Izenzo Zabapostile

25—Iincwadi Zabasetesalonika

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiincwadi eziya kwabaseTesalonika]

Ukufika kukaSilas noTimoti bevela eMakedoni ngexesha lokuphambukela kukaPawulos eKorinte, kwamvuyisa kakhulu umpostile. Bamphathela “iindaba zovuyo” “zenkolo kunye nobubele” babo babeyamkele inyaniso ngexesha lotyelelo lwabathunywa lokuqala eTesalonika. Intliziyo kaPawulos yaphuphuma uvelwano olukhulu ngakula makholwa, awathi, phakathi kokulingwa nenkcaso, ahlala enyanisekile kuThixo. Walangazelela ukuwatyelela ngokwakhe, kodwa, kuba oku kwakungenako ukwenzeka, wawabhalela (incwadi). IZ 255.1

Kule ncwadi iya kwibandla eliseTesalonika, umpostile uvakalisa umbulelo wakhe kuThixo neendaba ezimnandi zokwanda kokholo. Wabhala wathi, “Ngenxa yoko sithuthuzelekile, bazalwana, nini, kuyo yonke imbandezelo nengxakeko yethu ngalo ukholo lwenu; ngokuba ngoku siphilile, ukuba nina nithi nime eNkosini. Kuba singambuyekeza ngambulelo mni uThixo ngani, kulo lonke uvuyo esivuya ngalo ngenxa yenu phambi koThixo wethu, ubusuku nemini sikhunga ngokugqithisileyo kakhulu, ukuba sibubone ubuso benu, sikuzalise ukusilela kokholo lwenu?” IZ 255.2

“Sihlala sibulela kuye uThixo ngenxa yenu nonke; sinikhumbula emithandazweni yethu; singayeki ukuwukhumbula umsebenzi wenu wokholo, nokubulaleka kwenu kothando, nokunyamezela kwenu kokuthemba iNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, phambi koThixo uBawo wethu.” IZ 256.1

Abaninzi kumakholwa aseTesalonika “[ba]phuma kuzo izithixo, ukuze [ba]khonze uThixo ophilileyo.” Ngabantu “[aba]lamkelayo . . . ilizwi [be]sembandezelweni eninzi, iintliziyo zabo zizaliswe [lu]vuyo loMoya Oyingcwele.” Umpostile watsho ukuthi, ekunyanisekeni kwabo ekuyilandeleni iNkosi bada [ba]yimifuziselo kubo bonke abakholwayo, abakwelaseMakedoni nelase-Akaya.” La mazwi okuncoma awazange enziwe nje ngokungafanelekanga; ngokutsho kwakhe, “Kuba lahlokoma livela kuni ilizwi leNkosi, akwaba khona kwelaseMakedoni nelase-Akaya lodwa, kusuke ezindaweni zonke ukukholwa kwenu kuThixo kwaduma.” IZ 256.2

Amakholwa aseTesalonika ayengabavangeli benene. Iintliziyo zabo zazivutha yinzondelelo ngoMsindisi wabo, owabahlangulayo ekoyikeni “ingqumbo ezayo.” Ngobabalo lukaKristu, kwabakho inguquko emangalisayo ebomini babo, laza ilizwi leNkosi elithethwa ngabo, lakhatshwa ngamandla. Iintliziyo zazuzwa ngeenyaniso ezazishunyayelwa, yongezeka imiphefumlo eliqela kumakholwa. IZ 256.3

Kule ncwadi yokuqala, uPawulos uthetha ngendlela awasebenza ngayo kumaTesalonika. Wayitsho into yokuba akazange azame ukuzuza abantu abaguqukayo ngenkohliso okanye ngokungcola. “Sithi, njengoko sicikidiweyo nguThixo, ukuba siphathisweiindabaezilungileyo,senjenjalo ukuthetha, singangi sikholisa abantu, kuba sikholisa uThixo ozicikidayo iintliziyo zethu. Kuba kananjalo, njengoko naziyo, asizanga sibe nantetho yakucengacenga, namkhusane wakubawa, uThixo ulingqina; singafuni nokufuna luzuko bantwini, nokuba kukuni, nokuba kukwabanye; nakuba besinokuba ngumthwalo ngokwabapostile bakaKristu. Thina ke sisuke sathantamisa phakathi kwenu njengomdlezana osukuba ebagcinile abakhe abantwana; ngokunjalo sinilangazelela nje, kwakholeka kuthi ukunga singaneli kunabela iindaba ezilungileyo zikaThixo nje kodwa, sinabele nobomi bethu, ngenxa enokuba naba ziintanda kuthi.” IZ 256.4

