TIMOTEYO aguma atera intambwe ata gukebaguzwa mw’ibarabara riva iwabo, ahanze amaso ibiri imbere. We n’abo bari kumwe bariko baca mu mirima Timoteyo azi neza. Igisagara bariko baravamwo ca Lusitira kiri ku gasozi gakikujwe n’ikiyaya. Nyina wa Timoteyo na inakuru wiwe bararyohewe naho badashaka kuvyerekana kandi Timoteyo arabizi. None ahindukire abasezere irya nyuma?

Ubu intumwa Paulo azokwumva aryohewe igihe cose azoza araraba Timoteyo. Yari azi ko uwo musore agifise amasoni ariko vyaramuhimbara kubona igishika ciwe. Timoteyo yari akiri muto, akaba kumbure yariko arava mu buyabaga canke ari mu gushikana imyaka 20. Yarubaha cane Paulo kandi yaramukunda cane. Ubu na ho Timoteyo ajanye n’uwo mugabo abangutse kandi w’umwizigirwa mu rugendo rw’ibilometero amajana kure y’iwabo. Baza kugenda n’amaguru hama bafate ubwato bahure n’ingorane zitari nke mu nzira. Timoteyo ntazi nimba azokwigera asubira kubona iwabo.

Ni igiki catumye uwo musore afata ingingo nk’iyo? Ni imihezagiro iyihe yoronse kubera ukwo kwitanga? Kandi ni ibiki twokwigira ku kwizera kwa Timoteyo?

Reka dusubire inyuma imyaka ibiri canke itatu, maze dufate ko i Lusitira ari ho iwabo na Timoteyo, kandi birashoboka cane ko ari co gisagara c’iwabo. Cari igisagara gitoyi, gisanzwe, kiri mu kiyaya gitekanye kandi kironka amazi akwiye. Abantu baho bashobora kuba baratahura ikigiriki ariko baravuga ururimi rwabo kavukire rw’ikinyalukawoniya. Umusi umwe ico gisagara caragiye mu ruhagarara. Abamisiyonari babiri ari bo Paulo na mugenzi we Barunaba bari baje bavuye mu gisagara kibanyi citwa Ikoniyo. Igihe bariko baramamaza Paulo yarabonye umugabo amugaye, arabona ko afise ukwizera nyakuri. Paulo rero yaciye akora igitangaro aramukiza.—Ivyakozwe 14:5-10.

Biboneka ko abantu benshi b’i Lusitira bemera inkuru z’ibitito zavuga yuko kera hariho imana zigira abantu zikaza mu karere k’iwabo. Abantu rero baciye biyumvira ko Paulo ari Herume, Barunaba na we akaba Zeyu! Abo bagabo babiri bifata ruto ntivyaboroheye kubuza abo bantu ngo bareke kubashikanira ibimazi.—Ivyakozwe 14:11-18.

Ariko hari abantu bakeyi i Lusitira babona ko Paulo na Barunaba atari imana zabagendeye ahubwo ko ari abantu nya bantu babazaniye ubutumwa bwiza. Nk’akarorero, Ewunise na nyina wiwe Lowisi barumvirije Paulo na Barunaba banezerewe. Ewunise yari Umuyudakazi yubakanye n’Umugiriki * batari basangiye ukwemera. Emwe ni ho bari bacumva inkuru Umuyuda wese w’umutima yari ashashaye, iyo na yo ikaba yari iy’uko Mesiya yamaze kuza kandi ko yashikije ibintu vyose vyari vyaranditswe ku bimwerekeye!

Iyumvire ukuntu Timoteyo yaryohewe n’urugendo rwa Paulo. Timoteyo yari yaramenyerejwe “guhera mu buhinja” gukunda ivyanditswe vyeranda vyo mw’Isezerano rya kera. (2 Timoteyo 3:15) Cokimwe na nyina be na inakuru, Timoteyo yarabona ko Paulo na Barunaba bavuga ukuri ku vyerekeye  Mesiya. Iyumvire kandi ivya wa mugabo yari amugaye Paulo yakiza. Kuva Timoteyo akiri muto ashobora kuba yaramubona incuro n’izindi ku mabarabara y’i Lusitira. Ubu hoho amubonye ariko aragendagenda ari bwo bwa mbere! Ntibitangaje kubona Ewunise na Lowisi barabaye abakirisu, Timoteyo na we akabigana. Muri iki gihe, hari vyinshi abavyeyi, ba nyokuru na ba sokuru bokwigira kuri Lowisi na Ewunise. Ubona gute uremesheje abakiri bato gukora ivyiza?

