AmaKristu Okuqala Emphakathini WamaGreki

INGXENYE enkulu yezwe amaKristu okuqala ayeshumayela kuyo yayikhuluma isiGreki. ImiBhalo ayeyisebenzisa njengesisekelo sesigijimi esimayelana noJesu yayisakazwa ngesiGreki. Lapho abalobi bephefumulelwa ukuba babhale lokho kamuva okwaba imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, abaningi babhala ngesiGreki, besebenzisa izinkulumo nemifanekiso eyayiqondakala kalula kubantu ababephila ngesiko lamaGreki. Kodwa uJesu noma abaphostoli bakhe nanoma ibaphi abalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki babengewona amaGreki. Empeleni, bonke babengamaJuda.—Roma 3:1, 2.

Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba isiGreki sibe nendima ebaluleke kangaka ekusakazekeni kobuKristu? Abalobi abangamaKristu bekhulu lokuqala nezithunywa zevangeli basethula kanjani isigijimi sabo ngendlela eyayikhanga abafundi abakhuluma isiGreki? Futhi kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo kule ngxenye yomlando wasendulo?

Ukusakazeka Kwesiko LamaGreki

Ekhulwini lesine B.C.E., u-Alexander Omkhulu wagumbuqela uMbuso WasePheresiya wayeseqala ukunqoba ingxenye enkulu yomhlaba. Ukuze ahlanganise imibuso ayeyinqobile, yena namakhosi amlandela bakhuthaza ukusakazwa kolimi lwamaGreki nesiko lawo.

Ngisho nangemva kokuba iRoma isinqobe iGrisi kamuva futhi yayiphuca lonke igunya layo lezombangazwe, isiko lamaGreki laqhubeka linethonya elinamandla emazweni angomakhelwane. Phakathi nekhulu lesibili nelokuqala B.C.E., ababusi baseRoma bafaka isifiso sokuthanda zonke izinto zamaGreki—ubuciko, ubuchwepheshe bokwakha, izincwadi nefilosofi—okwenza imbongi uHorace yathi: “IGrisi eyathunjwa yathumba umnqobi wayo ononya.”

Ngaphansi kombuso wamaRoma, imizi ebalulekile kulo lonke elase-Asia Minor, eSiriya naseGibhithe yayiyizikhungo zesiko lamaGreki. Njengoba lalibhekwa njengophawu lwempucuko, isiko lamaGreki lalithonya zonke izici zokuphila, kusukela ezinhlanganweni zikahulumeni nezomthetho kuya kwezentengiselwano, ezezimboni ngisho nezemfashini. Ngokuvamile, emizini eminingi yamaGreki, kwakunezikhungo zokuzivocavoca, lapho izinsizwa zaziziqeqesha khona, kanye nenkundla yezemidlalo yaseshashalazini, lapho kwakudlalwa khona amadrama amaGreki.

Isazi-mlando u-Emil Schürer sithi: “AmaJuda nawo angena kulo mshungu wokulandela isiko lamaGreki, nakuba ayengena ngokungabaza, kodwa kungenandlela yokuhlehla.” Ekuqaleni, ukushisekela kwamaJuda inkolo kwamelana nosongo lobuqaba olwaluhambisana nemibono eminingi yamaGreki, kodwa ekugcineni izici eziningi zokuphila kwamaJuda zathinteka. USchürer uthi lokhu kwakulindelekile, ngoba “indawo encane yamaJuda yayizungezwe yizindawo zamaGreki cishe nxazonke, eyayibophekile ukuba isebenzelane nazo njalo ngenxa yezohwebo.”

Indima Ye-Septuagint

Njengoba amaJuda amaningi ayefuduka futhi ezinza kuso sonke isifunda saseMedithera, azithola ehlala emizini enesiko lamaGreki, lapho kwakukhulunywa khona isiGreki. Izifiki ezinjalo zaqhubeka zilandela inkolo yazo yobuJuda futhi zaziya eJerusalema emikhosini yamaJuda yaminyaka yonke. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, amaningi alahlekelwa ulwazi lwesiHebheru.a Ngakho kwaphakama isidingo sokuhumushela imiBhalo YesiHebheru esiGrekini esasikhulunywa yiningi. Izazi ezingamaJuda, cishe e-Aleksandriya, eGibhithe—eyayiyisikhungo esibalulekile sesiko lamaGreki—zaqala lo msebenzi cishe ngo-280 B.C.E. Umphumela walokho waba i-Septuagint.

I-Septuagint iwumqulu obaluleke kakhulu. Yayiyisihluthulelo esembula amagugu emiBhalo YesiHebheru kubantu baseNtshonalanga. Ngaphandle kwayo, ulwazi ngokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nama-Israyeli lwaluyohlala lufihlekile emibhalweni eyayingaziwa eyalotshwa ngolimi olwalungasaziwa kakhulu, okwakungeke kukhuthaze ukusakazwa kwezindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke. Empeleni, i-Septuagint yanikeza isizinda, imiqondo nolimi olwasiza ekudluliseleni ulwazi lukaJehova uNkulunkulu kubantu bezinhlanga ezihlukahlukene. Ukwaziwa kwesiGreki kabanzi kwasenza saba ulimi olungcono kakhulu lokudlulisela amaqiniso angcwele emhlabeni.

