Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 139 : DVANAEST APOSTOLA
Paper 139
The Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles
Apostoli su od Isusa naučili o nebeskom kraljevstvu, dok je Isus od njih mnogo naučio o kraljevstvu ljudi, o naravi ljudi koji žive na Urantiji i na drugim evolucijskim svjetovima vremena i prostora. Ovih dvanaest ljudi predstavljalo je mnoge različite vrste ljudske ćudi i nisu bili oblikovani u isti kalup školovanjem. Mnogi od tih galilejskih ribara nosili su snažnu primjesu nežidovske krvi kao posljedicu prisilnog obraćenja nežidovskog stanovništva Galileje stotinu godina ranije.
139:0.2 (1548.2)
The apostles learned from Jesus about the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus learned much from them about the kingdom of men, human nature as it lives on Urantia and on the other evolutionary worlds of time and space. These twelve men represented many different types of human temperament, and they had not been made alike by schooling. Many of these Galilean fishermen carried heavy strains of gentile blood as a result of the forcible conversion of the gentile population of Galilee one hundred years previously.
Bilo bi pogrešno smatrati apostole posve neukima i neobrazovanima. Osim Alfejevih blizanaca, svi su završili sinagoške škole, gdje su bili temeljito obrazovani u hebrejskim svetim pismima i u velikom dijelu tadašnjeg općeg znanja. Sedmorica su bili završili kafarnaumske sinagoške škole, a u cijeloj Galileji nije bilo boljih židovskih škola.
139:0.3 (1548.3)
Do not make the mistake of regarding the apostles as being altogether ignorant and unlearned. All of them, except the Alpheus twins, were graduates of the synagogue schools, having been thoroughly trained in the Hebrew scriptures and in much of the current knowledge of that day. Seven were graduates of the Capernaum synagogue schools, and there were no better Jewish schools in all Galilee.
Kad vaši zapisi opisuju ove glasnike kraljevstva kao „neuke i priproste“, to se odnosi na činjenicu da su bili svjetovnjaci, neupućeni u rabinski nauk i neobrazovani u metodama rabinskog tumačenja pisma. Nisu imali takozvano više obrazovanje. U suvremeno bi ih doba zasigurno smatrali neobrazovanima, a u nekim društvenim krugovima čak i nekulturnima. Jedno je sigurno: nisu svi prošli kroz isti kruti i stereotipni obrazovni program. Od rane mladosti nadalje svaki je od njih imao vlastiti životni put i zasebna iskustva koja su ga učila kako živjeti.
139:0.4 (1548.4)
When your records refer to these messengers of the kingdom as being “ignorant and unlearned,” it was intended to convey the idea that they were laymen, unlearned in the lore of the rabbis and untrained in the methods of rabbinical interpretation of the Scriptures. They were lacking in so-called higher education. In modern times they would certainly be considered uneducated, and in some circles of society even uncultured. One thing is certain: They had not all been put through the same rigid and stereotyped educational curriculum. From adolescence on they had enjoyed separate experiences of learning how to live.
Andrija, predsjedatelj apostolskog zbora kraljevstva, rođen je u Kafarnaumu. Bio je najstarije dijete u obitelji od petero djece — njega, njegova brata Šimuna i triju sestara. Njegov otac, koji je tada već bio preminuo, bio je Zebedejev partner u poslu sušenja ribe u Betsaidi, ribarskoj luci Kafarnauma. Kada je postao apostol, Andrija nije bio oženjen, ali je živio sa svojim oženjenim bratom, Šimunom Petrom. Obojica su bili ribari i poslovni partneri Jakova i Ivana, sinova Zebedejevih.
139:1.1 (1548.5)
Andrew, chairman of the apostolic corps of the kingdom, was born in Capernaum. He was the oldest child in a family of five—himself, his brother Simon, and three sisters. His father, now dead, had been a partner of Zebedee in the fish-drying business at Bethsaida, the fishing harbor of Capernaum. When he became an apostle, Andrew was unmarried but made his home with his married brother, Simon Peter. Both were fishermen and partners of James and John the sons of Zebedee.
Godine 26. po Kr., kada je izabran za apostola, Andrija je imao trideset i tri godine; bio je točno godinu dana stariji od Isusa i najstariji među apostolima. Potjecao je iz izvrsne loze predaka i bio je najsposobniji čovjek među dvanaestoricom. Osim u govorništvu, bio je ravan svojim suradnicima u gotovo svakoj zamislivoj sposobnosti. Isus nikada nije dao Andriji nadimak ni bratsku oznaku. Ali kao što su apostoli ubrzo počeli nazivati Isusa Učiteljem, tako su i Andriju označili imenom koje je odgovaralo naslovu Poglavara.
139:1.2 (1548.6)
In {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 26, the year he was chosen as an apostle, Andrew was 33, a full year older than Jesus and the oldest of the apostles. He sprang from an excellent line of ancestors and was the ablest man of the twelve. Excepting oratory, he was the peer of his associates in almost every imaginable ability. Jesus never gave Andrew a nickname, a fraternal designation. But even as the apostles soon began to call Jesus Master, so they also designated Andrew by a term the equivalent of Chief.
Andrija je bio dobar organizator, ali još bolji administrator. Bio je jedan od četvorice apostola unutarnjeg kruga, ali nakon što ga je Isus imenovao poglavarom apostolske skupine, morao je ostati na dužnosti sa svojom braćom, dok su druga trojica mogla uživati u vrlo bliskom zajedništvu s Učiteljem. Andrija je do samoga kraja ostao poglavar apostolskog zbora.
139:1.3 (1549.1)
Andrew was a good organizer but a better administrator. He was one of the inner circle of four apostles, but his appointment by Jesus as the head of the apostolic group made it necessary for him to remain on duty with his brethren while the other three enjoyed very close communion with the Master. To the very end Andrew remained dean of the apostolic corps.
Iako Andrija nikada nije bio uspješan propovjednik, bio je izvrstan u osobnom radu s ljudima i bio je pionirski misionar kraljevstva jer je, kao prvi izabrani apostol, odmah doveo Isusu svojega brata Šimuna, koji je kasnije postao jedan od najvećih propovjednika kraljevstva. Andrija je bio glavni zagovornik Isusova načela korištenja osobnog rada kao sredstva za obučavanje dvanaestorice za glasnike kraljevstva.
139:1.4 (1549.2)
Although Andrew was never an effective preacher, he was an efficient personal worker, being the pioneer missionary of the kingdom in that, as the first chosen apostle, he immediately brought to Jesus his brother, Simon, who subsequently became one of the greatest preachers of the kingdom. Andrew was the chief supporter of Jesus’ policy of utilizing the program of personal work as a means of training the twelve as messengers of the kingdom.
Bilo da je Isus privatno poučavao apostole ili propovijedao mnoštvu, Andrija je obično bio upućen u ono što se događalo; bio je razborit rukovoditelj i sposoban administrator. Brzo je donosio odluke o svakoj stvari koja mu je bila iznesena, osim ako bi smatrao da je problem izvan područja njegove ovlasti; u tom bi ga slučaju izravno iznio Isusu.
139:1.5 (1549.3)
Whether Jesus privately taught the apostles or preached to the multitude, Andrew was usually conversant with what was going on; he was an understanding executive and an efficient administrator. He rendered a prompt decision on every matter brought to his notice unless he deemed the problem one beyond the domain of his authority, in which event he would take it straight to Jesus.
Dok su se Andrija i Petar veoma razlikovali po karakteru i temperamentu, treba im zauvijek pripisati na čast da su se izvrsno slagali. Andrija nikada nije bio ljubomoran na Petrovo govorništvo. Rijetko se može naći stariji čovjek Andrijina kova koji bi vršio tako dubok utjecaj na mlađeg i nadarenog brata. Andrija i Petar nikada nisu osjećali ni najmanju uzajamnu ljubomoru, bilo zbog sposobnosti ili postignuća. Kasno navečer na dan Duhova, kada su, najvećim dijelom zahvaljujući Petrovoj energičnoj i nadahnjujućoj propovijedi, dvije tisuće duša bile pridodane kraljevstvu, Andrija je rekao svome bratu: „Ja to nisam mogao učiniti, ali mi je drago što imam brata koji to može.“ Na što je Petar odgovorio: „A da me ti nisi doveo Učitelju i svojom postojanošću zadržao uz njega, ne bih bio ovdje da ovo učinim.“ Andrija i Petar bili su iznimke od pravila, dokazujući da čak i braća mogu živjeti zajedno u miru i djelotvorno surađivati.
139:1.6 (1549.4)
Andrew and Peter were very unlike in character and temperament, but it must be recorded everlastingly to their credit that they got along together splendidly. Andrew was never jealous of Peter’s oratorical ability. Not often will an older man of Andrew’s type be observed exerting such a profound influence over a younger and talented brother. Andrew and Peter never seemed to be in the least jealous of each other’s abilities or achievements. Late on the evening of the day of Pentecost, when, largely through the energetic and inspiring preaching of Peter, two thousand souls were added to the kingdom, Andrew said to his brother: “I could not do that, but I am glad I have a brother who could.” To which Peter replied: “And but for your bringing me to the Master and by your steadfastness keeping me with him, I should not have been here to do this.” Andrew and Peter were the exceptions to the rule, proving that even brothers can live together peaceably and work together effectively.
Od svih apostola Andrija je najbolje znao prosuditi ljudsku narav. Znao je da se nevolja sprema u srcu Jude Iškariota čak i kada nitko od ostalih nije sumnjao da nešto nije u redu s njihovim blagajnikom, ali svoje sumnje nije povjerio nikome. Andrijin veliki doprinos kraljevstvu bio je u tome što je savjetovao Petra, Jakova i Ivana pri izboru prvih misionara poslanih da naviještaju evanđelje, kao i u savjetovanju tih ranih vođa o organizaciji upravnih poslova kraljevstva. Andrija je imao izvanredan osjećaj za prepoznavanje skrivenih sposobnosti i pritajenih talenata mladih ljudi.
139:1.8 (1549.6)
Of all the apostles, Andrew was the best judge of men. He knew that trouble was brewing in the heart of Judas Iscariot even when none of the others suspected that anything was wrong with their treasurer; but he told none of them his fears. Andrew’s great service to the kingdom was in advising Peter, James, and John concerning the choice of the first missionaries who were sent out to proclaim the gospel, and also in counseling these early leaders about the organization of the administrative affairs of the kingdom. Andrew had a great gift for discovering the hidden resources and latent talents of young people.
Ubrzo nakon Isusova uzašašća, Andrija je započeo pisati osobni zapis mnogih izreka i djela svojega pokojnog Učitelja. Ovaj privatni zapis kasnije je umnožen nakon Andrijine smrti i slobodno je kružio među ranim učiteljima kršćanske crkve. Ove Andrijine neslužbene bilješke kasnije su uređivane, dorađivane, mijenjane i dopunjavane, sve dok nisu poprimile oblik prilično slijednog prikaza Učiteljeva života na zemlji. Posljednji od tih malobrojnih izmijenjenih i dopunjenih primjeraka uništen je u požaru u Aleksandriji otprilike stotinu godina nakon što je prvoizabrani apostol napisao izvorni zapis.
139:1.9 (1549.7)
Very soon after Jesus’ ascension on high, Andrew began the writing of a personal record of many of the sayings and doings of his departed Master. After Andrew’s death other copies of this private record were made and circulated freely among the early teachers of the Christian church. These informal notes of Andrew’s were subsequently edited, amended, altered, and added to until they made up a fairly consecutive narrative of the Master’s life on earth. The last of these few altered and amended copies was destroyed by fire at Alexandria about one hundred years after the original was written by the first chosen of the twelve apostles.
Andrija je bio čovjek bistrog uvida, logičnog razmišljanja i čvrste odlučnosti, čija se velika snaga karaktera očitovala u njegovoj izvanrednoj postojanosti. Njegova temperamentna slabost bila je nedostatak entuzijazma; često je propuštao ohrabriti svoje suradnike razboritim pohvalama. Ta njegova suzdržanost u hvaljenju vrijednih postignuća svojih prijatelja proizlazila je iz njegova gnušanja prema laskanju i neiskrenosti. Andrija je bio jedan od onih svestranih, uravnoteženih i uspješnih ljudi skromnih životnih prilika čija su postignuća predstavljala rezultat vlastitih zalaganja.
139:1.10 (1550.1)
Andrew was a man of clear insight, logical thought, and firm decision, whose great strength of character consisted in his superb stability. His temperamental handicap was his lack of enthusiasm; he many times failed to encourage his associates by judicious commendation. And this reticence to praise the worthy accomplishments of his friends grew out of his abhorrence of flattery and insincerity. Andrew was one of those all-round, even-tempered, self-made, and successful men of modest affairs.
Svaki je od apostola volio Isusa, ali ipak ostaje činjenica da je svakog od dvanaestorice privukla neka određena osobina Isusove ličnosti koja ga je posebno privlačila. Andrija se divio Isusu zbog njegove dosljedne iskrenosti i njegova neusiljenog dostojanstva. Kada bi ljudi jednom upoznali Isusa, obuzimala ih je želja da ga podijele sa svojim prijateljima; uistinu su željeli da ga upozna cijeli svijet.
139:1.11 (1550.2)
Every one of the apostles loved Jesus, but it remains true that each of the twelve was drawn toward him because of some certain trait of personality which made a special appeal to the individual apostle. Andrew admired Jesus because of his consistent sincerity, his unaffected dignity. When men once knew Jesus, they were possessed with the urge to share him with their friends; they really wanted all the world to know him.
Kada su kasniji progoni naposljetku raspršili apostole iz Jeruzalema, Andrija je putovao kroz Armeniju, Malu Aziju i Makedoniju te je, nakon što je mnoge tisuće ljudi doveo u kraljevstvo, naposljetku bio uhvaćen i raspet u Patrasu u Ahaji. Ovaj snažni čovjek izdahnuo je tek nakon puna dva dana na križu, a tijekom svih tih tragičnih časova nastavio je djelotvorno naviještati radosnu vijest o spasenju nebeskog kraljevstva.
139:1.12 (1550.3)
When the later persecutions finally scattered the apostles from Jerusalem, Andrew journeyed through Armenia, Asia Minor, and Macedonia and, after bringing many thousands into the kingdom, was finally apprehended and crucified in Patrae in Achaia. It was two full days before this robust man expired on the cross, and throughout these tragic hours he continued effectively to proclaim the glad tidings of the salvation of the kingdom of heaven.
Učitelj je poznavao Šimuna već neko vrijeme prije nego što ga je Andrija predstavio kao drugog apostola. Kada je Isus dao Šimunu ime Petar, učinio je to sa smiješkom; to je trebala biti neka vrsta nadimka. Svi su njegovi prijatelji dobro poznavali Šimuna kao nepredvidljivog i impulzivnog čovjeka. Istina, kasnije je Isus tom olako danom nadimku pridodao novo i duboko značenje.
139:2.2 (1550.5)
The Master had known Simon for some time before Andrew presented him as the second of the apostles. When Jesus gave Simon the name Peter, he did it with a smile; it was to be a sort of nickname. Simon was well known to all his friends as an erratic and impulsive fellow. True, later on, Jesus did attach a new and significant import to this lightly bestowed nickname.
