THIMOTHI usendleleni uyahamba ekhaya, asahamba ucabanga ngaloluhambo lwakhe. Unebangani bakhe, ubalandzela ngemuva futsi bengca indzawo lebekavamise kuyibona onkhe malanga. Kancane kancane bayalishiya lidolobha lakubo, iListra, lebelisegcumeni. Thimothi uhleka yedvwa, ucabanga ngamake wakhe nagogo wakhe nabo labajabulile kodvwa ngesikhatsi lesifanako labeva buhlungu ngekutsi soyahamba. Uyababuka, abavalelise kwekugcina.

Nabasahamba, umphostoli Pawula uyamdvudvuta futsi uyamkhutsata ngalesincumo lasitsetse. Uyati kutsi Thimothi unemahloni kodvwa kuyamjabulisa kubona indlela latimisele ngayo. Thimothi bekamncane kakhulu, kungenteka abeseminyakeni yekutfomba nobe asandza kwengca eminyakeni lengu-20, futsi bekamkhonte kakhulu Pawula. Manje Thimothi besekahamba naPawula lobekayindvodza lekhutsele naletsembekile, loluhambo lwakhe belutamyisa khashane kakhulu nasekhaya. Batawuhamba ngetinyawo nangemkhumbi futsi kungenteka batfole tingoti endleleni. Thimothi akaciniseki kutsi uyophindze ababone ekhaya.

Yini leyenta Thimothi wafuna kuphila ngalendlela? Ngutiphi tibusiso lesingatitfola nasitidzela njengaThimothi? Sibonelo saThimothi singakucinisa njani kukholwa kwetfu?

Asesibuyele emuva ngesikhatsi, ngeminyaka lemibili nobe lemitsatfu siticabange siseListra lokungenteka kutsi bekukusekhabo Thimothi. IListra bekulidolobha lelincane lelisemaphandleni lebelinemifula neticobho letinyenti. Kungenteka bantfu bakhona bebasati siGriki kodvwa bebakhuluma siLikhawoniya. Ngalelinye lilanga kulelidolobha lelithulile kwesuka umsindvo. Kwefika titfunywa telivangeli letimbili letingemaKhristu, umphostoli Pawula naBhanabasi, bebabuya e-Ikhoniyu lidolobha lebelingumakhelwane. Batsi basashumayela, Pawula wabona indvodza lebeyikhubateke tinyawo leyakhombisa kukholwa. Wabese wenta simangaliso wayiphilisa lendvodza.​—Imisebenti 14:5-10.

Bantfu baseListra bebakholelwa etinganekwaneni lebetidvumile lebetitsi eListra bekufika bonkulunkulu, batente bantfu futsi bebahlonishwa kakhulu. Ngako bantfu baseListra bacabanga kutsi Pawula ngunkulunkulu Hemesi, kantsi Bhanabasi bacabanga kutsi ngunkulunkulu Zeyusi. BoPawula naBhanabasi abazange bajabule ngalesikhatsi labantfu bakulelidolobha sebafuna kubakhonta.​—Imisebenti 14:11-18.

Kubantfu labambalwa baseListra kwacaca kutsi boPawula naBhanabasi bebangasibo bonkulunkulu bemahedeni, kodvwa bebabantfu labatfunywe nguNkulunkulu. Nasi sibonelo: Yunisi, umfati longumJuda lebekashade nendvodza lengumGriki, naLowisi babalalelisisa boPawula naBhanabasi nabashumayela. Leti bekutindzaba letimnandzi kuwo onkhe emaJuda, ajabula kuva kutsi besekafikile Mesiya nekutsi bekente tintfo letinyenti lebetishiwo yimiBhalo ngaye.

