Government & Inkonzo kwi-Early Church (pt2)

3. Idikoni, Okanye isicaka (διακονος – Abadikoni)

3.1 Indima yomkhonzi

Asifumani nakuphi na ukusetyenziswa kwegama elithi ‘umdikoni’ kwiZenzo, nangona ibonakala izihlandlo eziliqela kwiiNcwadi. Intsingiselo yalo ephambili yileyo ‘yesicaka.’ Oku kwenza kube nzima ukuchaza umda woburhulumente ngayo nayiphi na isiqinisekiso, njengoko bonke ababenqwenela ubunkokeli kwibandla lokuqala kwakufuneka babe zizicaka kuqala (Mt 20:26, 23:11, Mk 9:35, 10:45). Ngaloo ndlela uPawulos usebenzisa eli gama kuYesu (Rom 15:8), ngokwakhe (2 Cor 3:6,6:4,11:23, Eph 3:7, Col 1:23,25), uApolo (1 Cor 3:5), UTimoti (1 Thess 3:2), uTikiko (Eph 6:21), Epafra (Col 1:7) kunye nePhebe (Rom 16:1).

Nangona kunjalo, iziqendu ezifana Phil 1:1 kwaye ngokukodwa 1 Tim 3:8-13 yenza kucace ukuba eli gama lalisetyenziswa ukubonisa indawo ethile kwisakhiwo secawe.

3.2 Osixhenxe

Imbonakalo yokuqala yenqanaba lesibini elisesikweni lingaphakathi Acts 6:1-8, xa bosixhenxe bemiselwe ukunyamekela abahlolokazi. Kwakulisiko lokuzisa iminikelo yokwabelana phakathi kwabafundi “kubapostile’ iinyawo” (Acts 4:35,37, 5:2). Nangona kunjalo, isibakala sokuba ukumbombozela kwakuchasene namaHebhere ngokubanzi (Acts 6:1), hayi abapostile ngokukodwa, kunye namazwi kaPetros ‘akunangqiqo ukuba silishiye ilizwi likaThixo, kwaye balungiselele iitafile’ (Acts 6:2) ibonisa ukuba uxanduva olulolu hlobo beludluliselwe ngokungekho sikweni kangangexesha elithile. Isibakala sokuba babemiselwe ‘ukukhonza (διακονεω) iitafile', icebisa ukuba babeza kuthathwa njengabadikoni.

3.3 Amanye amadikoni

Njengoko sesibonile, ngandlel’ ithile zonke iinkokeli zebandla zazingamadikoni, hayi nje kaKristu okanye iindaba ezilungileyo, kodwa ngowebandla (cf. Col 1:23,25). Ukushiya ecaleni naziphi na iimbekiselo ezingaqondakaliyo, nangona kunjalo, siyakwazi ukuchonga ababini ababonakala bengamadikoni kumabandla athile:

Phebe, umdikoni webandla laseKenkreya (Rom 16:1),

Epafra, umdikoni webandla laseKolose (Col 1:7, 4:12).

Isikhundla esichanileyo sikaTikiko noTimoti asichazwa ngokulula.

3.4 Umsebenzi kunye neziqinisekiso zedikoni

Igama elisetyenziswe nguPawulos ukuchaza uFibhi kwabaseRoma 16:2 ngokoqobo lithetha ‘umntu omi phambi,’ yaye inokuguqulelwa zombini ‘njengomncedi’ kunye ‘nomkhuseli.’ UEpafra uchazwa ‘njengosoloko ezama ngenxa yenu emithandazweni, ukuze nime nigqibelele, nizalisekile kuko konke ukuthanda kukaThixo’ nanjengoko ‘nenzondelelo enkulu ngani’ (Col 4:12-3). Ngokucacileyo, le ndoda ibingumalusi wentliziyo.