Šimun Petar bio je impulsivan čovjek, optimist. Od mladosti nadalje slobodno se prepuštao snažnim osjećajima; stalno je zapadao u teškoće zato što mu je jezik bio brži od pameti. Ova vrsta nepromišljenosti također je neprestano stvarala nevolje svim njegovim prijateljima i suradnicima i bila je razlogom mnogih blagih ukora koje je primio od svojega Učitelja. Jedini razlog što Petar nije upadao u još veće nevolje zbog svojih nepromišljenih riječi bio je taj što je vrlo rano naučio razgovarati o mnogim svojim planovima i zamislima sa svojim bratom Andrijom prije nego što bi se usudio javno ih iznijeti.
139:2.3 (1550.6)
Simon Peter was a man of impulse, an optimist. He had grown up permitting himself freely to indulge strong feelings; he was constantly getting into difficulties because he persisted in speaking without thinking. This sort of thoughtlessness also made incessant trouble for all of his friends and associates and was the cause of his receiving many mild rebukes from his Master. The only reason Peter did not get into more trouble because of his thoughtless speaking was that he very early learned to talk over many of his plans and schemes with his brother, Andrew, before he ventured to make public proposals.
Petar je bio rječit govornik, elokventan i dramatičan. Također je bio prirodan i nadahnjujući vođa ljudi, čovjek brzog razmišljanja, ali ne i dubokog rasuđivanja. Postavljao je mnoga pitanja, više nego svi ostali apostoli zajedno, i dok je većina tih pitanja bila dobra i relevantna, mnoga su bila nepromišljena i nerazborita. Petar nije imao dubok um, ali je dobro poznavao vlastiti um. Stoga je bio čovjek brzih odluka i naglih postupaka. Dok su drugi začuđeno razgovarali gledajući Isusa na obali, Petar je skočio u vodu i otplivao do obale kako bi susreo Učitelja.
139:2.4 (1550.7)
Peter was a fluent speaker, eloquent and dramatic. He was also a natural and inspirational leader of men, a quick thinker but not a deep reasoner. He asked many questions, more than all the apostles put together, and while the majority of these questions were good and relevant, many of them were thoughtless and foolish. Peter did not have a deep mind, but he knew his mind fairly well. He was therefore a man of quick decision and sudden action. While others talked in their astonishment at seeing Jesus on the beach, Peter jumped in and swam ashore to meet the Master.
Osobina kojoj se Petar kod Isusa najviše divio bila je njegova nadzemaljska nježnost. Petar nikada nije prestao razmišljati o Isusovoj strpljivosti. Nikada nije zaboravio lekciju o opraštanju prijestupniku, ne samo sedam puta nego sedamdeset puta sedam. Tijekom onih mračnih i turobnih dana neposredno nakon njegova nepromišljenog i nenamjernog nijekanja Isusa u dvorištu velikog svećenika, mnogo je razmišljao o dojmu koji je na njega ostavio Učiteljev karakter koji je uvijek sve opraštao.
139:2.5 (1551.1)
The one trait which Peter most admired in Jesus was his supernal tenderness. Peter never grew weary of contemplating Jesus’ forbearance. He never forgot the lesson about forgiving the wrongdoer, not only seven times but seventy times and seven. He thought much about these impressions of the Master’s forgiving character during those dark and dismal days immediately following his thoughtless and unintended denial of Jesus in the high priest’s courtyard.
Šimun Petar bio je bolno kolebljiv; iznenada je prelazio iz jedne krajnosti u drugu. Najprije je odbio dopustiti Isusu da mu opere noge, a zatim je, nakon što je čuo Učiteljev odgovor, molio da ga opere svega. Ali Isus je ipak znao da su Petrove mane bile stvar glave, a ne stvar srca. Bio je jedna od najneobjašnjivijih kombinacija hrabrosti i kukavičluka koja je ikada živjela na zemlji. Njegova velika snaga karaktera bila je odanost, prijateljstvo. Petar je stvarno i istinski volio Isusa. Pa ipak, unatoč toj uzvišenoj snazi odanosti, bio je toliko nestabilan i nedosljedan da je dopustio jednoj služavki da ga zadirkivanjem navede da zaniječe svojega Gospodina i Učitelja. Petar je mogao podnijeti progonstvo i svaki drugi oblik izravnog napada, ali je klonuo i ustuknuo pred podsmijehom. Bio je hrabar vojnik kada se suočavao s napadom sprijeda, ali kukavica koja je drhtala od straha kada bi ga napad iznenadio s leđa.
139:2.6 (1551.2)
Simon Peter was distressingly vacillating; he would suddenly swing from one extreme to the other. First he refused to let Jesus wash his feet and then, on hearing the Master’s reply, begged to be washed all over. But, after all, Jesus knew that Peter’s faults were of the head and not of the heart. He was one of the most inexplicable combinations of courage and cowardice that ever lived on earth. His great strength of character was loyalty, friendship. Peter really and truly loved Jesus. And yet despite this towering strength of devotion he was so unstable and inconstant that he permitted a servant girl to tease him into denying his Lord and Master. Peter could withstand persecution and any other form of direct assault, but he withered and shrank before ridicule. He was a brave soldier when facing a frontal attack, but he was a fear-cringing coward when surprised with an assault from the rear.
Petar je bio prvi među Isusovim apostolima koji je istupio u obranu Filipova rada među Samarijancima i Pavlova rada među nežidovima; ipak se kasnije u Antiohiji promijenio kada se suočio s podrugljivim judaistima, privremeno se povukavši od nežidova i tako navukavši na sebe Pavlovu neustrašivu osudu.
139:2.7 (1551.3)
Peter was the first of Jesus’ apostles to come forward to defend the work of Philip among the Samaritans and Paul among the gentiles; yet later on at Antioch he reversed himself when confronted by ridiculing Judaizers, temporarily withdrawing from the gentiles only to bring down upon his head the fearless denunciation of Paul.
139:2.8 (1551.4)
He was the first one of the apostles to make wholehearted confession of Jesus’ combined humanity and divinity and the first—save Judas—to deny him. Peter was not so much of a dreamer, but he disliked to descend from the clouds of ecstasy and the enthusiasm of dramatic indulgence to the plain and matter-of-fact world of reality.
Slijedeći Isusa, doslovno i preneseno, on je ili predvodio povorku ili se vukao za njom — „slijedeći izdaleka“. Ali Petar je bio najistaknutiji propovjednik među dvanaestoricom; osim Pavla, osobno je učinio više nego ijedan drugi čovjek u jednoj generaciji za uspostavu kraljevstva i slanje njegovih glasnika na četiri strane svijeta.
139:2.9 (1551.5)
In following Jesus, literally and figuratively, he was either leading the procession or else trailing behind—“following afar off.” But he was the outstanding preacher of the twelve; he did more than any other one man, aside from Paul, to establish the kingdom and send its messengers to the four corners of the earth in one generation.
Petar je ponovno pronašao samoga sebe nakon što se nepromišljeno odrekao Učitelja i pod Andrijinim suosjećajnim i razumijevajućim vodstvom, ponovno predvodio povratak ribarskim mrežama, dok su apostoli čekali da vide što će se dogoditi nakon raspeća. Kada se potpuno uvjerio da mu je Isus oprostio i kada je znao da je ponovno primljen u Učiteljevo stado, vatre kraljevstva gorjele su tako snažno u njegovoj duši da je postao veliko i spasonosno svjetlo tisućama onih koji su bili u tami.
139:2.10 (1551.6)
After his rash denials of the Master he found himself, and with Andrew’s sympathetic and understanding guidance he again led the way back to the fish nets while the apostles tarried to find out what was to happen after the crucifixion. When he was fully assured that Jesus had forgiven him and knew he had been received back into the Master’s fold, the fires of the kingdom burned so brightly within his soul that he became a great and saving light to thousands who sat in darkness.
Nakon što je napustio Jeruzalem i prije nego što je Pavao postao vodeći duh među kršćanskim crkvama nežidova, Petar je mnogo putovao, posjećujući sve crkve od Babilona do Korinta. Čak je posjetio i služio mnogim crkvama koje je Pavao osnovao. Iako su se Petar i Pavao veoma razlikovali u pogledu ćudi i obrazovanja, pa čak i u teologiji, tijekom kasnijih su godina skladno surađivali na izgradnji i jačanju crkava.
139:2.11 (1551.7)
After leaving Jerusalem and before Paul became the leading spirit among the gentile Christian churches, Peter traveled extensively, visiting all the churches from Babylon to Corinth. He even visited and ministered to many of the churches which had been raised up by Paul. Although Peter and Paul differed much in temperament and education, even in theology, they worked together harmoniously for the upbuilding of the churches during their later years.
Nešto od Petrova stila i učenja vidljivo je u propovijedima koje je djelomično zabilježio Luka i u Evanđelju po Marku. Njegov snažan stil još je jasnije izražen u njegovoj poslanici poznatoj kao Prva Petrova poslanica; barem je to vrijedilo prije nego što ju je kasnije izmijenio jedan Pavlov učenik.
139:2.12 (1552.1)
Something of Peter’s style and teaching is shown in the sermons partially recorded by Luke and in the Gospel of Mark. His vigorous style was better shown in his letter known as the First Epistle of Peter; at least this was true before it was subsequently altered by a disciple of Paul.
Ali Petar je ustrajao u pogrešci pokušavajući uvjeriti Židove da je Isus ipak doista pravi židovski Mesija. Sve do dana svoje smrti, Šimun Petar je nastavio trpjeti zbrku u svom umu između pojmova Isusa kao židovskog Mesije, Krista kao otkupitelja svijeta i Sina Čovječjeg kao objave Boga, Oca punog ljubavi prema cijelom čovječanstvu.
139:2.13 (1552.2)
But Peter persisted in making the mistake of trying to convince the Jews that Jesus was, after all, really and truly the Jewish Messiah. Right up to the day of his death, Simon Peter continued to suffer confusion in his mind between the concepts of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, Christ as the world’s redeemer, and the Son of Man as the revelation of God, the loving Father of all mankind.
Petrova supruga bila je vrlo sposobna žena. Godinama je predano služila kao članica ženskog zbora; kada je Petar bio prisiljen napustiti Jeruzalem, pratila je svojega muža na svim njegovim putovanjima prema crkvama kao i na svim njegovim misionarskim pohodima. A na dan smrti svojega slavnog supruga bila je bačena među divlje zvijeri u rimskoj areni.
139:2.14 (1552.3)
Peter’s wife was a very able woman. For years she labored acceptably as a member of the women’s corps, and when Peter was driven out of Jerusalem, she accompanied him upon all his journeys to the churches as well as on all his missionary excursions. And the day her illustrious husband yielded up his life, she was thrown to the wild beasts in the arena at Rome.
I tako je ovaj čovjek Petar, Isusov bliski prijatelj i član unutarnjeg kruga, izišao iz Jeruzalema objavljujući radosne vijesti kraljevstva sa snagom i slavom sve dok nije dovršio svoju službu; i smatrao je velikom čašću kada su mu njegovi zarobitelji rekli da mora umrijeti kao što je umro njegov Učitelj — na križu. I tako je Šimun Petar bio raspet u Rimu.
139:2.15 (1552.4)
And so this man Peter, an intimate of Jesus, one of the inner circle, went forth from Jerusalem proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom with power and glory until the fullness of his ministry had been accomplished; and he regarded himself as the recipient of high honors when his captors informed him that he must die as his Master had died—on the cross. And thus was Simon Peter crucified in Rome.
Jakov, stariji od dvojice apostolskih sinova Zebedejevih, koje je Isus prozvao “sinovima groma”, imao je trideset godina kada je postao apostol. Bio je oženjen, imao je četvero djece i živio je blizu svojih roditelja u Betsaidi, na periferiji Kafarnauma. Bio je ribar i obavljao je svoj poziv zajedno sa svojim mlađim bratom Ivanom, u partnerstvu s Andrijom i Šimunom. Jakov i njegov brat Ivan imali su prednost u tome što su poznavali Isusa dulje nego ijedan drugi apostol.
139:3.1 (1552.5)
James, the older of the two apostle sons of Zebedee, whom Jesus nicknamed “sons of thunder,” was thirty years old when he became an apostle. He was married, had four children, and lived near his parents in the outskirts of Capernaum, Bethsaida. He was a fisherman, plying his calling in company with his younger brother John and in association with Andrew and Simon. James and his brother John enjoyed the advantage of having known Jesus longer than any of the other apostles.
Ovaj sposobni apostol bio je proturječne ćudi; uistinu se činilo da je imao dvije prirode koje su pokretali snažni osjećaji. Bio je osobito žestok kada bi mu se jednom probudila srdžba. Imao je plahovitu narav kada bi bio dovoljno izazvan, a kada bi se oluja stišala, uvijek je bio sklon opravdavati i ispričavati svoju ljutnju pod izlikom da je ona bila samo izraz pravednog gnjeva. Ali izuzev tih povremenih izljeva srdžbe, Jakovljeva ličnost bila je veoma slična Andrijinoj. Nije imao Andrijinu razboritost ni uvid u ljudsku narav, ali je bio mnogo bolji javni govornik. Nakon Petra, osim možda Mateja, Jakov je bio najbolji javni govornik među dvanaestoricom.
139:3.2 (1552.6)
This able apostle was a temperamental contradiction; he seemed really to possess two natures, both of which were actuated by strong feelings. He was particularly vehement when his indignation was once fully aroused. He had a fiery temper when once it was adequately provoked, and when the storm was over, he was always wont to justify and excuse his anger under the pretense that it was wholly a manifestation of righteous indignation. Except for these periodic upheavals of wrath, James’s personality was much like that of Andrew. He did not have Andrew’s discretion or insight into human nature, but he was a much better public speaker. Next to Peter, unless it was Matthew, James was the best public orator among the twelve.
139:3.3 (1552.7)
Though James was in no sense moody, he could be quiet and taciturn one day and a very good talker and storyteller the next. He usually talked freely with Jesus, but among the twelve, for days at a time he was the silent man. His one great weakness was these spells of unaccountable silence.
Najistaknutija značajka Jakovljeve ličnosti bila je njegova sposobnost sagledavanja svih strana nekog pitanja. Od svih dvanaestorice, on se najviše približio razumijevanju stvarnog smisla i značaja Isusova nauka. I on je u početku sporo shvaćao Učiteljevo značenje, ali prije nego što su završili svoju obuku, stekao je uzvišen pojam o Isusovoj poruci. Jakov je bio sposoban razumjeti širok raspon ljudske naravi; dobro se slagao sa svestranim Andrijom, naglim Petrom i svojim povučenim bratom Ivanom.
139:3.4 (1552.8)
The outstanding feature of James’s personality was his ability to see all sides of a proposition. Of all the twelve, he came the nearest to grasping the real import and significance of Jesus’ teaching. He, too, was slow at first to comprehend the Master’s meaning, but ere they had finished their training, he had acquired a superior concept of Jesus’ message. James was able to understand a wide range of human nature; he got along well with the versatile Andrew, the impetuous Peter, and his self-contained brother John.
