Ingliskeelne Urantia raamat on alates 2006. aastast kogu maailmas avalik.
Tõlked: © 2010 Urantia Sihtasutus
BESTOWAL OF THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
TÕE VAIMU ANNETAMINE
1955 194:0.1 ABOUT one o’clock, as the one hundred and twenty believers were engaged in prayer, they all became aware of a strange presence in the room. At the same time these disciples all became conscious of a new and profound sense of spiritual joy, security, and confidence. This new consciousness of spiritual strength was immediately followed by a strong urge to go out and publicly proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead.
2010 194:0.1 KELLA ühe paiku, kui sada kakskümmend uskujat palvetasid, tundsid kõik ruumis iseäralikku kohalolekut. Samas tunnetasid kõik need jüngrid uut sügavat vaimset rõõmu, kindlustunnet ja usaldust[1]. Sellele oma vaimujõu uuele tunnetamisele järgnes kohe tugev tung minna välja ning kuulutada avalikult taevariigi evangeeliumi ja head sõnumit, et Jeesus on surnuist üles tõusnud[2].
1955 194:0.2 Peter stood up and declared that this must be the coming of the Spirit of Truth which the Master had promised them and proposed that they go to the temple and begin the proclamation of the good news committed to their hands. And they did just what Peter suggested.
2010 194:0.2 Peetrus tõusis ja teatas, et see peab ilmselt olema Tõe Vaim, mida Meister oli neile lubanud, ja tegi ettepaneku siirduda templisse ning alustada nende kätte usaldatud hea sõnumi kuulutamist. Ning nad tegidki nii, nagu Peetrus oli ette pannud.
1955 194:0.3 These men had been trained and instructed that the gospel which they should preach was the fatherhood of God and the sonship of man, but at just this moment of spiritual ecstasy and personal triumph, the best tidings, the greatest news, these men could think of was the fact of the risen Master. And so they went forth, endowed with power from on high, preaching glad tidings to the people—even salvation through Jesus—but they unintentionally stumbled into the error of substituting some of the facts associated with the gospel for the gospel message itself. Peter unwittingly led off in this mistake, and others followed after him on down to Paul, who created a new religion out of the new version of the good news.
2010 194:0.3 Neile meestele oli õpetatud ja neid oli harjutatud, et evangeelium, mida nad peavad jutlustama, on Jumala isadusest ja inimesest kui Jumala pojast, kuid sel vaimse ekstaasi ja isikliku triumfi hetkel oli parim, suurim sõnum, millest nad oskasid mõelda, Meistri ülestõusmise fakt. Ja nii läksidki nad kõrgelt saadud väega kuulutama inimestele rõõmsat uudist — pääsemist Jeesuse kaudu —, kuid tegid tahtmatult selle vea, et asendasid evangeeliumisõnumi mõningate evangeeliumiga seotud faktidega. Peetrus tegi selle vea enese teadmata esimesena ja talle järgnesid teised kuni Pauluseni, kes lõi heade sõnumite uuest variandist uue religiooni.
1955 194:0.4 The gospel of the kingdom is: the fact of the fatherhood of God, coupled with the resultant truth of the sonship-brotherhood of men. Christianity, as it developed from that day, is: the fact of God as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, in association with the experience of believer-fellowship with the risen and glorified Christ.
2010 194:0.4 Taevariigi evangeeliumi sisuks on Jumala isaduse fakt koos sellest tuleneva tõega inimeste pojaseisusest-vendlusest. Sellest ajast on ristiusu sisuks kujunenud aga fakt, mis kõneleb Jumalast kui Issand Jeesus Kristuse Isast, ja uskujate vennaskonna kogemused seoses Kristuse ülestõusmise ja ülendamisega.
1955 194:0.5 It is not strange that these spirit-infused men should have seized upon this opportunity to express their feelings of triumph over the forces which had sought to destroy their Master and end the influence of his teachings. At such a time as this it was easier to remember their personal association with Jesus and to be thrilled with the assurance that the Master still lived, that their friendship had not ended, and that the spirit had indeed come upon them even as he had promised.
2010 194:0.5 Pole sugugi ime, et inimesed, kellesse vaim valati, haarasid kinni võimalusest väljendada oma tundeid seoses võiduga jõudude üle, mis olid püüdnud nende Meistrit hävitada ja tema õpetuste mõjule lõpu teha. Niisugusel ajal oli kergem mäletada oma isiklikku ühendust Jeesusega ja tunda värisemapanevat rõõmu kindlast teadmisest, et Meister elab ja nende sõprus pole lõppenud ning et vaim on tõesti nende peale tulnud, nagu ta oli lubanud.
1955 194:0.6 These believers felt themselves suddenly translated into another world, a new existence of joy, power, and glory. The Master had told them the kingdom would come with power, and some of them thought they were beginning to discern what he meant.
1955 194:0.7 And when all of this is taken into consideration, it is not difficult to understand how these men came to preach a new gospel about Jesus in the place of their former message of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men.
2010 194:0.7 Kõike seda arvestades pole raske mõista, miks need inimesed hakkasid kuulutama hoopis uut evangeeliumi Jeesusest ega jäänud oma endise sõnumi juurde Jumala isadusest ja inimestevahelisest vendlusest.
1. THE PENTECOST SERMON
1. NELIPÜHIJUTLUS
1955 194:1.1 The apostles had been in hiding for forty days. This day happened to be the Jewish festival of Pentecost, and thousands of visitors from all parts of the world were in Jerusalem. Many arrived for this feast, but a majority had tarried in the city since the Passover. Now these frightened apostles emerged from their weeks of seclusion to appear boldly in the temple, where they began to preach the new message of a risen Messiah. And all the disciples were likewise conscious of having received some new spiritual endowment of insight and power.
2010 194:1.1 Apostlid olid olnud peidus nelikümmend päeva. See nende jutlustamispäev oli juhtumisi juutide nelipühade aegu ja Jeruusalemmas oli tuhandeid külalisi kõigist maailma paigust[4]. Paljud jõudsid kohale pühade ajaks, kuid enamik viibis linnas juba paasapühast alates. Nüüd ilmusid need varem nii hirmunud apostlid pärast nädalaid kestnud eraldatust julgelt templisse ja hakkasid jutlustama uut sõnumit ülestõusnud messiast. Ning ka kõik jüngrid tundsid, et neile oli annetatud mingit uut vaimset taipamist ja jõudu.
1955 194:1.2 It was about two o’clock when Peter stood up in that very place where his Master had last taught in this temple, and delivered that impassioned appeal which resulted in the winning of more than two thousand souls. The Master had gone, but they suddenly discovered that this story about him had great power with the people. No wonder they were led on into the further proclamation of that which vindicated their former devotion to Jesus and at the same time so constrained men to believe in him. Six of the apostles participated in this meeting: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Matthew. They talked for more than an hour and a half and delivered messages in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, as well as a few words in even other tongues with which they had a speaking acquaintance.
2010 194:1.2 Kella kahe paiku tõusis Peetrus samale kohale, kus ta Meister oli selles templis viimati õpetanud, ja esines kirgliku üleskutsega, millega võitis juurde üle kahe tuhande hinge[5]. Meister oli läinud, ent nemad avastasid äkki, et temast jutlustamisel on inimestele tugev mõju. Pole ime, et see ajendas neid kuulutama seda, mis nende varasemat andumust Jeesusele põhjendas ja samal ajal veenis inimesi nii väga temasse uskuma. Koosolekul osales kuus apostlit: Peetrus, Andreas, Jaakobus, Johannes, Filippus ja Matteus. Nad rääkisid üle pooleteise tunni ja andsid sõnumeid edasi kreeka, heebrea ja aramea keeles ning mõne sõnaga ka teistes keeltes, mida veidi kõnelesid[6].