Aba basixhenxe babexhalabele ngokuyintloko ubulungiseleli bokunyamekela iintswelo zezinto eziphathekayo zabahlolokazi yaye akubonakali ngathi babenegunya elingaphaya kwamandla abo.. Nangona kunjalo, uphuhliso lobulungiseleli bukaStefano lubonisa ukuba umsebenzi wakhe ukwanika ithuba lokulungiselela kumgangatho wamandla angaphezu kwendalo kwabo wayenoxanduva lokukhusela iindaba ezilungileyo kubagxeki bayo. (Acts 6:6-8).

In 1 Tim 3:13 UPawulos uthi ‘abo balungiselele kakuhle (njengabadikoni) bazuze ukuma okuncamisileyo, nesiqinisekiso esikhulu sokukholwa kwabo kuKristu Yesu.’ Ke, nangona umsebenzi womdikoni ungowomkhonzi; akumele kujongwe njengokupheleliselwe kubulungiseleli kwimicimbi yezinto eziphathekayo.

Iimfaneleko ezibekwe nguPawulos kunye neentsapho zabo zabadikoni 1 Tim 3:8-12 ziphantse zifane nezo zabaveleli kwiindinyana ezandulelayo (1 Tim 3:2-7). Ngokusisiseko, bamele bacace elukholweni lwabo, bona nabafazi babo bafanele baziphathe kakuhle yaye ubomi bentsapho yabo bufanele bulungelelaniswe.

Iimfaneleko ezithile zabaveleli ziyayekelelwa, nangona kunjalo. Abaveleli abanakuba ngabaguquleli bakutshanje (1 Tim 3:6): Abadikoni banokumiselwa emva kobungqina (1 Tim 3:10). Abaveleli kwakufuneka babe nobuchule bokufundisa (1 Tim 3:2): Abadikoni babefuneka kuphela ukuba babe ngabanyanisekileyo, ukubamba nzulu ukholo lwabo (1 Tim 3:9). Kwakulindeleke ukuba abaveleli babonise umoya wokubuk’ iindwendwe (1 Tim 3:2): kwakucingwa ukuba amakholwa angaqolanga kangako ayengekakulungeli olo hlaselo lolonwabo lwasekhaya?

Qaphela oko, nangona uninzi lweenguqulelo ze 1 Tim 3:8-12 kuthetha ukuba abadikoni babesoloko bengamadoda, UFebe wayengumfazi (Rom 16:1). Igama eliguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘umfazi’ ngaphakathi 1 Tim 3:11&12 ngokusisiseko lithetha ‘umfazi’ (kwi AV, umzekelo, iguqulelwa ngokuthi ‘umfazi’ 92 amaxesha kunye ‘nomfazi’ 129 amaxesha). Ithetha ukuba, ekubeni abaphetheyo ‘abo’ ayikho ngokwenene kwisiGrike, ukuba amazwi okuvula ka 1 Tim 3:11 inokunikwa ngokulinganayo njenge, ‘Abafazi ngokufanayo …’! Kubangel’ umdla ukuphawula ukuba akukho magqabaza anjalo kwiindinyana ezandulelayo ezithetha ‘ngabaveleli’ (1 Tim 3:2-7 – yabona 5.6). Okunokwenzeka ngakumbi: ukuba isimilo somfazi womdikoni sitsala ingqalelo engakumbi kuPawulos kuneso somveleli, okanye ukuba wongeze la mazwi kuba wayekhathalele amanenekazi athile adikoni, njengoPhebe?

4. ABATHUNYWA NGABAPOSTILE

Kukho iqela lamadoda ekunzima ukulichaza njengabapostile, abadala okanye abadikoni. Aba bonyulwa ngabapostile ukuba benze imisebenzi ethile yokongamela amanye amabandla amatsha, rhoqo ixesha eliqingqiweyo.

