Aho kale bhalihoyi bhanhu abho bhalibhadagulebhile mhayo nhebhe abho bhikalaga muchalo na Sanjo. Jigabhita shigu ningi abhanhu bhenabho bhalikala bho nduhu ugugumana umhayo gunuyo kunguno ya kugayiwa munhu uogubhalomela chiza. Aho bhagudebha umhayo gunuyo bhagayega kunguno bhagamana igiki gashinaga igwandya bhali guti bhachile umugwikala bhadagumanile umhayo gunuyo. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagabhawila giki, “aho ng’wali mchile igwandya.”

Akahayile kenako kagalenganijiyagwa kuli nzunya uyo obhatijiwa wandya wikaji bhupya umukikalile kakwe. Umunhu ng’wunuyo agikomeja gwikala witogilwe na bhiye chiza na guleka gwita imihayo ya umushibhi, kunguno ya guntogwa Mulungu na bhiye, umuwikaji bhokwe bhunubho. Uweyi agabhalelaga bho gwikala ni lange lya guleka gwita mihayo ya bhubhi abhanhu bhakwe, kugiki bhadule gwikala bhalumanile na Yesu mpija obho uyo obhinja mubhusese bho gwita mihayo yabhubhi, umuwikaji bhobho.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agikolaga nabho bhagagumana bho gukeleja umhayo uyo bhalidagumanile umuwikaji bhobho, kunguno nuweyi aho oliatali ugunzunya Yesu, aliochile bho gwita mihayo yabhubhi, umuwikaji bhokwe bhunubho. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagang’wilaga giki, “aho ng’wali mchile igwandya.”

Akahayile kenako kalanga bhazunya higulya ya gubhulanhana chiza ubhuzunya bhobho bho gugikalana chiza amalagilo ga ng’wa Sebha, kugiki bhadule gushiga Ng’wigulu.

Wakolosai 2:4.

Wakolosai 2:8.

Wakolosai 2:20.

Wakolosai 3:1-11.

Waefeso 2:1-10.

KISWAHILI: PALE MLIPOKUWA MMEKUFA MWANZONI.

Hapo zamani walikuwepo watu ambao hawakulifahamu neno fulani katika kijiji cha Sanjo. Zilipata siku nyingi bila ya watu hao kupata uelewa wa neno hilo kwa sababu ya kukosa mtu wa kuwaelewesha vizuri.

Walipopata bahati ya kulifahmu neno hilo walifurahi kwa sababu waligundua kwamba walikuwa  kama wamekufa kwa kutokulifahamu neno hilo. Ndiyo maana watu waliwaambia kwamba “pale mlipokuwa mmekufa mwanzoni.”

Msemo huo hulinganishwa kwa mkristo aliyebatizwa akaingia kwenye maisha mpya ya neema katika maisha yake. Mtu huyo, hujibidisha kuishi kwa upendo na wenzake akiwafundisha watu kuacha dhambi kwa kutenda mema, kwa sababu ya upendo wake huo kwa Mungu na wenzake, maishani mwake. Yeye huwalea watu wake kwa kuwaonesha mfano wa kuuishi upendo wa Mungu na kuacha kutenda dhambi, ili waweze kuungana vizuri na Yesu Mkombozi aliwakomboa kutoka katika utumwa na dhambi, maishani mwao.

Mtu huyo hufanana na yule aliyechelewa kulielewa neno fulani katika maisha yake, kwa sababu naye alikuwa kama amekufa wakati wa kabla ya kumwamini Yesu na kubatizwa, hasa kwa kuishi maisha ya dhambi, maishani mwake. Ndiyo maana watu humwambia yeye na wenzake kwamba, “pale mlipokuwa mmekufa mwanzoni.”

Msemo huo hufundisha watu juu ya kuutunza vizuri ukristo wao kwa kuyaishi vizuri maagizo ya Mungu, ili waweze kufika Mbinguni.

Wakolosai 2:4.

Wakolosai 2:8.

Wakolosai 2:20.

Wakolosai 3:1-11.

Waefeso 2:1-10.

 

ENGLISH: WHERE YOU WERE DEAD IN THE BEGINNING.

Once upon a time, there were people in the village of Sanjo who failed to understand a certain word. They spent many days confused because there was no one who could explain it to them clearly.

When, at last, they came to understand the word, they were filled with joy. They realized that, before understanding it, they had been as if dead. Because of this experience, people said to them, “where you were dead in the beginning.”

This saying refers to a person who lives for a long time in ignorance or misunderstanding and only later comes to the truth. Before understanding, such a person is considered “dead,” but once enlightened, he or she begins a new and meaningful life.

This saying is equaled to a Christian who was baptized and entered into a new life of grace. Before believing in Christ, such a person lived as if dead, especially through a life of sin. Through faith and baptism, however, the person rises to new life in Christ.

The baptized Christian strives to live in love with others, teaches people to abandon sin by doing good, and bears witness through example. By living the love of God and rejecting sin, the Christian helps others to unite with Jesus the Redeemer, who frees humanity from slavery of sin.

Just as the villagers were once “dead” before understanding the word, so too was the believer spiritually dead before coming to Christian faith. That is why people say of such a person and his companions, “where you were dead in the beginning.”

This saying teaches Christians to care for their faith by faithfully living according to God’s commandments, so that they may persevere in grace and finally attain eternal life in Heaven.

Colossians 2:4.

Colossians 2:8.

Colossians 2:20.

Colossians 3:1–11.

Ephesians 2:1–10.