Iako su Jakov i Ivan imali svojih poteškoća nastojeći zajedno surađivati, bilo je inspirativno promatrati kako su se dobro slagali. Nisu bili tako uspješan par kao Andrija i Petar, ali su se slagali mnogo bolje nego što bi se to obično očekivalo od dvojice braće, osobito tako svojeglavih i odlučnih. No, koliko god to neobično zvučalo, ta su dvojica Zebedejevih sinova bila mnogo snošljivija jedan prema drugome nego prema strancima. Vezivala ih je duboka međusobna naklonost; odmalena su bili sretni drugovi u igri. Upravo su ti "sinovi groma" htjeli prizvati vatru s neba da uništi Samarijance koji su se usudili iskazati nepoštovanje njihovu Učitelju. No prerana Jakovljeva smrt uvelike je ublažila žestoku narav njegova mlađeg brata Ivana.
139:3.5 (1553.1)
Though James and John had their troubles trying to work together, it was inspiring to observe how well they got along. They did not succeed quite so well as Andrew and Peter, but they did much better than would ordinarily be expected of two brothers, especially such headstrong and determined brothers. But, strange as it may seem, these two sons of Zebedee were much more tolerant of each other than they were of strangers. They had great affection for one another; they had always been happy playmates. It was these “sons of thunder” who wanted to call fire down from heaven to destroy the Samaritans who presumed to show disrespect for their Master. But the untimely death of James greatly modified the vehement temperament of his younger brother John.
Bio je skroman i nenametljiv, svakodnevni služitelj i nepretenciozan radnik koji nije tražio nikakvu posebnu nagradu nakon što je barem djelomično shvatio stvarno značenje kraljevstva. Čak i u priči o majci Jakova i Ivana, koja je tražila da njezini sinovi dobiju mjesta s Isusove desne i lijeve strane, valja imati na umu da je taj zahtjev potekao od njihove majke. A kada su oni izrazili spremnost prihvatiti takvu odgovornost, treba naglasiti da su bili svjesni opasnosti koje su pratile Učiteljev navodni ustanak protiv rimske vlasti te da su bili spremni platiti cijenu. Kada ih je Isus upitao jesu li spremni piti čašu, odgovorili su da jesu. A što se Jakova tiče, to se doslovno obistinilo — doista je pio čašu zajedno s Učiteljem, jer je prvi među apostolima podnio mučeništvo, pogubljen mačem po nalogu Heroda Agripe. Tako je Jakov postao prvi od dvanaestorice koji je položio život na novoj bojišnici kraljevstva. Herod Agripa bojao se Jakova više nego ijednoga drugog apostola. Iako je često bio tih i šutljiv, bio je hrabar i nepokolebljiv kad god bi njegova uvjerenja bila osporavana i dovođena u pitanje.
139:3.8 (1553.4)
He was modest and undramatic, a daily server, an unpretentious worker, seeking no special reward when he once grasped something of the real meaning of the kingdom. And even in the story about the mother of James and John, who asked that her sons be granted places on the right hand and the left hand of Jesus, it should be remembered that it was the mother who made this request. And when they signified that they were ready to assume such responsibilities, it should be recognized that they were cognizant of the dangers accompanying the Master’s supposed revolt against the Roman power, and that they were also willing to pay the price. When Jesus asked if they were ready to drink the cup, they replied that they were. And as concerns James, it was literally true—he did drink the cup with the Master, seeing that he was the first of the apostles to experience martyrdom, being early put to death with the sword by Herod Agrippa. James was thus the first of the twelve to sacrifice his life upon the new battle line of the kingdom. Herod Agrippa feared James above all the other apostles. He was indeed often quiet and silent, but he was brave and determined when his convictions were aroused and challenged.
Jakov je živio punim životom, a kada je došao njegov kraj, držao se s takvim dostojanstvom i takvom duševnom snagom da je čak i njegov optužitelj i doušnik, koji je prisustvovao njegovu suđenju i pogubljenju, bio toliko ganut da se žurno udaljio od prizora Jakovljeve smrti kako bi se pridružio Isusovim učenicima.
139:3.9 (1553.5)
James lived his life to the full, and when the end came, he bore himself with such grace and fortitude that even his accuser and informer, who attended his trial and execution, was so touched that he rushed away from the scene of James’s death to join himself to the disciples of Jesus.
Kad je postao apostol, Ivanu su bile dvadeset i četiri godine i bio je najmlađi od dvanaestorice. Bio je neoženjen i živio je sa svojim roditeljima u Betsaidi; bio je ribar i radio je sa svojim bratom Jakovom u partnerstvu s Andrijom i Petrom. I prije i nakon što je postao apostol, Ivan je djelovao kao Isusov osobni zastupnik u odnosima s Učiteljevom obitelji, a tu je odgovornost nastavio nositi sve do kraja života Isusove majke Marije.
139:4.1 (1553.6)
When he became an apostle, John was twenty-four years old and was the youngest of the twelve. He was unmarried and lived with his parents at Bethsaida; he was a fisherman and worked with his brother James in partnership with Andrew and Peter. Both before and after becoming an apostle, John functioned as the personal agent of Jesus in dealing with the Master’s family, and he continued to bear this responsibility as long as Mary the mother of Jesus lived.
Budući da je Ivan bio najmlađi od dvanaestorice i tako usko povezan s Isusom u obiteljskim poslovima, bio je osobito drag Učitelju, ali ne bi bilo istinito reći da je bio "učenik kojega je Isus ljubio". Teško bi bilo zamisliti da bi tako velikodušna ličnost kao što je Isus bila kriva za pokazivanje pristranosti, za to da jednoga od svojih apostola ljubi više nego ostale. Činjenica da je Ivan bio jedan od trojice Isusovih osobnih pomoćnika dodatno je pridonosila toj pogrešnoj predodžbi, a da i ne spominjemo kako su Ivan i njegov brat Jakov poznavali Isusa dulje od ostalih.
139:4.2 (1553.7)
Since John was the youngest of the twelve and so closely associated with Jesus in his family affairs, he was very dear to the Master, but it cannot be truthfully said that he was “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” You would hardly suspect such a magnanimous personality as Jesus to be guilty of showing favoritism, of loving one of his apostles more than the others. The fact that John was one of the three personal aides of Jesus lent further color to this mistaken idea, not to mention that John, along with his brother James, had known Jesus longer than the others.
Ubrzo nakon što su postali apostoli, Petar, Jakov i Ivan bili su određeni za Isusove osobne pomoćnike. Nedugo nakon izbora dvanaestorice, u vrijeme kada je Isus postavio Andriju za upravitelja apostolske skupine, rekao mu je: "A sada želim da odrediš dvojicu ili trojicu svojih suradnika da budu sa mnom i da ostanu uz mene, da me krijepe i služe mojim svakodnevnim potrebama." Andrija je smatrao najboljim za ovu posebnu dužnost izabrati sljedeću trojicu među prvima izabranim apostolima. I sam bi se rado ponudio za takvu blagoslovljenu službu, ali Učitelj mu je već bio povjerio njegovu zadaću; stoga je odmah odredio da se Petar, Jakov i Ivan pridruže Isusu.
139:4.3 (1554.1)
Peter, James, and John were assigned as personal aides to Jesus soon after they became apostles. Shortly after the selection of the twelve and at the time Jesus appointed Andrew to act as director of the group, he said to him: “And now I desire that you assign two or three of your associates to be with me and to remain by my side, to comfort me and to minister to my daily needs.” And Andrew thought best to select for this special duty the next three first-chosen apostles. He would have liked to volunteer for such a blessed service himself, but the Master had already given him his commission; so he immediately directed that Peter, James, and John attach themselves to Jesus.
Ivan Zebedejev imao je mnoge plemenite crte karaktera, ali jedna od manje plemenitih bila je njegova pretjerana, iako obično dobro prikrivena, umišljenost. Njegova duga povezanost s Isusom donijela je mnoge i velike promjene u njegovu karakteru. Ta je umišljenost bila znatno umanjena, ali nakon što je ostario i postao donekle djetinjast, taj se osjećaj vlastite vrijednosti u određenoj mjeri ponovno pojavio. Tako se ostarjeli apostol, dok je usmjeravao Natana u pisanju Evanđelja koje danas nosi njegovo ime, nije ustručavao više puta nazvati "učenikom kojega je Isus ljubio". Imajući na umu da je Ivan bio bliži Isusu kao prisni prijatelj nego ijedan drugi smrtnik na zemlji i da je u mnogim stvarima bio njegov izabrani osobni predstavnik, nije čudno što je počeo sebe smatrati "učenikom kojega je Isus ljubio", jer je zasigurno znao da je bio učenik kojemu je Isus tako često iskazivao povjerenje.
139:4.4 (1554.2)
John Zebedee had many lovely traits of character, but one which was not so lovely was his inordinate but usually well-concealed conceit. His long association with Jesus made many and great changes in his character. This conceit was greatly lessened, but after growing old and becoming more or less childish, this self-esteem reappeared to a certain extent, so that, when engaged in directing Nathan in the writing of the Gospel which now bears his name, the aged apostle did not hesitate repeatedly to refer to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” In view of the fact that John came nearer to being the chum of Jesus than any other earth mortal, that he was his chosen personal representative in so many matters, it is not strange that he should have come to regard himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” since he most certainly knew he was the disciple whom Jesus so frequently trusted.
Najizraženija crta Ivanova karaktera bila je njegova pouzdanost; bio je spreman i odvažan, vjeran i odan. Njegova najveća slabost bila je upravo ta karakteristična umišljenost. Bio je najmlađe dijete u obitelji i najmlađi član apostolske skupine. Možda je bio pomalo razmažen; možda mu se malo previše ugađalo. Ali Ivan iz kasnijih godina života bio je vrlo drugačija osoba od samozadovoljnog i svojevoljnog mladića koji se, kad mu je bilo dvadeset i četiri godine, pridružio redovima Isusovih apostola.
139:4.5 (1554.3)
The strongest trait in John’s character was his dependability; he was prompt and courageous, faithful and devoted. His greatest weakness was this characteristic conceit. He was the youngest member of his father’s family and the youngest of the apostolic group. Perhaps he was just a bit spoiled; maybe he had been humored slightly too much. But the John of after years was a very different type of person than the self-admiring and arbitrary young man who joined the ranks of Jesus’ apostles when he was twenty-four.
Isusove osobine koje je Ivan najviše cijenio bile su Učiteljeva ljubav i nesebičnost; te su crte na njega ostavile takav dojam da je cijelim njegovim kasnijim životom dominirao osjećaj ljubavi i bratske odanosti. Govorio je o ljubavi i pisao o ljubavi. Ovaj "sin groma" postao je "apostol ljubavi"; a u Efezu, kada ostarjeli biskup više nije mogao stajati na propovjedaonici i propovijedati, nego su ga morali nositi u crkvu na stolici, i kada su ga na kraju službe zamolili da vjernicima kaže nekoliko riječi, godinama je njegov jedini izgovor bio: "Dječice, ljubite jedni druge."
139:4.6 (1554.4)
Those characteristics of Jesus which John most appreciated were the Master’s love and unselfishness; these traits made such an impression on him that his whole subsequent life became dominated by the sentiment of love and brotherly devotion. He talked about love and wrote about love. This “son of thunder” became the “apostle of love”; and at Ephesus, when the aged bishop was no longer able to stand in the pulpit and preach but had to be carried to church in a chair, and when at the close of the service he was asked to say a few words to the believers, for years his only utterance was, “My little children, love one another.”
Ivan je bio čovjek od malo riječi, osim kada bi mu se uzburkala narav. Mnogo je razmišljao, ali je malo govorio. Kako je stario, njegova je narav postajala blaža i bolje nadzirana, ali nikada nije prevladao svoju nesklonost govoru; nikada nije u potpunosti nadvladao svoju šutljivost. No bio je obdaren izvanrednom i stvaralačkom maštom.
139:4.7 (1554.5)
John was a man of few words except when his temper was aroused. He thought much but said little. As he grew older, his temper became more subdued, better controlled, but he never overcame his disinclination to talk; he never fully mastered this reticence. But he was gifted with a remarkable and creative imagination.
Ivan je imao i drugu stranu, nešto što se ne bi očekivalo od ovog tihog i zamišljenog čovjeka. Bio je pomalo predrasudan i pretjerano netrpeljiv. U tom pogledu bio je vrlo sličan Jakovu — obojica su htjela dozvati oganj s neba da uništi Samarijance koji su iskazali nepoštovanje. Kad god bi naišao na strance koji su poučavali u Isusovo ime, Ivan bi im smjesta zabranio da to čine. Ali on nije bio jedini među dvanaestoricom koji je bio obilježen takvim osjećajem vlastite nadmoći.
139:4.8 (1555.1)
There was another side to John that one would not expect to find in this quiet and introspective type. He was somewhat bigoted and inordinately intolerant. In this respect he and James were much alike—they both wanted to call down fire from heaven on the heads of the disrespectful Samaritans. When John encountered some strangers teaching in Jesus’ name, he promptly forbade them. But he was not the only one of the twelve who was tainted with this kind of self-esteem and superiority consciousness.
Na Ivanov život snažno je utjecalo to što je vidio Isusa kako živi bez vlastitog doma, dok je znao koliko se vjerno pobrinuo za svoju majku i obitelj. Ivan je također duboko suosjećao s Isusom zbog toga što ga njegova obitelj nije razumjela, svjestan da se postupno udaljavala od njega. Cijela ta situacija, zajedno s Isusovim stalnim podređivanjem i najmanje vlastite želje volji Oca na nebu i njegovim svakodnevnim životom prožetim potpunim povjerenjem, ostavila je na Ivana tako dubok dojam da je dovela do značajnih i trajnih promjena u njegovu karakteru, promjena koje su se očitovale tijekom cijelog njegova kasnijeg života.
139:4.9 (1555.2)
John’s life was tremendously influenced by the sight of Jesus’ going about without a home as he knew how faithfully he had made provision for the care of his mother and family. John also deeply sympathized with Jesus because of his family’s failure to understand him, being aware that they were gradually withdrawing from him. This entire situation, together with Jesus’ ever deferring his slightest wish to the will of the Father in heaven and his daily life of implicit trust, made such a profound impression on John that it produced marked and permanent changes in his character, changes which manifested themselves throughout his entire subsequent life.
Ivan je imao staloženu i smionu hrabrost kakvu je posjedovalo malo drugih apostola. Bio je jedini apostol koji je u noći njegova uhićenja ostao uz Isusa i usudio se pratiti svojega Učitelja sve do samih ralja smrti. Bio je prisutan i nadohvat ruke sve do posljednjeg zemaljskog časa te je vjerno ispunjavao svoju zadaću u pogledu Isusove majke, spreman primiti sve dodatne upute koje bi mu mogle biti dane tijekom posljednjih trenutaka Učiteljeva smrtnog života. Jedno je sigurno — Ivan je bio potpuno pouzdan. Kada bi dvanaestorica blagovala, Ivan je obično sjedio Isusu s desne strane. Bio je prvi među dvanaestoricom koji je doista i potpuno povjerovao u uskrsnuće, i prvi koji je prepoznao Učitelja kada im je nakon uskrsnuća prišao na morskoj obali.
