TIMOTEO eshi shĩa, ni enyiɛ kɛmiiya maŋ kroko nɔ, ni eejwɛŋ nɔ ni kã ehiɛ lɛ he. Mɛi ni fata ehe lɛ nyiɛ hiɛ, ni Timoteo le hei ni amɛtsɔɔ lɛ jogbaŋŋ. Fiofio lɛ, amɛmiishi Listra, ni ji maŋ ko ni yɔɔ jɔɔ ko mli lɛ mli. Be ni Timoteo susu bɔ ni enyɛ kɛ enaa ená miishɛɛ, ni nakai beiaŋ nɔŋŋ lɛ amɛmiibɔ mɔdɛŋ ni akana akɛ amɛmiifo be ni eshiɔ lɛ, eŋmɔ fioo. Ani ebaafo ehe ni efɔ̃ amɛ nine naagbee nɔ?

Kɛ́ eyɛ mli aahu lɛ, Paulo kwɛɔ Timoteo, kɛkɛ lɛ eŋmɔ fioo kɛwo lɛ hewalɛ. Ele akɛ Timoteo hiɛ gboɔ lolo, shi eŋɔɔ enaa akɛ oblanyo fioo lɛ yɛ gbɛfãa lɛ he miishɛɛ. Timoteo edako tsɔ, eeenyɛ efee akɛ eye aaafee afii 20, ni ebuɔ Paulo waa ni esumɔɔ esane hu. Amrɔ nɛɛ Timoteo nyiɛ nuu anɔkwafo nɛɛ sɛɛ kɛmiifã gbɛ kɛmiiya he ko ni kɛ eshĩa jekɛ waa. Amɛbaanyiɛ amɛnane nɔ, amɛbaata meele mli, ni amɛkɛ osharai srɔtoi baakpe yɛ gbɛ lɛ nɔ. Timoteo leee kɛji ebaaku esɛɛ kɛba shĩa ekoŋŋ.

Mɛni tsirɛ oblanyo nɛɛ ni ekɛ ehe wo shihilɛ ni tamɔ nɛkɛ mli? Kɛ́ ekɛ ehe shã afɔle yɛ nɛkɛ gbɛ nɔ lɛ, mɛɛ sɛɛ ebaaná? Ni mɛɛ gbɛ nɔ Timoteo hemɔkɛyeli lɛ baanyɛ awaje wɔhemɔkɛyeli lɛ?

Nyɛhaã wɔsusua nɔ ni ba afii enyɔ loo etɛ ni tsɔ hiɛ lɛ he wɔkwɛa, ni wɔŋɔ lɛ akɛ Timoteo jɛ Listra—eeenyɛ efee akɛ nakai eji. Eji maŋ bibioo ko ni yɔɔ jɔɔ ko ni nujɔɔ hoɔ yɛ jɛmɛ be fɛɛ be lɛ mli, ni jɛmɛ bɛ haŋtsii. Eeenyɛ efee akɛ maŋbii lɛ nuɔ Hela wiemɔ lɛ, shi amɛwieɔ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛwiemɔ, ni ji Likaonia lɛ. Gbi ko lɛ, maŋ lɛ mli bafee hirihiri. Bɔfo Paulo kɛ ehefatalɔ Barnaba, ni amɛji Kristofoi maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔi lɛ jɛ Ikonium kɛba maŋ lɛ mli. Ikonium maŋ lɛ bɛŋkɛ Listra, shi eda fioo fe Listra. Be ni amɛshiɛɔ yɛ faŋŋ mli lɛ, Paulo na nuu akpaketsɛ ko; nuu nɛɛ fee nibii ni tsɔɔ akɛ eyɛ hemɔkɛyeli diɛŋtsɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, Paulo tsa lɛ yɛ naakpɛɛ gbɛ nɔ!—Bɔfoi 14:5-10.

