Timotheum I 1

1 Paulus Apostolus Iesu Christi secundum imperium Dei Salvatoris nostri, et Christi Iesu spei nostrae:

[I], Paul, [am writing this letter. You know that] I am an apostle. I [represent] Christ Jesus because God and Christ Jesus commanded me to do it. God is the one who saved us, and Jesus is the one for whom we are confidently waiting [to return].

2 Timotheo dilecto filio in fide. Gratia, misericordia, et pax a Deo Patre, et Christo Iesu Domino nostro.

[You], Timothy, [are like] [MET] a true son [to me] because [you] trusted [in Christ after I told you about him]. [I pray/desire that] God, who is our Father, and Christ Jesus, who is our Lord, will [continue to act] kindly and mercifully to you, and [that they will give you inner] peace.

3 Sicut rogavi te ut remaneres Ephesi cum irem in Macedoniam, ut denunciares quibusdam ne aliter docerent,

[I urge you now], just like I urged you when I was going to Macedonia [province], that you remain there in Ephesus [city]. Stay there so that you may command certain persons [who teach other believers] that they not teach false [doctrines].

4 neque intenderent fabulis, et genealogiis interminatis: quae quaestiones praestant magis quam aedificationem Dei, quae est in fide.

And tell people to not continually give their attention to stories [that tell about our ancestors], stories in which there are (genealogies/lists of our ancestors’ names) that [seem to be] endless. [You must command your congregation not to think that these stories are valuable], because [whenever people think] that, they [just] start arguing about things uselessly, instead of [teaching] God’s plan, which [is concerned with] what we believe (OR, which [we know because] we trust [in Christ]).

5 Finis autem praecepti est charitas de corde puro, et conscientia bona, et fide non ficta.

[Teach them] to have pure desires [MTY] and [so to know that God] approves of what they do, and to sincerely believe [the true teaching]. By doing that, [they will] love [God well].

6 A quibus quidam aberrantes, conversi sunt in vaniloquium,

There are some people who have turned away from these true teachings. As a result, they [just] discuss what is useless.

7 volentes esse legis doctores, non intelligentes neque quae loquuntur, neque de quibus affirmant.

They desire to teach the laws [that God gave to Moses], but they do not understand what they are really saying, or the things about which they (confidently speak/say that they understand well).

8 Scimus autem quia bona est lex, si quis ea legitime utatur:

We know that the laws [that God gave to Moses are] good if people consider correctly [what God intended them for].

9 scientes hoc quia lex iusto non est posita, sed iniustis, et non subditis, impiis, et peccatoribus, sceleratis, et contaminatis, patricidis, et matricidis, homicidis,

We must remember that God did not give Moses those laws in order [to condemn] righteous people. By those laws he [condemns people who act as though there were no] laws and who refuse to obey [anyone. He condemns] those who do not revere God and those who sin habitually. [By them he condemns] those who refuse to perform rituals that are pleasing to God and who show no respect for religion. [He condemns] those who murder their fathers and who murder their mothers and who murder [other] people.

10 fornicariis, masculorum concubitoribus, plagiariis, mendacibus, et periuris, et si quid aliud sanae doctrinae adversatur,

[He condemns] those who are sexually immoral and those who are homosexuals. [He condemns] those who kidnap/steal people [in order to make them slaves]. [He condemns] those who lie and those who promise something strongly but do not do what they promised. He condemns every other action that is contrary to our true teaching.

11 quae est secundum Evangelium gloriae beati Dei, quod creditum est mihi.

This is what we teach people when we tell them the glorious/wonderful message about Christ that our awesome God [has revealed] and that he gave to me to teach.

12 Gratias ago ei, qui me confortavit, in Christo Iesu Domino nostro, quia fidelem me existimavit, ponens in ministerio

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord who enabled me to do this work, because he considered that I could be trusted. So he appointed me in order that I [would serve him].

13 qui prius blasphemus fui, et persecutor, et contumeliosus: sed misericordiam Dei consecutus sum, quia ignorans feci in incredulitate.

Formerly I said evil things [about him], I caused [his people] to suffer, and I acted very cruelly toward them. But [Christ acted] in a kind way toward me since I (acted ignorantly/did not know that I was doing wrong) because I did not believe [in him].

14 Superabundavit autem gratia Domini nostri cum fide, et dilectione, quae est in Christo Iesu.

Our Lord kindly did for me what I did not deserve, so that I now believe [in Christ Jesus] and I love others (OR, him) [because I belong to him].

15 Fidelis sermo, et omni acceptione dignus: quod Christus Iesus venit in hunc mundum peccatores salvos facere, quorum primus ego sum:

[Something that all we believers] say is certainly true and is worthy for us to fully accept is that Christ Jesus came into the world in order to save sinful people [so that God would not punish them for their sins]. As for me, I [consider that I have sinned] more than all others.

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 Christ Jesus acted mercifully to me in order that he might demonstrate [to people that he is perfectly patient with them]. He did that by his being patient with me, one who has sinned worse than everyone else. He wanted what he did for me (to be an example/to demonstrate his patience) to people who would [later] believe in him, and as a result would live forever. (aiōnios g166)

17 Regi autem saeculorum immortali, et invisibili, soli Deo honor, et gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen. (aiōn g165)

I desire that people will honor and praise the only [true] God forever! Even though no one can see him, he is the King who rules for all time, who will never die! (Amen!/That is true!) (aiōn g165)

18 Hoc praeceptum commendo tibi fili Timothee, secundum praecedentes in te prophetias, ut milites in illis bonam militiam,

Timothy, you [are like] [MET] a son [to me]. So, (based on/in accordance with) what [someone] previously (prophesied/told what God revealed to them) about you, I am instructing you [to strongly oppose those who teach false doctrines. You should oppose them like] [MET] a soldier (fights strongly against/opposes) [those who attack his countrymen].

19 habens fidem, et bonam conscientiam, quam quidam repellentes, circa fidem naufragaverunt:

Continue to believe [the true teaching] and do only what you know to be right! Remember that some people have (pushed aside/rejected) the true teaching. As a result, they no longer believe [MET] what is true.

20 ex quibus est Hymenaeus, et Alexander: quos tradidi Satanae, ut discant non blasphemare.

Among the ones who have done that are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I put in the hands of Satan, in order that [when Satan punishes them] they may learn not to teach wrong teaching.