139:4.10 (1555.3)
John had a cool and daring courage which few of the other apostles possessed. He was the one apostle who followed right along with Jesus the night of his arrest and dared to accompany his Master into the very jaws of death. He was present and near at hand right up to the last earthly hour and was found faithfully carrying out his trust with regard to Jesus’ mother and ready to receive such additional instructions as might be given during the last moments of the Master’s mortal existence. One thing is certain, John was thoroughly dependable. John usually sat on Jesus’ right hand when the twelve were at meat. He was the first of the twelve really and fully to believe in the resurrection, and he was the first to recognize the Master when he came to them on the seashore after his resurrection.
Ivan je više puta bio u zatvoru i bio prognan na otok Patmos na razdoblje od četiri godine, sve dok drugi car nije došao na vlast u Rimu. Da Ivan nije bio taktičan i razborit, nesumnjivo bi bio ubijen kao i njegov otvoreniji brat Jakov. Kako su godine prolazile, Ivan je zajedno s Jakovom, Učiteljevim bratom, naučio primjenjivati mudro pomirenje kada su izlazili pred civilne vlasti. Uvidjeli su da "blag odgovor utišava srdžbu." Također su naučili predstavljati crkvu kao "duhovno bratstvo posvećeno društvenoj službi čovječanstva", a ne kao "kraljevstvo nebesko". Poučavali su služenje iz ljubavi, a ne vladajuću moć — kraljevstvo i kralja.
139:4.13 (1555.6)
John was in prison several times and was banished to the Isle of Patmos for a period of four years until another emperor came to power in Rome. Had not John been tactful and sagacious, he would undoubtedly have been killed as was his more outspoken brother James. As the years passed, John, together with James the Lord’s brother, learned to practice wise conciliation when they appeared before the civil magistrates. They found that a “soft answer turns away wrath.” They also learned to represent the church as a “spiritual brotherhood devoted to the social service of mankind” rather than as “the kingdom of heaven.” They taught loving service rather than ruling power—kingdom and king.
Dok je bio privremeno prognan na Patmosu, Ivan je napisao Knjigu Otkrivenja, koju danas imate u znatno skraćenom i iskrivljenom obliku. Ova Knjiga Otkrivenja sadrži sačuvane fragmente velikog otkrivenja, čiji su veliki dijelovi izgubljeni, dok su drugi uklonjeni nakon Ivanova pisanja. Očuvana je samo u fragmentarnom i izmijenjenom obliku.
139:4.14 (1555.7)
When in temporary exile on Patmos, John wrote the Book of Revelation, which you now have in greatly abridged and distorted form. This Book of Revelation contains the surviving fragments of a great revelation, large portions of which were lost, other portions of which were removed, subsequent to John’s writing. It is preserved in only fragmentary and adulterated form.
Ivan je mnogo putovao, neumorno radio i nakon što je postao biskup azijskih crkava, nastanio se u Efezu. U Efezu je usmjeravao svojega suradnika Natana u pisanju takozvanog "Evanđelja po Ivanu", kada mu je bilo devedeset i devet godina. Od svih dvanaestorice apostola, Ivan Zebedejev naposljetku je postao najistaknutiji teolog. Umro je prirodnom smrću u Efezu 103. godine poslije Krista, u dobi od sto jedne godine.
139:4.15 (1555.8)
John traveled much, labored incessantly, and after becoming bishop of the Asia churches, settled down at Ephesus. He directed his associate, Nathan, in the writing of the so-called “Gospel according to John,” at Ephesus, when he was ninety-nine years old. Of all the twelve apostles, John Zebedee eventually became the outstanding theologian. He died a natural death at Ephesus in {scaps{scaps{a.d.}scaps}scaps} 103 when he was one hundred and one years of age.
Filip je bio peti izabrani apostol; pozvan je dok su Isus i njegova prva četiri apostola bili na putu od mjesta gdje je Ivan djelovao na Jordanu prema Kani Galilejskoj. Kako je živio u Betsaidi, Filip je već neko vrijeme znao za Isusa, ali nije mu palo na pamet da je Isus doista velik čovjek sve do onoga dana u Jordanskoj dolini kada mu je Isus rekao: "Slijedi me!" Na Filipa je također donekle utjecala činjenica da su Andrija, Petar, Jakov i Ivan prihvatili Isusa kao Osloboditelja.
139:5.1 (1556.1)
Philip was the fifth apostle to be chosen, being called when Jesus and his first four apostles were on their way from John’s rendezvous on the Jordan to Cana of Galilee. Since he lived at Bethsaida, Philip had for some time known of Jesus, but it had not occurred to him that Jesus was a really great man until that day in the Jordan valley when he said, “Follow me.” Philip was also somewhat influenced by the fact that Andrew, Peter, James, and John had accepted Jesus as the Deliverer.
Filipu je bilo dvadeset i sedam godina kada se pridružio apostolima; nedavno se bio oženio, ali tada još nije imao djece. Apostoli su mu dali nadimak koji je značio "znatiželja". Filip je uvijek želio da mu se pokaže. Nikada nije uspijevao duboko proniknuti u neku ideju. Nije bio nužno spor u shvaćanju, ali mu je nedostajala mašta. Taj nedostatak mašte bio je velika slabost njegova karaktera. Bio je običan i praktičan čovjek koji se držao svijeta pukih činjenica.
139:5.2 (1556.2)
Philip was twenty-seven years of age when he joined the apostles; he had recently been married, but he had no children at this time. The nickname which the apostles gave him signified “curiosity.” Philip was always wanting to be shown. He never seemed to see very far into any proposition. He was not necessarily dull, but he lacked imagination. This lack of imagination was the great weakness of his character. He was a commonplace and matter-of-fact individual.
Filip je potjecao iz obitelji od sedmero djece, tri dječaka i četiri djevojčice. Bio je drugi po starini, a nakon uskrsnuća krstio je cijelu svoju obitelj u kraljevstvo. Filipovi su bili ribari. Otac mu je bio vrlo sposoban čovjek i dubok mislilac, dok mu je majka bila iz vrlo obične obitelji. Filip nije bio čovjek od kojega su se mogla očekivati velika djela, ali je bio čovjek koji je mogao činiti male stvari na velik način, činiti ih dobro i prihvatljivo. Samo je nekoliko puta tijekom četiri godine propustio imati pri ruci dovoljno hrane da zadovolji potrebe svih. Čak su ga i brojni izvanredni zahtjevi povezani sa životom koji su vodili rijetko zatekli nepripremljenog. Opskrbnim odjelom apostolske obitelji upravljalo se inteligentno i učinkovito.
139:5.4 (1556.4)
Philip came from a family of seven, three boys and four girls. He was next to the oldest, and after the resurrection he baptized his entire family into the kingdom. Philip’s people were fisherfolk. His father was a very able man, a deep thinker, but his mother was of a very mediocre family. Philip was not a man who could be expected to do big things, but he was a man who could do little things in a big way, do them well and acceptably. Only a few times in four years did he fail to have food on hand to satisfy the needs of all. Even the many emergency demands attendant upon the life they lived seldom found him unprepared. The commissary department of the apostolic family was intelligently and efficiently managed.
Filipova jaka strana bila je njegova metodična pouzdanost; slaba točka njegova karaktera bio je potpuni nedostatak mašte, nesposobnost povezivanja činjenica kako bi iz njih izvukao zaključak. Bio je matematičan u apstraktnom smislu, ali nije imao stvaralačke mašte. Gotovo mu je u cijelosti nedostajao određeni oblik maštovitosti. Bio je tipičan svakodnevni i običan prosječan čovjek. Među mnoštvom muškaraca i žena koji su dolazili slušati Isusov nauk i propovijedi bilo je mnogo takvih ljudi, i svi su oni osjećali veliku utjehu promatrajući kako je netko njima sličan uzdignut na počasno mjesto u Učiteljevim vijećima; hrabrila ih je činjenica da je netko poput njih već pronašao visoko mjesto u poslovima kraljevstva. Dok je strpljivo slušao Filipova nerazborita pitanja, Isus je mnogo naučio o načinu funkcioniranja nekih ljudskih umova i mnogo je puta udovoljio molbi svojega opskrbnika: "da mu se pokaže."
139:5.5 (1556.5)
The strong point about Philip was his methodical reliability; the weak point in his make-up was his utter lack of imagination, the absence of the ability to put two and two together to obtain four. He was mathematical in the abstract but not constructive in his imagination. He was almost entirely lacking in certain types of imagination. He was the typical everyday and commonplace average man. There were a great many such men and women among the multitudes who came to hear Jesus teach and preach, and they derived great comfort from observing one like themselves elevated to an honored position in the councils of the Master; they derived courage from the fact that one like themselves had already found a high place in the affairs of the kingdom. And Jesus learned much about the way some human minds function as he so patiently listened to Philip’s foolish questions and so many times complied with his steward’s request to “be shown.”
U Filipovoj ličnosti nije bilo mnogo toga dojmljivog. Često su ga nazivali "Filipom iz Betsaide, grada u kojem žive Andrija i Petar". Gotovo mu je u cijelosti nedostajala sposobnost pronicljivog sagledavanja; nije bio u stanju pojmiti dramatične mogućnosti određene situacije. Nije bio pesimističan; jednostavno je bio prozaičan. Također mu je uvelike nedostajao duhovni uvid. Nije oklijevao prekinuti Isusa usred jednog od Učiteljevih najdubljih govora kako bi postavio naizgled nerazborito pitanje. Ali Isus ga nikada nije ukorio zbog takve nepromišljenosti; bio je strpljiv prema njemu i obziran prema njegovoj nesposobnosti da shvati dublja značenja nauka. Isus je dobro znao da bi, kada bi jednom ukorio Filipa zbog takvih nespretnih pitanja, ne samo povrijedio ovu iskrenu dušu, nego bi ga takav prijekor toliko pogodio da se Filip više nikada ne bi osjećao slobodnim postavljati pitanja. Isus je znao da na njegovim svjetovima prostora postoje nebrojene milijarde sličnih smrtnika sporijeg shvaćanja, i želio ih je sve ohrabriti da gledaju prema njemu i da se uvijek osjećaju slobodnima pristupiti mu sa svojim pitanjima i problemima. Naposljetku, Isusa su doista više zanimala Filipova nerazborita pitanja nego propovijed koju je upravo držao. Isus je bio krajnje zainteresiran za ljude, za sve vrste ljudi.
139:5.7 (1557.1)
There was little about Philip’s personality that was impressive. He was often spoken of as “Philip of Bethsaida, the town where Andrew and Peter live.” He was almost without discerning vision; he was unable to grasp the dramatic possibilities of a given situation. He was not pessimistic; he was simply prosaic. He was also greatly lacking in spiritual insight. He would not hesitate to interrupt Jesus in the midst of one of the Master’s most profound discourses to ask an apparently foolish question. But Jesus never reprimanded him for such thoughtlessness; he was patient with him and considerate of his inability to grasp the deeper meanings of the teaching. Jesus well knew that, if he once rebuked Philip for asking these annoying questions, he would not only wound this honest soul, but such a reprimand would so hurt Philip that he would never again feel free to ask questions. Jesus knew that on his worlds of space there were untold billions of similar slow-thinking mortals, and he wanted to encourage them all to look to him and always to feel free to come to him with their questions and problems. After all, Jesus was really more interested in Philip’s foolish questions than in the sermon he might be preaching. Jesus was supremely interested in men, all kinds of men.
Iako apostolski opskrbitelj nije bio dobar javni govornik, bio je vrlo uvjerljiv i uspješan u osobnom radu s ljudima. Nije se lako dao obeshrabriti; bio je ustrajan trudbenik i vrlo uporan u svemu čega se prihvatio. Imao je onaj veliki i rijedak dar da kaže: "Dođi." Kad je njegov prvi obraćenik, Natanael, želio raspravljati o prednostima i nedostacima Isusa i Nazareta, Filipov je učinkovit odgovor bio: "Dođi i vidi." Nije bio dogmatski propovjednik koji je svoje slušatelje poticao riječima: "Idi" — učini ovo i učini ono. Svakoj je situaciji koja bi se pojavila u njegovu radu pristupao riječima: "Dođi" — "dođi sa mnom; pokazat ću ti put." A to je uvijek djelotvorna metoda u svim oblicima i fazama poučavanja. Čak i roditelji mogu od Filipa naučiti bolji način obraćanja svojoj djeci, ne govoreći im: "Idi i učini ovo" i "Idi i učini ono", nego radije: "Pođi s nama dok ti pokazujemo i dijelimo s tobom bolji način."
139:5.8 (1557.2)
The apostolic steward was not a good public speaker, but he was a very persuasive and successful personal worker. He was not easily discouraged; he was a plodder and very tenacious in anything he undertook. He had that great and rare gift of saying, “Come.” When his first convert, Nathaniel, wanted to argue about the merits and demerits of Jesus and Nazareth, Philip’s effective reply was, “Come and see.” He was not a dogmatic preacher who exhorted his hearers to “Go”—do this and do that. He met all situations as they arose in his work with “Come”—“come with me; I will show you the way.” And that is always the effective technique in all forms and phases of teaching. Even parents may learn from Philip the better way of saying to their children not “Go do this and go do that,” but rather, “Come with us while we show and share with you the better way.”
Filipovu nesposobnost prilagođavanja novim situacijama najbolje ilustrira slučaj kada mu je u Jeruzalemu pristupila grupa Grka govoreći: "Gospodine, želimo vidjeti Isusa." Da je takvu molbu uputio neki Židov, Filip bi rekao: "Dođi." Ali kako su ovi ljudi bili stranci i kako se Filip nije mogao sjetiti uputa svojih nadređenih za takve slučajeve, jedino što mu je palo na pamet bilo je posavjetovati se s glavnim Andrijom, a zatim su obojica odveli ove Grke koji su tražili odgovore k Isusu. Isto tako, kada je otišao u Samariju gdje je, prema Učiteljevim uputama, propovijedao i krstio vjernike, suzdržao se od polaganja ruku na obraćenike kao znaka da su primili Duha Istine. To su učinili Petar i Ivan, koji su uskoro potom došli iz Jeruzalema kao predstavnici matične crkve kako bi nadgledali njegov rad.
139:5.9 (1557.3)
The inability of Philip to adapt himself to a new situation was well shown when the Greeks came to him at Jerusalem, saying: “Sir, we desire to see Jesus.” Now Philip would have said to any Jew asking such a question, “Come.” But these men were foreigners, and Philip could remember no instructions from his superiors regarding such matters; so the only thing he could think to do was to consult the chief, Andrew, and then they both escorted the inquiring Greeks to Jesus. Likewise, when he went into Samaria preaching and baptizing believers, as he had been instructed by his Master, he refrained from laying hands on his converts in token of their having received the Spirit of Truth. This was done by Peter and John, who presently came down from Jerusalem to observe his work in behalf of the mother church.
139:5.10 (1557.4)
Philip went on through the trying times of the Master’s death, participated in the reorganization of the twelve, and was the first to go forth to win souls for the kingdom outside of the immediate Jewish ranks, being most successful in his work for the Samaritans and in all his subsequent labors in behalf of the gospel.
