Timotheum I 1
1 Paulus Apostolus Iesu Christi secundum imperium Dei Salvatoris nostri, et Christi Iesu spei nostrae:
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the appointment of God, our Saviour, and Christ Jesus, our hope.
2 Timotheo dilecto filio in fide. Gratia, misericordia, et pax a Deo Patre, et Christo Iesu Domino nostro.
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace.
3 Sicut rogavi te ut remaneres Ephesi cum irem in Macedoniam, ut denunciares quibusdam ne aliter docerent,
I beg you, as I did when I was on my way into Macedonia, to remain at Ephesus; so that you may instruct certain people there not to teach new and strange doctrines,
4 neque intenderent fabulis, et genealogiis interminatis: quae quaestiones praestant magis quam aedificationem Dei, quae est in fide.
nor to devote their attention to legends and interminable genealogies, which tend to give rise to argument rather than to further that divine plan which is revealed in the faith.
5 Finis autem praecepti est charitas de corde puro, et conscientia bona, et fide non ficta.
The object of all instruction is to call forth that love which comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
6 A quibus quidam aberrantes, conversi sunt in vaniloquium,
And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects.
7 volentes esse legis doctores, non intelligentes neque quae loquuntur, neque de quibus affirmant.
They want to be teachers of the Law, and yet do not understand either the words they use, or the subjects on which they speak so confidently.
8 Scimus autem quia bona est lex, si quis ea legitime utatur:
We know, of course, that the Law is excellent, when used legitimately,
9 scientes hoc quia lex iusto non est posita, sed iniustis, et non subditis, impiis, et peccatoribus, sceleratis, et contaminatis, patricidis, et matricidis, homicidis,
by one who recognises that laws were not made for good people, but for the lawless and disorderly, for irreligious and wicked people, for those who are irreverent and profane, for those who ill-treat their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
10 fornicariis, masculorum concubitoribus, plagiariis, mendacibus, et periuris, et si quid aliud sanae doctrinae adversatur,
for the immoral, for perverts, for slave traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching –
11 quae est secundum Evangelium gloriae beati Dei, quod creditum est mihi.
as is taught in the glorious good news of the ever-blessed God, with which I was entrusted.
12 Gratias ago ei, qui me confortavit, in Christo Iesu Domino nostro, quia fidelem me existimavit, ponens in ministerio
I am thankful to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has been my strength, for showing that he thought me worthy of trust by appointing me to his ministry,
13 qui prius blasphemus fui, et persecutor, et contumeliosus: sed misericordiam Dei consecutus sum, quia ignorans feci in incredulitate.
though I once used to blaspheme, and to persecute, and to insult. Yet mercy was shown me, because I acted in ignorance, while still an unbeliever;
14 Superabundavit autem gratia Domini nostri cum fide, et dilectione, quae est in Christo Iesu.
and the loving kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus.
15 Fidelis sermo, et omni acceptione dignus: quod Christus Iesus venit in hunc mundum peccatores salvos facere, quorum primus ego sum:
How true the saying is, and worthy of the fullest acceptance, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”! And there is no greater sinner than I!
16 Sed ideo misericordiam consecutus sum: ut in me primo ostenderet Christus Iesus omnem patientiam ad informationem eorum, qui credituri sunt illi, in vitam aeternam. (aiōnios g166)
Yet mercy was shown me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterwards to believe on him and attain eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
17 Regi autem saeculorum immortali, et invisibili, soli Deo honor, et gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen. (aiōn g165)
To the eternal King, ever-living, invisible, the one God, be ascribed honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
18 Hoc praeceptum commendo tibi fili Timothee, secundum praecedentes in te prophetias, ut milites in illis bonam militiam,
This, then, is the charge that I lay on you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with what was predicted of you – Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions,
19 habens fidem, et bonam conscientiam, quam quidam repellentes, circa fidem naufragaverunt:
with faith, and with a clear conscience; and it is because they have thrust this aside, that, as regards the faith, some have wrecked their lives.
20 ex quibus est Hymenaeus, et Alexander: quos tradidi Satanae, ut discant non blasphemare.
Hymenaeus and Alexander are instances – the men whom I delivered over to Satan so that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