1955 194:1.3 The leaders of the Jews were astounded at the boldness of the apostles, but they feared to molest them because of the large numbers who believed their story.
2010 194:1.3 Apostlite julgus jahmatas juutide juhte, ent nad kartsid neid tülitada, sest nende lugu uskusid väga paljud.
1955 194:1.5 Pentecost was the great festival of baptism, the time for fellowshipping the proselytes of the gate, those gentiles who desired to serve Yahweh. It was, therefore, the more easy for large numbers of both the Jews and believing gentiles to submit to baptism on this day. In doing this, they were in no way disconnecting themselves from the Jewish faith. Even for some time after this the believers in Jesus were a sect within Judaism. All of them, including the apostles, were still loyal to the essential requirements of the Jewish ceremonial system.
2010 194:1.5 Nelipühad kujutasid endast suuri ristimispidustusi, aega, kui juutide kogukonda võeti vastu pöördunuid, Jahvet teenida soovivaid paganaid. Seepärast oli tol päeval paljudel juutidel ja uskuvatel paganatel kergem end ristida lasta. Seda tehes ei katkestanud nad oma sidet juudi usuga. Jeesusesse uskujad jäid ka mõneks ajaks pärast seda üksnes üheks judaismi sektiks. Nad kõik, kaasa arvatud apostlid, olid endiselt lojaalsed juutide tseremooniasüsteemi põhinõuetele.
2. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PENTECOST
2. NELIPÜHADE TÄHENDUS
1955 194:2.1 Jesus lived on earth and taught a gospel which redeemed man from the superstition that he was a child of the devil and elevated him to the dignity of a faith son of God. Jesus’ message, as he preached it and lived it in his day, was an effective solvent for man’s spiritual difficulties in that day of its statement. And now that he has personally left the world, he sends in his place his Spirit of Truth, who is designed to live in man and, for each new generation, to restate the Jesus message so that every new group of mortals to appear upon the face of the earth shall have a new and up-to-date version of the gospel, just such personal enlightenment and group guidance as will prove to be an effective solvent for man’s ever-new and varied spiritual difficulties.
2010 194:2.1 Jeesus elas maa peal ja õpetas evangeeliumi, mis vabastas inimese ebausust, et ta on kuradi laps, ja tõstis ta Jumala usupoja väärikasse seisusesse. Jeesuse sõnum, nagu tema seda jutlustas ja omal ajal elas, aitas tõhusalt lahendada inimese tolleaegseid vaimseid probleeme. Ja nüüd, kui ta oli isikuna maailmast lahkunud, saatis ta enda asemele Tõe Vaimu, kellel on määratud elada inimese sisimas ja esitada igale uuele põlvkonnale Jeesuse sõnum uuesti, et igal uuel maa peale ilmuval surelike rühmal oleks evangeeliumist uus ajakohane versioon, just selline isiklikku valgustumist ja rühma suunav läte, mis lahendab tõhusalt inimese üha uusi ja mitmekesiseid vaimseid probleeme.
1955 194:2.2 The first mission of this spirit is, of course, to foster and personalize truth, for it is the comprehension of truth that constitutes the highest form of human liberty. Next, it is the purpose of this spirit to destroy the believer’s feeling of orphanhood. Jesus having been among men, all believers would experience a sense of loneliness had not the Spirit of Truth come to dwell in men’s hearts.
2010 194:2.2 Selle vaimu esimeseks ülesandeks on muidugi edendada ja isikustada tõde, sest just arusaamine tõest on inimese vabaduse kõrgeim vorm. Teiseks on selle vaimu eesmärk kaotada uskuja orvutunne. Kuna Jeesus oli elanud inimeste seas, siis oleksid kõik uskujad tundnud üksindust, kui Tõe Vaim poleks tulnud inimsüdameisse elama[8].
1955 194:2.3 This bestowal of the Son’s spirit effectively prepared all normal men’s minds for the subsequent universal bestowal of the Father’s spirit (the Adjuster) upon all mankind. In a certain sense, this Spirit of Truth is the spirit of both the Universal Father and the Creator Son.
2010 194:2.3 See Poja vaimu annetamine valmistas tegelikult kõigi normaalsete inimeste meele ette Isa vaimu (Kohandaja) üleüldiseks annetamiseks kogu inimkonnale. Tõe Vaim on teatud mõttes nii Kõikse Isa kui ka Looja-Poja vaim.
1955 194:2.4 Do not make the mistake of expecting to become strongly intellectually conscious of the outpoured Spirit of Truth. The spirit never creates a consciousness of himself, only a consciousness of Michael, the Son. From the beginning Jesus taught that the spirit would not speak of himself. The proof, therefore, of your fellowship with the Spirit of Truth is not to be found in your consciousness of this spirit but rather in your experience of enhanced fellowship with Michael.
2010 194:2.4 Ärge arvake ekslikult, et saate väljavalatud Tõe Vaimust mõistusega kindlalt teadlikuks. Vaim ei tee inimest kunagi teadlikuks iseendast, vaid ainult Poeg Miikaelist. Jeesus õpetas algusest peale, et vaim ei räägi iseendast[9]. Seega ei leia te tõendit oma osadusest Tõe Vaimuga tema tunnetamisest, vaid pigem suuremast osadusest Miikaeliga.
1955 194:2.5 The spirit also came to help men recall and understand the words of the Master as well as to illuminate and reinterpret his life on earth.
2010 194:2.5 See vaim tuli, et aidata inimesi meenutada ja mõista Meistri sõnu, aga ka valgustada ja uuesti tõlgendada tema maist elu.
1955 194:2.6 Next, the Spirit of Truth came to help the believer to witness to the realities of Jesus’ teachings and his life as he lived it in the flesh, and as he now again lives it anew and afresh in the individual believer of each passing generation of the spirit-filled sons of God.
2010 194:2.6 Samuti tuli Tõe Vaim uskujale appi tunnistama Jeesuse õpetuse ja lihas elatud elu tõelisust, mida ta iga uue, vaimuga täidetud Jumala poegade põlvkonna igas uskujas üha uuesti ja uuenenult läbi elab.
1955 194:2.8 Jesus lived a life which is a revelation of man submitted to the Father’s will, not an example for any man literally to attempt to follow. This life in the flesh, together with his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection, presently became a new gospel of the ransom which had thus been paid in order to purchase man back from the clutch of the evil one—from the condemnation of an offended God. Nevertheless, even though the gospel did become greatly distorted, it remains a fact that this new message about Jesus carried along with it many of the fundamental truths and teachings of his earlier gospel of the kingdom. And, sooner or later, these concealed truths of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men will emerge to effectually transform the civilization of all mankind.
2010 194:2.8 Jeesuse elu on ilmutus Isa tahtele allunud inimesest, mitte eeskuju, mida iga inimene peaks püüdma täht-tähelt järgida. See lihas elatud elu koos ristisurmaga ja hilisema ülestõusmisega sai peagi uueks evangeeliumiks lunastusest, millega inimene osteti välja kurja haardest — ärapahandatud Jumala hukkamõistust. Ehkki see moonutas evangeeliumi väga, jääb siiski tõsiasjaks, et selle sõnumiga Jeesusest kanti edasi paljusid tema varasema taevariigi evangeeliumi põhitõdesid ja -õpetusi. Ja varem või hiljem kerkivad need varjatud tõed Jumala isadusest ja inimestevahelisest vendlusest esile ja muudavad tõhusalt kogu inimkonna tsivilisatsiooni.