Abahavuye baba abigishwa ba Yezu i Lusitira bategerezwa kuba bararyohewe no kumenya icizigiro abayoboke ba Kristu bari bafise. Ariko baramenye kandi ko kuba umwigishwa wa Yezu hari ico bisaba. Abayuda b’ishaka rirenze bava muri Ikoniyo no muri Antiyokiya, baraje mu gisagara ca Lusitira bagumura abantu baho bahindukirira Paulo na Barunaba. Amasinzi yuzuye ishavu yaciye atangura gutera amabuye Paulo. Kubera ko bamuteye amabuye menshi, yaraguye hasi. Iryo sinzi ryaciye rimuburutira inyuma y’igisagara biyumvira ko yapfuye.—Ivyakozwe 14:19.

Ariko abigishwa b’i Lusitira baciye baja kuraba Paulo baramukikuza. Ese ingene biruhukije babonye yihindukije, agahaguruka maze n’umutima rugabo agasubira i Lusitira! Bukeye we na Barunaba baciye baja mu gisagara c’i Derube kugira babandanye kwamamaza. Bamaze guhindura abatari bake abigishwa barasubiye kurya umutima amenyo baragaruka i Lusitira. Gukora iki? Iyo nkuru igira iti: “Bakomeza imitima y’abigishwa, babaremesha kuguma mu kwizera.” Iyumvire umusore Timoteyo yakanuye amaso ariko arumviriza Paulo na Barunaba bariko barigisha abo bakirisu yuko vyari bibereye ko bagira ivyo bahevye kubera icizigiro kininahaye bafise. Bavuze bati: “Dutegerezwa kwinjira mu bwami bw’Imana duciye mu makuba menshi.”—Ivyakozwe 14:20-22.

Timoteyo yari yariboneye ingene Paulo abaho yisunga ayo majambo, akihanganira ibigeragezo abigiranye umutima rugabo kugira abwire abandi inkuru nziza. Timoteyo rero yari azi ko hamwe yokwigana akarorero ka Paulo, abantu b’i Lusitira bomurwanije. Mbere hari aho na se wiwe yomurwanije. Ariko Timoteyo ntiyaretse ngo ivyo bimubuze gukorera Imana. Muri kino gihe hariho abakiri bato benshi bameze nka Timoteyo. Barahitamwo neza abagenzi bafise ukwizera gukomeye bazobaremesha bakongera bakabakomeza. Vyongeye igihe babarwanije ntibaca bareka gukorera Imana y’ukuri.

Nk’uko twamaze kubivuga, bishoboka ko Paulo yagarutse i Lusitira haciye imyaka ibiri canke itatu. Ibaze nawe umunezero umuryango wa Timoteyo wagize igihe Paulo yashika, ico gihe akaba yari kumwe na Silasi. Nta gukeka ko na Paulo yanezerewe. Yarashobora kwibonera ivyiza vyavuye mu mbuto z’ukuri yari yarateragiye aho i Lusitira. Muri ico gisagara ni ho haba Lowisi n’umukobwa wiwe Ewunise, bakaba bari bamaze kuba abakirisu b’intahemuka bafise “ukwizera . . . kutagira ubwiyorobetsi.” Paulo yarakorwa ku mutima cane n’ukwo kwizera. (2 Timoteyo 1:5) Tuvuge iki kuri wa musore Timoteyo?

Paulo yaramenye ko uwo musore yari yarateye imbere bishemeye ugereranije n’igihe baherukana. Timoteyo “yavugwa neza n’abavukanyi,” atari i Lusitira gusa ariko no muri Ikoniyo, ku bilometero nka 32 mu buraruko bushira ubuseruko. (Ivyakozwe 16:2) None ni kubera iki yavugwa neza?

