IGICE CYA 27 - EFESO

(Iki gice gishingiye mu Byakozwe n’Intumwa 19:1-20)

Igihe Apolo yabwirizaga i Korinto, Pawulo yasohoje isezerano rye ryo gusubira mu Efeso. Yari yarasuye i Yesusalemu ahamara igihe gito kandi yari yaramaze iminsi myinshi i Antiyokiya ari ho yabanje gukorera. Bityo yambukanyije Aziya Ntoya, “anyura mu gihugu cy’i Galatiya n’i Furugiya” (Ibyak 18:23), asura amatorero yari yarahanze ubwe anakomereza abizera mu kwizera.INI 174.1

Mu gihe cy’intumwa igice cy’uburengerazuba cya Aziya Ntoya cyari kizwi nk’intara y’Abaroma yo muri Aziya. Efeso, yari umurwa mukuru w’icyo gice, yari isangano rikomeye ry’ubucuruzi. Icyambu cyaho cyari cyuzuye amato kandi inzira zaho zari zuzuye abantu bavuye mu bihugu byose. Nk’uko i Korinto hari hameze, Efeso hari ahantu hagaragara ko hazatanga umusaruro mu ibwirizabutumwa bwiza.INI 174.2

Muri icyo gihe Abayahudi bari batataniye mu bihugu byateye imbere, muri rusange bari bategereje kuza kwa Mesiya. Igihe Yohana Umubatiza yabwirizaga, abantu benshi bari baraje i Yerusalemu mu minsi mikuru y’umwaka, bagiye ku nkengero za Yorodani kumwumva. Aho ngaho bari barahumvise Yesu yamamazwa nk’Uwasezeranywe kandi bari barajyanye iyo nkuru nziza mu mpande zose z’isi. Uko ni ko Imana yateguriye inzira umurimo w’intumwa.INI 174.3

Ageze mu Efeso, Pawulo yabonye bene se cumi na babiri, kandi nk’uko byagendekeye Apolo, bari barabaye abigishwa ba Yohana umubatiza ndetse bunguka ubumenyi bwerekeye umugambi wa Kristo. Ntibari bafite ubushobozi nk’ubwa Apolo; ariko bari bafite ukuri kumwe no kwizera kumwe bashaka kwamamaza ubumenyi bari barakiriye.INI 174.4

Aba bavandimwe mu kwizera ntacyo bari bazi ku murimo wa Mwuka Muziranenge. Igihe Pawulo yababazaga niba barahawe Mwuka Muziranenge, barasubije bati, “Ntabwo twari twumva yuko Umwuka Wera yaje.” Pawulo ababajije ati, “Mwabatijwe mubatizo ki? “Baramusubije bati, ni ” Umubatizo wa Yohana.” Ibyak 19:2, 3.INI 174.5

Bityo intumwa Pawulo yabagaragarije ukuri gukomeye kw’ishingiro ry’ibyiringiro bya Gikristo. Yababwiye iby’ubuzima bwa Kristo akiri ku isi n’iby’urupfu rwe rw’agashinyaguro rukojeje isoni. Yababwiye uko Umutware w’ubugingo yari yarashenye ibihindizo by’igituro akazuka atsinze urupfu. Yasubiye mu nshingano Umukiza yahaye abigishwa be ati, “Nahawe ubutware bwose mu ijuru no mu isi. Nuko mugende muhindure abantu bo mu mahanga yose abigishwa, mubabatiza mu izina rya Data wa twese n’Umwana n’Umwuka Wera.” (Matayo 28:18, 19). Yababwiye kandi n’isezerano rya Kristo ry’uko azohereza Umufasha, uwo ibimenyetso n’ibitangaza byagombaga gukorwa kubw’imbaraga ze, kandi abatekerereza uko iri sezerano ryari ryarasohoye ku munsi wa Pentekote.INI 174.6

Abavandimwe mu kwizera bategeye amatwi amagambo ya Pawulo bayitayeho, babyishimiye kandi banezerewe cyane. Kubwo kwizera, bakiriye ukuri gutangaje kw’igitambo gihongerera ibyaha cya Kristo maze bamwakira nk’Umucunguzi wabo. Bahereyeko babatizwa mu izina rya Yesu, kandi ubwo Pawulo ” yabarambikagaho ibiganza,” banahawe umubatizo wa Mwuka Muziranenge wabashoboje kuvuga indimi z’ayandi mahanga no guhanura. Bityo bari bafite ubushobozi bwo gukora nk’ababwirizabutumwa mu Efeso no mu nkengero zaho, kandi bagakomeza bakajya kwamamaza ubutumwa bwiza muri Aziya Ntoya.INI 175.1