Filipova žena, koja je bila sposobna članica ženskog zbora, počela je aktivno surađivati sa svojim mužem u njegovu evanđeoskom radu nakon što su ih progoni natjerali da napuste Jeruzalem. Njegova žena bila je neustrašiva. Stajala je podno Filipova križa hrabreći ga da nastavi objavljivati radosnu vijest čak i svojim ubojicama, a kada mu je ponestalo snage, počela je kazivati o spasenju vjerom u Isusa i prestala je tek kada su je razljućeni Židovi napali i kamenovali je do smrti. Njihov je rad nastavila njihova najstarija kći Lea, koja je kasnije postala poznata proročica Hijerapolisa.
139:5.11 (1557.5)
Philip’s wife, who was an efficient member of the women’s corps, became actively associated with her husband in his evangelistic work after their flight from the Jerusalem persecutions. His wife was a fearless woman. She stood at the foot of Philip’s cross encouraging him to proclaim the glad tidings even to his murderers, and when his strength failed, she began the recital of the story of salvation by faith in Jesus and was silenced only when the irate Jews rushed upon her and stoned her to death. Their eldest daughter, Leah, continued their work, later on becoming the renowned prophetess of Hierapolis.
Kada se Natanael pridružio apostolima, bilo mu je dvadeset pet godina i bio je drugi najmlađi u grupi. Bio je najmlađi od sedmero djece, neoženjen i jedina potpora svojim ostarjelim i nemoćnim roditeljima s kojima je živio u Kani; neki od njegove braće i sestara već su bili preminuli, dok su drugi bili oženjeni ili udani, i nitko od njih nije živio u Kani. Natanael i Juda Iškariot bili su dva najobrazovanija čovjeka među dvanaestoricom. Natanael je planirao postati trgovac.
139:6.2 (1558.3)
When Nathaniel joined the apostles, he was twenty-five years old and was the next to the youngest of the group. He was the youngest of a family of seven, was unmarried, and the only support of aged and infirm parents, with whom he lived at Cana; his brothers and sister were either married or deceased, and none lived there. Nathaniel and Judas Iscariot were the two best educated men among the twelve. Nathaniel had thought to become a merchant.
Isus sam nije dao Natanaelu nadimak, ali su ga dvanaestorica uskoro počela opisivati izrazima koji su označavali poštenje i iskrenost. Bio je "bez lukavštine". I to je bila njegova velika vrlina; bio je pošten i iskren. Slabost njegova karaktera bio je njegov ponos; bio je vrlo ponosan na svoju obitelj, svoj grad, svoj ugled i svoj narod, što je sve pohvalno ako se u tome ne pretjera. Ali Natanael je imao sklonost otići u krajnosti u pogledu svojih osobnih predrasuda. Bio je sklon unaprijed prosuđivati ljude prema vlastitim predodžbama. Nije oklijevao postaviti pitanje, čak i prije nego što je susreo Isusa: "Može li što dobro doći iz Nazareta?" Ali Natanael nije bio svojeglav, premda je bio ponosan. Brzo je promijenio mišljenje čim je pogledao Isusovo lice.
139:6.3 (1558.4)
Jesus did not himself give Nathaniel a nickname, but the twelve soon began to speak of him in terms that signified honesty, sincerity. He was “without guile.” And this was his great virtue; he was both honest and sincere. The weakness of his character was his pride; he was very proud of his family, his city, his reputation, and his nation, all of which is commendable if it is not carried too far. But Nathaniel was inclined to go to extremes with his personal prejudices. He was disposed to prejudge individuals in accordance with his personal opinions. He was not slow to ask the question, even before he had met Jesus, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” But Nathaniel was not obstinate, even if he was proud. He was quick to reverse himself when he once looked into Jesus’ face.
Natanael je po mnogo čemu bio neobični genij među dvanaestoricom. Bio je apostolski filozof i sanjar, ali vrlo praktičan sanjar. Izmjenjivao je razdoblja duboke filozofske zaokupljenosti s razdobljima rijetkog i neobičnog humora; kada je bio u pravom raspoloženju, vjerojatno je bio najbolji pripovjedač među dvanaestoricom. Isus je veoma uživao slušati Natanaela kako govori o stvarima koje su bile i ozbiljne i neozbiljne. Natanael je s vremenom sve ozbiljnije shvaćao Isusa i kraljevstvo, ali nikada nije ozbiljno shvaćao samoga sebe.
139:6.4 (1558.5)
In many respects Nathaniel was the odd genius of the twelve. He was the apostolic philosopher and dreamer, but he was a very practical sort of dreamer. He alternated between seasons of profound philosophy and periods of rare and droll humor; when in the proper mood, he was probably the best storyteller among the twelve. Jesus greatly enjoyed hearing Nathaniel discourse on things both serious and frivolous. Nathaniel progressively took Jesus and the kingdom more seriously, but never did he take himself seriously.
Svi su apostoli voljeli i poštovali Natanaela i on se s njima izvrsno slagao, s izuzetkom Jude Iškariota. Juda je smatrao da Natanael nije dovoljno ozbiljno shvaćao svoju apostolsku službu i jednom se čak usudio potajno otići k Isusu i požaliti se na njega. Isus je rekao: "Juda, dobro pazi na svoje postupke; ne preuveličavaj svoj položaj. Tko je od nas sposoban suditi svome bratu? Nije Očeva volja da se njegova djeca bave samo ozbiljnim stvarima u životu. Ponavljam: Ja sam došao da moja zemaljska braća imaju radost, veselje i život u izobilju. Idi stoga, Juda, i dobro izvrši ono što ti je povjereno, ali ostavi Natanaela, svoga brata, da sam sebi položi račun pred Bogom." I sjećanje na ovaj događaj, zajedno s mnogim sličnim iskustvima, dugo je živjelo u samoobmanutom srcu Jude Iškariota.
139:6.5 (1558.6)
The apostles all loved and respected Nathaniel, and he got along with them splendidly, excepting Judas Iscariot. Judas did not think Nathaniel took his apostleship sufficiently seriously and once had the temerity to go secretly to Jesus and lodge complaint against him. Said Jesus: “Judas, watch carefully your steps; do not overmagnify your office. Who of us is competent to judge his brother? It is not the Father’s will that his children should partake only of the serious things of life. Let me repeat: I have come that my brethren in the flesh may have joy, gladness, and life more abundantly. Go then, Judas, and do well that which has been intrusted to you but leave Nathaniel, your brother, to give account of himself to God.” And the memory of this, with that of many similar experiences, long lived in the self-deceiving heart of Judas Iscariot.
139:6.6 (1559.1)
Many times, when Jesus was away on the mountain with Peter, James, and John, and things were becoming tense and tangled among the apostles, when even Andrew was in doubt about what to say to his disconsolate brethren, Nathaniel would relieve the tension by a bit of philosophy or a flash of humor; good humor, too.
Natanaelova je dužnost bila brinuti se za obitelji dvanaestorice. Često nije mogao prisustvovati apostolskim vijećima jer bi, čim bi čuo da je netko od onih koji su mu bili povjereni bolestan ili da se dogodilo nešto neuobičajeno, bez odlaganja odlazio u taj dom. Dvanaestorica su bila spokojna znajući da je dobrobit njihovih obitelji sigurna u Natanaelovim rukama.
139:6.7 (1559.2)
Nathaniel’s duty was to look after the families of the twelve. He was often absent from the apostolic councils, for when he heard that sickness or anything out of the ordinary had happened to one of his charges, he lost no time in getting to that home. The twelve rested securely in the knowledge that their families’ welfare was safe in the hands of Nathaniel.
Natanaelov otac (Bartolomej) umro je nedugo nakon Duhova, nakon čega je ovaj apostol otišao u Mezopotamiju i Indiju, objavljujući radosnu vijest o kraljevstvu i krsteći vjernike. Njegova braća nikada nisu doznala što se dogodilo s njihovim negdašnjim filozofom, pjesnikom i humoristom. A i on je bio veliki čovjek u kraljevstvu i mnogo je učinio za širenje nauka svoga Učitelja, iako nije sudjelovao u organizaciji kasnije kršćanske crkve. Natanael je umro u Indiji.
139:6.9 (1559.4)
Nathaniel’s father (Bartholomew) died shortly after Pentecost, after which this apostle went into Mesopotamia and India proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom and baptizing believers. His brethren never knew what became of their onetime philosopher, poet, and humorist. But he also was a great man in the kingdom and did much to spread his Master’s teachings, even though he did not participate in the organization of the subsequent Christian church. Nathaniel died in India.
Mateja, sedmog apostola, izabrao je Andrija. Matej je potjecao iz obitelji publikana ili carinika, ali je sam radio kao carinik u Kafarnaumu, gdje je živio. Imao je trideset jednu godinu, bio je oženjen i imao četvero djece. Bio je čovjek umjerenog bogatstva, jedini imućniji član apostolske grupe. Bio je dobar poslovni čovjek, lako se snalazio u društvu i imao je dar stjecanja prijateljstava te skladnog ophođenja s najrazličitijim ljudima.
139:7.1 (1559.5)
Matthew, the seventh apostle, was chosen by Andrew. Matthew belonged to a family of tax gatherers, or publicans, but was himself a customs collector in Capernaum, where he lived. He was thirty-one years old and married and had four children. He was a man of moderate wealth, the only one of any means belonging to the apostolic corps. He was a good business man, a good social mixer, and was gifted with the ability to make friends and to get along smoothly with a great variety of people.
Andrija je postavio Mateja za financijskog predstavnika apostolske grupe. Matej je na određeni način djelovao kao financijski zastupnik i javni predstavnik apostolske organizacije. Bio je pronicljiv poznavatelj ljudske prirode i vrlo djelotvoran promicatelj. Njegovu ličnost nije lako predočiti, ali bio je vrlo ozbiljan učenik i sve više je vjerovao u Isusovo poslanje i izvjesnost kraljevstva. Isus nikada nije dao Leviju nadimak, ali su ga njegovi apostoli obično nazivali "novčarom."
139:7.2 (1559.6)
Andrew appointed Matthew the financial representative of the apostles. In a way he was the fiscal agent and publicity spokesman for the apostolic organization. He was a keen judge of human nature and a very efficient propagandist. His is a personality difficult to visualize, but he was a very earnest disciple and an increasing believer in the mission of Jesus and in the certainty of the kingdom. Jesus never gave Levi a nickname, but his fellow apostles commonly referred to him as the “money-getter.”
Levijeva jaka strana počivala je u njegovoj svesrdnoj odanosti pokretu kraljevstva. To što je njega, jednog ubirača poreza, Isus prihvatio među svoje apostole, bilo je razlogom silne zahvalnosti ovog negdašnjeg carinskog činovnika. Međutim, ostali apostoli, a naročito Šimun Revnitelj i Juda Iškariot, nisu se odmah mogli pomiriti s prisutnošću carinika među njima. Matejeva slabost počivala je u njegovom kratkovidnom i materijalističkom pogledu na život. Ali kako su mjeseci prolazili, znatno je napredovao u svim ovim pitanjima. Naravno, morao je biti odsutan tijekom mnogih najdragocjenijih razdoblja poduke, jer je njegova dužnost bila brinuti se da apostolska blagajna uvijek bude napunjena.
139:7.3 (1559.7)
Levi’s strong point was his wholehearted devotion to the cause. That he, a publican, had been taken in by Jesus and his apostles was the cause for overwhelming gratitude on the part of the former revenue collector. However, it required some little time for the rest of the apostles, especially Simon Zelotes and Judas Iscariot, to become reconciled to the publican’s presence in their midst. Matthew’s weakness was his shortsighted and materialistic viewpoint of life. But in all these matters he made great progress as the months went by. He, of course, had to be absent from many of the most precious seasons of instruction as it was his duty to keep the treasury replenished.
Iako je Matej bio čovjek s prošlošću, pokazao se izvrsnim, a kako je vrijeme prolazilo, njegovi su se suradnici počeli ponositi postignućima ovog carinika. Bio je jedan od apostola koji su vodili opsežne bilješke o Isusovim izjavama, a ove su bilješke poslužile kao temelj kasnijeg Isadorova prikaza Isusovih riječi i djela, koji je postao poznat kao "Evanđelje po Mateju."
139:7.5 (1560.1)
Though Matthew was a man with a past, he gave an excellent account of himself, and as time went on, his associates became proud of the publican’s performances. He was one of the apostles who made extensive notes on the sayings of Jesus, and these notes were used as the basis of Isador’s subsequent narrative of the sayings and doings of Jesus, which has become known as the Gospel according to Matthew.
Veliki i korisni život Mateja, poslovnog čovjeka i carinika iz Kafarnauma, bio je sredstvo koje je kroz kasnija stoljeća dovelo tisuće i tisuće drugih poslovnih ljudi, javnih službenika i političara da također čuju privlačan glas Učitelja kako govori: "Hajde za mnom." Matej je doista bio snalažljiv političar, ali je bio izuzetno odan Isusu i duboko predan zadatku da se glasnicima nadolazećeg kraljevstva osiguraju dovoljna financijska sredstva.
139:7.6 (1560.2)
The great and useful life of Matthew, the business man and customs collector of Capernaum, has been the means of leading thousands upon thousands of other business men, public officials, and politicians, down through the subsequent ages, also to hear that engaging voice of the Master saying, “Follow me.” Matthew really was a shrewd politician, but he was intensely loyal to Jesus and supremely devoted to the task of seeing that the messengers of the coming kingdom were adequately financed.
139:7.7 (1560.3)
The presence of Matthew among the twelve was the means of keeping the doors of the kingdom wide open to hosts of downhearted and outcast souls who had regarded themselves as long since without the bounds of religious consolation. Outcast and despairing men and women flocked to hear Jesus, and he never turned one away.
Dok je primao dobrovoljne priloge učenika-vjernika i neposrednih slušatelja Učiteljeva nauka, Matej nikada nije otvoreno tražio novac od mnoštva. Sve svoje financijske poslove obavljao je tiho i osobno, prikupljajući najveći dio sredstava među imućnijim slojem zainteresiranih vjernika. Gotovo cijeli svoj skromni imetak dao je za djelo Učitelja i njegovih apostola, ali oni nikada nisu doznali za ovu njegovu velikodušnost, osim Isusa, koji je za to sve znao. Matej je oklijevao otvoreno prilagati vlastita sredstva apostolskoj blagajni jer se bojao da bi Isus i njegovi suradnici mogli smatrati njegov novac okaljanim; stoga je mnogo davao u ime drugih vjernika. Tijekom ranijih mjeseci, kada je znao da je njegova prisutnost među njima manje ili više predstavljala iskušenje, Matej je često bio u napasti da im otkrije kako su njihovu svakodnevnu hranu često osiguravala njegova sredstva, ali nije popustio. Kad bi postali očiti znakovi prezira prema cariniku, Levi bi gorio od želje da im otkrije svoju velikodušnost, ali je uvijek uspijevao šutjeti.