4.1 Barnabus

In Acts 11:19-26 sifunda ngoBharnabho owathunyelwa evela eYerusalem ukuya kwibandla elitsha lakwa-Antiyokwe. Akukacaci ukuba yayinjani imeko yakhe ngokusemthethweni ngeli xesha; ekubeni engabizwa ngokuba ngumdala okanye umveleli, yaye akazange abhekiselwe kuye njengompostile de kwasemva kokuba yena noPawulos bethunyelwe kuhambo lwabo lokuqala lobuvangeli basemazweni besuka kwa-Antiyokwe.. Nangona kunjalo, kucacile ukuba wahamba nabapostile’ igunya eliphathisiweyo nokuba wathabatha indima ephambili ebandleni ukususela ngexesha lokufika kwakhe.

4.2 UJudas noSilas

UJudas noSilas, achazwa ‘njengamadoda akhokelayo phakathi kwabazalwana’ (Acts 15:22) bathunywe ngabapostile ukuze baqinisekise isigwebo sabo mayela nolwaluko (Acts 15:25-7). Omabini la madoda ayengabaprofeti (Acts 15:32). Kuyabonakala ukuba uthumo lwabo lwalulolokwexeshana; kodwa kubonakala ukuba uSilas ngokwakhe wagqiba kwelokuba ahlale kwa-Antiyokwe (Acts 15:34 – nangona le ndinyana ingekho kweminye imibhalo-ngqangi).

4.3 UTimoti, UTito et al.

Kwakhona uPawulos wayesoloko eshiya amadoda anyuliweyo kangangexesha elithile ukuze avelele amabandla amatsha nasakhasayo (Acts 17:14-5 & 18:5, 18:19-9, 19:21-2). 1 UTimoti noTito (bona ngezantsi) omabini atyhila ukuba la madoda ayenikwe igunya lokusebenzisa igunya kwiicawa zasekuhlaleni, ukusa kwinqanaba lokumisela abadala. Nangona kunjalo, bona ngokwabo akubhekiselwa kubo njengabapostile okanye abadala.

5. ABADALA (πρεσβυτερος)

5.1 EYerusalem

Acts 9:32 ibonisa uPetros ephuma esiya kubulungiseleli obuhambahambayo. Kungekudala emva kokubuya kwakhe (Acts 11:1) sifumana imbekiselo yokuqala ecacileyo ‘kubadala’ ecaweni ku Acts 11:30; apho kuthunyelwa khona uncedo lwendlala kumadoda amakhulu aseYerusalem avela kwa-Antiyokwe. Akukhankanywa nto ngabapostile Acts 11:30 ngokunxulumene nalo mba wolawulo kuphela; nangona ibonakala ukusuka Acts 12:1-25 ukuba uPetros noYakobi umntakwabo Yesu kusenokwenzeka ukuba babeseYerusalem ngelo xesha. (N.B. nangona Acts 11:30 sisiqalo esicacileyo esibhekisa kubadala, kuyaphikiswa ukuba Gal 1:18-9 ayisibhengezo kolu tyelelo; kodwa kutyelelo lokuqala lukaPawulos phakathi Acts 9:26-31. Oku kuya kuthetha ukuba uYakobi wayesele eqondwa njengompostile kwaye ekhonza njengomdala xa abalishumi elinesibini bengekho.)

Xa uPawulos noBharnabhos batyelela eYerusalem ngokuphathelele umbandela wemfundiso yolwaluko (Acts 15:1-31), kubangel’ umdla ukuqaphela indlela ibandla lonke elathatha inxaxheba ngayo. Kwabakho ukwamkelwa okokuqala yicawa, ekwathi kuyo imbambano yaphakanyiswa okokuqala ngamaguquka abaFarisi (Acts 15:4-5). Yaconjululwa ke kwintlanganiso yabapostile namadoda amakhulu (Acts 15:6-21), njengoko ibandla lakwa-Antiyokwe lalilindele (Acts 15:2). Ngoko kubonakala ukuba eso sigqibo sasiwa saza samkelwa yicawa iphela (Acts 15:22). Kukwafanelekile ukuphawula ukungamkelwa okumandla kwileta ephunyelelweyo kwabo baye, kubonakala kungekho nkonzo yaziwayo njengabafundisi (Acts 15:1), wayefundise ngemfuneko yokwaluka ngaphandle kwegunya elivela kwiinkokeli (Acts 15:24).