Cabanga ngendlela Thimothi latsintseka ngayo ngesikhatsi bavakashelwe boPawula. Thimothi  abefundziswe ‘kusukela aseluswane’ kutsi atsandze imiBhalo lengcwele. (2 Thimothi 3:15) Njengamake wakhe nagogo wakhe, wabona kutsi tintfo lebetikhulunywa nguBhanabasi naPawula ngaMesiya betiliciniso. Kungenteka wacabanga ngalendvodza lebeyikhubateke tinyawo leyaphiliswa nguPawula. Yini leyamenta wacabanga ngaloko? Kungenteka kutsi abevamile kuyibona etitaladini taseListra kusukela asemncane. Kodvwa nyalo Thimothi abesabona lendvodza seyikhona kutihambela. Akusimangalisi-ke kutsi yini leyenta boYunisi naLowisi kanye naThimothi baba ngemaKhristu. Ngisho nalamuhla kunyenti kakhulu bogogo nebatali labangakufundza kuLowisi naYunisi. Ungaba yini sibonelo lesihle kubantfu labasha?

Labo lababa ngemaKhristu eListra bajabula kakhulu ngesikhatsi beva ngematsemba lebekatawutfolwa bafundzi baJesu. Babona kutsi bebangeke batitfole letetsembiso bangakaphatfwa kabi. EmaJuda labekamelene naboPawula lebekasuka e-Ikhoniyu nase-Antiyokiya, efika eListra afaka labantfu labalungile umoya lomubi base bajikela boPawula naBhanabasi. Kwatsi kusenjalo lesicumbi sebantfu lebesesitfukutsele sajikijela Pawula ngematje. Bamshaya wenaba. Lesicumbi sebantfu, samhudvulela ngephandle kwelidolobha, sicabanga kutsi sewufile.​—Imisebenti 14:19.

Nanobe kunjalo bantfu lebesebamukele liciniso eListra bahamba bayofuna Pawula. Ucabanga kutsi bativa kanjani ngalesikhatsi bambona anyakata, avuka atitsintsita futsi wangaphotimisi maseko wacondza eListra labebamshaye khona. Ngelilanga lelilandzelako Pawula naBhanabasi bahamba bayoshumayela eDebe. Ngemuva kwekusita bantfu labanyenti kutsi bemukele liciniso, baphindze batifaka engotini babuyela eListra. Besebayokwentani? ‘Bebayocinisa bafundzi,’ “babakhutsata kutsi babe nekukholwa lokucinile.” Cabanga Thimothi losemncane alalele njengobe Pawula naBhanabasi akhutsata lamaKhristu awatjela kutsi litsemba lawo belibaluleke kakhulu kwengca nobe ngabe yini. Ngemuva kwaloko batsi: “EMbusweni waNkulunkulu sitawungena sendlule ekuhluphekeni lokunyenti.”​—Imisebenti 14:20-22.

Thimothi wabona kutsi Pawula abecinisile ngobe bekake wambona ahlushwa ngenca yekushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi. Thimothi bekati kahle kutsi nakangalingisela Pawula bekatabe utidvonsela emanti ngemsele njengobe bantfu baseListra bekabati kahle futsi bekati nekutsi babe  wakhe abengeke aze ahambisane nalesincumo sakhe. Kodvwa Thimothi akazange akuvumele konkhe loku kutsi kumente ashintje indlela lafuna kukhonta ngayo Nkulunkulu. Banyenti bantfu labasha labasesimeni lesifana nesaThimothi lamuhla. Ngako kufanele babe nebangani labanekukholwa lokucinile labatawubakhutsata baphindze babacinise. Bantfu labasha batawube benta kahle nangabe bangavumeli nome ngayini kutsi ibayekelise indlela labafuna kumkhonta ngayo Nkulunkulu.

Njengobe sishito ekucaleni Pawula wabuyela eListra ngemuva kweminyaka lemibili nobe lemitsatfu. Cabanga ngendlela labajabula ngayo ekhabo Thimothi nababona Pawula naSilasi. NaPawula abejabule kakhulu kuphindze ababone. Wayibona imiphumela lemihle leyaba khona ngekushumayela kwabo eListra. Wakhandza Lowisi naYunisi sebangamaKhristu lavutsiwe ‘lanekukholwa lokute kutentisa’ futsi loko kwamjabulisa Pawula. (2 Thimothi 1:5) Thimothi abechuba njani yena?