Ni kubwo gukunda umutima wo kwicisha bugufi no kwemera kwigishwa byatumye aba bagabo bunguka imibereho yabashoboje kugenda bakajya gusarura imirima yeze. Urugero rwabo rutanga icyigisho gikomeye ku Bakristo. Hari abantu benshi bagira iterambere rito mu mibereho y’iby’Imana kubera ko bumva bihagije ku buryo badaca bugufi ngo bige. Banezezwa n’ubumenyi bw’amajyejuru bw’ijambo ry’Imana. Ntibifuza guhindura ukwizera kwabo cyangwa uko bakora, bityo ntibagire umuhati wo kwakira umucyo urenzeho.INI 175.2

Iyaba abayoboke ba Kristo bashakaga ubwenge babikuye ku mutima, bayoborwa mu mirima ikungahaye y’ukuri batigeze bamenya na mba. Umuntu wese uziyegurira Imana burundu azayoborwa n’ukuboko kwayo. Ashobora kuba ari uworoheje kandi bigaragara ko adafite impano; ariko niba yumvira inama yose iva ku bushake w’Imana n’umutima ukunda kandi wiringira, imbaraga ze zizatunganywa, zihabwe icyubahiro, zikomezwe kandi ubushobozi bwe buzongerwa. Uko aha agaciro inyigisho z’ubwenge mvajuru, azahabwa inshingano yera; azashobozwa gutuma imibereho ye ihesha Imana icyubahiro n’umugisha ku batuye isi. “Guhishurirwa amagambo yawe kuzana umucyo, guha abaswa ubwenge.” Zaburi 119:130.INI 175.3

Muri iki gihe hari abantu benshi batazi umurimo Mwuka Muziranenge akorera mu mitima nk’uko abizera bo muri Efeso bari bameze, nyamara nta kuri kwigishwa mu ijambo ry’Imana mu buryo byumvikana neza nk’uku. Abahanuzi n’intumwa batinze kuri iyi ngingo. Kristo ubwe adukangurira kurebera ku gukura kw’ibimera nk’imfashanyigisho itwereka umurimo wa Mwuka w’Imana mu gukomeza ubuzima bw’ibya Mwuka. Amatembagiti y’umuzabibu azamuka ava mu mizi, agakwirakwizwa mu mashami, bigatuma habaho gukura no kurabya ndetse no kubyara imbuto. Uko ni ko imbaraga itanga ubugingo ya Mwuka Muziranenge iva ku Mukiza, ikuzura umuntu ikavugurura ibitekerezo n’ibyo umuntu akunda, kandi ikanatuma ibitekerezo bigezwa ku kumvira ubushake bw’Imana, igashoboza uyakiriye kwera imbuto z’agaciro kenshi z’imirimo myiza.INI 175.4

Umuhanzi w’ubu bugingo bw’ibya Mwuka ntaboneshwa amaso, kandi imbaraga z’ubwenge bwa kimuntu ntizishobora gusobanura uburyo nyabwo ubwo bugingo butangwa kandi bukabungabungwa. Nyamara iteka imikorere ya Mwuka ihuza n’ijambo ryanditswe. Nk’uko bimeze mu mibereho y’iby’umubiri ni nako bimeze mu mibereho y’iby’umwuka. Ubuzima bw’umubiri burindwa buri mwanya n’imbaraga y’Imana nyamara ntibubeshwaho n’igitangaza gihutiyeho ahubwo binyura mu gukoresha imigisha yashyizwe hafi yacu. Uko ni ko imibereho y’iby’umwuka ibeshwaho no gukoresha ubwo buryo Imana yatanze. Niba umuyoboke wa Kristo ashaka gukura ngo abe ” umuntu ushyitse, ugeze ku rugero rushyitse rw’igihagararo cya Kisto,” (Abefeso 4:13) agomba kurya ku mutsima w’ubugingo no kunywa ku mazi y’agakiza. Agomba kuba maso, agasenga, agakora, kandi mu bintu byose akumvira amabwiriza y’Imana ari mu ijambo ryayo.INI 176.1