Xa uPawulos ebuyela eYerusalem ngexesha lokubanjwa kwakhe uziswa kuYakobi nakumadoda amakhulu (Acts 21:18); ngoku ababonakala benoxanduva kwimicimbi yebandla laseYerusalem. La madoda ayekuxhalabele kakhulu ukuphepha ukukhubekisa loo makholwa angamaYuda ahlala ‘ezondelela umthetho’ (Acts 21:20). UPawulos, nangona kunjalo, wayengenamdla kwaphela kwizithethe zamaYuda (Acts 16:1-3, 18:18,21), kwaye kubonakala ukuba akukho sichaso kwisisombululo sabo esicetywayo (Acts 21:23-6). Isicwangciso sokungxengxeza asiphumelelanga: kodwa akukho ndlela yokwazi ukuba izinto beziya kuhamba ngcono ukuba bebesenza ngenye indlela.

5.2 Kwa-Antiyokwe

Nangona kukho inani leembekiselo ezineenkcukacha malunga nendlela ibandla lakwa-Antiyokwe elalilungelelaniswe ngayo kwaza kwathatyathwa izigqibo (Acts 11:20-30, 13:1-3, 15:1-3,30-40) akuthethwa ngabadala.

Ivela kwi Acts 11:20-30 ukuba uBharnabhus ekuqaleni wamiselwa ngabapostile ukuba avelele umsebenzi wakwa-Antiyokwe; nokuba emva koko wabiza uPawulos ukuba amncede ekufundiseni ibandla.

In Acts 13:1-3 isigqibo sokuthumela uPawulos noBharnabhus besuka kwa-Antiyokwe sibonisa ukuba ubunkokeli bakwa-Antiyokwe babuqulunqwe ngabaprofeti nabafundisi.. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uLukiyo waseKirene (v1) wayengomnye woovulindlela bokuqala bale nkonzo (cf. Acts 11:20).

In Acts 15:2 UPawulos noBharnabhus badlala indima ephambili ekucel’ umngeni iindwendwe ezazifundisa ulwaluko: kodwa isigqibo sokubathumela eYerusalem yayisisigqibo esimanyeneyo. Ekubuyeni kwabo banikela ingxelo kwibandla liphela, kunye nabathunywa abangabapostile uYudas noSilas. Emva koko, UPawulos noBharnabho baqhubeka befundisa yaye beshumayela kwa-Antiyokwe, kunye nabanye abaninzi (Acts 15:35).

Ubukhokeli bakwa-Antiyokwe ke bubonakala bujolise ngamandla ekufundiseni nakubulungiseleli besiprofeto. Ukunqongophala kokubhekiswa kubadala yinto engaqhelekanga, ekhumbula ukuzibophelela okucacileyo kukaPawulos kubadala kumabandla awayenguvulindlela (bona ngezantsi): kodwa eyona ngcaciso inokwenzeka kukuba ezi nkokeli ziye zaba badala.

5.3 Iicawe zeNtlanga

Kucacile ukuba uPawulos noBharnabhus bayamkela ingcamango yokuba ngabadala, njengoko sibabona benyula amadoda amakhulu kuwo onke amabandla ababesandul’ ukuwaseka ngaphambi kokuba babuyele kwa-Antiyokwe (Acts 14:23).

In Acts 20:17-38 UPawulos uthetha nabadala base-Efese. Aba babemiselwe ixesha elidlulileyo, kunye nencwadi yokuqala kaPawulos eya kuTimoti, owasala e-Efese ngoxa uPawulos wabuyela eMakedoni (1 Tim 1:3, cf. Acts 20:1-3), iqulethe imfundiso eneenkcukacha ngeemfaneleko zabaveleli nabadikoni (1 Tim 3:1-13). Ngokucacileyo uTimoti wayethunywe nguPawulos ukuba aqeqeshe ibandla (1 Tim 1:3, 4:11-2, 5:19-21) kunye nokubeka izandla kwabanye apho kufanelekileyo (1 Tim 5:22). Ngaloo ndlela kubonakala kusengqiqweni ukugqiba kwelokuba abadala base-Efese babemiselwe malunga nelo xesha.