“Ningamangqina nina kwanoThixo,” uyaqhubeka umpostile, “ukuba saba njani na ukuba ngcwele, nokuba nobulungisa, nokungabi nakusoleka kuni bakholwayo; kwanjengoko naziyo nonke ngabanye, ukuba besixelisa uyise kubantwana bakhe, siniyala, sinikhuza, siniqononondisa, ukuba nihambe ngokumfaneleyo uThixo, onibizelayo kobakhe ubukumkani nobuqaqawuli. IZ 257.1

“Ngenxa yoko, nathi siyabulela kuye uThixo singayeki, okokuba nathi, ukulamkela ilizwi likaThixo lodaba kuthi, analamkela lililizwi labantu; nalamkela, njengokuba kunjalo okwenyaniso, lililizwi likaThixo elisebenzayo nokusebenza kuni bakholwayo.” “Kuba liyintoni na ithemba lethu, novuyo lwethu, nesithsaba sethu soqhayiso? Asinini aba na, phambi kweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu ekufikeni kwayo? Inene, nini uzuko novuyo lwethu.” IZ 257.2

Kwincwadi yakhe yokuqala kumakholwa aseTesalonika, uPawulos wazama ukuwafundisa ngeyona meko yabantu abafileyo. Wathetha ngabo bafileyo njengabaleleyo — kwimo yokungabikho ezingqondweni: “Ke kaloku andithandi ukuba ningazi, bazalwana, mayela nabalele ukufa, ukuze ningabi buhlungu njengabanye abangenathemba bona. Kuba xa sikholwa ukuba uYesu wafa, wabuya wavuka, kwangokunjalonaye uThixo woza nabo abalele ukufa ngaye uYesu, kunye naye. . . . Ngokuba iNkosi ngokwayo iya kuhla emazulwini inendanduluko, inelizwi lesiphatha-zithunywa, inexilongo likaThixo, baze abafele kuKristu bavuke kuqala; sandule thina babudlayo ubomi, basaseleyo, sixwilelwe emafini kwakunye nabo, siye kuyikhawulela iNkosi esibhakabhakeni; size ngokunjalo sihlale sihleli, sindawonye neNkosi.” IZ 257.3

AmaTesalonika ayeyibambe ngomdla ingcamango yokuba uKristu uza kuza abatshintshe abakholwayo abaphilayo, abathabathele kuYe. Ayebaluse ngononophelo ubomi babahlobo bawo hleze bafe balahlekwe yintsikelelo ababelindele ukuyizuza ekufikeni kweNkosi. Ngabanye ngabanye abantu babo basuswa kubo [ngokufa] baze bathi ngomoya owaphukileyo babukhangele ubuso babafayo okokugqibela, bengenalo konke ithemba lokuba baya kubuya bababone kubomi obuzayo. IZ 258.1

Yathi yakuvulwa yafundwa incwadi kaPawulos, kwabakho uvuyo olukhulu nokuthuthuzeleka ebandleni ngamazwi atyhila eyona meko iyiyo ngabantu abafileyo. UPawulos wabonisa ukuba abo baphilayo ngexesha lokufika kukaKristu abayi kuyihlangabeza iNkosi yabo ngaphambi kwabo balele kuYesu. Ilizwi lesiphatha-zithunywa nexilongo likaThixo liya kufikelela kwabafileyo, baze abafele kuKristu bavuke kuqala, phambi kokuba inkcukumiso yokungabi nakufa inikwe kwabaphilileyo. “Sandule thina babudlayo ubomi, basaseleyo, sixwilelwe emafini kwakunye nabo, siye kuyikhawulela iNkosi esibhakabhakeni; size ngokunjalo sihlale sihleli, sindawonye neNkosi. Ngoko ke thuthuzelanani ngala mazwi.” IZ 258.2

