我保罗奉我们救主上帝和赐我们盼望的基督耶稣的命令,做基督耶稣的使徒, 写信给因信主而做我真儿子的提摩太。

愿父上帝和我们的主基督耶稣的恩典、怜悯和平安临到你!

谨防异端邪说

我去马其顿的时候,曾经劝你继续留在以弗所,好命令那几个人不要传讲异端邪说, 也不要沉迷于虚构的神话和冗长的家谱,因为这些事只会引起无用的猜测和辩论,无法帮助人凭信心认识上帝的救赎计划。 制止这些人的目的是为了爱,这爱来自于清洁的心、无亏的良心和真实无伪的信心。 可惜有些人却偏离这些,转向空洞的谈论。 他们想做律法教师,却不明白自己所谈论所主张的。

我们知道,只要用得合宜,律法本是好的。 因为律法并不是为义人设的,而是为了对付那些目无法纪、大逆不道、不敬畏上帝、犯罪作恶、不圣洁、贪恋世俗、谋杀父母、行凶害命、 10 淫乱、同性恋、拐卖人口、说谎、起假誓的人,以及其他违反正道的人。 11 这正道来自当受称颂的上帝托付我传扬的荣耀福音。

感谢上帝的怜悯

12 我感谢赐我力量的主基督耶稣,因为祂视我忠心可靠,派我事奉祂。 13 尽管我从前是个亵渎上帝、迫害和侮辱信徒的人,但我仍然蒙了怜悯,因为那时我无知,还没有信耶稣。 14 主赐给我丰富的恩典,使我在基督耶稣里有信心和爱心。

15 有句话千真万确、完全可信,就是“基督耶稣降世,为要拯救罪人。”在罪人中我是个罪魁, 16 但我依然蒙了怜悯,因为耶稣基督要在我这个罪魁身上彰显祂无限的忍耐,使我做那些要信靠祂并得到永生之人的榜样。

17 愿尊贵、荣耀归给那位不朽的、肉眼不能见的万世君王——独一无二的上帝,直到永远。阿们!

18 我儿提摩太啊,我依照从前有关你的预言,把这命令托付给你,好使你借此打美好的仗。 19 你要持守信心和无亏的良心。有些人丧掉良心,结果他们的信仰就像船触了礁, 20 其中有许米乃和亚历山大。我已经把他们交给撒旦,使他们受些教训,不敢再说亵渎的话。

我,保罗,基督耶稣的使徒 [a],奉我们的救世主上帝和我们的希望基督耶稣之命, 写信给在信仰里成为我真正的儿子的提摩太。

愿来自父上帝和我们的主基督耶稣的恩典、怜悯与和平属于你。

对假教义的警告

我在去马其顿的路上告诉过你,请你留在以弗所,以便能够命令某些人停止传授假教义, 不要再专注传说和无休止的家谱,这些事情只能引起争吵,而不会有助于上帝的工作。上帝的工作是靠信仰完成的。 这命令的目的是爱,是发自纯洁的心,是发自清白的良心和真诚的信仰。 有些人背离了这些教导,而去听信毫无价值的谈论。 他们想成为律法师,可是却不明白自己所说的话,甚至连自己极力主张的事情都不能理解。

现在我们知道,如果人们运用律法得当,它是有益的。 我们要意识到律法不是为义人制定的,而是为违法者、反叛者、不虔诚者、罪人、不圣洁、没有信仰、杀害父母的人制定的, 10 是针对杀人犯、性行为不道德者、同性恋者、剥削者、撒谎者、作伪证者及做任何其它反对健全教义的人而制定的。 11 这健全的教义与荣耀的福音是一致的。这福音来自受到祝福的上帝,我受托去传播它。

感谢上帝的仁慈

12 我感谢基督耶稣,我们的主。他赋予我力量,因为他信任我,并指定我来侍奉他。 13 尽管我亵渎、迫害、并且做过伤害他的事情,但是,上帝赐给了我怜悯,因为那时我没有信仰,不知道自己在做些什么。 14 但是我们的主赐给了我浩荡恩典,伴随这恩典的是在基督耶稣里的信仰与爱。

15 基督耶稣来到这个世界,是为了拯救罪人,而我是这些罪人中最坏的一个。这是实话,值得完全接受。 16 然而,这正是基督耶稣怜悯我的原因,以便基督耶稣对我这个最恶劣的罪人表现出他充分的耐心,把我做为以后信仰他并获得永生的人的榜样。 17 愿尊贵、荣耀永远属于这位永恒的君王,他是不朽的、看不见的和唯一的上帝。阿们。

18 提摩太,我的儿子,根据很久以前对你所做的预言,我把这命令托付给你,以便你能用它们打好这场仗。 19 要继续保持信仰和清白的良心。有些人抛弃了清白的良知,结果信仰遭到了毁灭。 20 许米乃和亚力山大就在其中,我已经把他们交给了撒旦,以便让他们知道停止诽谤上帝。