Kwakhona uPawulos ubonisa ukholo lwakhe kubadala xa babekhuselwe kangangethuba elithile eKrete, endleleni eya eRoma (Acts 27:7-13). Xa babehamba ngesikhephe washiya uTito ngasemva ukuze ‘amise amadoda amakhulu kwimizi ngemizi’ (Tit 1:5). Incwadi yakhe eya kuTito ifana kakhulu ne 1 UTimoti, kwaye ngokunjalo iqulethe imfundiso ngeemfuneko zobudala (Tit 1:5-9).

5.4 Abapostile njengabadala

In 1 Pet 5:1 UPetros ubiza abadala ‘njengabadala abangamadlelane.’ Kwakhona uYohane ubhekisela kuye njengomdala kwi 2 John 1:1 yaye 3 John 1:1. Njengoko kuchaziwe ngaphambili, UYakobi umzalwana kaYesu uchazwa nguPawulos njengompostile: kodwa ngokuqhelekileyo ugqalwa njengomdala omkhulu, nangona engazange abizwe njalo, njengoko ubulungiseleli bakhe bubonakala bugxile kubunkokeli bangaphakathi bebandla laseYerusalem. Akucaci enoba le mbono yayisetyenziswa ngokuqhelekileyo kubapostile; nangona kulindelekile ukuba, kanye njengokuba bonke abapostile kwakufuneka babe ngabakhonzi (‘abadikoni’) okokuqala kwaye ngaphambi kwento yonke, nawuphi na umpostile wayeya kukufanelekela ukukhonza kwesi sikhundla.

5.5 Umsebenzi wabadala

In Titus 1:7 abadala bachazwa ‘njengamagosa kaThixo’, bebethelela ukuziphendulela kwabo eNkosini kwabo baphantsi kwabo. Intetho kaPawulos kubadala base-Efese e-Efese Acts 20:17-38 ibonisa ukuba uPawulos wayebagqala abadala ‘njengabaveleli’ (επισκοπος), umsebenzi wawo ‘yayikukwalusa (ποιμαινω) ibandla likaThixo..’ (Acts 20:28).

Ibinzana elithi ‘umveleli’ (YE 'bishop', kodwa ngokoqobo 'umlindi ogqithisileyo') lisetyenziswa ngokufanayo ‘nomdala’ ngaphakathi Tit 1:5-7 kwaye bahlulwe ‘kumadikoni’ ngaphakathi Phil 1:1. In 1 Tim 3:1-7 UPawulos uchaza iimfaneleko ‘zabaveleli’, walandela wangena 1 Tim 3:8-13 ngabo ‘badikoni’. Lisetyenziswa kanye xa kuthethwa ngoYesu 1 Pet 2:25 kwaye akukho kwenye indawo. Igama elithatyathiweyo elithi ‘ukulawula’ (cf. 1 Tim 3:1) ivela ngaphakathi Acts 1:20, apho lisetyenziswa kumpostile uYudas owawayo: nangona kunjalo, ibonakala apha kuphela njengesicatshulwa kuguqulelo lweSeptuagint ye Psalm 109:8 kwaye ke akufanele kuthathwe njengommeli we-N.T. isigama. Ngaloo ndlela kubonakala kusengqiqweni ukugqiba kwelokuba amagama athi ‘umdala’ kunye ‘nomveleli’ zifana nezithethantonye kwiN.T.

Ukongamela kunokwenziwa ngeendlela ezahlukahlukeneyo. In Acts 20:29-30 baxelelwa ukuba balumkele abo babengabaqhekeki kunye/okanye abafuna ukutsala amadoda emva kwawo,. In 1 Tim 3:5 bachazwa ‘njengabanyamekelayo’ ebandleni nangaphakathi 1 Tim 5:17 'njengokulawula'.