Ekã shi faŋŋ akɛ, mɛi ni yɔɔ Listra lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo heɔ saji ni awieɔ akɛ, be ko ni eho lɛ, nyɔŋmɔi lɛ tsakeɔ amɛhe amɛtsɔmɔɔ gbɔmɛi ni amɛbaa maŋ lɛ mli lɛ amɛyeɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, maŋbii lɛ susu akɛ Paulo ji Herme ni Barnaba ji Zeu! Ekpakpa ko dani Kristofoi enyɔ ni baa amɛhe shi nɛɛ nyɛ amɛtsĩ mɛi lɛ anaa koni amɛkashã afɔlei amɛhã amɛ.—Bɔfoi 14:11-18.

Shi mɛi fioo komɛi ni yɔɔ Listra lɛ le akɛ hii nɛɛ jeee nyɔŋmɔi komɛi ni ebasara maŋ lɛ; amɛle akɛ hii nɛɛ ji mɛi ni bashiɛɔ sane kpakpa lɛ ehãa amɛ yɛ be kɛ beiaŋ. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, Eunike, ni ji Yudayoo ko ni ewu ji Helanyo * ni heee yeee lɛ, kɛ enyɛ Loise bo Paulo kɛ Barnaba toi jogbaŋŋ kɛ miishɛɛ. Agbɛnɛ lɛ, amɛnu sane ni Yudafoi anɔkwafoi lɛ fɛɛ taoɔ anu lɛ, no ji akɛ Mesia lɛ eba, ni ewo gbalɛi ni aŋmala yɛ ehe yɛ Ŋmalɛi lɛ amli lɛ babaoo obɔ!

Susumɔ bɔ ni Paulo saramɔ lɛ baaná Timoteo nɔ hewalɛ ehã. Atsɔse Timoteo ‘kɛjɛ ebifabiiaŋ’ koni esumɔ Hebri Ŋmalɛi krɔŋkrɔŋ lɛ. (2 Timoteo 3:15) Timoteo na akɛ Paulo kɛ Barnaba miiwie anɔkwale  ni kɔɔ Mesia lɛ he, taakɛ emami kɛ enaa hu na lɛ. Ni susumɔ nuu akpaketsɛ ni Paulo tsa lɛ lɛ hu he. Kɛjɛ Timoteo gbekɛbiiashi lɛ, ena nuu nɛɛ shii abɔ yɛ Listra gbɛjegbɛi lɛ ahe. Shi amrɔ nɛɛ Timoteo miina nuu nɛɛ ni eenyiɛ enane nɔ! Ebɛ naakpɛɛ mɔ akɛ Eunike, Loise kɛ Timoteo fɛɛ batsɔmɔ Kristofoi. Niimɛi kɛ naamɛi kɛ fɔlɔi baanyɛ akase nibii babaoo kɛjɛ Loise kɛ Eunike nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ mli. Ani obaanyɛ ofee nɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa ohã mɛi ni drako lɛ?

Eyɛ faŋŋ akɛ, be ni Kristofoi ni yɔɔ Listra lɛ bale hiɛnɔkamɔ ni yɔɔ kɛhã Kristo sɛɛnyiɛlɔi lɛ, amɛná miishɛɛ waa. Shi amɛbana amɛle hu akɛ, Kristo sɛɛnyiɛlɔi ni amɛbatsɔmɔ lɛ baahã amɛna nɔ. Shiteekɛwolɔi komɛi ni ji Yudafoi lɛ jɛ Ikonium kɛ Antiokia ba ni amɛbawo mɛi ni yɔɔ Listra lɛ ayiŋ koni amɛte shi amɛwo Paulo kɛ Barnaba. Etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni asafoku ko ni feɔ basabasa banina Paulo, ni amɛtswia lɛ tɛi. Be ni amɛtswia lɛ tɛi shii abɔ lɛ, egbee shi. Asafoku lɛ gbala lɛ kɛtee maŋ lɛ sɛɛ ni amɛshi lɛ koni egbo.—Bɔfoi 14:19.