139:7.8 (1560.4)
Matthew received freely tendered offerings from believing disciples and the immediate auditors of the Master’s teachings, but he never openly solicited funds from the multitudes. He did all his financial work in a quiet and personal way and raised most of the money among the more substantial class of interested believers. He gave practically the whole of his modest fortune to the work of the Master and his apostles, but they never knew of this generosity, save Jesus, who knew all about it. Matthew hesitated openly to contribute to the apostolic funds for fear that Jesus and his associates might regard his money as being tainted; so he gave much in the names of other believers. During the earlier months, when Matthew knew his presence among them was more or less of a trial, he was strongly tempted to let them know that his funds often supplied them with their daily bread, but he did not yield. When evidence of the disdain of the publican would become manifest, Levi would burn to reveal to them his generosity, but always he managed to keep still.
Kad su sredstva za taj tjedan bila manja od procijenjenih potreba, Levi je često posezao za vlastitim osobnim sredstvima. Ponekad, kad bi ga Isusov nauk posebno zaokupio, radije bi ostao slušati poduku, iako je znao da će osobno morati nadoknaditi sredstva koja nije prikupio. Ali Levi je toliko želio da Isus zna kako je velik dio novca dolazio iz njegovog džepa! Nije ni slutio da je Učitelj sve to znao. Nijedan apostol nikada nije doznao da je Matej u tolikoj mjeri bio njihov dobročinitelj da je, kada je nakon početka progona krenuo naviještati evanđelje kraljevstva, praktično bio bez prebijene pare.
139:7.9 (1560.5)
When the funds for the week were short of the estimated requirements, Levi would often draw heavily upon his own personal resources. Also, sometimes when he became greatly interested in Jesus’ teaching, he preferred to remain and hear the instruction, even though he knew he must personally make up for his failure to solicit the necessary funds. But Levi did so wish that Jesus might know that much of the money came from his pocket! He little realized that the Master knew all about it. The apostles all died without knowing that Matthew was their benefactor to such an extent that, when he went forth to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom after the beginning of the persecutions, he was practically penniless.
Kad su progoni naveli vjernike da napuste Jeruzalem, Matej se uputio prema sjeveru, propovijedajući evanđelje kraljevstva i krsteći vjernike. Njegovi bivši apostolski suradnici više nisu znali što je s njim, ali on je nastavio propovijedati i krstiti kroz Siriju, Kapadociju, Galaciju, Bitiniju i Trakiju. Upravo su u Trakiji, u Lisimahiji, određeni Židovi nevjernici skovali zavjeru s rimskim vojnicima kako bi prouzročili njegovu smrt. I tako je ovaj preobraženi carinik umro kao pobjednik u vjeri spasenja koju je tako sigurno naučio iz Učiteljeva nauka tijekom njegova nedavnog boravka na zemlji.
139:7.10 (1560.6)
When these persecutions caused the believers to forsake Jerusalem, Matthew journeyed north, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and baptizing believers. He was lost to the knowledge of his former apostolic associates, but on he went, preaching and baptizing, through Syria, Cappadocia, Galatia, Bithynia, and Thrace. And it was in Thrace, at Lysimachia, that certain unbelieving Jews conspired with the Roman soldiers to encompass his death. And this regenerated publican died triumphant in the faith of a salvation he had so surely learned from the teachings of the Master during his recent sojourn on earth.
Toma je bio osmi apostol, a izabrao ga je Filip. Iako je kasnije postao poznat kao "sumnjičavi Toma", njegovi apostolski drugovi jedva da su ga smatrali kroničnim sumnjivcem. Istina je da je imao logičan i skeptičan um, ali je posjedovao oblik hrabre odanosti zbog koje ga oni koji su ga dobro poznavali nisu mogli smatrati površnim skeptikom.
139:8.1 (1561.1)
Thomas was the eighth apostle, and he was chosen by Philip. In later times he has become known as “doubting Thomas,” but his fellow apostles hardly looked upon him as a chronic doubter. True, his was a logical, skeptical type of mind, but he had a form of courageous loyalty which forbade those who knew him intimately to regard him as a trifling skeptic.
Kad se pridružio apostolima, Toma je imao dvadeset devet godina, bio je oženjen i imao četvero djece. Prije je bio tesar i klesar, ali se kasnije počeo baviti ribarenjem i živio je u Tariheji, smještenoj na zapadnoj obali Jordana, gdje se Jordan izlijeva iz Galilejskog mora, te je bio smatran vodećim građaninom ovog malog mjesta. Imao je malo obrazovanja, ali je posjedovao oštar, pronicav um i bio je sin izvrsnih roditelja koji su živjeli u Tiberijadi. Toma je među dvanaestoricom imao jedini istinski analitički um; bio je pravi znanstvenik među apostolima.
139:8.2 (1561.2)
When Thomas joined the apostles, he was twenty-nine years old, was married, and had four children. Formerly he had been a carpenter and stone mason, but latterly he had become a fisherman and resided at Tarichea, situated on the west bank of the Jordan where it flows out of the Sea of Galilee, and he was regarded as the leading citizen of this little village. He had little education, but he possessed a keen, reasoning mind and was the son of excellent parents, who lived at Tiberias. Thomas had the one truly analytical mind of the twelve; he was the real scientist of the apostolic group.
Rani obiteljski život Tome nije bio sretan; njegovi roditelji nisu imali posve sretan bračni život, a to se odrazilo na Tomino iskustvo u odrasloj dobi. Odrastao je s vrlo neugodnom i svadljivom naravi. Čak se i njegova žena radovala što se pridružio apostolima; odahnula je pri pomisli da će njezin pesimistični muž većinu vremena provoditi izvan doma. Toma je također imao izraženu crtu sumnjičavosti zbog koje je s njim bilo vrlo teško mirno živjeti. Petar je isprva bio veoma uzrujan zbog Tome i žalio se svom bratu Andriji da je Toma bio "opak, neugodan i uvijek sumnjičav." Ali što su njegovi drugovi bolje poznavali Tomu, to im se više sviđao. Otkrili su da je bio izvanredno čestit i nepokolebljivo odan. Bio je savršeno iskren i nedvojbeno istinoljubiv, ali je po prirodi bio sklon traženju mana i s vremenom je postao pravi pesimist. Njegov analitički um postao je opterećen sumnjom. Kad se pridružio dvanaestorici i tako došao u dodir s plemenitim karakterom Isusa, Toma je već počeo gubiti vjeru u svoje bližnje. Ovaj kontakt s Učiteljem odmah je počeo preobražavati cijelu Tominu narav i donositi velike promjene u njegovim mentalnim reakcijama prema drugim ljudima.
139:8.3 (1561.3)
The early home life of Thomas had been unfortunate; his parents were not altogether happy in their married life, and this was reflected in Thomas’s adult experience. He grew up having a very disagreeable and quarrelsome disposition. Even his wife was glad to see him join the apostles; she was relieved by the thought that her pessimistic husband would be away from home most of the time. Thomas also had a streak of suspicion which made it very difficult to get along peaceably with him. Peter was very much upset by Thomas at first, complaining to his brother, Andrew, that Thomas was “mean, ugly, and always suspicious.” But the better his associates knew Thomas, the more they liked him. They found he was superbly honest and unflinchingly loyal. He was perfectly sincere and unquestionably truthful, but he was a natural-born faultfinder and had grown up to become a real pessimist. His analytical mind had become cursed with suspicion. He was rapidly losing faith in his fellow men when he became associated with the twelve and thus came in contact with the noble character of Jesus. This association with the Master began at once to transform Thomas’s whole disposition and to effect great changes in his mental reactions to his fellow men.
Pri organizaciji dvanaestorice, Toma je dobio zadatak planiranja i upravljanja putovanjima, te je bio sposoban upravitelj rada i kretanja apostolske grupe. Bio je dobar upravitelj i izvrstan poslovni čovjek, ali su mu prepreka bila njegova brojna raspoloženja; jednog dana bio je jedan čovjek, a sljedećeg drugi. Kad se pridružio apostolima, bio je sklon melankoličnom zamišljanju, ali su ga dodir s Isusom i apostolima u velikoj mjeri izliječili od tog nezdravog udubljivanja u sebe.
139:8.5 (1561.5)
In the organization of the twelve Thomas was assigned to arrange and manage the itinerary, and he was an able director of the work and movements of the apostolic corps. He was a good executive, an excellent businessman, but he was handicapped by his many moods; he was one man one day and another man the next. He was inclined toward melancholic brooding when he joined the apostles, but contact with Jesus and the apostles largely cured him of this morbid introspection.
Isus je jako uživao u Tominu društvu i vodili su mnoge duge osobne razgovore. Tomina prisutnost među apostolima bila je velika utjeha svim iskrenim, ali sumnjičavim osobama i veliko ohrabrenje mnogim uznemirenim umovima da uđu u kraljevstvo, čak i ako nisu mogli u potpunosti razumjeti sve duhovne i filozofske faze Isusova nauka. Tomino članstvo među dvanaestoricom predstavlja trajnu objavu da Isus voli čak i one koji časno i iskreno sumnjaju.
139:8.6 (1561.6)
Jesus enjoyed Thomas very much and had many long, personal talks with him. His presence among the apostles was a great comfort to all honest doubters and encouraged many troubled minds to come into the kingdom, even if they could not wholly understand everything about the spiritual and philosophic phases of the teachings of Jesus. Thomas’s membership in the twelve was a standing declaration that Jesus loved even honest doubters.
Dok su drugi apostoli štovali Isusa zbog neke posebne i istaknute crte njegove bogate ličnosti, Toma je poštovao svog Učitelja zbog njegova izvanredno uravnoteženog karaktera. Sve se više divio i iskazivao čast onome koji je bio tako pun ljubavi i milosrđa, a ipak tako nepokolebljivo pravedan i pravičan; tako čvrst, ali nikad tvrdoglav; tako spokojan, ali nikad ravnodušan; tako spreman pomoći i pun suosjećanja, ali nikad nametljiv ili diktatorski nastrojen; tako snažan, a istodobno tako nježan; tako odlučan, ali nikad grub ili neotesan; tako nježan, ali nikad kolebljiv; tako čist i nedužan, a istodobno tako muževan, poduzetan i snažan; tako istinski hrabar, ali nikad nagao ili lakomislen; tako pun ljubavi prema prirodi, ali potpuno slobodan od svake sklonosti da je štuje; tako duhovit i zaigran, ali potpuno oslobođen lakoumnosti i površnosti. Upravo je ova nenadmašna skladnost ličnosti toliko očarala Tomu. Vjerojatno je od svih dvanaestorice imao najdublje intelektualno razumijevanje Isusa i najveće cijenjenje njegove ličnosti.
139:8.7 (1562.1)
The other apostles held Jesus in reverence because of some special and outstanding trait of his replete personality, but Thomas revered his Master because of his superbly balanced character. Increasingly Thomas admired and honored one who was so lovingly merciful yet so inflexibly just and fair; so firm but never obstinate; so calm but never indifferent; so helpful and so sympathetic but never meddlesome or dictatorial; so strong but at the same time so gentle; so positive but never rough or rude; so tender but never vacillating; so pure and innocent but at the same time so virile, aggressive, and forceful; so truly courageous but never rash or foolhardy; such a lover of nature but so free from all tendency to revere nature; so humorous and so playful, but so free from levity and frivolity. It was this matchless symmetry of personality that so charmed Thomas. He probably enjoyed the highest intellectual understanding and personality appreciation of Jesus of any of the twelve.
U vijećima dvanaestorice Toma je uvijek bio oprezan i zagovarao načelo „sigurnost prije svega“, ali ako bi njegov konzervativni stav bio nadglasan ili odbačen, uvijek je bio prvi koji bi neustrašivo krenuo u provedbu prihvaćenog programa. Mnogo je puta istupao protiv nekog pothvata smatrajući ga nerazboritim i preuzetnim; borio bi se do samoga kraja, ali kad bi Andrija stavio prijedlog na glasovanje i kad bi dvanaestorica odlučila učiniti upravo ono čemu se on tako žustro protivio, Toma bi prvi rekao: „Idemo!“ Bio je dobar gubitnik. Nije bio zlopamtilo niti je njegovao povrijeđene osjećaje. Mnogo se puta protivio tome da Isus sebe izlaže opasnosti, ali kad bi Učitelj odlučio prihvatiti takav rizik, upravo bi Toma uvijek bodrio apostole svojim hrabrim riječima: „Hajdemo, prijatelji, idemo umrijeti s njim.“
139:8.8 (1562.2)
In the councils of the twelve Thomas was always cautious, advocating a policy of safety first, but if his conservatism was voted down or overruled, he was always the first fearlessly to move out in execution of the program decided upon. Again and again would he stand out against some project as being foolhardy and presumptuous; he would debate to the bitter end, but when Andrew would put the proposition to a vote, and after the twelve would elect to do that which he had so strenuously opposed, Thomas was the first to say, “Let’s go!” He was a good loser. He did not hold grudges nor nurse wounded feelings. Time and again did he oppose letting Jesus expose himself to danger, but when the Master would decide to take such risks, always was it Thomas who rallied the apostles with his courageous words, “Come on, comrades, let’s go and die with him.”
139:8.9 (1562.3)
Thomas was in some respects like Philip; he also wanted “to be shown,” but his outward expressions of doubt were based on entirely different intellectual operations. Thomas was analytical, not merely skeptical. As far as personal physical courage was concerned, he was one of the bravest among the twelve.
Toma je imao svoje teške dane; s vremena na vrijeme bio je potišten i klonuo duhom. Gubitak njegove sestre blizankinje kad mu je bilo devet godina donio mu je mnogo mladenačke tuge i dodatno pridonio njegovim kasnijim poteškoćama s temperamentom. Kad bi Toma zapao u potištenost, ponekad bi mu pomagao Natanael, ponekad Petar, a nerijetko i jedan od Alfejevih blizanaca. Nažalost, kad bi bio najviše potišten, uvijek je nastojao izbjeći izravan dodir s Isusom. Ali Učitelj je sve to dobro znao i imao je puno razumijevanja i suosjećajne naklonosti prema svom apostolu kada bi ga tako obuzela potištenost i kada su ga mučile sumnje.
139:8.10 (1562.4)
Thomas had some very bad days; he was blue and downcast at times. The loss of his twin sister when he was nine years old had occasioned him much youthful sorrow and had added to his temperamental problems of later life. When Thomas would become despondent, sometimes it was Nathaniel who helped him to recover, sometimes Peter, and not infrequently one of the Alpheus twins. When he was most depressed, unfortunately he always tried to avoid coming in direct contact with Jesus. But the Master knew all about this and had an understanding sympathy for his apostle when he was thus afflicted with depression and harassed by doubts.
Nekom prilikom bi Andrija dopustio Tomi da ode i bude sam nekoliko dana. Ali Toma je brzo naučio da takav postupak nije mudar; rano je otkrio da je, kad bi bio potišten, najbolje držati se svojih dužnosti i ostati blizu svojih prijatelja. Ali bez obzira na sve što se događalo u njegovom emocionalnom životu, nastavio je biti apostol. Kad bi došlo vrijeme da se krene dalje, uvijek je on bio taj koji bi rekao: „Idemo!“
139:8.11 (1562.5)
Sometimes Thomas would get permission from Andrew to go off by himself for a day or two. But he soon learned that such a course was not wise; he early found that it was best, when he was downhearted, to stick close to his work and to remain near his associates. But no matter what happened in his emotional life, he kept right on being an apostle. When the time actually came to move forward, it was always Thomas who said, “Let’s go!”