“Ivyanditswe vyeranda” Timoteyo yari yarigishijwe na nyina be na inakuru “guhera mu buhinja,” vyarimwo impanuro nziza zerekeye abakiri bato. (2 Timoteyo 3:15) Nk’akarorero mu Musiguzi 12:1 havuga hati: “Niwibuke rero Umuremyi wawe Ahambaye mu misi y’ubusore bwawe.” Timoteyo amaze kuba umukirisu yarafashe nka nkama ayo majambo. Yarabonye ko uburyo bwiza kuruta ubundi bwo kwibuka Umuremyi wiwe Ahambaye ari ukubwira abandi inkuru nziza yerekeye Kristu Umwana w’Imana. Bukebuke, Timoteyo yarashoboye gutsinda amasoni yari afise maze arabwira abandi n’umutima rugabo inkuru nziza yerekeye Yezu Kristu.

Abagabo baja imbere abandi mw’ishengero barabonye iterambere rya Timoteyo. Nta gukeka ko bakorwa ku mutima n’ingene uwo musore yakomeza abo bari kumwe bose akongera akabaremesha. Ariko rero igihambaye kuruta, Yehova yarabona Timoteyo. Imana yaratumye abantu bavuga amajambo menyeshakazoza amwerekeye, kumbure bakaba bavuze ibijanye n’igikorwa umusi uri izina yoranguriye mu mashengero menshi. Igihe Paulo yabagendera, yarabonye ko Timoteyo ashobora kumufasha mu ngendo yagira z’ubumisiyonari. Abavukanyi b’i Lusitira baravyemeye. Bararambitse ibiganza kuri uwo musore, ico kikaba ari ikimenyetso cerekana ko yari agenywe ngo arangurire Yehova Imana umurimo udasanzwe.—1 Timoteyo 1:18; 4:14.

Ivyo ari vyo vyose Timoteyo ashobora kuba yabona ko ukwo kumwizigira bigeze iyo hose be n’ico gikorwa bimurengeye. Yari yiteguriye kugenda. * None ko se wa Timoteyo atari umukirisu, yavyakiriye gute igihe uwo muhungu wiwe yamubwira ko agiye kuza arafata ingendo aja kwamamaza? Ategerezwa kuba yari amufitiye imigambi itandukanye cane n’uwo. Nyina wa Timoteyo na inakuru bo bavyakiriye gute? Boba baragize umunezero mwinshi bakagira n’amakenga ku bijanye n’umutekano w’uwo musore mugabo bakagerageza kuyanyegeza? Ivyo vyoba vyumvikana.

Ikizwi co Timoteyo yaragiye. Nk’uko vyavuzwe mu ntango z’iki kiganiro, yaremeye kuza arajana n’intumwa Paulo mu ngendo yagira. Uko yatera intambwe ava i Lusitira aca mu tubuyebuye, mu misenyi no mu vyatsi, ni ko yaba ariko yerekeza ahantu atazi, agana kure y’iwabo. Vyakabaye kera, abo bagabo batatu baratevye barashika muri Ikoniyo. Timoteyo yaciye atangura kwitegereza ingene Paulo na Silasi batanga ubuyobozi bushasha buvuye ku nama nyobozi y’i Yeruzalemu n’ingene bihatira gukomeza ukwizera kw’abakirisu bo muri Ikoniyo. (Ivyakozwe 16:4, 5) Iyo yari intango gusa.

Abo bamisiyonari bamaze kugendera amashengero y’i Galatiya, baravuye mu mabarabara y’Abaroma yagutse kandi ashashemwo amabuye maze bafata urugendo rw’ibilometero amajana baca mu misozi ihanamye y’i Firijiya, berekeza mu buraruko hanyuma baja mu burengero. Baragamburutse badaca ku ruhande ubuyobozi bw’impwemu nyeranda, baraja i Tirowa maze bafata ubwato baja i Makedoniya. (Ivyakozwe 16:6-12) Ico gihe Paulo yariboneye ingene Timoteyo abafasha. Yarashoboye kumusiga i Beroya ari kumwe na Silasi. (Ivyakozwe 17:14) Mbere yaratumye i Tesalonika uwo musore ari wenyene. Timoteyo ashitseyo yarakurikije ivyo  yari yarabonye kuri Paulo maze arakomeza abakirisu baho b’abizigirwa.—1 Abatesalonika 3:1-3.