Pawula bamtjela kutsi Thimothi abesatfutfuke kakhulu. ‘Bazalwane baseListra bebakhuluma kahle ngaThimothi’ ngisho nebazalwane base-Ikhoniyu lebeyichele ngemakhilomitha langu-32. (Imisebenti 16:2) Watakhela njani ligama lelihle?

“ImiBhalo lengcwele” Thimothi lafundziswa yona ‘kusukela aseluswane’ beyifaka ekhatsi seluleko lesingasita bantfu labasha. (2 Thimothi 3:15) Nangu lomunye umBhalo lokungenteka abefundzelwa wona: “Khumbula uMdali wakho etinsukwini tebusha bakho.” (Umshumayeli 12:1) Lamavi lawa amtsintsa kakhulu Thimothi njengobe besekangumKhristu. Wabona kutsi indlela lencono kakhulu yekukhumbula uMdali wakhe kushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi ngaJesu Khristu. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi Thimothi wababete emahloni futsi waba nesibindzi sekutjela labanye tindzaba letimnandzi.

Bazalwane babona kutsi Thimothi besekatfutfukile. Asingabati kutsi bebajabula kakhulu ngentfutfuko yakhe nendlela labekakhutsata ngayo labanye. Lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi Jehova wakubona kutimisela kwaThimothi. Nkulunkulu wenta kutsi kubhalwe tiphrofetho ngaThimothi lebetikhuluma ngekutsi bekatawukhonta emabandla lamanyenti. Njengobe Pawula bekavakashile wabona kutsi Thimothi bekangaba lusito lolukhulu kuye nakavakashela emabandla. Bazalwane baseListra bavumelana naye. Ngako babeka Thimothi tandla, loku bekukhombisa kutsi abekhetsiwe kute akhonte Jehova ngendlela lekhetsekile.​—1 Thimothi 1:18; 4:14.

Mhlawumbe Thimothi kwammangalisa kakhulu kubona indlela lebekatsenjwa ngayo. Besekakulungele kuhamba. a Njengobe babe waThimothi abengasuye umKhristu, bekatawenta njani ngobe indvodzana yakhe beseyikhetse kwenta umsebenti wekuhambela emabandla? Kungenteka bekafise kutsi indvodzana yakhe yenta lokutsite lokwehlukile. Bebativa njani bogogo waThimothi kanye namake wakhe? Bebatigcabha ngesincumo lebesentiwe nguThimothi kodvwa kungenteka bebakhatsatekile. Kuyintfo letayelekile kutsi umtali akhatsateke nakuhamba umntfwana wakhe.

Lesikwatiko kutsi Thimothi wagcine ahambile. Njengobe sishito ekucaleni kwalesihloko, Thimothi wakhetsa kuhamba nemphostoli Pawula. Njengobe abelishiya likhaya lakubo ahamba, sonkhe sinyatselo lasitsatsako besimbeka khashane nelikhaya lakubo. Ngemuva kwekutsi sebahambe lilanga lonkhe befika e-Ikhoniyu. Thimothi wabona indlela boPawula naBhanabasi labebandlulisa ngayo ticondziso lebetivela esigungwini lesibusako lebesiseJerusalema. Waphindze wabona nendlela labacinisa ngayo bazalwane base-Ikhoniyu. (Imisebenti 16:4, 5) Kodvwa loko bekumane nje kusicalo.

Nasebasuka emabandleni aseGalathiya bashiya umgcwaco lomkhulu waseRoma lobewakhiwe kahle base bahamba libanga lelidze badzabula endzaweni lebekile yaseFrigiya balibangise enyakatho base bajikela ngasenshonalanga. Umoya longcwele wabacondzisa eThrowasi labafike bagibela khona umkhumbi loya eMasedoniya. (Imisebenti 16:6-12) Ngaleso sikhatsi Pawula abesabona kutsi vele  Thimothi ulusito. Ngako washiya Thimothi naSilasi eBheriya. (Imisebenti 17:14) Ngalesinye sikhatsi waze wamtfuma yedvwa eThesalonika. Nakefika eThesalonika Thimothi wenta konkhe labekakubone kwentiwa boPawula, wacinisa bazalwane balapho.​—1 Thesalonika 3:1-3.