Toma predstavlja odličan primjer čovjeka koji ima sumnje, suočava se s njima i pobjeđuje ih. Imao je velik um; nije bio kritičar koji cjepidlači. Bio je logičan mislilac, presudna provjera Isusa i njegovih apostola. Da Isus i njegovo djelo nisu bili nepatvoreni i istiniti, ne bi mogli od početka do kraja zadržati čovjeka poput Tome. Imao je oštar i siguran osjećaj za činjenice. Pri prvom znaku prijevare ili obmane Toma bi ih sve napustio. Znanstvenici možda ne mogu u potpunosti razumjeti sve o Isusu i njegovom djelu na zemlji, ali s Učiteljem i njegovim ljudskim suradnicima živio je i radio čovjek čiji je um bio um pravog znanstvenika — Toma Blizanac — i on je vjerovao u Isusa iz Nazareta.
139:8.12 (1562.6)
Thomas is the great example of a human being who has doubts, faces them, and wins. He had a great mind; he was no carping critic. He was a logical thinker; he was the acid test of Jesus and his fellow apostles. If Jesus and his work had not been genuine, it could not have held a man like Thomas from the start to the finish. He had a keen and sure sense of fact. At the first appearance of fraud or deception Thomas would have forsaken them all. Scientists may not fully understand all about Jesus and his work on earth, but there lived and worked with the Master and his human associates a man whose mind was that of a true scientist—Thomas Didymus—and he believed in Jesus of Nazareth.
Toma je teško podnio dane suđenja i raspeća. Neko je vrijeme bio u samim dubinama očaja, ali je ponovno skupio hrabrost, ostao uz apostole i bio s njima kada su dočekali Isusa na Galilejskom moru. Jedno je vrijeme podlegao potištenosti zbog svojih sumnji, ali je naposljetku ponovno zadobio vjeru i hrabrost. Nakon Duhova davao je apostolima mudre savjete, a kada su progoni raspršili vjernike, otišao je na Cipar, Kretu, obalu sjeverne Afrike i Siciliju, propovijedajući radosnu vijest o kraljevstvu i krsteći vjernike. Toma je nastavio propovijedati i krstiti sve dok ga nisu uhvatili predstavnici rimske vlasti i pogubili na Malti. Samo nekoliko tjedana prije svoje smrti započeo je pisati život i nauke Isusa.
139:8.13 (1563.1)
Thomas had a trying time during the days of the trial and crucifixion. He was for a season in the depths of despair, but he rallied his courage, stuck to the apostles, and was present with them to welcome Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. For a while he succumbed to his doubting depression but eventually rallied his faith and courage. He gave wise counsel to the apostles after Pentecost and, when persecution scattered the believers, went to Cyprus, Crete, the North African coast, and Sicily, preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom and baptizing believers. And Thomas continued preaching and baptizing until he was apprehended by the agents of the Roman government and was put to death in Malta. Just a few weeks before his death he had begun the writing of the life and teachings of Jesus.
Nema se mnogo toga reći o ovoj dvojici običnih ribara. Voljeli su svog Učitelja i Isus je volio njih, ali nikada nisu prekidali njegove govore pitanjima. Vrlo malo su razumjeli filozofske rasprave ili teološke debate svojih apostolskih drugova, ali su se radovali što su bili ubrojeni među takvu skupinu velikih ljudi. Ova su dva čovjeka bila gotovo istovjetna po osobnom izgledu, mentalnim osobinama i stupnju duhovne spoznaje. Ono što se može reći o jednom, treba zabilježiti i za drugoga.
139:9.2 (1563.3)
There is not much to be said about these two commonplace fisherfolk. They loved their Master and Jesus loved them, but they never interrupted his discourses with questions. They understood very little about the philosophical discussions or the theological debates of their fellow apostles, but they rejoiced to find themselves numbered among such a group of mighty men. These two men were almost identical in personal appearance, mental characteristics, and extent of spiritual perception. What may be said of one should be recorded of the other.
Andrija im je dodijelio zadatak održavanja reda među mnoštvima. Bili su glavni redari tijekom propovjedničkih okupljanja i, zapravo, opći služitelji i glasnici apostolske grupe. Pomagali su Filipu s nabavkama, nosili su novac obiteljima u Natanaelovo ime i uvijek bili spremni priskočiti u pomoć svakom od apostola.
139:9.3 (1563.4)
Andrew assigned them to the work of policing the multitudes. They were the chief ushers of the preaching hours and, in fact, the general servants and errand boys of the twelve. They helped Philip with the supplies, they carried money to the families for Nathaniel, and always were they ready to lend a helping hand to any one of the apostles.
Brojni pripadnici običnog naroda, koji su bili slični ovoj dvojici, bili su silno ohrabreni kada su vidjeli da su ova dvojica blizanaca počašćena mjestima među apostolima. Samim svojim prihvaćanjem za apostole, ova dvojica neizrazitih blizanaca bila su sredstvo kojim je mnoštvo malodušnih vjernika pronašlo put u kraljevstvo. Osim toga, obični ljudi lakše su prihvaćali da ih vode i usmjeravaju službeni redari koji su im bili vrlo slični.
139:9.4 (1563.5)
The multitudes of the common people were greatly encouraged to find two like themselves honored with places among the apostles. By their very acceptance as apostles these mediocre twins were the means of bringing a host of fainthearted believers into the kingdom. And, too, the common people took more kindly to the idea of being directed and managed by official ushers who were very much like themselves.
Jakov Alfejev je naročito volio Isusa zbog Učiteljeve jednostavnosti. Dok blizanci nisu mogli shvatiti Isusov um, mogli su razumjeti suosjećajnu povezanost između sebe i srca svog Učitelja. Njihovi umovi nisu bili osobito razvijeni; čak bi ih se s poštovanjem moglo nazvati priprostima, ali su u svojim duhovnim prirodama imali stvarno iskustvo. Vjerovali su u Isusa; bili su sinovi Božji i pripadnici kraljevstva.
139:9.6 (1563.7)
James Alpheus especially loved Jesus because of the Master’s simplicity. These twins could not comprehend the mind of Jesus, but they did grasp the sympathetic bond between themselves and the heart of their Master. Their minds were not of a high order; they might even reverently be called stupid, but they had a real experience in their spiritual natures. They believed in Jesus; they were sons of God and fellows of the kingdom.
139:9.7 (1564.1)
Judas Alpheus was drawn toward Jesus because of the Master’s unostentatious humility. Such humility linked with such personal dignity made a great appeal to Judas. The fact that Jesus would always enjoin silence regarding his unusual acts made a great impression on this simple child of nature.
Blizanci su bili dobroćudni, jednostavni pomagači koje su svi voljeli. Isus je ove mladiće, koji su imali samo jedan dar, postavio na počasna mjesta u svojoj osobnoj službi u kraljevstvu, jer na svjetovima prostora žive bezbrojni milijuni drugih takvih jednostavnih i uplašenih duša kojima također želi izraziti dobrodošlicu u aktivno i vjerno zajedništvo sa sobom i svojim odaslanim Duhom Istine. Isus ne gleda s prezirom na malenkost, nego samo na zlo i grijeh. Jakov i Juda bili su mali, ali su također bili vjerni. Bili su jednostavni i neuki, ali su također imali velika srca, bili blagi i darežljivi.
139:9.8 (1564.2)
The twins were good-natured, simple-minded helpers, and everybody loved them. Jesus welcomed these young men of one talent to positions of honor on his personal staff in the kingdom because there are untold millions of other such simple and fear-ridden souls on the worlds of space whom he likewise wishes to welcome into active and believing fellowship with himself and his outpoured Spirit of Truth. Jesus does not look down upon littleness, only upon evil and sin. James and Judas were little, but they were also faithful. They were simple and ignorant, but they were also big-hearted, kind, and generous.
I kako su samo zahvalno bili ponosni ovi jednostavni ljudi onoga dana kada je Učitelj odbio prihvatiti određenog bogataša kao učitelja evanđelja prije nego što proda svoje bogatstvo i pomogne siromasima. Kad je narod to čuo i ugledao blizance među njegovim savjetnicima, zasigurno je znao da Isus ne pravi razliku među ljudima. Ali samo je božanska institucija — nebesko kraljevstvo — ikada mogla biti izgrađena na tako prosječnom ljudskom temelju!
139:9.9 (1564.3)
And how gratefully proud were these humble men on that day when the Master refused to accept a certain rich man as an evangelist unless he would sell his goods and help the poor. When the people heard this and beheld the twins among his counselors, they knew of a certainty that Jesus was no respecter of persons. But only a divine institution—the kingdom of heaven—could ever have been built upon such a mediocre human foundation!
Blizanci su se samo jednom ili dvaput tijekom cijelog svog druženja s Isusom usudili postaviti pitanja u javnosti. Juda je jednom bio potaknut da upita Isusa nakon što je Učitelj govorio o svom otvorenom objavljivanju svijetu. Bio je pomalo razočaran što među dvanaestoricom više neće biti tajni, pa se odvažio upitati: „Ali, Učitelju, kada se tako objaviš svijetu, kako ćeš nam iskazati posebne znakove svoje dobrote?“
139:9.10 (1564.4)
Only once or twice in all their association with Jesus did the twins venture to ask questions in public. Judas was once intrigued into asking Jesus a question when the Master had talked about revealing himself openly to the world. He felt a little disappointed that there were to be no more secrets among the twelve, and he made bold to ask: “But, Master, when you do thus declare yourself to the world, how will you favor us with special manifestations of your goodness?”
Blizanci su vjerno služili sve do kraja, do mračnih dana kušnje, raspeća i očaja. U svom srcu nikad nisu izgubili vjeru u Isusa i (izuzev Ivana) prvi su povjerovali u njegovo uskrsnuće. Ali nisu bili u stanju shvatiti uspostavu kraljevstva. Ubrzo nakon što je njihov Učitelj bio raspet, vratili su se svojim obiteljima i mrežama; njihov je rad bio završen. Nisu imali sposobnost nastaviti u složenijim borbama kraljevstva. Ali živjeli su i umrli svjesni da su bili počašćeni i blagoslovljeni četverogodišnjim bliskim i osobnim druženjem sa Sinom Božjim, suverenim stvoriteljem svemira.
139:9.11 (1564.5)
The twins served faithfully until the end, until the dark days of trial, crucifixion, and despair. They never lost their heart faith in Jesus, and (save John) they were the first to believe in his resurrection. But they could not comprehend the establishment of the kingdom. Soon after their Master was crucified, they returned to their families and nets; their work was done. They had not the ability to go on in the more complex battles of the kingdom. But they lived and died conscious of having been honored and blessed with four years of close and personal association with a Son of God, the sovereign maker of a universe.
Šimuna Zelota, jedanaestog apostola, izabrao je Šimun Petar. Bio je sposoban čovjek plemenitog porijekla i živio je sa svojom obitelji u Kafarnaumu. Kad se pridružio apostolima, imao je dvadeset osam godina. Bio je vatreni agitator i također čovjek koji je mnogo govorio ne razmišljajući. Prije nego što je svu svoju pozornost usmjerio na nacionalistički pokret Zelota, bio je trgovac u Kafarnaumu.
139:11.1 (1564.6)
Simon Zelotes, the eleventh apostle, was chosen by Simon Peter. He was an able man of good ancestry and lived with his family at Capernaum. He was twenty-eight years old when he became attached to the apostles. He was a fiery agitator and was also a man who spoke much without thinking. He had been a merchant in Capernaum before he turned his entire attention to the patriotic organization of the Zealots.
Šimunova snaga počivala je u njegovoj nadahnjujućoj odanosti. Kad bi apostoli naišli na muškarca ili ženu koji su se neodlučno kolebali oko ulaska u kraljevstvo, poslali bi po Šimuna. Ovom oduševljenom zagovaratelju spasenja kroz vjeru u Boga obično nije trebalo više od petnaestak minuta da ukloni sve sumnje i svu neodlučnost te da ugleda novu dušu rođenu u „slobodi vjere i radosti spasenja“.
139:11.3 (1564.8)
Simon’s strength was his inspirational loyalty. When the apostles found a man or woman who floundered in indecision about entering the kingdom, they would send for Simon. It usually required only about fifteen minutes for this enthusiastic advocate of salvation through faith in God to settle all doubts and remove all indecision, to see a new soul born into the “liberty of faith and the joy of salvation.”
139:11.4 (1565.1)
Simon’s great weakness was his material-mindedness. He could not quickly change himself from a Jewish nationalist to a spiritually minded internationalist. Four years was too short a time in which to make such an intellectual and emotional transformation, but Jesus was always patient with him.
Iako je bio mahniti revolucionar, neustrašivi huškač, Šimun je postupno obuzdao svoju vatrenu narav sve dok nije postao snažan i djelotvoran propovjednik „mira na zemlji i dobre volje među ljudima“. Šimun je bio izvrstan raspravljač; volio je raspravljati. Kad je trebalo izaći na kraj s legalističkim umovima obrazovanih Židova ili s intelektualnim cjepidlačenjem Grka, taj je zadatak uvijek bio povjeren Šimunu.
139:11.6 (1565.3)
Although Simon was a rabid revolutionist, a fearless firebrand of agitation, he gradually subdued his fiery nature until he became a powerful and effective preacher of “Peace on earth and good will among men.” Simon was a great debater; he did like to argue. And when it came to dealing with the legalistic minds of the educated Jews or the intellectual quibblings of the Greeks, the task was always assigned to Simon.
Dok je Šimun po prirodi bio buntovnik, a odgojem ikonoklast, Isus ga je pridobio za više predodžbe nebeskog kraljevstva. Šimun se uvijek poistovjećivao sa strankom prosvjeda, ali je sada pristupio stranci napretka — neograničenog i vječnog napredovanja duha i istine. Šimun je bio čovjek snažne odanosti i toplih osobnih privrženosti te je duboko volio Isusa.
139:11.7 (1565.4)
He was a rebel by nature and an iconoclast by training, but Jesus won him for the higher concepts of the kingdom of heaven. He had always identified himself with the party of protest, but he now joined the party of progress, unlimited and eternal progression of spirit and truth. Simon was a man of intense loyalties and warm personal devotions, and he did profoundly love Jesus.
Učitelj je mnogo razgovarao sa Šimunom, ali nikada nije potpuno uspio preobraziti ovog gorljivog židovskog nacionalista u pravog internacionalista. Isus je često govorio Šimunu da je ispravno željeti poboljšanje društvenog, gospodarskog i političkog poretka, ali bi uvijek dodao: „To nije posao nebeskog kraljevstva. Mi se moramo posvetiti vršenju Očeve volje. Naš je posao biti poslanici duhovne uprave na visini i ne smijemo se neposredno baviti ničim osim predstavljanjem volje i karaktera božanskog Oca koji stoji na čelu uprave za koju nosimo vjerodajnice.“ Šimunu je sve to bilo teško razumjeti, ali je postupno počeo shvaćati nešto od značenja Učiteljevog nauka.