Ingcamango ‘yokwalusa’ (ποιμαινω) amanani ngokubanzi kwisimboli setestamente endala kunye nentsha. Nangona kunjalo, igama elithi ‘umalusi’ (okanye ‘umfundisi’ – ποιμην) isetyenziswa kube kanye kuphela kwiinkokeli zecawa, ngaphakathi Eph 4:11, apho kungekho ngcaciso icacileyo yegama okanye umsebenzi walo (eneneni kukho ingxoxo ethile malunga nokuba ifanele iguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘abefundisi nabafundisi’ okanye ‘abafundisi-mfundisi’).

Zimbalwa iimbekiselo ezingqalileyo ‘zokwalusa’ umsebenzi weenkokeli zecawe. In Acts 20:28-35 Kamva uPawulos ubaxelela ukuba babe ngabancedi ababuthathaka nabaphayo kunokuba bazuze (Acts 20:35). UPetros ugxininisa ukubaluleka kokumisela umzekelo wenkonzo yokuzithandela abanye abanokulingisa kuyo 1 Pet 5:2-3. UYesu wathi kuPetros ‘yalusa izimvu zam’ ngaphakathi John 21:16: kodwa ngaphakathi John 21:15 & 17 wasebenzisa kwaloo mfanekiso wokwalusa nelinye igama elinentsingiselo yokoqobo ngakumbi ‘yokondla.’ 1 Cor 9:7 ubonisa ukuba umalusi unelungelo lokufumana okuthile emhlambini wakhe.

Nangona kunjalo, Ukuqwalasela umongo obanzi kusibonisa ukuba umalusi ukhokela umhlambi, emisela umzekelo wokuba bawulandele; nokuba ukuze oku kusebenze izimvu kufuneka zibuvume ubunkokeli bakhe (John 10:3-4). Uya kuthi ukuba kuyimfuneko anikele ngobomi bakhe ukuze akhusele izimvu engozini (John 10:11-15). Uhlanganisa izimvu (John 10:16) kwaye ibagcina ekulahlekeni (Mt 18:12, Ez 34:12-3), uyazondla aze aziseze (Ez 34:13-15, Rev 7:17) kwaye unyamekela abagulayo nabenzakeleyo (Ez 34:16, cf. Jas 5:14-5). Uya kwenza ngokungqongqo ukuba kuyimfuneko ukuthintela ukuphazamiseka okanye ukuxhaphaza emhlambini (Ez 34:16-22 & Rev 2:27, 12:5, 19:15 – ‘umalusi’ ngentonga yentsimbi).

Ngoko sinokulindela ukuba imisebenzi yabadala iquka zonke ezi nkalo: ubunkokeli ngomzekelo, ukuzilinda kwiingozi zemfundiso nezomntu, ukwakha ubunye kunye nengqiqo yolwalathiso, ukuqinisekisa ukuba abantu bafundiswa ngokufanelekileyo kwaye bazaliswe ngumoya (kwakunye nokubonelelwa ngokwaneleyo ngezinto eziphathekayo) kunye nokuphiliswa kobuthathaka beemvakalelo nomzimba.

Qaphela nangona kunjalo ukuba xa kukhankanywa abadala, liphantse lisoloko likwisininzi. Amazwi kaPawulos ngo Acts 20:18-38 zazibhekiswa kubadala base-Efese njengeqela. Asifanele ngokuyimfuneko silindele ukuba yonke le misebenzi ingasentla yenziwe ngumdala ngamnye: kodwa sifanele silindele ukuba bagutyungelwe ngokufanelekileyo ngabadala basekuhlaleni xa bebonke.

Qaphela kwakhona ukuba abadala babonakala benxulumana neecawe kwiindawo ezithile (Acts 14:23, 20:17, Tit 1:5), ngaphandle kwabo bapostile bazichaza njengabadala.