1955 194:2.9 But these mistakes of the intellect in no way interfered with the believer’s great progress in growth in spirit. In less than a month after the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth, the apostles made more individual spiritual progress than during their almost four years of personal and loving association with the Master. Neither did this substitution of the fact of the resurrection of Jesus for the saving gospel truth of sonship with God in any way interfere with the rapid spread of their teachings; on the contrary, this overshadowing of Jesus’ message by the new teachings about his person and resurrection seemed greatly to facilitate the preaching of the good news.
2010 194:2.9 Need intellektuaalsed vead ei seganud aga kuidagi uskuja vaimu tublit edenemist. Vähem kui kuu ajaga pärast Tõe Vaimu annetamist saavutasid apostlid individuaalse vaimse edasimineku osas rohkem kui isiklike ja armastavate suhete käigus Meistriga peaaegu nelja aasta jooksul. See Jumala pojaseisuse evangeeliumi päästva tõe asendamine Jeesuse ülestõusmise faktiga ei seganud ka mingil viisil tema õpetuste kiiret levikut: vastupidi, Jeesuse sõnumi varjutamine uute õpetustega tema isikust ja ülestõusmisest näis heade sõnumite jutlustamist tunduvalt hõlbustavat.
1955 194:2.10 The term “baptism of the spirit,” which came into such general use about this time, merely signified the conscious reception of this gift of the Spirit of Truth and the personal acknowledgment of this new spiritual power as an augmentation of all spiritual influences previously experienced by God-knowing souls.
1955 194:2.11 Since the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth, man is subject to the teaching and guidance of a threefold spirit endowment: the spirit of the Father, the Thought Adjuster; the spirit of the Son, the Spirit of Truth; the spirit of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
1955 194:2.12 In a way, mankind is subject to the double influence of the sevenfold appeal of the universe spirit influences. The early evolutionary races of mortals are subject to the progressive contact of the seven adjutant mind-spirits of the local universe Mother Spirit. As man progresses upward in the scale of intelligence and spiritual perception, there eventually come to hover over him and dwell within him the seven higher spirit influences. And these seven spirits of the advancing worlds are:
2010 194:2.12 Teatud mõttes allub inimkond universumi vaimumõjude seitsmekordse külgetõmbe topeltmõjule. Surelike varased arenevad rassid on puutunud üha lähemalt kokku kohaliku universumi Emavaimu seitsme meeleabivaimuga. Intellektuaalse ja vaimse tajumise astmestikul edasi liikudes hakkavad inimest järk-järgult hõlmama ja tema sisimas elama seitse kõrgemat vaim-mõju. Need edasijõudvate maailmade seitse vaimu on:
1955 194:2.13 1. The bestowed spirit of the Universal Father—the Thought Adjusters.
2010 194:2.13 1. Kõikse Isa annetatud vaim — Mõttekohandaja;
1955 194:2.14 2. The spirit presence of the Eternal Son—the spirit gravity of the universe of universes and the certain channel of all spirit communion.
2010 194:2.14 2. Igavese Poja vaimu kohalolek — universumite universumi vaimugravitatsioon ja kogu vaimse ühenduse kindel kanal;
1955 194:2.15 3. The spirit presence of the Infinite Spirit—the universal spirit-mind of all creation, the spiritual source of the intellectual kinship of all progressive intelligences.
2010 194:2.15 3. Lõpmatu Vaimu vaimne kohalolek — kogu loodu kõikne vaim-meel, kõigi edasiliikuvate intellektiolendite intellektuaalse suguluse vaimne allikas;
1955 194:2.16 4. The spirit of the Universal Father and the Creator Son—the Spirit of Truth, generally regarded as the spirit of the Universe Son.
2010 194:2.16 4. Kõikse Isa ja looja-Poja vaim — Tõe Vaim, keda nimetatakse üldiselt universumi Poja vaimuks;
1955 194:2.17 5. The spirit of the Infinite Spirit and the Universe Mother Spirit—the Holy Spirit, generally regarded as the spirit of the Universe Spirit.
2010 194:2.17 5. Lõpmatu Vaimu ja universumi Emavaimu vaim — Püha Vaim, keda nimetatakse üldiselt universumi Vaimu vaimuks;
1955 194:2.18 6. The mind-spirit of the Universe Mother Spirit—the seven adjutant mind-spirits of the local universe.
2010 194:2.18 6. Universumi Emavaimu meel-vaim — kohaliku universumi seitse meeleabivaimu;
1955 194:2.19 7. The spirit of the Father, Sons, and Spirits—the new-name spirit of the ascending mortals of the realms after the fusion of the mortal spirit-born soul with the Paradise Thought Adjuster and after the subsequent attainment of the divinity and glorification of the status of the Paradise Corps of the Finality.
1955 194:2.20 And so did the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth bring to the world and its peoples the last of the spirit endowment designed to aid in the ascending search for God.
2010 194:2.20 Ja nii tõi Tõe Vaimu annetamine maailmale ja selle rahvastele viimase vaimuannetuse, mis on abiks Jumala otsinguil tõusuteel.
3. WHAT HAPPENED AT PENTECOST
3. MIS JUHTUS NELIPÜHADE AJAL
1955 194:3.1 Many queer and strange teachings became associated with the early narratives of the day of Pentecost. In subsequent times the events of this day, on which the Spirit of Truth, the new teacher, came to dwell with mankind, have become confused with the foolish outbreaks of rampant emotionalism. The chief mission of this outpoured spirit of the Father and the Son is to teach men about the truths of the Father’s love and the Son’s mercy. These are the truths of divinity which men can comprehend more fully than all the other divine traits of character. The Spirit of Truth is concerned primarily with the revelation of the Father’s spirit nature and the Son’s moral character. The Creator Son, in the flesh, revealed God to men; the Spirit of Truth, in the heart, reveals the Creator Son to men. When man yields the “fruits of the spirit” in his life, he is simply showing forth the traits which the Master manifested in his own earthly life. When Jesus was on earth, he lived his life as one personality—Jesus of Nazareth. As the indwelling spirit of the “new teacher,” the Master has, since Pentecost, been able to live his life anew in the experience of every truth-taught believer.
2010 194:3.1 Nelipühadega hakati seostama paljusid veidraid ja imelikke õpetusi. Selle päeva sündmusi, kui uus õpetaja, Tõe Vaim tuli elama koos inimkonnaga, on hakatud hilisematel aegadel segi ajama ohjeldamatu emotsionaalsuse rumalate puhangutega[14]. Isa ja Poja vaimu väljavalamise põhiülesanne on õpetada inimestele tõdesid Isa armastusest ja Poja halastusest. Need on jumalikud tõed, millest inimesed saavad paremini aru kui kõigest muust jumalikust. Tõe Vaimu eesmärk on eeskätt ilmutada Isa vaimu olemust ja Poja moraalset iseloomu[15]. Looja-Poeg ilmutas lihas olles inimestele Jumalat, Tõe Vaim ilmutab südames olles inimestele Loojat-Poega. Kui inimene kannab oma elus „vaimuvilju”, ilmutab ta lihtsalt neid jooni mis Meistergi oma maises elus[16]. Maa peal elas Jeesus oma elu ühe isiksusena — Jeesus Naatsaretlasena. Sisimas elava „uue õpetaja” vaimuna on Meister saanud alates nelipühist elada oma elu uuesti iga uskuja kogemuses, kellele tõde on õpetatud.
1955 194:3.2 Many things which happen in the course of a human life are hard to understand, difficult to reconcile with the idea that this is a universe in which truth prevails and in which righteousness triumphs. It so often appears that slander, lies, dishonesty, and unrighteousness—sin—prevail. Does faith, after all, triumph over evil, sin, and iniquity? It does. And the life and death of Jesus are the eternal proof that the truth of goodness and the faith of the spirit-led creature will always be vindicated. They taunted Jesus on the cross, saying, “Let us see if God will come and deliver him.” It looked dark on that day of the crucifixion, but it was gloriously bright on the resurrection morning; it was still brighter and more joyous on the day of Pentecost. The religions of pessimistic despair seek to obtain release from the burdens of life; they crave extinction in endless slumber and rest. These are the religions of primitive fear and dread. The religion of Jesus is a new gospel of faith to be proclaimed to struggling humanity. This new religion is founded on faith, hope, and love.