Ithemba kunye novuyo olwaziswa sesi siqinisekiso kwibandla elitsha laseTesalonika, asingeke thina sikwazi ukuluqonda. Bakholelwa bayivuyela incwadi abayithunyelwe nguyise wabo kwiindaba ezilungileyo, baza banikela iintliziyo zabo ekumthandeni. Wayebaxelele ezi zinto ngaphambili; kodwa ngelo xesha iingqondo zabo zazisazamana nokubamba iimfundiso ezazikhangeleka zintsha zingaqhelekanga, kwaye akumangalisi ukuba amandla ezinye iingongoma akazange azinze ngokucacileyo ezingqondweni zabo. Bona babeyilambele inyaniso, yaza incwadi kaPawulos yabanika ithemba elitsha nokomelela, nokuqina ngakumbi elukholweni nokumthanda ngokunzulu Lowo wathi ngokufa kwaKhe wazisa ekukhanyeni ubomi nokungabi nakufa. IZ 259.1

Baya bavuya kukwazi ukuba abahlobo babo abakholwayo baya kuvuswa emangcwabeni baphile ngonaphakade ebukumkanini bukaThixo. Ubumnyama obugubungele indawo yokuphumla abafileyo yasuswa. Ukubengezela okutsha kwaba yincopho yenkolo yobuKristu, baza babona ubuqaqawuli obutsha ebomini, ekufeni, nasekuvukeni kukaKristu. IZ 259.2

“Kwangokunjalo naye uThixo woza nabo abalele ukufa ngaye uYesu, kunye naye,” wabhala watsho uPawulos. Abanye bayichaza le ndawo ngokuthi ithetha ukuba abo balele ukufa baya kubuya noKristu bevela ezulwini; kanti uPawulos wayethetha ukuba, njengoko uKristu wavuswa kwabafileyo, uThixo uya kubabiza abangcwele abaleleyo emangcwabeni abo abathabathe kunye naYe abase ezulwini. Intuthuzelo exabiseke kangako! Ithemba elinobuqaqawuli! Kungekuphela ebandleni laseTesalonika, kodwa kuwo onke amaKristu nokuba kuphi apho akhona. IZ 259.3

Ngexesha esebenza eTesalonika, uPawulos wayeyigqibile imfundiso ngemiqondiso yokuphelakwexesha,ebonisaiziganekoeziyakuhla phambi kokutyhileka kukaNyana womntu emafini ezulu; nto leyo eyenza angacingi ukuba abhale kakhulu ngalo mba. Noko kunjalo, wathetha ngokucacileyo ngeemfundiso zakhe zangaphambili. “Ke kaloku ngawo amaxesha namathuba, bazalwana,” watsho, “akufuneki nganto ukuba ndinibhalele; kuba nani ngokwenu niyazi ngokucacileyo, ukuba imini yeNkosi, njengesela ebusuku, yenjenjalo ukuza kwayo. Kuba xenikweni baya kuthi, Luxolo nokunqaba, oko baya kufikelwa yintshabalalo ngebhaqo.” IZ 259.4

Bakho namhla elizweni abazimfamekisayo kwizibonakaliso uYesu awazinikayo ukulumkisa abantu mayela nokubuya kwaKhe. Bafuna ukulithomalalisa lonke ixhala, ngeli xesha imiqondiso yexesha lesiphelo izaliseka ngokukhawuleza, ilizwe lingxamele kwixesha lokutyhilwa koNyana womntu emafini asezulwini. UPawulos ufundisa ukuba kusisono ukungayikhathaleli imiqondiso eza phambi kokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu. Abo banobutyala boku kungakhathali ubabiza ngokuba bangabantwana bobusuku nobumnyama. Ukhuthaza abaphaphileyo nabalindileyo ngala mazwi: “Ke nina, bazalwana, anisebumnyameni, ukuba imini leyo iniqubule njengesela. Nonke nina ningabokukhanya, abemini; asingabobusuku, asingabobumnyama. Ngoko ke masingalali, njengabanye aba; masiphaphe sibe ziingcathu.” IZ 260.1