5.6 Iziqinisekiso zemfundo zabantwana

Iimfaneleko zabadala zichazwe apha 1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9. Njengoko bekuxoxiwe ngaphambili namadikoni, bamele bacace elukholweni lwabo, bona nabafazi babo bafanele baziphathe kakuhle yaye ubomi bentsapho yabo bufanele bulungelelaniswe. Kubonakala ngathi kwakulindeleke ukuba abadala babe ngamadoda atshatileyo (1 Tim 3:2,4, Tit 1:6) – Kubonakala ukuba ukucinga kwamaYuda yayikukuba amadoda angatshatanga ayengenalwazi lwaneleyo ‘lobomi benene’ – nangona oku kunokubonwa njengemfuneko yokuphepha isithembu okanye ukungavisisani ekhaya kunokufuna ukutshata.. (Njengoko kuphawuliwe ngasentla, Iimfuneko zamadikoni zithetha kwangokunjalo: kodwa noko idikoni elinye yayingumfazi.)

Njengesihloko ‘umdala’ ithetha, kwagxininiswa ekuqoleni kwinto yokuba umdala akanakuba liguquka elisandul’ ukuguquka (1 Tim 3:6). Oku kufanele kuqondwe ngokomlinganiselo, nangona. Kubonakala ngathi abanye babadala abamiselwa nguPawulos Acts 14:21-23 bamele ukuba bebesandula ukuguquka: Nangona Gal 2:1 ibonakala ibeka inani leminyaka phakathi Acts 12:25 & 15:4, kukho ukungaqiniseki malunga nokuba uchithe ixesha elingakanani kwindawo nganye.

Abadala kwakufuneka babe nobuchule bokufundisa baze bakwazi ukuchasa iimfundiso zobuxoki (1 Tim 3:2, Tit 1:9). Abo bakhethekileyo kulo mmandla babexatyiswa kakhulu (1 Tim 5:17).

Esinye isiqinisekiso esikhethekileyo, yahlukile kweyamadikoni, yayikukuba babelindeleke ukuba babonise ububele (1 Tim3:2, Tit 1:8). Ukunxulumana nabantu kwakuyeyona nto ibalulekileyo kulo msebenzi: ngoko kuphela ngabo bamkele ngokunyanisekileyo oku abanokuthi bagqalwe njengabafanelekileyo.

Ngokumangalisayo, kwinkalo karhulumente yendima yabo, akukho vavanyo lukhethekileyo lokufaneleka kulo mba, ngaphandle kwengcinga yokuba umdala ufanele ‘alawule kakuhle eyakhe indlu’ (1 Tim 3:4-5, Tit 1:6): kodwa oku akusafuneki nganto kumadikoni (1 Tim 3:12).

Umgangatho oqhelekileyo wemfundo esisiseko efunekayo kwezi nkalo zimbini zokugqibela unika inkxaso encinane kwimbono yokuba umdala umele abe nobuchule bokuphatha nokunxibelelana nabantu.; nangona ubuchule obunjalo ngokucacileyo buya kuba luncedo olukhulu kubo nabuphi na umdala. Kubonakala kunokwenzeka ngakumbi ukuba abadala babengelohlobo olunye, kodwa nokokuba ukwakhiwa kwabadala basekuhlaleni konyulwa ngohlobo lokuba phakathi kwabo babe nako ukugubungela yonke imisebenzi yokwalusa eyimfuneko. Oku kuya kucacisa amazwi kaPawulos kuTimoti, ‘Amadoda amakhulu alawula kakuhle makabalelwe ekuthini afanelwe yimbeko ephindiweyo, ngokukodwa abo babulalekayo elizwini nasemfundisweni.’ (1 Tim 5:17). Akacebisi ukuba abanye abadala abawenzanga kakuhle umsebenzi wabo: kodwa kugxininiswa ixabiso lenkonzo ethile.

(Buyela kwimixholo / Qhubeka nokufunda)