2010 194:3.2 Paljusid inimelu jooksul toimuvaid sündmusi on raske mõista, raske on harjuda mõttega, et selles universumis valitseb tõde ja võidutseb õiglus. Nii sageli näib, et valitsevad hoopis laim, valed, ebaausus ja ebaõiglus — patt. Kas usk saab lõppude lõpuks võidu pahe, patu ja kurjuse üle? Saab küll. Jeesuse elu ja surm on igavesed tõendid, et headuse tõde ja vaimust juhitud loodud-olendi usk saavad alati õiguse. Jeesust pilgati ristil: „Eks me näe, kas Jumal tuleb teda päästma[17].” Tol ristilöömispäeval oli pime, ent ülestõusmishommik säras auhiilguses ning nelipühi päev oli veel heledam ja rõõmsam. Pessimistliku meeleheite religioonid püüavad elu koormatest vabaneda, nad ihkavad kustumist unes ja puhkuses. Need on primitiivse hirmu ja kartuse religioonid. Jeesuse religioon on uus usuevangeelium, mida kuulutatakse raskustes heitlevale inimkonnale. See uus religioon rajaneb usul, lootusel ja armastusel[18].
1955 194:3.3 To Jesus, mortal life had dealt its hardest, cruelest, and bitterest blows; and this man met these ministrations of despair with faith, courage, and the unswerving determination to do his Father’s will. Jesus met life in all its terrible reality and mastered it—even in death. He did not use religion as a release from life. The religion of Jesus does not seek to escape this life in order to enjoy the waiting bliss of another existence. The religion of Jesus provides the joy and peace of another and spiritual existence to enhance and ennoble the life which men now live in the flesh.
2010 194:3.3 Surelik elu oli andnud Jeesusele kõige raskemaid, julmemaid ja kibedamaid lööke, aga see mees astus neile meeleheidet toovatele sündmustele vastu usu, julguse ja vankumatu otsusega täita Isa tahet. Jeesus oli silmitsi elu kõige kohutavate tõsiasjadega ja ta võitis — isegi surmas. Ta ei kasutanud religiooni elust vabanemiseks. Jeesuse religioon ei õpeta põgenemist sellest elust, et nautida mõnes teises eksistentsis ees ootavat õndsust. Jeesuse religioon annab teise, vaimse eksistentsi rõõmu ja rahu, et sellega saaks parandada ja ülendada inimese praegust lihalikku elu.
1955 194:3.4 If religion is an opiate to the people, it is not the religion of Jesus. On the cross he refused to drink the deadening drug, and his spirit, poured out upon all flesh, is a mighty world influence which leads man upward and urges him onward. The spiritual forward urge is the most powerful driving force present in this world; the truth-learning believer is the one progressive and aggressive soul on earth.
2010 194:3.4 Kui religioon on inimestele uinuti, siis pole see Jeesuse religioon. Jeesus keeldus ristil uimarohtu joomast ja tema kogu lihale väljavalatud vaim on vägev ülemaailmne mõjur, selle maailma võimsaim jõud, mis juhib inimest ülespoole ja ergutab teda edasi liikuma. Vaimne edasitung on selles maailmas võimsaim liikumapanev jõud, tõde õppiv uskuja on maa peal ainus edasiliikuv ja aktiivne hing.
1955 194:3.5 On the day of Pentecost the religion of Jesus broke all national restrictions and racial fetters. It is forever true, “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” On this day the Spirit of Truth became the personal gift from the Master to every mortal. This spirit was bestowed for the purpose of qualifying believers more effectively to preach the gospel of the kingdom, but they mistook the experience of receiving the outpoured spirit for a part of the new gospel which they were unconsciously formulating.
2010 194:3.5 Nelipühade ajal murdis Jeesuse religioon end välja kõigist rahvuslikest piirangutest ja rassi kammitsaist. On igavesti tõsi, et seal, kus on Issanda vaim, on vabadus[19]. Tol päeval sai Tõe Vaim Meistri isiklikuks kingituseks igale surelikule. See vaim annetati, et uskujad oleksid võimelised tõhusamalt taevariigi evangeeliumi jutlustama, ent nad pidasid väljavalatud vaimu saamise kogemust ekslikult osaks uuest evangeeliumist, mida olid alateadlikult kokku seadmas.
1955 194:3.6 Do not overlook the fact that the Spirit of Truth was bestowed upon all sincere believers; this gift of the spirit did not come only to the apostles. The one hundred and twenty men and women assembled in the upper chamber all received the new teacher, as did all the honest of heart throughout the whole world. This new teacher was bestowed upon mankind, and every soul received him in accordance with the love for truth and the capacity to grasp and comprehend spiritual realities. At last, true religion is delivered from the custody of priests and all sacred classes and finds its real manifestation in the individual souls of men.
2010 194:3.6 Ärge unustage, et Tõe Vaim annetati kõigile siirastele uskujatele, mitte ainult apostlitele. Uue õpetaja said kõik sada kakskümmend ülakambrisse kogunenud meest ja naist, samuti kõik ausa südamega inimesed kogu maailmas[20]. See uus õpetaja annetati kogu inimkonnale ja iga hing võttis ta vastu vastavalt oma tõearmastusele ja võimele vaimseid reaalsusi taibata ning neist aru saada. Ja lõpuks tuleb mainida, et tõeline religioon on vaba preestrite ja kõigi pühade klasside eestkostest ning avaldub tõeliselt iga inimese hinges.
1955 194:3.7 The religion of Jesus fosters the highest type of human civilization in that it creates the highest type of spiritual personality and proclaims the sacredness of that person.
2010 194:3.7 Jeesuse religioon edendab kõrgeimat liiki tsivilisatsiooni, sest loob kõrgeimat tüüpi vaimse isiksuse ja kuulutab selle isiku pühadust.
1955 194:3.8 The coming of the Spirit of Truth on Pentecost made possible a religion which is neither radical nor conservative; it is neither the old nor the new; it is to be dominated neither by the old nor the young. The fact of Jesus’ earthly life provides a fixed point for the anchor of time, while the bestowal of the Spirit of Truth provides for the everlasting expansion and endless growth of the religion which he lived and the gospel which he proclaimed. The spirit guides into all truth; he is the teacher of an expanding and always-growing religion of endless progress and divine unfolding. This new teacher will be forever unfolding to the truth-seeking believer that which was so divinely folded up in the person and nature of the Son of Man.
2010 194:3.8 Tõe Vaimu tulek nelipühade ajal tegi võimalikuks religiooni, mis pole ei radikaalne ega konservatiivne; see pole ei vana ega uus, seda ei pea valitsema ei vana ega noor. Jeesuse maise elu fakt on ajaankrule kindel pidepunkt ja Tõe Vaimu annetamine võimaldab tema elatud religioonil ja tema kuulutatud evangeeliumil igikestvalt avarduda ning lõputult kasvada. Vaim juhib kogu tõesse, ta õpetab avarduvat ja alati kasvavat lõputu edenemise ja jumaliku avanemise religiooni. See uus õpetaja avab tõde otsivale usklikule alati seda, mis Inimese Poja isikus ja olemuses nii jumalikult sisaldus.