Paulo yahavuye yandika ku bijanye na Timoteyo ati: “[Nta] wundi mfise ari n’umutima nk’uwiwe kandi yitaho ivyanyu koko.” (Abafilipi 2:20) Ivyo ntivyapfuye kwizana. Timoteyo yamenyekanye neza gutyo kubera yakora cane, akicisha bugufi akongera akihanganira ingorane adahemuka. Mbega akarorero keza ku bakiri bato bo muri iki gihe! Ntimwigere mwibagira ko ari mwe mwihesha izina ryiza. Nimba ukiri muto, urafise akaryo keza ko kwihesha izina ryiza mu gushira Yehova Imana mu kibanza ca mbere mu buzima bwawe no mu kugaragariza abandi umutima mwiza n’icubahiro.

Timoteyo yaramaze imyaka irenga nka 14 akorana cane n’umugenzi wiwe Paulo. Mu ngorane nyinshi zashikiye Paulo mu gikorwa ciwe, baba bari kumwe kandi barasangiye ibintu vyinshi biteye umunezero. (2 Abakorinto 11:24-27) Timoteyo yarigeze mbere gupfungwa azira ukwizera kwiwe. (Abaheburayo 13:23) Nka kumwe kwa Paulo, na we nyene yarakunda cane kandi akitwararika bidasanzwe abo basangiye ukwemera. Ni co gituma Paulo yamwandikiye ati: ‘Ndibuka amosozi yawe.’ (2 Timoteyo 1:4) Cokimwe na Paulo, biboneka ko Timoteyo yize ‘kurirana n’abarira,’ akishira mu kibanza cabo kugira ngo ashobore kubaremesha no kubahumuriza neza. (Abaroma 12:15) Ese natwe twobigenza gutyo!

Ntibitangaje kubona Timoteyo yahavuye aba umucungezi mwiza cane. Uretse ko Paulo yamushinze igikorwa co kugendera amashengero kugira ayakomeze yongere ayaremeshe, yaramujeje n’ibanga ryo kugena abagabo bakwije ibisabwa ngo babe abakurambere n’abakozi b’ishengero.—1 Timoteyo 5:22.

Paulo yarakunda cane Timoteyo. Yaraha uwo musore impanuro nyinshi za kivyeyi kandi ngirakamaro. Yahimirije Timoteyo kutanjanjwa ku ngabirano yari afise no kuguma atera imbere. (1 Timoteyo 4:15, 16) Yaremesheje Timoteyo kutigera areka ngo ubuto bwiwe, kumbure n’amasoni yari afise, ngo bimubuze gushikama ku kibereye igihe bikenewe. (1 Timoteyo 1:3; 4:6, 7, 11, 12) Paulo mbere yarahaye uwo musore impanuro z’ingene yovyifatamwo kubera yakunda kurwaragurika. Ashobora kuba yari afise indwara y’umushishito.—1 Timoteyo 5:23.

Harageze igihe Paulo arabona ko ari mu gupfa, bikaba biboneka ko yari mu kwicwa. Yararungikiye Timoteyo ikete rya nyuma. Ryarimwo amajambo akora ku mutima agira ati: “Kora uko ushoboye kwose uze aho ndi vuba.” (2 Timoteyo 4:9) Paulo yarakunda cane Timoteyo. Yamwita ngo “umwana wanje w’umukundwa kandi w’umwizigirwa mu Mukama.” (1 Abakorinto 4:17) Ategerezwa kuba yashaka kubonana n’uwo mugenzi wiwe imbere y’uko apfa. Umwe wese muri twebwe rero yokwibaza ati: ‘Igihe abandi bari mu ngorane, boba bandondera ngo ndabahumurize?’

Timoteyo yoba yarashoboye kubonana na Paulo imbere y’uko apfa? Nta vyo tuzi. Ico tuzi co ni uko yamye akora ukwo ashoboye kwose kugira ngo ahumurize yongere aremeshe Paulo n’abandi benshi. Yabayeho ahuza n’insobanuro y’izina ryiwe. Izina Timoteyo risobanura ngo “Uwutera iteka Imana.” Yaradusigiye twese abato n’abakuze akarorero twokwigana mu bijanye n’ukwizera.