Shi kaselɔi ni yɔɔ Listra lɛ tee amɛyabɔle Paulo he kɛkpe yɛ agbo lɛ naa. Be ni amɛna akɛ Paulo miitsi ehe, ni ete shi ekɛ ekãa tee Listra ekoŋŋ lɛ, amɛmii shɛ amɛhe waa! Enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, Paulo kɛ Barnaba shi kɛtee Derbe ni amɛyatsa amɛshiɛmɔ lɛ nɔ. Be ni amɛfee mɛi hei kaselɔi yɛ jɛmɛ hu lɛ, amɛkɛ ekãa ku amɛsɛɛ kɛba Listra ekoŋŋ, eyɛ mli moŋ akɛ eyɛ oshara waa. Mɛni amɛyafee? Amaniɛbɔɔ lɛ hãa wɔleɔ akɛ, “amɛwaje kaselɔi lɛ,” ni “amɛwo amɛ hewalɛ koni amɛhi hemɔkɛyeli lɛ mli.” Bo lɛ feemɔ he mfoniri okwɛ ni oblanyo fioo Timoteo eta gãa ni eebo toi, be ni Paulo kɛ Barnaba tsɔɔ nakai Kristofoi lɛ akɛ wɔsɛɛ he hiɛnɔkamɔ ni yɔɔ nyam ni amɛyɔɔ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, naagbai ni amɛkɛkpeɔ amrɔ nɛɛ lɛ jeee nɔ ko lɛ. Amɛkɛɛ akɛ: “Esa akɛ wɔtsɔmɔ amanehului pii amli kɛbote Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ mli.”—Bɔfoi 14:20-22.

Timoteo na akɛ Paulo hi shi yɛ nakai wiemɔi lɛ anaa, ejaakɛ emia ehiɛ etsɔ amanehulu mli koni enyɛ eshiɛ sane kpakpa lɛ ehã mɛi krokomɛi. No hewɔ lɛ, Timoteo le akɛ kɛ́ enyiɛ Paulo nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mɛi ni yɔɔ Listra lɛ baate shi amɛwo lɛ, ni ekolɛ lɛ diɛŋtsɛ epapa hu po baate shi awo lɛ. Shi Timoteo haŋ ni shihilɛ ni tamɔ nakai aná bɔ ni ekpɛ eyiŋ akɛ ebaasɔmɔ Nyɔŋmɔ ehã lɛ nɔ hewalɛ. Ŋmɛnɛ lɛ, oblahii kɛ oblayei babaoo yɛ ni tamɔ Timoteo. Amɛkɛ nilee taoɔ nanemɛi ni yɛ  hemɔkɛyeli ni mli wa, ni baawo amɛ hewalɛ, ni baawaje amɛ. Ni amɛhãaa shiteekɛwoo atsĩ amɛnaa koni amɛkasɔmɔ anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ!

Taakɛ wɔwie kɛtsɔ hiɛ lɛ, eeenyɛ efee akɛ afii enyɔ loo etɛ sɛɛ dani Paulo ba Listra ekoŋŋ. Feemɔ bɔ ni Timoteo kɛ eshĩabii lɛ ná miishɛɛ be ni Paulo bashɛ shi lɛ he mfoniri okwɛ; afi nɛɛ Sila ni fata ehe. Ekã shi faŋŋ akɛ, Paulo hu ná miishɛɛ waa. Lɛ diɛŋtsɛ eena nɔ ni ejɛ anɔkwale dumɔwui ni edu yɛ Listra lɛ mli kɛba. Ebana Loise kɛ ebiyoo Eunike, ni amrɔ nɛɛ amɛji Kristofoi yei anɔkwafoi ni yɔɔ ‘hemɔkɛyeli ni osato bɛ mli,’ ni enɛ ji su ni Paulo nyaa he waa. (2 Timoteo 1:5) Ni oblanyo fioo Timoteo hu?

Paulo ná le akɛ, kɛjɛ be ni eba etee nɛɛ, oblanyo nɛɛ ebafee mɔ ko ni hiɛ wa yɛ asafo lɛ mli. ‘Nyɛmimɛi lɛ wieɔ Timoteo he ekpakpa,’ jeee yɛ Listra pɛ, shi yɛ Ikonium, ni yɔɔ Listra kooyi-anaigbɛ ni kɛ jɛmɛ jekɛmɔ aaafee kilomitai 32 lɛ hu. (Bɔfoi 16:2) Mɛni hewɔ awieɔ ehe ekpakpa nakai lɛ?