1955 194:3.9 The manifestations associated with the bestowal of the “new teacher,” and the reception of the apostles’ preaching by the men of various races and nations gathered together at Jerusalem, indicate the universality of the religion of Jesus. The gospel of the kingdom was to be identified with no particular race, culture, or language. This day of Pentecost witnessed the great effort of the spirit to liberate the religion of Jesus from its inherited Jewish fetters. Even after this demonstration of pouring out the spirit upon all flesh, the apostles at first endeavored to impose the requirements of Judaism upon their converts. Even Paul had trouble with his Jerusalem brethren because he refused to subject the gentiles to these Jewish practices. No revealed religion can spread to all the world when it makes the serious mistake of becoming permeated with some national culture or associated with established racial, social, or economic practices.
2010 194:3.9 „Uue õpetaja” annetamisega kaasnenud avaldused ja apostlite õpetuse vastuvõtmine Jeruusalemma kogunenud erinevatest rassidest rahvaste poolt näitab Jeesuse religiooni universaalsust[21]. Taevariigi evangeeliumi ei tulnud seostada ühegi konkreetse rahva, kultuuri ega keelega. Tol nelipühi päeval tegi vaim suure jõupingutuse vabastamaks Jeesuse religiooni pärandiks saadud juutluse kammitsaist. Isegi pärast seda vaimu väljavalamist kogu liha peale püüdsid apostlid pöördunutele algul juudiusu nõudeid peale suruda. Pauluselgi oli oma Jeruusalemma vendadega raskusi, sest ta keeldus paganaid neile juudi tavadele allutamast. Ükski ilmutatud religioon ei saa levida üle kogu maailma, kui ta teeb nii tõsise vea, et imbub läbi mõne rahva kultuurist või sellega seotud ühiskondlikest, rahvuslikest või majandustavadest.
1955 194:3.10 The bestowal of the Spirit of Truth was independent of all forms, ceremonies, sacred places, and special behavior by those who received the fullness of its manifestation. When the spirit came upon those assembled in the upper chamber, they were simply sitting there, having just been engaged in silent prayer. The spirit was bestowed in the country as well as in the city. It was not necessary for the apostles to go apart to a lonely place for years of solitary meditation in order to receive the spirit. For all time, Pentecost disassociates the idea of spiritual experience from the notion of especially favorable environments.
2010 194:3.10 Tõe Vaimu annetamine oli sõltumatu kõigist formaalsustest, tseremooniatest, pühapaikadest ja selle täielikult vastuvõtnute erilisest käitumisest. Kui vaim tuli ülakambris viibinute peale, istusid nad lihtsalt seal, olles parajasti vaikses palves. Vaimu annetati nii linnades kui ka maal. Apostlitel polnud vaja minna vaimu vastuvõtmiseks üksildasse paika ja seal aastaid üksi mediteerida. Nelipühad vabastasid vaimse kogemuse idee kõigiks aegadeks kujutlusest, et selleks on vaja eriti soodsat keskkonda.
1955 194:3.11 Pentecost, with its spiritual endowment, was designed forever to loose the religion of the Master from all dependence upon physical force; the teachers of this new religion are now equipped with spiritual weapons. They are to go out to conquer the world with unfailing forgiveness, matchless good will, and abounding love. They are equipped to overcome evil with good, to vanquish hate by love, to destroy fear with a courageous and living faith in truth. Jesus had already taught his followers that his religion was never passive; always were his disciples to be active and positive in their ministry of mercy and in their manifestations of love. No longer did these believers look upon Yahweh as “the Lord of Hosts.” They now regarded the eternal Deity as the “God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.” They made that progress, at least, even if they did in some measure fail fully to grasp the truth that God is also the spiritual Father of every individual.
2010 194:3.11 Nelipühad koos selle vaimse annetusega pidid võtma Meistri religioonilt igaveseks igasuguse sõltuvuse füüsilisest jõust, selle uue religiooni õpetajad on varustatud vaimsete relvadega[22]. Nad peavad minema välja maailma vallutama ammendamatu andestavusega, võrratu hea tahtega ja küllusliku armastusega. Nad on suutelised ületama kurja heaga, võitma viha armastusega, hävitama hirmu julge ja elava usuga tõesse[23][24]. Jeesus oli oma poolehoidjatele juba õpetanud, et tema religioon ei ole kunagi passiivne: tema jüngrid pidid olema halastust pakkudes ja armastust avaldades alati aktiivsed ja positiivse hoiakuga. Need uskujad ei pidanud enam Jahvet „vägede Issandaks”[25]. Nende jaoks oli nüüd igavene Jumalus „Jumal ja Issanda Jeesuse Kristuse Isa”[26]. Vähemalt nii palju olid nad edasi jõudnud, kui nad ka mõnes mõttes ei saanud täielikult aru tõest, et Jumal on ühtlasi iga üksikisiku vaimne Isa.
1955 194:3.12 Pentecost endowed mortal man with the power to forgive personal injuries, to keep sweet in the midst of the gravest injustice, to remain unmoved in the face of appalling danger, and to challenge the evils of hate and anger by the fearless acts of love and forbearance. Urantia has passed through the ravages of great and destructive wars in its history. All participants in these terrible struggles met with defeat. There was but one victor; there was only one who came out of these embittered struggles with an enhanced reputation—that was Jesus of Nazareth and his gospel of overcoming evil with good. The secret of a better civilization is bound up in the Master’s teachings of the brotherhood of man, the good will of love and mutual trust.
2010 194:3.12 Nelipühad andsid surelikule inimesele võime andestada isiklikud solvangud, käituda meeldivalt ka keset rängimat ebaõiglust, jääda vankumatuks kohutava ohu ees ning heita väljakutse vihkamise ja viha pahedele kartmatute armastavate ja kannatlike tegudega. Urantia on oma ajaloos saanud tunda suuri laastavaid ja hävitavaid sõdu. Kõik neis kohutavates võitlustes osalejad said lüüa. Võitja oli vaid üks: neist kibedatest heitlustest väljus veelgi parema mainega vaid üks — see oli Jeesus Naatsaretlane ja tema evangeelium kurja võitmisest heaga[27]. Parema tsivilisatsiooni saladus peitub Meistri õpetustes inimestevahelisest vendlusest, armastust ja vastastikust usaldust näitavas heas tahtes.
1955 194:3.13 Up to Pentecost, religion had revealed only man seeking for God; since Pentecost, man is still searching for God, but there shines out over the world the spectacle of God also seeking for man and sending his spirit to dwell within him when he has found him.
2010 194:3.13 Kuni nelipühadeni oli religioon ilmutanud ainult Jumalat otsivat inimest. Alates nelipühist otsib inimene endiselt Jumalat, ent maailma kohal särab ka pilt Jumalast, kes otsib inimest, ja kui on ta leidnud, saadab oma vaimu tema sisimasse elama.
1955 194:3.14 Before the teachings of Jesus which culminated in Pentecost, women had little or no spiritual standing in the tenets of the older religions. After Pentecost, in the brotherhood of the kingdom woman stood before God on an equality with man. Among the one hundred and twenty who received this special visitation of the spirit were many of the women disciples, and they shared these blessings equally with the men believers. No longer can man presume to monopolize the ministry of religious service. The Pharisee might go on thanking God that he was “not born a woman, a leper, or a gentile,” but among the followers of Jesus woman has been forever set free from all religious discriminations based on sex. Pentecost obliterated all religious discrimination founded on racial distinction, cultural differences, social caste, or sex prejudice. No wonder these believers in the new religion would cry out, “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
2010 194:3.14 Enne Jeesuse õpetusi, mis kulmineerusid nelipühade ajal, oli naistel vanemate religioonide õpetustes vaid tühine või olematu seisund. Pärast nelipühi seisis naine taevariigi vennaskonnas Jumala ees mehega võrdsena. Nende saja kahekümne seas, kes said selle erakordse vaimuanni, oli palju naisjüngreid, ja nad pälvisid neid õnnistusi meesuskujatega võrdselt. Mees ei saanud enam usuteenistuse pidamist oma ainuõiguseks lugeda. Variser võis ka edaspidi Jumalat tänada, et ta „pole sündinud naiseks, leeprahaigeks ega paganaks”, ent Jeesuse pooldajate seas oli naine igasugusest usuga seotud soolisest diskrimineerimisest igaveseks vabastatud. Nelipühad kaotasid igasuguse rassilise, kultuurilise, ühiskonnakihtidel või soolistel eelarvamustel rajaneva usulise diskrimineerimise. Pole sugugi ime, et need uude religiooni uskujad hüüdsid: „Kus on Issanda vaim, seal on ka vabadus[28].”
