Insayeya Yekwati Nkulunkulu Kahle Ngisho Nangelibito Lakhe

KUKHONA umuntfu lofuna kukuvimba kutsi umati kahle-hle Jehova. Uphindze akafuni ube ngematse nelulwimi naNkulunkulu. Ngubani lesitsa lesibi? LiBhayibheli liyasichaza: “Nkulunkulu walomhlaba uphumphutsekise tingcondvo tabo.” Nkulunkulu walomhlaba nguSathane Develi. Ufuna kutsi ingakukhanyeli “inkhatimulo yaNkulunkulu.” Sathane akafuni kutsi umati kahle Nkulunkulu, lokufaka ekhatsi kwati kahle libito lakhe. Utiphumphutsekisa njani tingcondvo tebantfu?—2 Khorinte 4:4-6.

Lenye yetindlela letisetjentiswa nguSathane kute ente bantfu bangalati libito laNkulunkulu, yinkholo yemanga. Sibonelo saloko ngulokwenteka endvulo ngalesikhatsi labanye bantfu besive semaJuda balandzela lisiko labo lekubalekela kusebentisa libito laNkulunkulu. Lelo bito belibhalwe emiBhalweni lephefumulelwe. Emakhulwini ekucala eminyaka esikhatsini seNkhosi Jesu, bafundzi beliBhayibheli baseshashalazini bemaJuda badvonswa ngendlebe kutsi bangalifundzi libito laNkulunkulu njengobe linjalo. Batjelwa kutsi esikhundleni salo kufanele basebentise ligama lelitsi Adho·naiʹ, lelisho kutsi “Nkhosi.” Loko kwabangela kutsi buhhohloke buhlobo bebantfu labanyenti naNkulunkulu. Labanye labanyenti balahlekelwa tinzuzo tekuba ngematse nelulwimi naNkulunkulu. Singatsini ngaJesu kulendzaba? Ngusiphi simo sengcondvo labenaso ngekusetjentiswa kwelibito laJehova?

Jesu Nebalandzeli Bakhe Benta Libito LaNkulunkulu Latiwa

Naku lokwashiwo nguJesu emthandazweni labekawubhekise kuYise: “Ngibatisile libito lakho, ngisatawuchubeka ngenta njalo.” (Johane 17:26) Kunengcondvo kutsi Jesu waliphimisela libito laNkulunkulu emahlandla lamanyenti ngalesikhatsi afundza, acaphuna nobe nakachaza tindzima letitsite letisemiBhalweni yesiHebheru letinelibito laNkulunkulu. Kusebaleni kutsi Jesu bekalisebentisa ngekukhululeka lokukhulu libito laNkulunkulu njengalabanye baphrofethi labaphila ngembikwekufika kwakhe emhlabeni. Nangabe kukhona emaJuda labekasangenwe ngulomkhuba wekungalisebentisi, loko akuzange kumngene Jesu. Wakhwela watehlela kubafundisi bangaleso sikhatsi nakatsi: “Kanjalo nilente laba lite livi laNkulunkulu, nase nilandzela emasiko enu.”—Matewu 15:6.

Balandzeli baJesu labetsembekile nabo abayekelanga kusebentisa libito laNkulunkulu ngemuva kwekufa nekuvuka kwaJesu. (Fundza indzaba letsi  “Emakhristu Angelikhulu Lekucala Leminyaka Abelisebentisa Yini Libito LaNkulunkulu?”) Ngalo kanye lilanga lokwasungulwa ngalo libandla lebuKhristu ngeliPhentekhoste ngemnyaka wanga 33 C.E., umphostoli Phetro wacaphuna encwadzini yaJoweli nakatsi kumaJuda nakubantfu lababephendvukele enkholweni yemaJuda “labo-ke, labayawulibita libito leNkhosi,  bayawusindziswa.” (Imisebenti 2:21; Joweli 2:32) EmaKhristu akucala asita bantfu bekudzabuka etiveni letinyenti kutsi balati libito laNkulunkulu lelitsi Jehova. Kungako umfundzi waJesu longuJakobe asho naku nakasemhlanganweni webaphostoli nemadvodza lamadzala lobewubanjelwe eJerusalema: ‘Nkulunkulu . . . unakekele betive ngekutitsatsela sive emkhatsisini wabo kutsi sibe sakhe.’—Imisebenti 15:14.

