Eminye imifanekiso esemabhukwini ethu iyimidwebo nje kuphela engathathwanga kwezembali.

Loba kunjalo ikhona imithombo yezembali eveza okuthile ngendlela uPhawuli ayebukeka ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo i-Zion’s Watch Tower kaMarch 1 1902 yakhuluma ngelinye ibhuku elithi Acts of Paul and Thecla [Izenzo ZikaPhawuli loThecla], okungenzeka ukuthi labhalwa ngabo-150 A. D. Ibhuku leli lichaza indlela uPhawuli ayebukeka ngayo. Lithi: “Wayemfitshane, elempabanga, elezigwenxa, eqinile, elentshiya ezinkulu ezaziphosa zihlangane ebunzini futhi elempumulo ende.” Abantu abanengi bakholwa ukuthi okutshiwo libhuku leli mayelana loPhawuli kuliqiniso.

Esinye isichazamazwi okuthiwa yi-Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church esika-1997 sakhuluma ngebhuku leli sathi: “Asithandabuzi ukuthi kuliqiniso okwatshiwo libhuku elithi Acts of Paul and Thecla.” Ubufakazi butshengisa ukuthi endulo abantu babeliqakathekisa kakhulu ibhuku leli. Ngokwesibonelo kulamakhophi angu-80 ebhuku leli alotshwe ngesiGrikhi alokhu ekhona lalamuhla kanye lamanye alotshwe ngezinye izindimi. Ngakho imifanekiso kaPhawuli esemabhukwini ethu ihambelana lokutshiwo kwamanye amabhuku ezembali mayelana lendlela umphostoli lo ayebukeka ngayo.

Kodwa akumelanga sikhathazeke ngendlela ayebukeka ngayo ngoba kulezinto eziqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula lokhu. Ngesikhathi uPhawuli etshumayela kulabantu ababemchothoza besithi, “yena uqobo uyeyiseka lakukhulumayo kufana leze.” (2 Khor. 10:10) Kodwa okumele sikukhumbule yikuthi uJesu nguye owakhetha uPhawuli ukuthi abe ngumKhristu. Kanti njalo uKhristu wamenza waba ‘yisiphathelo sakhe esikhethiweyo ukuze athwale ibizo lakhe phambi kwabeZizwe.’ (ImiSeb. 9:3-5, 15; 22:6-8) UPhawuli waphefumulelwa ukuthi alobe ezinye izincwadi eziseBhayibhilini njalo kunengi esingakufunda kuzo.

UPhawuli kazange azitshaye isifuba ngalokho akwenzayo engakabi ngumKhristu njalo kazange akhulume ngendlela ayebukeka ngayo. (ImiSeb. 26:4, 5; Flp. 3:4-6) Wabhala wathi: “Mina ngingomncane kubaphostoli njalo kangifanelanga lokuthiwa mphostoli.” (1 Khor. 15:9) Waphinda wabhala wathi: “Lanxa ngimncane kulabancane bonke babantu bakaNkulunkulu, umusa lo ngawunikwa: ukuba ngitshumayele kwabezizweni inotho kaKhristu engacubungulekiyo.” (Efe. 3:8) Siyabona-ke ukuthi okwenziwa nguPhawuli kuqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula indlela ayebukeka ngayo.