Zibaluleke ngendlela eyodwa ebandleni kweli xesha lethu iimfundiso ngale ngongoma. Kwabo baphila kufutshane nokuzaliseka okukhulu koku, amazwi kaPawulos kufuneka eze ngegunya elikhulu: “Ke thina bangabemini masibe ziingcathu; masinxibe isigcina-sifuba sokholonothando, nesigcina-ntlokoesilithembalosindiso.Ngokuba uThixo akasimiselanga ngqumbo; usimisele ukuzuza usindiso ngayo iNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu; owasifelayo, ukuze nokuba sihleli, nokuba silele, sidle ubomi kwakunye naye.” IZ 260.2

UmKristu olindileyo ngumKristu osebenzayo, efuna ngenzondelelo ukwenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuhambisela phambili iindaba ezilungileyo. Njengokuba kukhula ukumthanda uMhlanguli wakhe, kukwanjalo nokuthanda abantu bakubo. Unemingeni emikhulu, njengoko kwakunjalo eNkosini yakhe; kodwa akakuyeki ukungcungcuthekiswa ukuba kumenze krakra emoyeni okanye kutshabalalise uxolo engqondweni yakhe. Uyazi ukuba izilingo, ukuba ziye zathwala kakuhle, ziya kumcokisa, zimhlabulule, zimsondeze ngakumbi nangakumbi kulwalamano noKristu, baya kuba nesabelo kwintuthuzelo yaKhe ekugqibeleni babe nokwabelana naYe eluzukweni lwaKhe. IZ 261.1

“Ke kaloku siyanicela, bazalwana,” uPawulos eqhubeka nencwadi yakhe eya kwabaseTesalonika, “ukuba nibazi ababulalekayo phakathi kwenu, abanongamelayo eNkosini, abanilulekayo, nibabeke ngokugqithiseleyo kakhulu ukubathanda, ngenxa yomsebenzi wabo. Hlalani ninoxolo phakathi kwenu.” IZ 261.2

Amakholwa aseTesalonika ayephazanyiswe kakhulu ngabantu abafika phakathi kwabo beneengcamango neemfundiso ezibaxekileyo. Abanye babo babengabantu “[aba]hamba ngokunxaxha, [be]ngasebenzi, [be]zifaka kwizinto zabanye.” Ibandla lalimiselwe kakuhle, abaphathi benyulwe ukuba basebenze njengabafundisi nabadikoni. Babekho nabanye, abenza unothanda nabazizityhuthu-tyhuthu, ababesala ukuthoba kwabo babebambe izikhundla zokulawula ebandleni. Babenganelanga kukubanga ukuba banelungelo lokuzenzela ezabo izigqibo ezisecaleni, kodwa bekwazinyanzelisa ebandleni iimbono zabo. Ngenxa yale nto, uPawuloswatsalela ingqwalasela yamaTesalonika kwimbeko nentlonipho efanele ukunikwa abo banyulelwe ukubamba izikhundla zolawulo ebandleni. IZ 261.3

Ekungxameleni kwakhe ukuba amakholwa aseTesalonika ahambe ngokumoyika uThixo, umpostile wacengana nabo ukuba babonakalise ubuthixo obuphathekayo ebomini babo bemihla ngemihla. “Elokugqiba ngoko, bazalwana,” wabhala watsho, “siyanicela siniyala siseNkosini uYesu, ukuba nithi, njengokuba nakwamkelayo kuthi, okokuba nimelwe kukuthini na ukuhamba nokumkholisa uThixo, nikhule kuko ngakumbi. Kuba niyazi ukuba zaba ziziyalo zini na, esaniyala ngazo ngeNkosi uYesu. Kuba oku kukuthanda kukaThixo ukungcwaliswa kwenu, ukuba nikhumke kulo uhenyuzo.” “Kuba uThixo akasibizelanga ekungcoleni, usibezele ebungcwaliseni.” IZ 262.1