Nobe kunjalo, sitsa selibito laNkulunkulu asizange siphele emandla. Kwatsi nje ngemuva kwekufa kwebaphostoli, Sathane wenta bantfu bayishiya inkholo yeliciniso. (Matewu 13:38, 39; 2 Phetro 2:1) Nasi sibonelo: Justin Martyr longumbhali lotibita ngekutsi ungumKhristu, lowatalwa cishe ngemuva kwekufa kwemphostoli wekugcina, Johane, wabhala kutsi Umnakekeli wetfu etintfweni tonkhe “nguNkulunkulu ngisho longabitwa ngelibito lakhe.”

Ngalesikhatsi tihlubuki letingemaKhristu tenta emakhophi emiBhalo yemaKhristu yesiGriki, talikhipha libito laJehova ngemabomu tase tifaka ligama  lelitsi Kyʹri·os lelisho kutsi “Nkhosi” esikhundleni salo. Kwenteka lokufananako nasemiBhalweni yesiHebheru. Baholi benkholo yemaJuda labatihlubuki bacala ngekungaliphimiseli libito laNkulunkulu. Ngemuva kwaloko balikhipha emiBhalweni base esikhundleni salo bafaka ligama lelitsi Adho·naiʹ emahlandla langetulu kwa-130. Lihumusho lelaba sematseni leBhayibheli lelabhalwa ngelulwimi lesiLatini, lacedvwa kubhalwa nguJerome ngemnyaka wanga-405 C.E.. Lelo humusho lebelatiwa ngekutsi yi-Vulgate lalikhipha libito laNkulunkulu.

Imetamo Yesikhatsi Sanyalo Yekukhipha Libito LaNkulunkulu EBhayibhelini

Nalamuhla tifundziswa tiyati kutsi libito laJehova livela tikhatsi letingetulu kwa-7 000 eBhayibhelini. Lamanye emahumusho lasetjentiswa kakhulu, lafaka ekhatsi iJerusalem Bible, i-La Biblia Latinoamérica omabili emaKatolika labhalwe ngelulwimi lwesi-Spanish, kanye ne-Reina-Valera lokuliBhayibheli lelatiwa kakhulu lelihunyushwe nge-Spanish, onkhe lamaBhayibheli ayalisebentisa libito laNkulunkulu. Lamanye emahumusho ahumusha libito laNkulunkulu ngekutsi “Yahweh.”

Kuyadzabukisa kutsi emasontfo lamanyenti lasekela kuhunyushwa kweliBhayibheli ahlohlobetela tifundziswa kutsi tingalifaki libito laNkulunkulu natihumusha liBhayibheli. Nasi sibonelo: Encwadzini leyabhalwa ngaJune 29, 2008, lebeyiya kubomengameli bemaKatolika, i-Vatican yatsi: “Eminyakeni yamuva lomkhuba wekubita Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli ngelibito lakhe, ungene kancane kancane.” Nasi sicondziso lesivela kulencwadzi: “Libito laNkulunkulu . . . akukafanele liphinyiselwe.” Lencwadzi ichubeka itsi: “Nangabe kuhunyushwa liBhayibheli kusetjentiswa tilwimi talamuhla libito laNkulunkulu i-tetragrammaton kufanele litsatselwe sikhundla ngemagama latsi-Adonai/Kyrios lasho kutsi ‘Nkhosi.’” Kuyacaca kutsi injongo yalesicondziso se-Vatican kutsi lingasasetjentiswa nhlobo libito laNkulunkulu.

Bantfu labahlubuka enkholweni yemaRoma nabo abalihloniphi libito laNkulunkulu lelitsi Jehova. Somlomo webahumushi beliBhayibheli i-New International Version lelahunyushwa bantfu labahlubuka enkholweni yemaRoma lelashicilelwa ngelulwimi lwesiLungu ngemnyaka wanga-1978, utsi: “Libito laNkulunkulu lelitsi Jehova liyamhlukanisa kulabanye boNkulunkulu futsi bekufanele silisebentise. Kodvwa tsine ngesizatfu sekutsi sisebentise imali letigidzi temarandi [temalangeni] langu-17 kute sihumushe lonkhe liBhayibheli, sikukhandza kukudlala ngemali kuhumusha imibhalo lenjengeTihlabelelo 23 letsi ‘Yahweh ungumelusi wami.’”