1955 194:3.15 Both the mother and brother of Jesus were present among the one hundred and twenty believers, and as members of this common group of disciples, they also received the outpoured spirit. They received no more of the good gift than did their fellows. No special gift was bestowed upon the members of Jesus’ earthly family. Pentecost marked the end of special priesthoods and all belief in sacred families.
2010 194:3.15 Saja kahekümne uskuja seas olid kohal ka Jeesuse ema ja vend ning ka nemad said selle ühise jüngrirühma seas väljavalatud vaimu. Nad ei saanud sellest heast annist rohkem kui nende kaaslased. Jeesuse maise pere liikmed ei saanud mingit erilist andi. Nelipühad tähistasid erilisse preesterkonda ja kõikvõimalikesse pühadesse perekondadesse uskumise lõppu.
1955 194:3.16 Before Pentecost the apostles had given up much for Jesus. They had sacrificed their homes, families, friends, worldly goods, and positions. At Pentecost they gave themselves to God, and the Father and the Son responded by giving themselves to man—sending their spirits to live within men. This experience of losing self and finding the spirit was not one of emotion; it was an act of intelligent self-surrender and unreserved consecration.
2010 194:3.16 Enne nelipühi olid apostlid Jeesuse pärast paljust loobunud. Nad olid ohverdanud oma kodu, perekonna, sõbrad, maised asjad ja ametikohad. Nelipühade ajal andsid nad end Jumalale ning Isa ja Poeg vastasid sellele enda andmisega inimesele — oma vaimude saatmisega inimeste sekka elama. See enda kaotamise ja vaimu leidmise kogemus ei olnud emotsionaalne, see oli arukas enese allutamine ja täielik pühendumine.
1955 194:3.17 Pentecost was the call to spiritual unity among gospel believers. When the spirit descended on the disciples at Jerusalem, the same thing happened in Philadelphia, Alexandria, and at all other places where true believers dwelt. It was literally true that “there was but one heart and soul among the multitude of the believers.” The religion of Jesus is the most powerful unifying influence the world has ever known.
2010 194:3.17 Nelipühad oli kutse vaimsele ühtsusele evangeeliumisse uskujate seas. Kui vaim Jeruusalemmas jüngrite peale laskus, toimus sama ka Filadelfias, Aleksandrias ja kõigis teisteski paikades, kus elas tõelisi uskujaid. Oli sõna-sõnalt tõsi, et „uskujate hulgas oli vaid üks süda ja üks hing”. Jeesuse religioon on võimsaim ühendav mõju, mida maailm on kunagi tundnud[29].
1955 194:3.18 Pentecost was designed to lessen the self-assertiveness of individuals, groups, nations, and races. It is this spirit of self-assertiveness which so increases in tension that it periodically breaks loose in destructive wars. Mankind can be unified only by the spiritual approach, and the Spirit of Truth is a world influence which is universal.
2010 194:3.18 Nelipühad pidid vähendama üksikisikute, rühmade, rahvaste ja rasside enesekehtestamistungi. Just see enesekehtestamisvaim suurendab pingeid niivõrd, et neist puhkevad aeg-ajalt valla hävitavad sõjad. Inimkonda võib ühendada vaid vaimne lähenemisviis ja Tõe Vaimul on maailmale kõikne mõju.
1955 194:3.19 The coming of the Spirit of Truth purifies the human heart and leads the recipient to formulate a life purpose single to the will of God and the welfare of men. The material spirit of selfishness has been swallowed up in this new spiritual bestowal of selflessness. Pentecost, then and now, signifies that the Jesus of history has become the divine Son of living experience. The joy of this outpoured spirit, when it is consciously experienced in human life, is a tonic for health, a stimulus for mind, and an unfailing energy for the soul.
2010 194:3.19 Tõe Vaimu tulek puhastab inimhinge ja selle saaja sõnastab elueesmärgi, mis peab silmas Jumala tahet ja inimese heaolu[30]. Selles uues vaimse annetumise isetuses neeldub aineline isekusevaim. Nelipühad tähistasid siis ja tähistavad nüüdki ajaloolise Jeesuse saamist elava kogemuse jumalikuks Pojaks. Selle väljavalatud vaimu rõõm, mida inimelus teadlikult kogetakse, turgutab tervist, ergutab meelt ja annab hingele ammendamatult energiat.
1955 194:3.20 Prayer did not bring the spirit on the day of Pentecost, but it did have much to do with determining the capacity of receptivity which characterized the individual believers. Prayer does not move the divine heart to liberality of bestowal, but it does so often dig out larger and deeper channels wherein the divine bestowals may flow to the hearts and souls of those who thus remember to maintain unbroken communion with their Maker through sincere prayer and true worship.
2010 194:3.20 Vaimu ei toonud nelipühade ajal palve, kuid see aitas suuresti määratleda üksikuskujate vastuvõtuvõimet. Palve ei liiguta jumalikku südant nii, et see helde käega ande jagama nõustub, kuid sageli uuristab ja süvendab kanaleid, milles jumalikud annid võivad voolata nende südamesse ja hinge, kellel on meeles säilitada oma loojaga siira palve ja tõelise palveldamise kaudu katkematu osadus.
4. BEGINNINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
4. KRISTLIKU KIRIKU ALGUS
1955 194:4.1 When Jesus was so suddenly seized by his enemies and so quickly crucified between two thieves, his apostles and disciples were completely demoralized. The thought of the Master, arrested, bound, scourged, and crucified, was too much for even the apostles. They forgot his teachings and his warnings. He might, indeed, have been “a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,” but he could hardly be the Messiah they had hoped would restore the kingdom of Israel.
2010 194:4.1 Kui vaenlased Jeesuse nii kiiresti kinni võtsid ja ta sama ruttu kahe röövli vahel risti lõid, kadus apostlite ja jüngrite võitlustahe täielikult. Mõte, et Meister oli vahistatud ja kinni seotud, et teda oli piitsutatud ja risti löödud, oli liig isegi apostlitele. Nad unustasid tema õpetused ja hoiatused. Ta võis tõesti olla „teo ja sõna poolest vägev prohvet Jumala ja kõigi inimeste ees”, kuid sai vaevalt olla messias, kellest nad olid lootnud Iisraeli kuningriigi taastajat[31].
1955 194:4.2 Then comes the resurrection, with its deliverance from despair and the return of their faith in the Master’s divinity. Again and again they see him and talk with him, and he takes them out on Olivet, where he bids them farewell and tells them he is going back to the Father. He has told them to tarry in Jerusalem until they are endowed with power—until the Spirit of Truth shall come. And on the day of Pentecost this new teacher comes, and they go out at once to preach their gospel with new power. They are the bold and courageous followers of a living Lord, not a dead and defeated leader. The Master lives in the hearts of these evangelists; God is not a doctrine in their minds; he has become a living presence in their souls.