Footnotes

  1. 提 摩 太 前 書 1:1 使徒: 受耶稣所选来用特殊的方式代表他的人。

问安

奉我们的救主 神,和我们的盼望基督耶稣的命令,作基督耶稣使徒的保罗, 写信给因信主而作我真儿子的提摩太。愿恩惠、怜悯、平安从父 神和我们的主基督耶稣临到你。

提防别的教义

我往马其顿去的时候,曾经劝你留在以弗所,为要嘱咐某些人,不可传别的教义, 也不可沉迷于无稽之谈和无穷的家谱;这些事只能引起争论,对于 神在信仰上所定的计划是毫无帮助的。 这嘱咐的目的是出于爱;这爱是发自纯洁的心、无愧的良心和无伪的信心。 有些人偏离了这些,就转向无意义的辩论, 想要作律法教师,却不明白自己讲的是甚么,主张的又是甚么。

我们知道律法是好的,只要应用得恰当。 要知道律法本来不是为义人设立的,而是为那些无法无天和放荡不羁的、不敬虔和犯罪的、不圣洁和世俗的、弒父母和杀人的、 10 淫乱的、亲男色的、拐带人口的、说谎话的、发假誓的,以及为其他抵挡纯正教训的人设立的。 11 这是照着可称颂之 神所交托我的荣耀福音说的。

基督耶稣降世为要拯救罪人

12 我感谢那赐我能力的、我们的主基督耶稣,因为他认为我有忠心,派我服事他。 13 我从前是亵渎 神的、迫害人的、凌辱人的,然而我还蒙了怜悯,因为我是在不信的时候,由于无知而作的。 14 我们主的恩典,随着在基督耶稣里的信心和爱心,在我身上越发增加。 15 “基督耶稣降世,为要拯救罪人。”这话是可信的,是值得完全接纳的。在罪人中我是个罪魁。 16 可是,我竟然蒙了怜悯,好让基督耶稣在我这个罪魁身上,显明他完全的忍耐,给后来信他得永生的人作榜样。 17 但愿尊贵荣耀归给万世的君王,就是那不朽坏、人不能见、独一的 神,直到永永远远。阿们。

18 我儿提摩太啊!我照着从前关于你的预言,把这命令交托你,为的是要叫你借着这些预言打那美好的仗。 19 常常存着信心和无愧的良心。有些人丢弃良心,就在信仰上失落了。 20 他们当中有许米乃和亚历山大,我已经把他们交给撒但,使他们受管教不再亵渎。

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.

The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy

Setting forth a perfect pattern of a true Pastor, whose office especially consisteth in teaching, 4 he warneth him that vain questions set apart, he teach those things, 5 which further charity and faith: 12 and that his authority be not condemned, 14 he showeth what an one he is made through the grace of God.

Paul [a]an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the [b]commandment of God our Savior, and of our Lord Jesus Christ our hope,

Unto Timothy my natural son in the faith: Grace, [c]mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

[d]As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I departed into Macedonia, so do, that thou mayest warn some, that they teach none other doctrine,

[e]Neither that they give heed to fables and [f]genealogies which are endless, which breed questions rather than godly edifying which is by faith.

(A)[g] For the end of the [h]commandment is [i]love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.

[j]From the which things some have erred, and have turned unto vain jangling.

[k]They would be doctors of the Law, and yet understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm.

[l]And we know, that the Law is good, if a man use it lawfully.

[m]Knowing this, that the Law is not given unto a [n]righteous man, but unto the lawless and disobedient, to the ungodly, and to [o]sinners, to the unholy, and to the profane, to murderers of fathers and mothers, to manslayers,

10 To whoremongers, to buggerers, to menstealers, to liars, to the perjured, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholesome doctrine,

11 [p]Which is according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, [q]which is committed unto me.

12 [r]Therefore I thank him which hath made me [s]strong, that is, Christ Jesus our Lord: for he counted me faithful, and put me in his service:

13 When before I was a [t]blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an oppressor: but I was received to mercy: for I did it ignorantly through unbelief.

14 But the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant [u]with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.

15 [v]This is a [w]true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that (B)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

16 Notwithstanding for this cause was I received to mercy, that Jesus Christ should first show on me all long suffering unto the ensample of them, which shall in time to come believe in him unto eternal life.

17 [x]Now unto the king everlasting, immortal, invisible, unto God [y]only wise, be honor, and glory, for ever, and ever, Amen.