Hari irindi somo dushobora kwigira ku byabaye kuri bariya Bayahudi bihanye. Igihe babatizwaga na Yohana, ntibari basobanukiwe bihagije n’icyazanye Yesu nk’Uwishyizeho icyaha cy’abantu. Bari batsimbaraye ku mafuti akomeye. Nyamara umucyo urushijeho kumurika, bemeye Kristo nk’Umucunguzi wabo banezerewe, kandi kubw’iyi ntambwe bateye, yazanye guhinduka mu byo bari bashinzwe. Uko bakiraga ukwizera nyakuri ni nako habayeho guhinduka mu mibereho yabo. Kubw’igihamya cy’uku guhinduka, ndetse no kuzirikana ukwizera Kristo kwabo, bahereyeko bongera kubatizwa mu izina rya Yesu.INI 176.2

Nk’uko byari umuco we, Pawulo yari yaratangiye umurimo we mu Efeso, atangira abwiriza mu i Sinagogi y’Abayahudi. Yakomeje kuhakorera ahamara amezi atatu “ajya impaka na bo, abemeza iby’ubwami bw’Imana.” Mbere yakiranywe ubwuzu; ariko nk’uko n’ahandi byagenze, nyuma y’aho gato, baramurwanyije cyane. “Bamwe binangiye imitima, banga kwizera batukira inzira ya Yesu imbere y’abantu.” (Ibyak 19:9). Bakomeje kwinangira mu kwanga ubutumwa bwiza, intumwa Pawulo yahagaritse kubwiririza mu isinagogi.INI 176.3

Mwuka w’Imana yari yarakoranye na Pawulo kandi amukoreramo mu murimo yakoreraga bene wabo. Ibihamya bihagije byari byaratanzwe kugira ngo byemeze abantu bose bifuzaga kumenya ukuri babikuye ku mutima. Nyamara abantu benshi bemeye kuyoborwa n’ibyo bitekererezaga no kutizera, maze banga kumvira ibihamya bifatika bahawe. Atinye ko ukwizera kw’abari barihanye kwashyirwa mu kaga no gukomeza kwifatanya n’abo barwanyaga ukuri, Pawulo yitandukanyije na bo maze ateranyiriza abigishwa mu itsinda, akomeza kubahugurira mu ruhame mu ishuri rya Turano wari umwigisha w’ikirangirire.INI 176.4

Nubwo hari “abamurwanyaga benshi”, Pawulo yabonye ko “yugururiwe irembo rinini rijya mu mirimo ikomeye.” (1Kor 16:9). Efeso ntiwari umugi mwiza kurusha iyindi gusa, ahubwo wari waranasayishije mu byaha kurusha indi mijyi yo muri Aziya. Ubupfumu no kwinezeza kuby’umubiri byari byarabaye gikwira mu baturage. Abagome bo mu nzego zose bari barahawe intebe mu nsengero kandi n’ingeso mbi by’indengakamere zariyongeraga cyane.INI 177.1

Efeso wari umugi wari ikimenyabose mu gusenga ikigirwamanakazi cyitwaga Aritemi (Diyane). Ingoro y’icyo kigirwamanakazi cy’Abanyefeso yari ifite ubwiza bwamamaye muri Asiya yose no ku isi. Ubwiza butangaje bw’iyo ngoro, bwayigize icyiratanwa cy’uwo mujyi ndetse n’igihugu cyose. Umuco karande wari waremeje ko ikigirwamana cyari muri iyo ngoro cyaguye kivuye mu kirere. Kuri icyo kigirwamana hari handitsweho inyuguti zanditswe mu buryo bw’ibimenyetso bizeraga ko zifite imbaraga ikomeye. Ibitabo byinshi byari byaranditswe n’abanyefeso bitanga ubusobanuro n’uburyo ibyo bimenyetso bikoreshwa.INI 177.2

Mu bantu bacukumburaga muri ibyo bitabo bikomeye harimo abakonikoni benshi bagiraga uruhare rukomeye ku ntekerezo z’abo bantu baramyaga igishushanyo cyari muri iyo ngoro.INI 177.3