Ŋaawoo kpakpa kɛhã oblahii fata nibii ní Timoteo nyɛ kɛ enaa tsɔɔ lɛ ‘kɛjɛ ebifabiiaŋ’ yɛ “Ŋmalɛi krɔŋkrɔŋi lɛ” amli lɛ he. (2 Timoteo 3:15) Eko ji: “Kaimɔ obɔlɔ lɛ yɛ oblahiiaŋ gbii lɛ amli.” (Jajelɔ 12:1) Timoteo nu wiemɔi nɛɛ ashishi jogbaŋŋ be ni ebatsɔ Kristofonyo lɛ. Ebayɔse akɛ gbɛ ni hi fe fɛɛ ni ebaanyɛ etsɔ nɔ ekai e-Bɔlɔ lɛ ji, ni ebaagba mɛi krokomɛi sane kpakpa ni kɔɔ Kristo, ni ji Nyɔŋmɔ Bi lɛ he lɛ. Fiofio lɛ, Timoteo ye ehiɛ ni gboɔ ni hãaa enyɛ efee ekãa kɛgba mɛi krokomɛi sane kpakpa ni kɔɔ Yesu Kristo he lɛ nɔ.

Hii ni nyiɛɔ hiɛ yɛ asafo lɛ mli lɛ na Timoteo hiɛyaa lɛ. Eka shi faŋŋ akɛ, hii nɛɛ baaná miishɛɛ waa kɛ́ amɛkwɛ bɔ ni oblanyo nɛɛ yeɔ ebuaa, ni ewoɔ asafo lɛ mli bii lɛ hewalɛ hu lɛ. Nɔ ni fe fɛɛ lɛ, Yehowa hu yɔse Timoteo mɔdɛŋbɔɔ lɛ. Nyɔŋmɔ hã agba gbalɛi komɛi kɛkɔ ehe—ekolɛ nɔ ni kɔɔ sɔɔmɔ ni ebaasɔmɔ asafoi lɛ he. Be ni Paulo basara lɛ, ena akɛ Timoteo baanyɛ aye abua amɛ yɛ maŋsɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Asafoŋ onukpai ni yɔɔ Listra lɛ kpɛlɛ nɔ. Amɛkɛ amɛniji shwie oblanyo lɛ nɔ, ni enɛ ji nifeemɔ ko ni tsɔɔ akɛ ahala lɛ kɛhã hegbɛ krɛdɛɛ ko yɛ Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ sɔɔmɔ mli.—1 Timoteo 1:18; 4:14.

Eka shi faŋŋ akɛ Timoteo ná miishɛɛ waa yɛ hegbɛ kpele ni akɛhã lɛ nɛɛ he. Efee klalo akɛ ebaaya. * Shi te Timoteo tsɛ ni ejeee Kristofonyo lɛ fee enii yɛ tsɛmɔ ni atsɛ Timoteo ni ebafee Kristofonyo ni baafã gbɛ eyasɔmɔ yɛ maji krokomɛi anɔ lɛ he ehã tɛŋŋ? Ekolɛ no mli lɛ eesusu ebi lɛ wɔsɛɛ he yɛ gbɛ kroko kwraa nɔ. Ni Timoteo nyɛ kɛ enaa hu? Ani amɛmii shɛ amɛhe, ni nakai beiaŋ nɔŋŋ lɛ amɛmiishe gbeyei akɛ ekolɛ nɔ ko baaba amɛbi lɛ nɔ? Ebaanyɛ eba lɛ nakai.

