Kutoka kwa Paulo, mtume wa Kristo Yesu kwa amri ya Mungu Mwokozi wetu na ya Kristo Yesu aliye tumaini letu. Kwa

Walimu Wa Uongo

Kama nilivyokusihi wakati nikienda Makedonia, napenda ukae hapo Efeso uwaamuru watu fulani wasiendelee kufundisha mafund isho ya uongo. Pia wasiendelee kupoteza wakati wao kwa hadithi na orodha ndefu zisizo na mwisho za majina ya vizazi ambazo huchochea mabishano badala ya kuwajenga katika maarifa ya kimungu yatokanayo na imani. Shabaha ya maagizo haya ni upendo utokao katika moyo safi, dhamiri njema na imani ya kweli. Watu wengine wamepotoka na kuingia katika majadiliano yasiyo na maana kwa kuwa hawakuzingatia mambo haya. Wanataka kuwa walimu wa sheria ingawa hawaelewi mambo wanayosema wala hayo wanayotilia mkazo.

Tunajua kwamba sheria ni njema iwapo inatumika ipasavyo. Lakini tuelewe kwamba sheria haikuwekwa kwa ajili ya wenye haki, bali kwa ajili ya waasi na wasiotii: wasiomcha Mungu na wenye dhambi; wale wasio watakatifu, walio wachafu; wale wanaow aua baba zao na mama zao; wale wanaoua binadamu; 10 wale wal iowazinzi, wafiraji; wale wanaoteka watu nyara, na waongo, na wanaoapa kwa uwongo; na mengine mengi ambayo ni kinyume cha mafundisho ya kweli, 11 ambayo yanaambatana na Injili tukufu ya Mungu Mbarikiwa, ambayo nimekabidhiwa. 12 Nami namshukuru Kristo Yesu Bwana wetu, aliyenitia nguvu na kunihesabu kuwa ni mwaminifu kwa kunichagua nimtumikie. 13 Ingawa hapo mwanzo nilimkufuru na kumtesa na kumtukana, nili hurumiwa kwa sababu nilitenda hayo katika ujinga wangu na kutoku amini kwangu. 14 Na neema ya Bwana wetu ilimiminika tele kwa ajili yangu pamoja na imani na upendo uliomo ndani ya Kristo Yesu. 15 Neno hili ni la hakika tena linastahili kukubalika kabisa, kwamba Kristo Yesu alikuja duniani kuokoa wenye dhambi, ambao kati yao, mimi ni mwenye dhambi kuliko wote. 16 Lakini nilihurumiwa kwa sababu hii kwamba, kwa kunitumia mimi niliyekuwa mwenye dhambi kuliko wote, Kristo aonyeshe uvumilivu wake, niwe mfano kwa wote watakaomwamini na kupata uzima wa milele. 17 Basi, heshima na utukufu ni wake yeye Mfalme wa milele, asi yekufa wala asiyeonekana, aliye peke yake Mungu, milele na milele. Amina.

18 Mwanangu Timotheo, ninakukabidhi agizo hili, kufuatana na maneno ya unabii yaliyosemwa juu yako, ili kwa kuyafuata uweze kupigana ile vita njema, 19 ukishikilia imani na dhamiri njema. Watu wengine, kwa kukataa kuisikiliza dhamiri yao, wameangamiza imani yao. 20 Miongoni mwa watu hao wamo Himenayo na Aleksanda ambao nimewakabidhi kwa shetani, ili wajifunze wasimtukane Mungu.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God(A) our Savior(B) and of Christ Jesus our hope,(C)

To Timothy(D) my true son(E) in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,(G) stay there in Ephesus(H) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines(I) any longer or to devote themselves to myths(J) and endless genealogies.(K) Such things promote controversial speculations(L) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart(M) and a good conscience(N) and a sincere faith.(O) Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers(P) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.(Q)

We know that the law is good(R) if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous(S) but for lawbreakers and rebels,(T) the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine(U) 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.(V)

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,(W) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.(X) 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor(Y) and a violent man, I was shown mercy(Z) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.(AA) 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,(AB) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(AC)

15 Here is a trustworthy saying(AD) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners(AE)—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy(AF) so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience(AG) as an example for those who would believe(AH) in him and receive eternal life.(AI) 17 Now to the King(AJ) eternal, immortal,(AK) invisible,(AL) the only God,(AM) be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AN)

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

18 Timothy, my son,(AO) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,(AP) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,(AQ) 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience,(AR) which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.(AS) 20 Among them are Hymenaeus(AT) and Alexander,(AU) whom I have handed over to Satan(AV) to be taught not to blaspheme.