Ari mu murimo we muri Efeso, Pawulo yahawe impano mvajuru z’umwihariko. Imbaraga y’Imana yaherekeje imihati ye maze abantu benshi bakizwa indwara z’imibiri. “ Imana yakoreshaga amaboko ya Pawulo ibitangaza bikomeye. Ndetse bashyiraga ku barwayi ibitambaro n’imyenda bivuye ku mubiri we, bagakira indwara zabo, abadayimoni bakabavamo.”(Ibyak 19:11, 12). Uko kwigaragaza kw’imbaraga idasanzwe kwari gukomeye cyane mu buryo butigeze bubaho muri Efeso, kandi kwari guteye ku buryo bitashoboraga kwiganwa n’ubuhanga bw’abakonikoni n’abapfumu. Kubera ko ibi bitangaza byakorwaga mu izina rya Yesu w’i Nazareti, abantu bagize amahirwe yo kubona ko Imana yo mu ijuru ifite ubushobozi burenze ubw’abakonikoni baramyaga ikigirwamanakazi Diyane. Uko ni ko Uhoraho yahesheje icyubahiro umugaragu wayo ndetse n’imbere y’abasengaga ibyo bigirwamana, maze imushyira hejuru cyane y’abakonikoni bakomeye kuruta abandi kandi bubashywe.INI 177.4

Ariko Ufite ubutware ku myuka mibi kandi akaba yari yarahaye abagaragu ubushobozi kuri iyo myuka, yari hafi gukoza isoni no gutsinda abasuzuguye kandi bagatuka izina Rye ryera. Itegeko rya Mose ryari ryarabujije kuyoboka ubupfumu ku buryo uwarirengagaho yagombaga gupfa. Nyamara uko ibihe byahaga ibindi, ubupfumu bwari bwaragiye bukorerwa mu ibanga n’Abayuda bagomye. Igihe Pawulo yasuraga Efeso, muri uwo mujyi harimo “inzererezi zimwe zo mu Bayuda,” zibonye ibitangaza Pawulo yakoraga, “na zo zirukanaga abadayimoni, zihimbira kuvugira izina ry’Umwami Yesu ku batewe n’abadayimoni.” Hari ibyakozwe n’“abahungu barindwi b’umuyuda witwaga Sikewa, umwe mu batambyi bakuru.” Babonye umuntu wari uhanzweho na dayimoni, baramubwiye bati, “Turagutegetse mu izina rya Yesu, uwo Pawulo avuga.” Ariko dayimoni arabasubiza ati: “Yesu ndamuzi, na Pawulo ndamumenye, ariko mwebweho muri ba nde? Nuko umuntu warimo dayimoni uwo abasimbukira bombi arababasha, arabanesha, bigeza ubwo bahunga muri iyo nzu bambaye ubusa bakomeretse.” Ibyak 19:13-16.INI 177.5

Bityo, igihamya cy’ubutungane bw’izina rya Kristo cyaragaragaye kandi n’ibyago byashoboraga kugwirira umuntu wese uvuga izina rye adafite kwizera ko umurimo w’Umukiza wakomokaga ku Mana. “Bose baterwa n’ubwoba, kandi izina rya Yesu rishyirwa hejuru.” Ibyak 19:17.INI 178.1

Ingingo zari zarahishwe zahise zishyirwa ku mugaragaro. Mu kwemera Ubukristo, bamwe mu bizera ntibari bararetse imigenzo yabo burundu. Bari bagikomeje gukora iby’ubukonikoni ku rwego runaka. Noneho ubu ubwo bari bamaze kwemezwa ikosa ryabo, “benshi mu bizera baraje, batura ibyaha byabo, bavuga n’ibyo bakoze.” Uwo murimo mwiza warakomeje ugera no ku bapfumu; maze “ abakoraga iby’ubupfumu batari bake bakoranya ibitabo byabo, maze babitwikira imbere ya rubanda. Babaze agaciro k’ikiguzi cy’ibyo bitabo, basanga gahwanye n’igihembo cy’imibyizi ibihumbi mirongo itanu. Bityo inkuru za Nyagasani zikomeza kwamamara n’imbaraga, zirahama.” Ibyak 19:19, 20.INI 178.2

Mu gutwika ibitabo byabo by’ubupfumu, Abanyefeso bahindutse berekanye ko bazinutswe ibintu byabashimishaga. Bari barakojeje Imana isoni babinyujije mu bupfumu, maze bashyira ubugingo bwabo mu kaga nyamara bagaragaje kuzinukwa ubwo bupfumu batwika ibyo bitabo. Uko ni ko batanze igihamya cyo guhinduka nyakuri. INI 178.3