18 [z]This commandment commit I unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies, which went before upon thee, that thou [aa]by them shouldest fight a good fight,

19 Having [ab]faith and a good conscience, [ac]which some have put away, and as concerning faith, have made shipwreck.

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus, and Alexander, (C)[ad]whom I have [ae]delivered unto Satan, that they might [af]learn not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:1 First of all, he avoucheth his own free vocation, and also Timothy’s, that the one might be confirmed by the other: and therewithal he declareth the sum of the Apostolical doctrine, to wit, the mercy of God in Christ Jesus apprehended by faith, the end whereof is yet hoped for.
  2. 1 Timothy 1:1 Or, ordinance.
  3. 1 Timothy 1:2 There is as much difference betwixt mercy and grace, as is betwixt the effect, and the cause: For grace is that free good will of God, whereby he chose us in Christ, and mercy is that free justification which followeth it.
  4. 1 Timothy 1:3 This whole Epistle consisteth in admonitions, wherein all the duties of a faithful Pastor are lively set out. And the first admonition is this, that no innovation be made either in the Apostle’s doctrine itself, or in the manner of teaching it.
  5. 1 Timothy 1:4 The doctrine is corrupted not only by false opinions, but also by vain and curious speculations: the declaration and utterance whereof can nothing help our faith.
  6. 1 Timothy 1:4 He noteth out one kind of vain question.
  7. 1 Timothy 1:5 The second admonition is, that the right use and practice of the doctrine must be joined with the doctrine. And that consisteth in pure charity, and a good conscience, and true faith.
  8. 1 Timothy 1:5 Of the Law.
  9. 1 Timothy 1:5 There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a good conscience without faith, nor faith without the word of God.
  10. 1 Timothy 1:6 That which he spake before generally of vain and curious controversies, he applieth to them, which pretending a zeal of the Law, dwelled upon outward things, and never made an end of babbling of foolish trifles.
  11. 1 Timothy 1:7 There are none more unlearned, and more impudent in usurping the name of holiness, than foolish sophistical babblers.
  12. 1 Timothy 1:8 The taking away of an objection. He condemneth not the Law, but requireth the right use and practice of it.
  13. 1 Timothy 1:9 He indeed escapeth the curse of the Law, and therefore doth not abhor it, who fleeing and eschewing those things which the Law condemneth, giveth himself with all his heart to observe it: and not he that maketh a vain babbling of outward and curious matters.
  14. 1 Timothy 1:9 And such a one is he, whom the Lord hath endued with true doctrine, and with the holy Ghost.
  15. 1 Timothy 1:9 To such as make an art as it were of sinning.
  16. 1 Timothy 1:11 He setteth against fond and vain babbling, not only the Law, but the Gospel also, which condemneth not, but greatly commendeth the wholesome doctrine contained in the commandments of God, and therefore he calleth it a glorious Gospel, and the Gospel of the blessed God, the virtue whereof these babblers knew not.
  17. 1 Timothy 1:11 A reason why neither any other Gospel is to be taught than he hath taught in the Church, neither after any other sort, because there is no other Gospel besides that which God committed to him.
  18. 1 Timothy 1:12 He maintaineth of necessity his Apostleship against some that did carp at his former life, debasing himself, even to hell, to advance Christ’s only mercy, wherewith he abolished all those his former doings.
  19. 1 Timothy 1:12 Which gave me strength, not only when I had no will to do well, but also when I was wholly given to evil.
  20. 1 Timothy 1:13 These are the preparative works which Paul braggeth of.
  21. 1 Timothy 1:14 He proveth this change by the effects, for that, that he that was a profane man, is become a believer: and he that did most outrageously persecute Christ, burneth now in love towards him.
  22. 1 Timothy 1:15 He turneth the reproach of the adversaries upon their own head, showing that this singular example of the goodness of God, redoundeth to the commodity of the whole Church.
  23. 1 Timothy 1:15 Worthy to be believed.
  24. 1 Timothy 1:17 He breaketh out into an exclamation, even for very zeal of mind, for that he cannot satisfy himself in amplifying the grace of God.
  25. 1 Timothy 1:17 See John 17:3.
  26. 1 Timothy 1:18 The conclusion of both the former fatherly admonitions, to wit, that Timothy striving manfully against all lets, being called to the ministry according to many prophecies which went before of him, should both maintain the doctrine which he had received, and keep also a good conscience.
  27. 1 Timothy 1:18 By the help of them.
  28. 1 Timothy 1:19 Wholesome and sound doctrine.
  29. 1 Timothy 1:19 Whosoever keep not a good conscience, do lose also by little and little the gift of understanding: which he proveth by two most lamentable examples.
  30. 1 Timothy 1:20 Such as fall from God, and his religion, are not to be suffered in the Church, but rather ought to be excommunicated.
  31. 1 Timothy 1:20 Cast out of the Church, and so delivered them to Satan.
  32. 1 Timothy 1:20 That by their smart they might learn what it is to blaspheme.