Amaproselithe Nabantu Abesaba UNkulunkulu

Ekhulwini lesibili B.C.E., amaJuda ayesehumushele izincwadi zawo eziningi esiGrekini futhi ayeseqale ukubhala ezintsha ngalo kanye lolo limi ngokuqondile. Lokhu kwafeza indima ebalulekile ekusizeni abeZizwe ukuba bazi umlando nenkolo ka-Israyeli. Izazi-mlando zibika ukuthi phakathi nale nkathi, abeZizwe abaningi “bazibandakanya nemiphakathi yamaJuda ngandlela-thile, bahlanganyela ezinkonzweni zokukhulekela zamaJuda, balandela izimiso zawo ngezinga elithile.”—The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ.

Abanye beZizwe bathuthuka baze bamukela inkolo yobuJuda, bavuma ukusokwa futhi baba amaproselithe. Abanye bamukela imibono ethile yobuJuda kodwa abazange baguquke. Ngokuvamile laba babebizwa ngokuthi “abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu” ezincwadini zesiGreki. UKorneliyu wayebizwa ngokuthi “umuntu ozinikele nowesaba uNkulunkulu.” Umphostoli uPawulu wahlangana nabantu abaningi abesaba uNkulunkulu ababezihlanganise namaJuda kulo lonke elase-Asia Minor naseGrisi. Ngokwesibonelo, e-Antiyokiya lasePhisidiya, wabhekisela kwababebuthene esinagogeni ngokuthi “madoda, ma-Israyeli nani abanye enesaba uNkulunkulu.”—IzEnzo 10:2; 13:16, 26; 17:4; 18:4.

Ngakho lapho abafundi bakaJesu beqala ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle emiphakathini yamaJuda eyayingaphandle kwaseJudiya, abaningi abazizwa ngokuyinhloko babenesizinda sobuGreki. Imiphakathi enjalo yayiyizindawo ezifanelekile zokusakaza inkolo yobuKristu. Lapho kuba sobala ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenikeza ngisho nabeZizwe ithemba lensindiso, abafundi baqaphela ukuthi emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, “akekho umJuda noma umGreki.”—Galathiya 3:28.

Ukushumayela KumaGreki

Ngenxa yezindinganiso ezingokwenkolo nezingokokuziphatha zabantu bezizwe, amanye amaKristu okuqala angamaJuda ayenqikaza ekuqaleni ukwamukela abeZizwe abaphendukile ebandleni lobuKristu. Ngenxa yalokho, lapho kuba sobala ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezimisele ukwamukela abeZizwe, abaphostoli namadoda amadala eJerusalema bakwenza kwacaca ukuthi abanjalo abaguqukile kwakudingeka badede egazini, ebufebeni nasekukhonzeni izithombe. (IzEnzo 15:29) Lokhu kwakubalulekile kunoma ubani owayelandele indlela yokuphila yamaGreki ngoba umphakathi wamaGreki namaRoma wawugcwele ‘izifiso zobulili eziyichilo’ nobungqingili. Kwakungekho ndawo yemikhuba enjalo phakathi kwamaKristu.—Roma 1:26, 27; 1 Korinte 6:9, 10.

Phakathi kwezithunywa zevangeli ezingamaKristu zekhulu lokuqala ezashumayela emiphakathini yamaGreki, asikho esasivelele njengomphostoli uPawulu. Kuze kube namuhla, abantu abavakashela e-Athene, eGrisi, esisekelweni se-Areyophagu bangabona ibhodi lethusi eliyisikhumbuzo senkulumo yodumo eyanikezwa uPawulu kulo muzi. Lowo mlando ulotshwe esahlukweni 17 sencwadi yezEnzo eBhayibhelini. Isethulo sakhe, esithi “Madoda ase-Athene,” sasiyindlela evamile yokubingelela kwabalandisi abangamaGreki futhi ngokuqinisekile senza izilaleli zakhe zakhululeka—kuhlanganise nezazi zefilosofi ezingama-Epikhuru nezingamaStoyiku. Esikhundleni sokucasuka noma ukugxeka ukholo lwezilaleli zakhe, uPawulu wafuna ukwakha ubuhlobo obuhle ngokuvuma ukuthi zazibonakala ziyikhonzile inkolo. Wakhuluma nge-altare lazo elalinikelwe “Kunkulunkulu Ongaziwa” futhi wabeka isisekelo abavumelana ngaso ngokuzitshela ukuthi yilo Nkulunkulu ayefuna ukuxoxa ngaye.—IzEnzo 17:16-23.