Anɔkwa sane ji akɛ, Timoteo tee. Leebi ni wɔwie he yɛ sane nɛɛ shishijee lɛ ji be ni ekɛ bɔfo Paulo je gbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ shishi. Be ni amɛshiɔ Listra lɛ, be fɛɛ be ni Timoteo baafã enane kome lɛ, belɛ gbɛ miikã ekɛ eshĩa teŋ, ni eeya heko ni eleee. Be ni hii etɛ nɛɛ enyiɛ gbi muu fɛɛ lɛ, amɛyashɛ Ikonium. Timoteo na bɔ ni Paulo kɛ Sila kɛ gbɛtsɔɔmɔi hei ni jɛ gbɛtsɔɔmɔ kuu ni yɔɔ Yerusalem lɛ dɛŋ lɛ hãa, kɛ bɔ ni amɛbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ ni amɛtswa Kristofoi ni yɔɔ Ikonium lɛ amɛma shi lɛ. (Bɔfoi 16:4, 5) Shi kpaako kwraa amɛje amɛgbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ shishi.

Be ni amɛyasara asafoi ni yɔɔ Galatia lɛ, maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔi lɛ shi Roma gbɛjegbɛ lɛ nɔ ni amɛnyiɛ shitoi ohai abɔ kɛtsɔ Frigia kɛtee kooyi ni amɛtse mli kɛtee anai. Yɛ Nyɔŋmɔ mumɔ krɔŋkrɔŋ lɛ kudɔmɔ naa lɛ, amɛtee Troa ni amɛkɛ meele fa gbɛ kɛtee Makedonia. (Bɔfoi 16:6-12) No mli lɛ, Paulo ena bɔ ni Timoteo he yɔɔ sɛɛnamɔ hã. Paulo nyɛ eshi Timoteo kɛ Sila yɛ Beroea. (Bɔfoi 17:14) Etsu oblanyo lɛ kome pɛ po kɛtee Tesalonika. Be ni Timoteo yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, ekɛ nibii ni ekase yɛ Paulo kɛ Sila he lɛ tsu nii, ni ewo Kristofoi anɔkwafoi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ hewalɛ.—1 Tesalonikabii 3:1-3.

Sɛɛ mli lɛ, Paulo ŋma yɛ Timoteo he akɛ: “Mibɛ mɔ ko ni subaŋ tamɔ enɔ lɛ, ní baajɛ tsui krɔŋŋ mli etsu nyɛsaji ahe nii.” (Filipibii 2:20) Jeee heniianaa  Timoteo kɛná nakai gbɛ́i kpakpa lɛ. Timoteo tsu gbɛ́i kpakpa ni ená lɛ he nii, kɛtsɔ nitsumɔ ni baa shi ni etsu, kɛ anɔkwayeli mli ni ejɛ efĩ shi yɛ shihilɛi ni jaraa amli lɛ nɔ. Enɛ ji nɔkwɛmɔnɔ ni nɔ bɛ kɛhã oblahii kɛ oblayei ni yɔɔ ŋmɛnɛ! Kaahã ohiɛ kpa nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ akɛ bo diɛŋtsɛ obaanyɛ ofee gbɛ́i kpakpa ohã ohe. Akɛ oblanyo loo oblayoo lɛ, oyɛ hegbɛ kpele akɛ obaafee gbɛ́i kpakpa ohã ohe, kɛtsɔ Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ ni okɛbaaye klɛŋklɛŋ gbɛhe yɛ oshihilɛ mli, kɛ mɛi krokomɛi ni okɛbaaye yɛ mlihilɛ kɛ bulɛ mli lɛ nɔ.

Timoteo kɛ enaanyo bɔfo Paulo tsu nii aaafee afii 14 sɔŋŋ. Lɛ hu ekɛ osharai ni bɔfo Paulo kɛkpe yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ eko kpe, ni ekɛ lɛ fɛɛ ná miishɛɛ. (2 Korintobii 11:24-27) Be ko po lɛ, awo Timoteo tsuŋ yɛ ehemɔkɛyeli lɛ hewɔ. (Hebribii 13:23) Lɛ hu ená suɔmɔ ni mli wa ehã Kristofoi lɛ, taakɛ Paulo fee lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, Paulo ŋma lɛ akɛ: ‘Mikaiɔ oyaafonui lɛ.’ (2 Timoteo 1:4) Eeenyɛ efee akɛ, Timoteo hu ‘kɛ mɛi ni foɔ lɛ fo,’ ni enu he ehã amɛ taakɛ Paulo fee lɛ, bɔ ni afee ni enyɛ ewo amɛ hewalɛ ni eshɛje amɛmii jogbaŋŋ. (Romabii 12:15) Eba akɛ wɔ fɛɛ wɔbaakase amɛ!