Umpostile waziva ngathi, ubukhulu becala, luxanduva lwakhe ukuphila kakuhle ngokwasemoyeni kwabo babe guquke phantsi kokusebenza kwakhe. Ulangazelelo lwakhe ngabo lwalulolokuba bakhule ekumazini uThixo ekuphela kwaKhe oyinyaniso, noYesu Kristu, awamthumayo. Ebekholisa ukuhlangana namaqelana amadoda nabafazi abamthandayo uYesu, aguqe athandaze kunye nabo, ecela uThixo ukuba abafundise ukuba bagcine uqhagamshelwano oluphilileyo kunye naYe (uThixo). Ube ethanda ukucebisana nabo ngezona ndlela zizizo nokunikela kwabanye ukukhanya kwenyaniso yeendaba ezilungileyo. Ngamanye amaxesha ebesithi xa ahlukene nabo wayebasebenzele ngolo hlobo, abambane noThixo ukuba abagcine kude nenkohlakalo, abancede ukuba babe ngabavangeli abanyanisekileyo nabakhutheleyo. IZ 262.2

Obona bungqina bukhulu benguquko yenene kukuthanda uThixo nomntu. Abamkela uYesu njengoMhlanguli banothando olunzulu, olunyanisekileyo kwabanye abalukholo lufana nolwabo. Kwakunjalo ke, kumakholwa aseTesalonika. “Ngalo uthando lobuzalwana,” wabhala umpostile, “akufuneki ukuba ndinibhalele; kuba nina ngokwenu ningabafundiswe nguThixo ukuba nithandane; kuba okunene niyakwenza oko kubo bonke abazalwana abakwelaseMakedoni liphela. Siyanivuselela ke, bazalwana, ukuba nikhule kuko oko ngakumbi; nokuba nizondelele ukuba nizole, nenze ezenu izinto, nisebenzengezenu izandla, njengoko saniyalayo; ukuze nihambe ngokuzibekileyo ngakwabo bangaphandle, ningasweli nto.” IZ 262.3

“Yanga ke iNkosi inganandisa, inityebise eluthandweni, omnye komnye nakubo bonke, kwanjengokuba nathi sisenjenjalo kuni; ukuze izizimase iintliziyo zenu, zingabi nakusoleka, zibe ngcwele phambi koThixo uBawo wethu, ekufikeni kweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu nabo bonke abangcwele bayo.” IZ 263.1

“Siyanivuselela ke, bazalwana, balulekeni abanxaxhayo; bakhuzeni abamxhelo mncinane; basekeleni abathambileyo; yibani nokuzeka kade umsindo kubantu bonke. Lumkani, kungabikho bani ubuyekeza ububi ngobubi nakubani; hlalani niphuthuma okulungileyo omnye komnye, nakubantu bonke. Hlalani nivuya. Thandazani ningayeki. Ezintweni zonke bulelani; kuba oko kukuthanda kukaThixo kuKristu Yesu ngani.” IZ 263.2

Umpostile wabalumkisa abaseTesalonika ukuba bangasideli isipho sobuprofeti, waza wathi ngala mazwi, “UMoya musani ukumcima. Iziprofeto musani ukuzenza into engento. Izinto zonke zicikideni, nibambe leyo intle,” wabayala ukuba baqwalasele kakuhle bakwazi ukwahlula okuyinkohliso kokuyinyaniso. Wababongoza esithi, “khumkani kuzo zonke iintlobo zenkohlakalo;”Wayivalaincwadiyakhengomthandazo ukuba uThixo angabangcwalisa bonke ngokupheleleyo, ukuze “[kuwo] umoya, nomphefumlo nomzimba [ba]gcinwe ngokungenakusoleka ekufikeni kweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu.” Watsho esithi, “Uthembekile onibizayo, oya kukwenza nokukwenza oko.” IZ 263.3

Imfundiso awayithumela kumaTesalonika kwincwadi yakhe yokuqala ngokubhekise ekubuyeni kwesibini kukaKristu, yayihambelana twatse nemfundiso yakhe yokuqala. Noko kunjalo, amazwi akhe aqondwa ngendlela engeyiyo ngabanye abazalwana baseTesalonika. Bamthabatha ngokuba uthetha ngethemba lokuba yena buqu uya kuphila ukuze akubone ukufika koMsindisi. Le nkolo yayandisa inzondelelo nokuvuseleleka. Abo babethe ngaphambili batyeshela imithwalo nemisebenzi yabo, kwaba kukona bazingisayo ukunyanzelisa iimbono zabo ezitenxileyo. IZ 264.1