UPawulu wafinyelela inhliziyo yezilaleli zakhe ngokuveza amaphuzu ezazingawamukela. AmaStoyiku ayengavumelana naye ngokuthi uNkulunkulu unguMthombo wokuphila kwabantu, ukuthi bonke abantu bavela ohlangeni olufanayo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu akakude kithi, nokuthi ukuphila kwabantu kuxhomeke kuYe. UPawulu wasekela leli phuzu lokugcina ngokucaphuna izincwadi zezimbongi ezingamaStoyiku u-Aratus (Phaenomena) noCleanthes (Hymn to Zeus). Ama-Epikhuru nawo athola ukuthi kuningi ayevumelana ngakho noPawulu—uNkulunkulu uyaphila futhi angaziwa. Uzimele, akadingi lutho kubantu, futhi akahlali emathempelini enziwe ngezandla.

Izilaleli zikaPawulu zazijwayelene namazwi awasebenzisa. Empeleni, ngokwencwadi ethile, amazwi athi “izwe (kosmos),” “inzalo,” nelithi “uMuntu Waphezulu” ayeyizinkulumo izazi zefilosofi ezingamaGreki ezazizisebenzisa njalo. (IzEnzo 17:24-29) Akukhona ukuthi uPawulu wayezimisele ukuyekethisa eqinisweni ukuze azuze izilaleli. Kunalokho, amazwi akhe okuphetha mayelana novuko nokwahlulelwa ayengqubuzana nezinkolelo zazo. Noma kunjalo, wavumelanisa okwakuqukethwe isigijimi sakhe ngokuhlakanipha, ukuze azuze izilaleli zakhe ezazithanda amafilosofi.

Izincwadi eziningi zikaPawulu zalotshelwa amabandla asemizini yamaGreki noma amakoloni amaRoma ayebuswa yisiko lamaGreki ngokuphelele. Le mibhalo eyayilotshwe ngesiGreki esishelelayo futhi eyayinamandla, yayisebenzisa imiqondo nezibonelo ezazivamile esikweni lamaGreki. UPawulu ukhuluma ngemidlalo yabasubathi, umvuzo womnqobi, umfundisi owayephelezela umfana esikoleni, neminye imifanekiso eminingi ethathwe ekuphileni kwamaGreki. (1 Korinte 9:24-27; Galathiya 3:24, 25) Nakuba uPawulu ayezimisele ukusebenzisa izinkulumo zolimi lwesiGreki, wazenqaba ngokuphelele izindinganiso zokuziphatha zamaGreki nemibono yawo engokwenkolo.

Ukuba Yizinto Zonke Kubantu Bazo Zonke Izinhlobo

Umphostoli uPawulu wayeqaphela ukuthi ukuze ahlanganyele izindaba ezinhle nabanye, kwakufanele abe “yizinto zonke kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo.” Wabhala: “KumaJuda ngaba njengomJuda, ukuze ngizuze amaJuda,” kanti kumaGreki waba njengomGreki, ukuze awasize aqonde izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. Yiqiniso, uPawulu wayekufanelekela ngokuphelele ukwenza lokho, ngoba wayeyisakhamuzi esingumJuda emzini wamaGreki. Wonke amaKristu namuhla kufanele enze okufanayo.—1 Korinte 9:20-23.

Namuhla izigidi zabantu zithuthela kwamanye amazwe, zishintshe amasiko. Lokhu kuyinselele enkulu kumaKristu, alwela ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokufeza umyalo kaJesu wokuba ‘enze abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi.’ (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19) Ngokuvamile, athola ukuthi uma abantu bezwa izindaba ezinhle ngolimi lwabo lomdabu, izinhliziyo zabo ziyathinteka futhi bazamukele.

Ngenxa yaleso sizathu, lo magazini, INqabayokulinda Ememezela UMbuso KaJehova, unyatheliswa nyanga zonke ngezilimi ezingu-169, kanti umagazini ongumngane wawo, i-Phaphama!, unyatheliswa ngezilimi ezingu-81. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuze bakhulume nabantu abathuthele endaweni yabo ngezindaba ezinhle, oFakazi BakaJehova abaningi benza umzamo wokufunda ulimi olusha—kuhlanganise nezilimi ezinzima njengesi-Arabhu, isiShayina nesiRashiya. Umgomo wabo usefana nowangekhulu lokuqala. Umphostoli uPawulu wakubeka kahle lapho ethi: “Ngiye ngaba yizinto zonke kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo, ukuze ngazo zonke izindlela ngisindise abathile.”—1 Korinte 9:22.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibalazwe ekhasini 18]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IRoma

IGRISI

I-Athene

I-ASIYA

I-Antiyokiya (yasePhisidiya)

IKHILIKHIYA

ISIRIYA

IJUDIYA

IJerusalema

IGIBHITHE

I-Aleksandriya

IKhurene

ULWANDLE IMEDITHERA

[Isithombe ekhasini 19]

I-“Septuagint” yasiza ekusakazeni ulwazi ngoJehova ekhulwini lokuqala

[Umthombo]

Israel Antiquities Authority

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

Ibhodi elise-Areyophagu eliyisikhumbuzo senkulumo kaPawulu