Ngemuva kweminyaka letsite Pawula watsi ngaThimothi: “Kute lomunye lenginaye lonjengaye, lotawutinakekela kahle tintfo letiphatselene nani.” (Filiphi 2:20) Lenchazelo lelangenhla beyimfanele Thimothi. Thimothi bekawukhutsalele umsebenti wekushumayela, atfobekile futsi abeketela. Thimothi usibonelo lesihle kubantfu labasha lamuhla. Tintfo lotentako ngito letingenta kutsi ukhulunyelwe kahle. Nangabe usemusha unelitfuba lelihle lekutakhela ligama ngekufuna uMbuso waNkulunkulu kucala nekuhlonipha labanye.

Thimothi wacitsa cishe iminyaka lengu-14 asebenta nemngani wakhe Pawula. Wabuva bunandzi bekushumayela waphindze watibona tinsayeya tekwenta lomsebenti waPawula. (2 Khorinte 11:24-27) Ngalesinye sikhatsi Thimothi waze waboshwa. (Hebheru 13:23) NjengaPawula naye abebatsandza kakhulu futsi abakhatsalela bazalwane. Kungako Pawula waze watsi: “Ngikhumbula tinyembeti takho.” (2 Thimothi 1:4) Thimothi besekafundze ‘kukhala nalabakhalako’ abavela kuze akhone kubadvudvuta. (Roma 12:15) Shengatsi sonkhe singenta njalo.

Ngenca yekutsi Thimothi bekaneluvelo, ngemuva kwesikhatsi waba ngumbonisi lokahle. Pawula akazange agcine kumtfuma kutsi ahambele amabandla kepha wamniketa nemsebenti wekumisa emadvodza labekufanelekela kuhola libandla kutsi akhonte njengalabadzala kanye netinceku letisebentako.​—1 Thimothi 5:22.

Pawula abemtsandza kakhulu Thimothi, bekamtsatsa njengemntfwanakhe amniketa teluleko. Wamkhutsata kutsi achubeke atfutfuka. (1 Thimothi 4:15, 16) Wamkhutsata kutsi angavumeli muntfu kutsi edzelele busha bakhe nekutsi angakuvumeli kwesaba bantfu kumente kutsi angameleli lokulungile. (1 Thimothi 1:3; 4:6, 7, 11, 12) Thimothi abehlushwa sisu futsi loko bekumkhatsata, ngako Pawula wamtjela kutsi yini labekangayenta kute abe ncono.​—1 Thimothi 5:23.

Pawula besekati kutsi sewutakufa, kungenteka abesatawutfola sigwebo sentsambo. Ngako wabhalela Thimothi incwadzi yekugcina. Lencwadzi beyicuketse nankha emavi: “Lwela kutsi ufike kimi masinyane.” (2 Thimothi 4:9) Pawula abemtsandza kakhulu Thimothi kangangekutsi waze watsi: ‘mntfwana wami lotsandzekako nalowetsembekile eNkhosini.’ (1 Khorinte 4:17) Kungako bekafuna kutsi Thimothi abe seceleni kwakhe njengobe besekatakufa. Sonkhe kufanele sitibute, Bantfu bangeta yini kimi nabacindzetelekile?

Thimothi wafika asaphila yini Pawula? Asati. Lesikwatiko kutsi bekenta konkhe lokusemandleni kute asite Pawula kanye nalabanye lebebadzinga kudvudvutwa. Thimothi walandzela ligama lakhe lelisho kutsi Loyo lodvumisa Nkulunkulu. Wabekela bonkhe bantfu sibonelo lesihle sekukholwa.