Ngetulu kwaloko, emasontfo ente kutsi bantfu base-Latin America bangamati Nkulunkulu ngelibito lakhe. Steven Voth, umchumanisi we-United Bible Societies (UBS) wabhala: “Lenye indzaba  bantfu labahlubuke enkholweni yemaRoma labebaphikisana ngayo e-Latin America, beyimayelana nekusetjentiswa kwelibito lelitsi Jehová . . . Lokumangalisako kutsi bantfu labasontsa epentecostal . . . batsi bafuna luhlelo lweBhayibheli i-Reina-Valera lwa-1960, kodvwa libebete libito lelitsi-Jehová. Esikhundleni salelobito bafuna kufakwe lelitsi Señor [Nkhosi].” Ngekusho kwaVoth, i-UBS, ekucaleni yasala lesicelo kodvwa kamuva yalushicilela lolo hlelo lweBhayibheli i-Reina-Valera “lite libito lelitsi Jehová.”

Kukhipha libito laNkulunkulu eVini lakhe bese esikhundleni salo kufakwa lelitsi “Nkhosi,” kwente bafundzi beliBhayibheli labanyenti bangati kutsi mbambambamba Nkulunkulu ungubani. Lokukhishwa kwelibito laNkulunkulu kwente bantfu badideka. Nasi sibonelo: Umfundzi angeke sekakwati kwehlukanisa kutsi kahle kahle ligama lelitsi “Nkhosi” libhekiswe kuJehova yini nobe eNdvodzaneni yakhe, Jesu. Loko sikubona embhalweni lapho umphostoli Phetro acaphuna khona emavi aDavide latsi: “Jehova watsi eNkhosini yami [Jesu lovusiwe]: ‘Hlala la ngesekudla sami,’” Kodvwa lamanyenti emahumusho eliBhayibheli wona afundzeka kanje: “INkhosi yatsi eNkhosini yami.” (Imisebenti 2:34, NIV) Ngetulu kwaloko, David Clines endzabeni layibhala lenesihloko lesitsi “Yahweh naNkulunkulu Wemfundziso YemaKhristu,” naku lakuveta: “Kungati kwemaKhristu ligama lelitsi Yahweh, kwente kutsi anamatsele kakhulu kuKhristu.” Ngaleso sizatfu, kungako bantfu labanyenti labaya emasontfweni bangati kutsi Nkulunkulu weliciniso Jesu latsi babothandaza kuye, unguMuntfu futsi libito lakhe nguJehova.

Sathane uwa avuka etama kwenta bantfu kutsi bangamati Nkulunkulu. Nobe kunjalo, ungamati kahle Jehova.

Ungamati Jehova Ngelibito Lakhe

Kuliciniso kutsi Sathane ulwa nelibito laNkulunkulu futsi usebentisa inkholo yemanga kute ente njalo. Nobe kunjalo, liciniso likutsi kute lonemandla emhlabeni nobe ezulwini ekuvimbela INkhosi Yendzawo yonkhe Jehova ekwenteni bantfu kutsi balati libito lakhe. Wenta kutsi libito lakhe latiwe ngulabo labacotfo labafuna kwati liciniso ngaye nangetinjongo takhe letibalulekile.

Bofakazi BaJehova batawujabulela kukusita kute ufundze kutsi ungasondzela kanjani kuNkulunkulu ngekutsi bakuchubele sifundvo seliBhayibheli. Banamatsela esibonelweni saJesu lowatsi kuNkulunkulu: “Ngibatisile libito lakho.” (Johane 17:26) Njengobe ucabangisisa ngalokujulile ngemibhalo leveta tintfo letehlukahlukene Jehova latentile kute bantfu bakhe babusiseke, utawati tingoni letehlukahlukene tebuntfu bakhe.

