayokwenziwa baphile. Kodwa yilowo nalowo esigabeni sakhe siqu: UKristu ulibo, kamuva kube yilabo abangabakaKristu [ababusi abayobusa naye] phakathi nokuba khona kwakhe. Ngokulandelayo, kube ukuphela, lapho enikela umbuso kuNkulunkulu wakhe  noYise, lapho esebenzé ize bonke ohulumeni nalo lonke igunya namandla. Ngoba kumelwe abuse njengenkosi kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu esebeke zonke izitha ngaphansi kwezinyawo zakhe. Njengesitha sokugcina, ukufa kuzokwenziwa ize.” (1 Kor. 15:22-26) Yebo, ekugcineni ukufa esikuthole njengefa ku-Adamu kuyoqedwa. ‘Isigubuzelo’ esigubuzele wonke umkhaya wesintu siyobe sesisuswe phakade.—Isaya 25:7, 8.

¹⁶ Umphostoli uPawulu uphetha incwadi yakhe ephefumulelwe ngala mazwi: “Lapho zonke izinto sezibekwe ngaphansi kwakhe, khona-ke neNdodana ngokwayo iyozithoba kuLowo owabeka zonke izinto ngaphansi kwayo, ukuze uNkulunkulu abe yikho konke kuwo wonke umuntu.” (1 Kor. 15:28) Injongo yokubusa kweNdodana iyobe seyifeziwe. Ngemva kwalokho, ngokwaneliseka okujulile, iyobuyisela igunya kuJehova futhi yethule kuye umkhaya wabantu abaphelelisiwe.

17. Uyokwenziwani uSathane ekugcineni?

¹⁷ Kuthiwani ngoSathane, okunguyena kwasekuqaleni owabangela lonke usizi lwesintu? IsAmbulo 20:7-15 sinikeza impendulo. Ekuvivinyweni kokugcina kwabo bonke abantu abaphelele, uSathane uyovunyelwa ukuba azame ukubadukisa. UDeveli nalabo abamlandelayo bayobhujiswa phakade ‘ekufeni kwesibili.’ (IsAm. 21:8) Ngenxa yokuthi izisulu zokufa kwesibili ngeke ziphinde zivuswe, lokhu kufa akusoze kwenziwa ize. Nokho, “ukufa kwesibili” akusona isitha sabantu abathanda nabakhonza uMdali wabo.

18. Uyogcwaliseka kanjani umyalo uNkulunkulu awunika u-Adamu?

¹⁸ Isintu esiphelelisiwe siyobe sesima phambi kukaJehova njengesivunyelwe ngokugcwele ukuthola ukuphila okuphakade, zingasekho ndawo izitha. Umyalo owawunikezwe u-Adamu uyobe usufeziwe yena engasekho. Umhlaba uyogcwala inzalo yakhe eyothokozela ukuwubusa, ijabulele nezinhlobonhlobo zezinto eziphilayo. Kwangathi singelokothe siphelelwe ukwazisa indlela uJehova asenza ngayo ize isitha sokugcina, ukufa!