Ebɛ naakpɛɛ akɛ Timoteo batsɔ asafoŋ onukpa ni amuɔ afɔ̃ɔ enɔ waa diɛŋtsɛ. Jeee asafoi lɛ asaramɔ kɛ amɛ hewalɛwoo pɛ Paulo kɛwo Timoteo dɛŋ, shi ehã lɛ hegbɛ hu ni ehala hii ni feɔ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa lɛ akɛ asafoŋ onukpai kɛ sɔɔlɔi.—1 Timoteo 5:22.

Paulo sumɔɔ Timoteo sane waa, ni ekɛ ŋaawoo kpakpa hãa lɛ taakɛ tsɛ feɔ ebi lɛ. Paulo wo Timoteo hewalɛ koni eya nɔ etsu hegbɛ ni atu awo edɛŋ lɛ he nii, koni eya ehiɛ yɛ Nyɔŋmɔjamɔ mli. (1 Timoteo 4:15, 16) Ewo Timoteo hewalɛ koni kɛ́ ehe bahia ni efee shiŋŋ yɛ nɔ ni ja he lɛ, ekahã oblanyo ni eji—kɛ ekolɛ ehiɛ ni gboɔ lɛ—miitsĩ enaa. (1 Timoteo 1:3; 4:6, 7, 11, 12) Paulo wo Timoteo ŋaa yɛ bɔ ni eeefee etsu hela ko ni gbaa enaa lɛ he nii lɛ he—eeenyɛ efee akɛ emusu kɔ̃ɔ lɛ kpitiokpitio.—1 Timoteo 5:23.

Be shɛ ni Paulo yɔse akɛ ewala miiba naagbee; ekã shi faŋŋ akɛ no mli lɛ eshwɛ fioo ni abaagbe lɛ. Akɛ mumɔ tsirɛ lɛ ni eŋma naagbee wolo kɛwo Timoteo hewalɛ. Ewiemɔi ni taa mɔ tsuiŋ ni eŋmala lɛ eko ji: “Bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ fɛɛ ni ooonyɛ ní oba miŋɔɔ oya.” (2 Timoteo 4:9) Suɔmɔ ni Paulo yɔɔ kɛhã Timoteo lɛ mli wa aahu akɛ, etsɛ lɛ “mibi ni misumɔɔ kɛ anɔkwafo yɛ Nuŋtsɔ lɛ mli.” (1 Korintobii 4:17) Ebɛ naakpɛɛ akɛ eesumɔ ni enaanyo lɛ ahi emasɛi be ni be ni ekɛbaagbo lɛ bɛŋkɛɔ lɛ! Wɔ teŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ baanyɛ abi ehe akɛ, ‘Ani mɛi naa mi akɛ mɔ ko ni baanyɛ ashɛje amɛmii kɛ́ amɛkɛ shihilɛ ni jaraa miikpe?’

Ani Timoteo nyɛ eyashɛ dani Paulo gbo? Wɔnyɛŋ wɔtsɔɔ. Wɔle akɛ Timoteo bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ be fɛɛ be lɛ, ebaashɛje Paulo kɛ mɛi krokomɛi amii, ni ewo amɛ hewalɛ. Ehi shi yɛ egbɛ́i Timoteo lɛ naa, eshishi ji “Mɔ ni Woɔ Nyɔŋmɔ Hiɛ Nyam.” Efee hemɔkɛyeli he nɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa efɔ̃ shi ehã oblahii kɛ oblayei kɛ onukpai fɛɛ koni wɔkase.