Indvodza leyetsembekile lenguJobe yajabulela ‘bungani lobushisako naNkulunkulu,’ futsi nawe ungabujabulela. (Jobe 29:4) Ngelwati loluseVini laNkulunkulu, ungamati Jehova ngelibito lakhe. Lwati lolunjalo lungakusita ube nelitsemba lekutsi Jehova utawenta ngekuvumelana ncamashi nalokushiwo libito lakhe—‘Ngingaba ngunoma yini lengifuna kuba ngiyo.’(Eksodusi 3:14) Ekugcineni, utawugcwalisa tonkhe tetsembiso letinhle latetsembise bantfu.

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 EmaKhristu Angelikhulu Lekucala Leminyaka Abelisebentisa Yini Libito LaNkulunkulu?

Ngesikhatsi kusaphila baphostoli baJesu ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka C.E., kwasungulwa emabandla ebuKhristu lamanyenti etindzaweni letehlukahlukene. Emalunga alawo mabandla bekahlangana njalo kute afundze ndzawonye imiBhalo. Kulawo makhophi emiBhalo labekasetjentiswa ngulawo maKhristu, belikhona yini libito laJehova?

Ngaleso sikhatsi lulwimi lwesiGriki bekululwimi lebelikhulunywa cishe emhlabeni wonkhe. Kungaleso sizatfu emabandla lamanyenti bekasebentisa liBhayibheli lebelatiwa ngekutsi yi-Greek Septuagint, lobekulihumusho lwemiBhalo yesiHebheru lebeyihunyushelwe elulwimini lwesiGriki. Lona belicedvwe kubhalwa ekhulwini lesibili B.C.E. Tifundziswa letinyenti tiyagomela ngekutsi lelihumusho le-Septuagint, belisuse libito laNkulunkulu lase esikhundleni salo lifaka ligama lesiGriki lelichaza sikhundla saNkulunkulu lelitsi Kyʹri·os. Lelo gama lelitsi Kyʹri·os ngesiGriki lisho kutsi “Nkhosi.” Loko akusilo liciniso.

Tincetu telihumusho le-Septuagint lesitawukhuluma ngato nyalo, tona tabhalwa ngelikhulu lekucala B.C.E. Lelo humusho liliveta kahle libito laJehova lisebentisa tinhlavu letine tesiHebheru יהוה (YHWH), letibitwa ngekutsi yi-Tetragrammaton. Naku lokwabhalwa nguPhrofesa George Howard ngalendzaba: “Sinemakhophi lamatsatfu lahlukene elihumusho lesiGriki le-Septuagint lelabhalwa ngembikwekutalwa kwaKhristu. Kulawo makhophi, kute ngisho nayinye kuwo lehumushe libito laNkulunkulu isebentisa ligama lelimchazako lesiGriki lelitsi kyrios. Singalisho ligcwale umlomo kutsi bekungumkhuba nobe lisiko lemaJuda lasikhatsi sonkhe ngesikhatsi sekubhalwa kweLithestamente Lelisha kutsi balisebentise libito laNkulunkulu . . . elihumushweni lesiGriki.”—Biblical Archaeology Review.

Baphostoli baJesu nebafundzi bebalisebentisa yini libito laNkulunkulu emaBhayibhelini labebanawo? Naku lokushiwo nguPhrofesa Howard: “Asingabati kutsi emabandla lasungulwa ngesikhatsi kubhalwa Lithestamente Lelisha lelabhalwa ngelulwimi lwesiGriki, lalinalo libito laNkulunkulu. Loko kungesizatfu sekutsi babhali beLithestamente Lelisha bebalisebentisa baphindze balicaphune libito laNkulunkulu le-Tetragrammaton.”

Ekusongeni lendzaba, singalisho ligcwale umlomo kutsi emaKhristu akucala alisebentisa libito laNkulunkulu emahumushweni labekatfolakala ngaleso sikhatsi, emiBhalweni yesiHebheru kanye nasemakhophini emiBhalo yemaKhristu yesiGriki.

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All photos: Société Royale de Papyrologie du Caire

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Incenye YeMbhalo Wa-Isaya Emiculwini YaseLwandle Lolufile, Lenelibito LaNkulunkulu Lelibhalwe Ngalokugcamile

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Shrine of the Book, Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

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Emasontfo alikhiphile libito laNkulunkulu eBhayibhelini ngobe alandzela emasiko emaJuda nobe kute atfole imali lenyenti

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Jesu wabeka sibonelo ngekutsi ente libito laNkulunkulu latiwe