‘Uyithusi Elikhencezayo Noma Uyinsimbi Encencethayo’
Ubani ofuna ukuba umsindo nje omkhulu? “Uma ngingenalo uthando,” kusho umphostoli uPawulu, “ngiyithusi elikhencezayo nensimbi encencethayo.” (1 Korinte 13:1) UPawulu wayesanda kugcizelela isidingo sokusebenzisa izipho ezikhethekile ezamukelwe ngomoya kaNkulunkulu ngokwenzuzo yalo lonke ibandla lobuKristu. Uma kwakuntuleka uthando, ukuqhosha nokuziphakamisa kwakungabangela umKristu ukuba abe njengomsindo omkhulu, ohoshozayo, ovala izindlebe owawuxosha abanye kunokuba ubakhange.—Bheka eyoku-1 Korinte 12:4-9, 19-26.
Siwuqonda kalula umqondo wensimbi encencetha eduze kwethu, kodwa kuthiwani ngomunye umfanekiso kaPawulu, ‘ithusi elikhencezayo’? (ngesiGreki, khal·kosʹ e·khonʹ) Abanye baye bahumusha lokhu ngokuthi “insimbi enomsindo” (Today’s English Version) nangokuthi “insimbi enkenenezayo” (New International Version). UWilliam Harris, ebhala kwethi Biblical Archaeology Review, uphawula ukuthi elithi e·khonʹ livela emsukeni ofanayo okuvela kuwo igama lesiNgisi elithi “echo,” okuvela kulo umqondo wokunkeneneza. Nokho, uthi futhi: “Ibizo elithi chalkos lisetshenziselwa ukuchaza izinto ezihlukahlukene eziningi ezenziwe ngenhlanganisela yethusi nethini ebizwa ngokuthi ibronze noma ibrass—izingubo zempi zensimbi, imimese, izimbiza zensimbi ezinkulu, izibuko, imali, ngisho nezibhebhe. Kodwa abukho ubufakazi bokuthi leligama lalisetshenziselwa izinsimbi zomculo.” Ikuphike ukusikisela anakho?
Ubhekisela encwadini kaVitruvius, isazi sezokwakha esasiphila ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka B.C.E. UVitruvius wabhala ngenkinga yokwandisa amazwi ezinkundleni zemidlalo yeshashalazi ezakhiwe ngezinto ezinjengemabula futhi wathi kwakusetshenziswa izinto ezikhethekile zokunkenenezisa izwi ezibizwa ngokuthi amae·kheiʹa. Lawa kwakungamavasi aqondisa izwi enziwe ngebronze ayefakwa emuva enkundleni engafulelwe yemidlalo yeshashalazi ekusizeni ukuba kukhuliswe futhi kuphakanyiswe umsindo. Amanye awo alethwa eRoma ephangwe enkundleni yemidlalo yeshashalazi eKorinte cishe eminyakeni eyikhulu ngaphambi kokuba uPawulu abhalele ibandla laseKorinte incwadi yakhe.
Sitshelwa ukuthi uPlato wakhuluma ngevasi yebronze njengeqhubeka inkeneneza, njengoba kwakwenza izikhulumi ezithile ezingenangqondo. Lokhu kuvumelana nenkulumo kaShakespeare ethi “isitsha esingenalutho sizedlula zonke ngomsindo.” Kungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wayenomqondo ofanayo engqondweni lapho ekhuluma ngalabo ababephana kakhulu ngezipho zabo ezikhethekile kodwa ababentula isipho esikhulu kunazo zonke—uthando. Babenkeneneza kakhulu kodwa bengenalutho ngempela. Babenjengomsindo ohoshozayo, oklabalasayo kunokuba babe umsindo okhangayo, ohehayo. Kuthiwani ngawe? Ingabe izenzo zakho nenkulumo kushukunyiswa uthando, noma ingabe ‘uyithusi elikhencezayo noma uyinsimbi encencethayo’?