2010 194:4.2 Siis tuli ülestõusmine, mis vabastas nad meeleheitest ja taastas nende usu Meistri jumalikkusse. Nad nägid teda ikka ja jälle ja rääkisid temaga ning ta viis nad Õlimäele, kus jättis nendega hüvasti ja ütles, et läheb tagasi Isa juurde. Ta käskis neil jääda Jeruusalemma, kuni neile kingitakse vägi — kuni saabub Tõe Vaim. Ja nelipühade ajal tuligi see uus õpetaja ja nad läksid kohe uue jõuga oma evangeeliumi kuulutama. Nad olid elava Issanda, mitte surnud ja lüüasaanud juhi julged ja vaprad pooldajad. Meister elas nende evangelistide südameis, Jumal ei olnud nende meeles ainult doktriin: ta oli saanud elavaks kohalolekuks nende hinges.
1955 194:4.3 “Day by day they continued steadfastly and with one accord in the temple and breaking bread at home. They took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. They were all filled with the spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. And the multitudes of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, and they had all things in common.”
2010 194:4.3 „Ja nad jätkasid päevast päeva visalt ja ühel meelel pühakojas ja murdsid leiba kodus[32]. Nad võtsid rooga rõõmuga ja avali südamega, kiites Jumalat ja leides armu kogu rahva silmis. Nad kõik olid vaimust täidetud ja kuulutasid julgelt jumalasõna[33]. Ja uskujate hulgad olid südamelt ja hingelt ühtsed, ja mitte ükski neist ei öelnud, et mõni neile kuuluv ese oleks olnud tema oma, ja neil oli kõik ühine.”
1955 194:4.4 What has happened to these men whom Jesus had ordained to go forth preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man? They have a new gospel; they are on fire with a new experience; they are filled with a new spiritual energy. Their message has suddenly shifted to the proclamation of the risen Christ: “Jesus of Nazareth, a man God approved by mighty works and wonders; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you did crucify and slay. The things which God foreshadowed by the mouth of all the prophets, he thus fulfilled. This Jesus did God raise up. God has made him both Lord and Christ. Being, by the right hand of God, exalted and having received from the Father the promise of the spirit, he has poured forth this which you see and hear. Repent, that your sins may be blotted out; that the Father may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you, even Jesus, whom the heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things.”
2010 194:4.4 Mis juhtus nende meestega, keda Jeesus oli ametisse pühitsenud, et nad läheksid jutlustama evangeeliumi taevariiki, Jumala isadust ja inimestevahelist vendlust? Neil oli nüüd uus evangeelium, neid sütitas uus kogemus, nad olid täidetud uue vaimse energiaga[34]. Nende sõnum nihkus äkki ülestõusnud Kristuse kuulutamisele: „Jeesus Naatsaretlase, inimese, kelle Jumal vägitegude ja imedega heaks oli kiitnud; Jumala nõul ja teadmisel teile saadetud mehe lõite te risti ja tapsite. Nii täitis Jumal kõik prohvetite suu kaudu öeldud ennustused. Jumal tõstis selle Jeesuse üles. Jumal tegi temast Issanda ja Kristuse. Jumal on ülendanud ta oma paremale käele ja ta on saanud Isalt loa vaimu saata, ta valas välja selle, mida te kõik näete ja kuulete. Parandage meelt, et teie patud kustutataks; et Isa saadaks teile määratud Kristuse, Jeesuse, kes peab kuni kõigi asjade uuenemise ajani taevasse jääma.”
1955 194:4.5 The gospel of the kingdom, the message of Jesus, had been suddenly changed into the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They now proclaimed the facts of his life, death, and resurrection and preached the hope of his speedy return to this world to finish the work he began. Thus the message of the early believers had to do with preaching about the facts of his first coming and with teaching the hope of his second coming, an event which they deemed to be very near at hand.
2010 194:4.5 Taevariigi evangeelium, Jeesuse sõnum oli äkki muudetud evangeeliumiks Issandast Jeesusest Kristusest. Nad kuulutasid nüüd tõsiasju tema elust, surmast ja ülestõusmisest ning jutlustasid lootust tema peatsele tagasipöördumisele sellesse maailma oma alustatud tööd lõpule viima. Seega jutlustati varajaste uskujate sõnumis tema esimese tuleku fakte ja õpetati lootust tema teisele tulekule, sündmusele, mis oli nende arvates päris lähedal.
1955 194:4.6 Christ was about to become the creed of the rapidly forming church. Jesus lives; he died for men; he gave the spirit; he is coming again. Jesus filled all their thoughts and determined all their new concepts of God and everything else. They were too much enthused over the new doctrine that “God is the Father of the Lord Jesus” to be concerned with the old message that “God is the loving Father of all men,” even of every single individual. True, a marvelous manifestation of brotherly love and unexampled good will did spring up in these early communities of believers. But it was a fellowship of believers in Jesus, not a fellowship of brothers in the family kingdom of the Father in heaven. Their good will arose from the love born of the concept of Jesus’ bestowal and not from the recognition of the brotherhood of mortal man. Nevertheless, they were filled with joy, and they lived such new and unique lives that all men were attracted to their teachings about Jesus. They made the great mistake of using the living and illustrative commentary on the gospel of the kingdom for that gospel, but even that represented the greatest religion mankind had ever known.
2010 194:4.6 Kristusest pidi saama selle kiiresti kujuneva kiriku usutunnistus. Jeesus elab, ta suri inimeste eest, ta andis neile vaimu, ta tuleb uuesti. Jeesus täitis kõik nende mõtted ja määras kogu nende uue arusaama Jumalast ja kõigest muust. Nad olid liialt vaimustuses uuest doktriinist, et „Jumal on Issanda Jeesuse Isa”, huvitumaks vanast sõnumist, et „Jumal on armastav Isa kõigile inimestele,” isegi igale üksikule inimesele[35][36]. Tõsi küll, neis algsetes uskujate kogukondades avaldus imeline vennalik armastus ja enneolematu hea tahe. Ent see oli Jeesusesse uskujate vennaskond, mitte taevase Isa taevariigi pere vennaskond. Nende hea tahe tulenes Jeesuse annetumisest sündinud armastusest, mitte surelike inimeste vendluse tunnistamisest. Hoolimata sellest täitis neid rõõm ning nad elasid nii uut ja ainulaadset elu, et nende õpetused Jeesusest mõjusid kõigile inimestele ligitõmbavalt. Nad tegid sellega suure vea, et kasutasid evangeeliumi asemel elavat ja illustreerivat kommentaari sellele evangeeliumile, ent ka see oli suurim religioon, mida inimkond oli iial tundnud.
1955 194:4.7 Unmistakably, a new fellowship was arising in the world. “The multitude who believed continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” They called each other brother and sister; they greeted one another with a holy kiss; they ministered to the poor. It was a fellowship of living as well as of worship. They were not communal by decree but by the desire to share their goods with their fellow believers. They confidently expected that Jesus would return to complete the establishment of the Father’s kingdom during their generation. This spontaneous sharing of earthly possessions was not a direct feature of Jesus’ teaching; it came about because these men and women so sincerely and so confidently believed that he was to return any day to finish his work and to consummate the kingdom. But the final results of this well-meant experiment in thoughtless brotherly love were disastrous and sorrow-breeding. Thousands of earnest believers sold their property and disposed of all their capital goods and other productive assets. With the passing of time, the dwindling resources of Christian “equal-sharing” came to an end—but the world did not. Very soon the believers at Antioch were taking up a collection to keep their fellow believers at Jerusalem from starving.
