Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi

Ingabe uJohane owabhapathiza uJesu kufanele abizwe ngokuthi “uJohane uMbhapathizi [“the Baptist”]” noma “uJohane Obhapathizayo [“the Baptizer”]”?

Zombili leziziqu zilungile futhi iBhayibheli liyazisekela.

UJohane kwakufanele ‘alungisele iNkosi isizwe esilungiselweyo,’ lokho wakwenza ‘ngokushumayela umbhapathizo wokuphenduka, kube-ngukuthethelelwa kwezono.’ (Luka 1:17; 3:3) Umphostoli uMathewu wabhala: “Kwavela uJohane uMbhapathizi eshumayela ehlane laseJudiya‚ ethi: Phendukani‚ ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele! . . . Khona kwaphumela kuye iJerusalema‚ neJudiya lonke‚ . . . babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani bevuma izono zabo.”—Mathewu 3:1-6.

Phawula ukuthi uMathewu uphawula uJohane ngokuthi “uMbhapathizi.” UMathewu, ngokusobala owayebhekise inkulumo yakhe kumaJuda, kumelwe ukuba wayenomuzwa wokuthi amaJuda ayeyokwazi ukuthi “uMbhapathizi” wayengubani. Wasebenzisa ukuthi “uMbhapathizi” njengohlobo oluthile lwesibongo. UJesu nabafundi bakhe basebenzisa inkulumo ethi “uJohane uMbhapathizi,” njengoba kwenza nezinceku zikaHerode.a—Mathewu 11:11, 12; 14:2; 16:14.

Umfundi uMarku usebenzisa inkulumo efanayo yokuthi “uMbhapathizi.” (Marku 6:25; 8:28) Kodwa lapho ethula uJohane, uMarku wambiza ngokuthi “uJohane Obhapathizayo.” (Marku 1:4, NW) IsiGreki esisetshenziswe kuMarku 1:4 sehlukile kancane kuleso esikwamanye amavesi. UMarku 1:4 angase futhi afundeke ngokuthi “owayebhapathiza.” UMarku wayeqokomisa lokho uJohane ayekwenza; uyena owayebhapathiza, obhapathizayo.

Nokho, akubonakali sengathi kumelwe sihlukanise phakathi kwalezindlela zokubiza uJohane. KuMarku 6:24, 25, sifunda ngoSalomi: ‘Wayesephuma‚ wathi kunina: Ngizakucelani na? Yena wathi: Ikhanda lika-Johane [Obhapathizayo, NW].’ Yakhawuleza yangena masinyane enkosini‚ yacela yathi: “Ngithanda ukuba ungiphe khona-manje ngoqwembe ikhanda lika-Johane uMbhapathizi.” Leziqu zasetshenziswa ngokushintshana.

Abanye abantu bangase baqonde inkulumo ethi “uMbhapathizi” ngokwencazelo yesibili esesichazamazwini esithile: “Ilungu noma umlandeli wesonto lobuvangeli lobuProthestani eliphawulwa ngesigungu esiphethe sesonto nangokubhapathizwa ngokucwilisa kwamakholwa kuphela.” Ngokuqinisekile uJohane wayengeyona leyonto.

Ngakho-ke, kokubili “uJohane uMbhapathizi noJohane Obhapathizayo” kulungile futhi kufanelekile.

[Umbhalo waphansi]