Kwincwadi yakhe yesibini, uPawulos wazama ukulungisa ukungaqondwa kwemfundiso yakhe nokubeka phambi kwabo eyona ndawo wayekuyo. Waphinda wathetha ngokukuthemba kwakhe ukunyaniseka kwabo, nangombulelo wakhe kubaukholo lwabo luqinile, nokuba uthando lwabo lwalandile omnye ngakomnye nakumsebenzi weNkosi yabo. Wabaxelela ukuba uthethe ngabo njengabangumzekelo wabanokholo olunyamezelayo noluzingisileyo olumelana ngesibindi nentshutshiso nembandezelo, waza wazikhangelisa phambili iingqondo zabo kwixesha lokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu, xa abantu bakaThixo beya kuphumla kuko konke ukuxhala nokukhathazeka kwabo. IZ 264.2

“Thina ngokwethu,” wabhala, “siqhayis[a] ngani emabandleni kaThixo, ngenxa yonyamezelo lwenu, nokholo lwenu, ezintshutshisweni zonke, nasezimbandezelweni enizinyamezelayo: . . . ninababandezelwayo,anibuyekeze ngokuniphumza kunye nathi, ekutyhilekeni kweNkosi uYesu, ivela emazulwini inezithunywa zamandla ayo;; inomlilo odangazelayo, ibaphindezela abangamaziyo uThixo, nabangazilulameliyo iindaba ezilungileyo zeNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu; bona abo baya kuva ukubethwa, intshabalalo engunaphakade ke leyo, bemke ebusweni beNkosi nasebuqaqawulini bokomelela kwayo. . . . Ngoko ke sihlala sithandaza nokuthandaza ngenxa yenu, ukuba uThixo wethu anibalele ekuthini nilufanele ubizo lwenu, azalise ngokunamandla konke ukukholiswa kukulunga, nomsebenzi wokholo; ukuze lizukiswe igama leNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu kuni, nani nizukiswe kuye, ngokobabalo lukaThixo wethu, neNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu.” IZ 264.3

Phambi kokuba uKristu afike, zibalulekile iinguqulelo eziza kubakho kwinkolo ehlabathini, njengoko sitshilo kwangaphambili isiprofeto. Umpostile wathi ke ngoko, “Ningazanyazanyiswa kwakamsinya, nahlukane nengqiqo; ukuba ningabi navuso ngamoya, ngalizwi, ngancwadi ingathi ivela kuthi, ngokungathi iselingene imini leyo kaKristu. Makungabikho bani unilukuhlayo nangalunye uhlobo; ngokuba ayinakufika yona, lungakhanga lufike ulahlo kuqala, atyhileke umntu wesono, unyana wotshabalalo; lowo uchasayo, uziphakamisayo ngaphezu kwento yonke ekuthiwa nguThixo, ezibonisa ukuba unguThixo.” IZ 265.1

Kwakungafuneki ukuba amazwi kaPawulos aqondwe ngendlela engeyiyo. Kwakungafuneki ukuba kufundiswe ukuthi, ngentyilelo eyodwa, ulumkise amaTesalonika ngokubuya okukhawulezileyo kukaKristu. Indima enjalo yayiya kudala isiphithiphithi elukholweni. Ngenxa yoko, umpostilewabalumkisa abazalwana ukuba bangayamkeli into enjalo ngokungathi iphuma kuye, waza waqhubeka ngokucinezela ukuba igunya lobuPopi, elibekwe lacaca ngumprofeti uDaniyeli, laliseza kubakho lenze imfazwe nabantu bakaThixo. Eli gunya lingekawenzi lo msebenzi unokubulala nonyeliso, kuya kuba lilize ukuba ibandla lingalindela ukufika kweNkosi yabo. “Anikhumbuli na,” wabuza uPawulos, “ukuba oko bendisekuni ndanixelela ezi zinto?” IZ 265.2