Ibyo bitabo by’ubupfumu byari birimo amategeko n’uburyo bwo kuvugana n’imyuka mibi. Yari amategeko agenga kuramya Satani, akaba n’amabwiriza bakurikizaga bamusaba ubufasha no kugira ibyo bamenya bimuturutseho. Iyo abigishwa bagumana ibyo bitabo bari kuba bishyize mu bishuko; kandi iyo babigurisha bari kuba bashyize igishuko imbere y’abandi. Bari barasezereye ubwami bw’umwijima kandi ntibigeze bashidikanya gusenya imbaraga zabwo uko byari kumera kose. Uko niko ukuri kwatsinze imyumvire mibi y’abantu ndetse n’urukundo bakundaga amafaranga.INI 178.4

Kubwo kwigaragaza kw’imbaraga ya Kristo, Ubukristo bwagiriye insinzi ikomeye mu cyicaro cy’ubupfumu. Ibyari byabaye byamamaye hose cyane ku rwego Pawulo atabitekerezagaho. Inkuru yaturutse mu Efeso ikwira hose ku buryo ibya Kristo byahawe agaciro gakomeye. Nyuma y’igihe kirekire intumwa Pawulo arangije umurimo we, ibyo byabaye byakomeje kuba mu ntekerezo z’abantu kandi byakomeje kwihanisha benshi bemera ubutumwa bwiza.INI 178.5

Bitekerezwa ko ibyerekeranye n’ubupfumu byavuyeho mbere y’amajyambere no kujijuka byo mu kinyejana cya makumyabiri. Nyamara ijambo ry’Imana ndetse n’ubuhamya bukomeye bw’ibigaragara bivuga ko ubupfumu bukorwa muri iki gihe rwose nk’uko bwakorwaga mu gihe cya kera cy’abakonikoni. Uburyo bwa kera bw’ubupfumu, mu by’ukuri ni bumwe n’ubw’iki gihe buzwi nk’uburyo bugezweho bwo gukorana n’imyuka y’abapfuye. Satani aragenda yigarurira intekerezo z’abantu batabarika abiyereka yiyoberanyije mu ishusho y’incuti zabo zapfuye. Ibyanditswe bivuga ko “ abapfuye ntacyo bazi.” Umubwiriza 9:5. Intekerezo zabo, urukundo rwabo, urwango rwabo byose byararangiye. Abapfuye ntibashyikirana n’abazima. Nyamara mu buriganya bwe bwa kera, Satani akoresha aya mayeri kugira ngo yigarurire intekerezo z’abantu.INI 179.1

Hifashishijwe gukorana n’imyuka y’abapfuye, benshi mu barwayi, abapfushije ababo n’abanyamatsiko bavugana n’imyuka mibi. Abantu bose bagerageza kugenza batyo bari mu kaga. Ijambo ry’ukuri ry’Imana rivuga uko Imana ibabona. Mu bihe bya kera Imana yaciriyeho iteka umwami wagiye kugisha inama umupfumu: “ Mbese icyatumye mujya kuraguza Balizebubi, ikigirwamana cya Ekuroni, ni uko nta Mana iri muri Isirayeli? Icyo ni cyo gitumye Uwiteka avuga ngo ‘Ntuzabyuka ku gisasiro uryamyeho, ahubwo uzapfa, nta kibuza’ ” 2Abami 1:3, 4.INI 179.2

Abapfumu bo mu bihe by’ubupagani bafite icyo bahuriraho n’uburyo bwo gukorana n’imyuka y’abapfuye, abaraguza imitwe n’abaragurira abandi ibyiza bizababaho byo muri iki gihe. Amajwi yumvikaniye mu Endori no muri Efeso aracyakomeza kumvikana ayobya abana b’abantu. Iyaba inyegamo yakurwaga imbere y’amaso yacu, twabona abamarayika babi bakoresha amayeri yabo yose kugira ngo bashuke abantu kandi babarimbure. Ahantu hose hagaragaye gukora kw’imbaraga ituma abantu bibagirwa Imana, Satani aba ahakoreshareza imbaraga ze zo kuriganya. Iyo abantu bemeye kugengwa nawe bisanga bamaze guta ubwenge no guhumana mu mitima. Umuburo intumwa Pawulo yahaye Itorero rya Efeso wagombye kwitabwaho n’ubwoko bw’Imana muri iki gihe. “ Ntimukifatanye n’imirimo y’ab’umwijima itagira umumaro, ahubwo muyihane.” Abefeso 5:11.INI 179.3