2010 194:4.7 Maailmas oli kahtlemata tekkimas uus vennaskond. „Uskujate hulgad püsisid vankumatult apostlite õpetuste juures ja suhtlesid omavahel vennalikult, murdsid leiba ja palvetasid.” Nad nimetasid üksteist vendadeks ja õdedeks, nad tervitasid üksteist püha suudlusega, nad hoolitsesid vaeste eest[37][38][39]. See oli osadus elus ja palveldamises[40]. Nad ei elanud ühiselu kellegi käsul, vaid soovist jagada kõike neile kuuluvat oma uskujatest kaaslastega[41]. Nad uskusid ja lootsid, et Jeesus tuleb veel nende põlvkonna ajal tagasi Isa taevariigi rajamist lõpule viima. See maiste varade spontaanne omavahel jagamine ei tulenenud otseselt Jeesuse õpetusest; see tekkis, sest need mehed ja naised uskusid nii siiralt ja kindlalt, et Meister võib tulla kas või hommepäev oma tööd lõpetama ja taevariiki teostama. Ent selle heade kavatsustega, kuid mõtlematu vennaarmastuse eksperimendi lõpptulemused tõid vaid häda ja kurvastust. Tuhanded tõsimeelsed uskujad müüsid oma vara ja likvideerisid kogu oma kinnisvara ning tootmisvahendid[42]. Aja möödudes hakkasid kristliku „võrdse jaotamise” kahanevad ressursid lõppema—aga maailm kestis edasi. Üsna pea alustasid Antiookia uskujad korjandustega, et nende uskujatest kaaslased Jeruusalemmas nälga ei sureks[43].
1955 194:4.8 In these days they celebrated the Lord’s Supper after the manner of its establishment; that is, they assembled for a social meal of good fellowship and partook of the sacrament at the end of the meal.
2010 194:4.8 Neil päevil pühitseti püha õhtusöömaaega samal viisil, nagu see traditsioon alguse oli saanud: tuldi kokku ühiseks vennalikuks eineks ja osaleti söömaaja lõpul sakramendis.
1955 194:4.9 At first they baptized in the name of Jesus; it was almost twenty years before they began to baptize in “the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Baptism was all that was required for admission into the fellowship of believers. They had no organization as yet; it was simply the Jesus brotherhood.
1955 194:4.10 This Jesus sect was growing rapidly, and once more the Sadducees took notice of them. The Pharisees were little bothered about the situation, seeing that none of the teachings in any way interfered with the observance of the Jewish laws. But the Sadducees began to put the leaders of the Jesus sect in jail until they were prevailed upon to accept the counsel of one of the leading rabbis, Gamaliel, who advised them: “Refrain from these men and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest haply you be found even to be fighting against God.” They decided to follow Gamaliel’s counsel, and there ensued a time of peace and quiet in Jerusalem, during which the new gospel about Jesus spread rapidly.
2010 194:4.10 See Jeesuse sekt kasvas kiiresti ja saduserid hakkasid neid jälle tähele panema. Varisere häiris säärane olukord vähe, sest ükski neist õpetustest ei seganud mingil viisil juutide seaduste järgimist. Saduserid aga hakkasid Jeesuse sekti juhte vangistama, kuni neid veendi kuulama ühe juhtiva rabi Gamalieli nõuannet, kes soovitas: „Hoiduge neist inimestest eemale ja jätke nad rahule, sest kui see nõu või tegu on inimestest, siis läheb see tühja; aga kui see on Jumalast, ei suuda teie seda hävitada —, et teist ei saaks sõdijad Jumala enese vastu[45][46].” Nad võtsid Gamalieli nõu kuulda ning Jeruusalemma saabus rahu ja vaikuse aeg, mil uus evangeelium Jeesusest kiiresti levis[47].
1955 194:4.11 And so all went well in Jerusalem until the time of the coming of the Greeks in large numbers from Alexandria. Two of the pupils of Rodan arrived in Jerusalem and made many converts from among the Hellenists. Among their early converts were Stephen and Barnabas. These able Greeks did not so much have the Jewish viewpoint, and they did not so well conform to the Jewish mode of worship and other ceremonial practices. And it was the doings of these Greek believers that terminated the peaceful relations between the Jesus brotherhood and the Pharisees and Sadducees. Stephen and his Greek associate began to preach more as Jesus taught, and this brought them into immediate conflict with the Jewish rulers. In one of Stephen’s public sermons, when he reached the objectionable part of the discourse, they dispensed with all formalities of trial and proceeded to stone him to death on the spot.
2010 194:4.11 Nii kulges Jeruusalemmas kõik hästi, kuni Aleksandriast hakkas suurel hulgal kreeklasi saabuma. Kaks Rodani õpilast saabus Jeruusalemma ja pööras oma usku palju helleniste. Nende varajaste pöördunute seas olid ka Stefanos ja Barnabas. Need võimekad kreeklased ei pidanud eriti kinni juutluse vaatepunktist ega kohanenud kuigi hästi juutide jumalateenistusetavade ja muude tseremooniatega. Ning nende kreeklastest uskujate tegevus tegi lõpu Jeesuse vennaskonna rahumeelsetele suhetele variseride ja saduseridega. Stefanose ja tema kreeklasest kaaslase jutlused sarnanesid rohkem Jeesuse õpetamisviisile ning see viis nad kohe juudi valitsejatega vastuollu. Kui Stefanos ühes oma avalikus jutluses jõudis kohani, mis tekitas vastuväiteid, loobuti kõigist kohtumõistmise formaalsustest ja pilluti ta sealsamas kividega surnuks[48].
1955 194:4.12 Stephen, the leader of the Greek colony of Jesus’ believers in Jerusalem, thus became the first martyr to the new faith and the specific cause for the formal organization of the early Christian church. This new crisis was met by the recognition that believers could not longer go on as a sect within the Jewish faith. They all agreed that they must separate themselves from unbelievers; and within one month from the death of Stephen the church at Jerusalem had been organized under the leadership of Peter, and James the brother of Jesus had been installed as its titular head.
2010 194:4.12 Stefanosest, Jeesusesse uskuvate kreeklaste koloonia juhist Jeruusalemmas, sai sel moel uue usu esimene märter ja ta andis ajendi algse ristiusukiriku organiseerumiseks. Selle uue kriisi mõjul jõuti arusaamisele, et uskujad ei saa enam jätkata juudi usu ühe sektina. Kõik olid nõus, et on vaja end mitteuskujatest eraldada, ja üheainsa kuu jooksul pärast Stefanose surma oli Peetruse eestvedamisel moodustatud Jeruusalemmas kirik ning selle nimeliseks juhiks seati Jeesuse vend Jaakobus.
1955 194:4.13 And then broke out the new and relentless persecutions by the Jews, so that the active teachers of the new religion about Jesus, which subsequently at Antioch was called Christianity, went forth to the ends of the empire proclaiming Jesus. In carrying this message, before the time of Paul the leadership was in Greek hands; and these first missionaries, as also the later ones, followed the path of Alexander’s march of former days, going by way of Gaza and Tyre to Antioch and then over Asia Minor to Macedonia, then on to Rome and to the uttermost parts of the empire.
2010 194:4.13 Siis aga alustasid juudid uut halastamatut tagakiusamist, mistõttu uue, Jeesusest kõneleva religiooni aktiivsed õpetajad siirdusid Jeesust kuulutama impeeriumi kaugetesse nurkadesse[49][50]. Antiookias hakati seda uut religiooni ristiusuks nimetama. Enne Pauluse aega olid sõnumi levitamisel eesvedajateks kreeklased ja nii need esimesed kui ka hilisemad misjonärid järgisid Aleksandri kunagist teekonda, minnes Gaza ja Tüürose kaudu Antiookiasse ja sealt üle Väike-Aasia Makedooniasse, edasi Rooma ja impeeriumi kaugeimatesse paikadesse.