139:11.9 (1565.6)
The Master had many talks with Simon, but he never fully succeeded in making an internationalist out of this ardent Jewish nationalist. Jesus often told Simon that it was proper to want to see the social, economic, and political orders improved, but he would always add: “That is not the business of the kingdom of heaven. We must be dedicated to the doing of the Father’s will. Our business is to be ambassadors of a spiritual government on high, and we must not immediately concern ourselves with aught but the representation of the will and character of the divine Father who stands at the head of the government whose credentials we bear.” It was all difficult for Simon to comprehend, but gradually he began to grasp something of the meaning of the Master’s teaching.
Kad su se apostoli zbog jeruzalemskih progona razišli svaki na svoju stranu, Šimun se privremeno povukao iz javnog djelovanja. Bio je doslovno slomljen. Kao nacionalistički domoljub odrekao se svojih uvjerenja u korist Isusovih učenja; sada se činilo da je sve izgubljeno. Bio je očajan, ali je nakon nekoliko godina ponovno zadobio nadu i krenuo objavljivati evanđelje kraljevstva.
139:11.10 (1565.7)
After the dispersion because of the Jerusalem persecutions, Simon went into temporary retirement. He was literally crushed. As a nationalist patriot he had surrendered in deference to Jesus’ teachings; now all was lost. He was in despair, but in a few years he rallied his hopes and went forth to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom.
Juda Iškariot, dvanaesti apostol, bio je izabran od Natanaela. Rođen je u Keriotu, malom gradu u južnoj Judeji. Kad je bio dječak, njegovi su se roditelji preselili u Jerihon, gdje je živio i radio u raznim poslovima svoga oca sve dok se nije zainteresirao za propovijedanje i djelovanje Ivana Krstitelja. Judini roditelji bili su saduceji i, kada se njihov sin pridružio Ivanovim učenicima, odrekli su ga se.
139:12.1 (1565.9)
Judas Iscariot, the twelfth apostle, was chosen by Nathaniel. He was born in Kerioth, a small town in southern Judea. When he was a lad, his parents moved to Jericho, where he lived and had been employed in his father’s various business enterprises until he became interested in the preaching and work of John the Baptist. Judas’s parents were Sadducees, and when their son joined John’s disciples, they disowned him.
Kad je Natanael susreo Judu u Tariceji, ovaj je tražio zaposlenje u poduzeću za sušenje ribe na donjem kraju Galilejskog mora. Kad se pridružio apostolima, Juda je imao trideset godina i nije bio oženjen. Vjerojatno je bio najobrazovaniji čovjek među dvanaestoricom i jedini Judejac u Učiteljevoj apostolskoj obitelji. Juda nije imao nijednu izrazitu osobnu snažnu osobinu, iako su se mnoge njegove vanjske značajke doimale obilježjima kulture i stečenog obrazovanja. Bio je dobar mislilac, ali ne uvijek istinski pošten mislilac. Juda zapravo nije razumio samoga sebe; nije bio doista iskren prema samome sebi.
139:12.2 (1566.1)
When Nathaniel met Judas at Tarichea, he was seeking employment with a fish-drying enterprise at the lower end of the Sea of Galilee. He was thirty years of age and unmarried when he joined the apostles. He was probably the best-educated man among the twelve and the only Judean in the Master’s apostolic family. Judas had no outstanding trait of personal strength, though he had many outwardly appearing traits of culture and habits of training. He was a good thinker but not always a truly honest thinker. Judas did not really understand himself; he was not really sincere in dealing with himself.
Nije postojala nijedna posebna Isusova osobina kojoj se Juda divio više od općenito privlačne i izvanredno očaravajuće Učiteljeve ličnosti. Juda nikada nije mogao nadići svoje judejske predrasude prema svojim galilejskim suradnicima; u svojoj je nutrini čak kritizirao mnoge stvari u vezi s Isusom. Onoga kojega je jedanaest apostola smatralo savršenim čovjekom, „potpuno ljupkim i najistaknutijim među deset tisuća“, ovaj je samodopadni Judejac često sebi dopuštao kritizirati u vlastitom srcu. Uistinu je gajio predodžbu da je Isus bio plašljiv i donekle se bojao iskazati vlastitu moć i autoritet.
139:12.4 (1566.3)
There was no special trait about Jesus which Judas admired above the generally attractive and exquisitely charming personality of the Master. Judas was never able to rise above his Judean prejudices against his Galilean associates; he would even criticize in his mind many things about Jesus. Him whom eleven of the apostles looked upon as the perfect man, as the “one altogether lovely and the chiefest among ten thousand,” this self-satisfied Judean often dared to criticize in his own heart. He really entertained the notion that Jesus was timid and somewhat afraid to assert his own power and authority.
Juda je bio dobar poslovni čovjek. Za upravljanje financijskim poslovima takvog idealista kakav je bio Isus bila je potrebna taktičnost, sposobnost i strpljivost, kao i mukotrpna predanost, a da ne govorimo o suočavanju s kaotičnim poslovnim metodama nekih njegovih apostola. Juda je uistinu bio izvrstan upravitelj, dalekovidan i sposoban financijer. Bio je i neumoljiv u zahtjevu za organizacijom. Nitko od dvanaestorice nikada nije kritizirao Judu. Koliko su oni mogli vidjeti, Juda Iškariot bio je nenadmašan blagajnik, učen čovjek, odan (iako ponekad kritičan) apostol i u svakom smislu te riječi vrlo uspješan čovjek. Apostoli su voljeli Judu; on je doista bio jedan od njih. Juda je najvjerojatnije vjerovao u Isusa, ali sumnjamo da je Učitelja doista volio cijelim srcem. Judin slučaj slikovito pokazuje istinitost izreke: „Čovjeku se neki put čini pravim put, ali na kraju vodi u smrt.“ Čovjek lako može postati žrtvom mirne obmane ugodnog prilagođavanja putovima grijeha i smrti. Budite uvjereni da je Juda uvijek bio financijski odan svome Učitelju i svojim prijateljima apostolima. Novac nikada nije mogao biti razlog njegove izdaje Učitelja.
139:12.5 (1566.4)
Judas was a good business man. It required tact, ability, and patience, as well as painstaking devotion, to manage the financial affairs of such an idealist as Jesus, to say nothing of wrestling with the helter-skelter business methods of some of his apostles. Judas really was a great executive, a farseeing and able financier. And he was a stickler for organization. None of the twelve ever criticized Judas. As far as they could see, Judas Iscariot was a matchless treasurer, a learned man, a loyal (though sometimes critical) apostle, and in every sense of the word a great success. The apostles loved Judas; he was really one of them. He must have believed in Jesus, but we doubt whether he really loved the Master with a whole heart. The case of Judas illustrates the truthfulness of that saying: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death.” It is altogether possible to fall victim to the peaceful deception of pleasant adjustment to the paths of sin and death. Be assured that Judas was always financially loyal to his Master and his fellow apostles. Money could never have been the motive for his betrayal of the Master.
Juda je bio sin jedinac nerazboritih roditelja. Kad je bio vrlo mlad, ugađali su mu i razmazili ga; bio je razmaženo dijete. Kad je odrastao, razvio je pretjeranu predodžbu o vlastitoj važnosti. Bio je loš gubitnik. Imao je nejasne i iskrivljene predodžbe o pravednosti; bio je sklon popuštanju mržnji i sumnjičavosti. Bio je stručnjak u pogrešnom tumačenju riječi i djela svojih prijatelja. Tijekom cijelog svog života Juda je njegovao naviku da se osvećuje onima za koje je umišljao da su se prema njemu loše odnosili. Imao je nedostatan osjećaj za vrijednosti i odanost.
139:12.6 (1566.5)
Judas was an only son of unwise parents. When very young, he was pampered and petted; he was a spoiled child. As he grew up, he had exaggerated ideas about his self-importance. He was a poor loser. He had loose and distorted ideas about fairness; he was given to the indulgence of hate and suspicion. He was an expert at misinterpretation of the words and acts of his friends. All through his life Judas had cultivated the habit of getting even with those whom he fancied had mistreated him. His sense of values and loyalties was defective.
S Isusovog stanovišta, Juda je bio pothvat vjere. Učitelj je od samog početka potpuno razumio slabost ovog apostola i dobro je znao opasnosti koje su pratile njegovo primanje u zajedništvo. Ali priroda Božjih Sinova je takva da svakom stvorenom biću pruža punu i jednaku priliku za spasenje i opstanak. Isus je želio pokazati ne samo smrtnicima ovog svijeta, nego i promatračima s nebrojenih drugih svjetova, da kada postoje sumnje u iskrenost i svesrdnost odanosti nekog stvorenja kraljevstvu, Sudci ljudi uvijek potpuno prihvaćaju sumnjivog kandidata. Vrata vječnog života širom su otvorena svima; „tko god hoće, može doći“; osim vjere onoga koji dolazi, ne postoje nikakva druga ograničenja ni uvjeti.
139:12.7 (1566.6)
To Jesus, Judas was a faith adventure. From the beginning the Master fully understood the weakness of this apostle and well knew the dangers of admitting him to fellowship. But it is the nature of the Sons of God to give every created being a full and equal chance for salvation and survival. Jesus wanted not only the mortals of this world but the onlookers of innumerable other worlds to know that, when doubts exist as to the sincerity and wholeheartedness of a creature’s devotion to the kingdom, it is the invariable practice of the Judges of men fully to receive the doubtful candidate. The door of eternal life is wide open to all; “whosoever will may come”; there are no restrictions or qualifications save the faith of the one who comes.
I upravo je iz ovog razloga Isus dopustio Judi da ide sve do samoga kraja, uvijek čineći sve što je bilo moguće kako bi preobrazio i spasio ovog slabog i zbunjenog apostola. Ali kada se svjetlo ne primi iskreno i kada se prema njemu ne živi, ono postaje tama u duši. Juda je intelektualno napredovao u razumijevanju Isusovih učenja o kraljevstvu, ali nije napredovao u stjecanju duhovnog karaktera kao što su to učinili drugi apostoli. Nije ostvario zadovoljavajući osobni napredak u duhovnom iskustvu.
139:12.8 (1567.1)
This is just the reason why Jesus permitted Judas to go on to the very end, always doing everything possible to transform and save this weak and confused apostle. But when light is not honestly received and lived up to, it tends to become darkness within the soul. Judas grew intellectually regarding Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom, but he did not make progress in the acquirement of spiritual character as did the other apostles. He failed to make satisfactory personal progress in spiritual experience.
Dok se sve više prepuštao mračnom razmišljanju o osobnim razočaranjima, Juda je na kraju postao žrtva ozlojeđenosti. Njegovi su osjećaji mnogo puta bili povrijeđeni i postao je nenormalno sumnjičav prema svojim najboljim prijateljima, čak i prema samom Učitelju. Uskoro je postao opsjednut mišlju o poravnavanju računa — bilo kakvom osvetom, čak i izdajom svojih drugova i svog Učitelja.
139:12.9 (1567.2)
Judas became increasingly a brooder over personal disappointment, and finally he became a victim of resentment. His feelings had been many times hurt, and he grew abnormally suspicious of his best friends, even of the Master. Presently he became obsessed with the idea of getting even, anything to avenge himself, yes, even betrayal of his associates and his Master.
Ali ove zle i opasne misli nisu poprimile konačan oblik sve do dana kada je zahvalna žena razbila skupocjenu kutiju miomirisa kod Isusovih nogu. Judi se to učinilo rasipnim, a kada je Isus njegov javni prosvjed tako odlučno odbacio pred svima koji su to čuli, bilo je to za njega previše. Taj je događaj u njemu pokrenuo svu nagomilanu mržnju, povrijeđenost, zlobu, predrasude, ljubomoru i osvetoljubivost cijelog njegovog života, i on je odlučio izravnati račune s nekim — iako nije znao s kime. Ali svu je zloću svoje prirode usmjerio na jedinu nevinu osobu u cijeloj prljavoj drami svog nesretnog života, samo zato što se Isus našao kao glavni sudionik događaja koji je označio njegov prijelaz iz napredujućeg kraljevstva svjetla u onu samovoljno izabranu oblast tame.
139:12.10 (1567.3)
But these wicked and dangerous ideas did not take definite shape until the day when a grateful woman broke an expensive box of incense at Jesus’ feet. This seemed wasteful to Judas, and when his public protest was so sweepingly disallowed by Jesus right there in the hearing of all, it was too much. That event determined the mobilization of all the accumulated hate, hurt, malice, prejudice, jealousy, and revenge of a lifetime, and he made up his mind to get even with he knew not whom; but he crystallized all the evil of his nature upon the one innocent person in all the sordid drama of his unfortunate life just because Jesus happened to be the chief actor in the episode which marked his passing from the progressive kingdom of light into that self-chosen domain of darkness.
Učitelj je više puta, i privatno i javno, upozoravao Judu da posrće, ali božanska upozorenja obično ne ostavljaju dojam na ogorčenu ljudsku prirodu. Isus je učinio sve što je bilo moguće, u skladu s čovjekovom moralnom slobodom, kako bi spriječio Judin izbor pogrešnog puta. Veliki test konačno je došao. Sin ozlojeđenosti nije izdržao; podlegao je gorkim i bijednim nalozima ponosnog i osvetoljubivog uma opterećenog pretjeranom predodžbom o vlastitoj važnosti i brzo se sunovratio u zbrku, očaj i pokvarenost.
139:12.11 (1567.4)
The Master many times, both privately and publicly, had warned Judas that he was slipping, but divine warnings are usually useless in dealing with embittered human nature. Jesus did everything possible, consistent with man’s moral freedom, to prevent Judas’s choosing to go the wrong way. The great test finally came. The son of resentment failed; he yielded to the sour and sordid dictates of a proud and vengeful mind of exaggerated self-importance and swiftly plunged on down into confusion, despair, and depravity.
Juda se zatim upustio u nisku i sramotnu spletku s namjerom da izda svog Gospodina i Učitelja te je brzo proveo tu zlokobnu zamisao u djelo. Dok je provodio svoje planove izdajničke prevare, začete u gnjevu, doživljavao je trenutke kajanja i srama, a u tim trenucima razbistrene svijesti malodušno je, kao obranu pred samim sobom, začeo misao da bi Isus možda mogao iskazati svoju moć i u posljednjem se trenutku izbaviti.
139:12.12 (1567.5)
Judas then entered into the base and shameful intrigue to betray his Lord and Master and quickly carried the nefarious scheme into effect. During the outworking of his anger-conceived plans of traitorous betrayal, he experienced moments of regret and shame, and in these lucid intervals he faintheartedly conceived, as a defense in his own mind, the idea that Jesus might possibly exert his power and deliver himself at the last moment.
139:12.13 (1567.6)
When the sordid and sinful business was all over, this renegade mortal, who thought lightly of selling his friend for thirty pieces of silver to satisfy his long-nursed craving for revenge, rushed out and committed the final act in the drama of fleeing from the realities of mortal existence—suicide.