Zazizibi kakhulu izilingo ezaziza kuphazamisa ibandla lenene. Nangexesha umpostile wayebhala, “imfihlelo yokuchasana nomthetho” yayise iwuqalile umsebenzi wayo. Izinto ezaziza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo zaziza kuba “ngokokusebenza kukaSathana, ngayo imisebenzi yonke yamandla, nemiqondiso, nezimanga zobuxoki, nangako ukulukuhla konke kokungalungisi kwabo batshabalalayo.” IZ 266.1

Indiliseke ngendlela eyodwa intetho kaPawulos kwabo bakwalileyo ukwamkela “ukuyithanda inyaniso.” “Nangenxa yoko,” wavakalisa ebhekisa kwabo bathi ngabom bazale izigidimi zenyaniso, “uThixo uya kubathumela ulahlekiso olusebenza ngamandla, ukuze bakholwe bubuxoki; ukuze bagwetywe bonke abangakholwanga yiyo inyaniso, basuka bakholiswa kuko ukungalungisi.” Abantu abanako ukuzala izilumkiso athe uThixo ngenceba yaKhe wabathumela zona baze bangabi nakohlwaywa. Kwabo bazingisayo ukumka kwezi zilumkiso, uThixo uyawutsala uMoya waKhe, abashiye kulahlekiso abaluthandayo. IZ 266.2

UPawulos wawudwelisa umsebenzi okhohlakeleyo wegunya elikhohlakeleyo elaliza kuwuqhuba kwiinkulungwane ezininzi zexesha lobumnyamanentshutshisophambikokubuyakwesibinikukaKristu. IZ 266.3

Amakholwa aseTesalonika ayethembe ukuhlangulwa okukhawulezileyo; ngoku ayecetyiswa ukuba awuthabathe ngesibindi nangokoyika uThixo umsebenzi ophambi kwawo. Umpostile wawanika umngeni ukuba angayityesheli imisebenzi okanye aziyekele ekulindeni engenzi nto. Emva kokulindela kwawo okumile iimpiko ukuhlangulwa okukhawulezileyo, umsebenzi wemihla ngemihla nenkcaso awayeza kuhlangana nayo zaba zizinto ezaziwaqhokra ngokuphindiweyo. Ngenxa yaloo nto wawakhuthaza ukuba eme aqine elukholweni: IZ 267.1

“Yimani, nizibambe izithethe enazifundiswayo, nokuba kungelizwi, nokuba kungencwadi yethu. Ke kaloku, iNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu ngokwayo, noThixo uBawo wethu owasithandayo, wasinika intuthuzelo engunaphakade, nethemba elilungileyo ngobabalo, wanga angazithuthuzela iintliziyo zenu, anizimase kuwo onke amazwi nemisebenzi elungileyo.” “Ithembekile ke yona iNkosi, eya kunizimasa, inigcine kuyo inkohlakalo. Sikholose ngani ke ngokwaseNkosini, ukuba izinto esinithethela zona niyazenza, naye nisaya kuzenza. Yanga ke iNkosi ingathi iintliziyo zenu izikhokelele eluthandweni lukaThixo, naselunyamezelweni lukaKristu.” IZ 267.2

Umsebenzi wamakholwa ayewunikwe nguThixo. Ngokunyaniseka ekuhlaleni enyanisweni ayeza kunika abanye ukukhanya awayekufumene. Umpostile wawayalela ukuba angadinwa ukwenza okulungileyo, wabalathisa kumzekelo wakhe wokukhuthala kwimicimbi yasemhlabeni ngexesha esebenza ngenzondelelo engadinwayo emsebenzini kaKristu. Wabakhalimela abo babezinikele ekuwenzeni ngobuvila nangokungakhathali umsebenzi, ebayalela “ukuba bathi, besebenza ngokuzola, badleesisesaboisonka.”Waqhubeka eliyalela ibandla ukuba lizahlule kubudlelwane babantu abathi rhoqo beyityeshela imfundiso enikwa ngabafundisi bakaThixo. “Noko ke,” uyongeza, “ze ningambaleli ekuthini ulutshaba; manimluleke njengomzalwana.” IZ 267.3

Nale incwadi, uPawulos wayivala ngomthandazo ukuze bathi, nokuba baphakathi kokusebenza uxolo lukaThixo nobabalo lweNkosi uYesu Kristu, lube yintuthuzelo kubo, lubaxhase. IZ 268.1