1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, (路1:47; 羅16:26; 林后1:1; 西1:27; 多1:3)2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (提后1:2; 多1:4; 约二1:3; 犹1:2)
Warning Against False Teachers
3As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, (加1:6; 提前6:3; 多1:5)4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship[1] from God that is by faith. (提前4:7; 提前6:4; 提后4:4; 多1:14; 多3:9; 彼后1:16)5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (羅12:9; 提后1:5; 提后2:22; 彼前3:16; 彼前3:21)6Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, (提前6:21; 多1:10)7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. (西2:18; 提前6:4)8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, (羅7:16)9understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, (加5:23)10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,[2] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound[3] doctrine, (提前6:3; 提后1:13; 提后4:3; 多1:13; 多2:2)11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (羅2:16; 林后4:4; 加2:7; 提前6:15; 多1:3)
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
12I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, (徒9:22; 林后3:6; 腓4:13)13though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, (徒3:17; 徒8:3; 林前7:25; 林后4:1)14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (路7:47; 路7:50; 羅5:20; 帖前1:3)15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (太9:13; 约3:17; 羅4:25; 林前15:9; 提前3:1; 提前4:9; 提后2:11; 多3:8; 启22:6)16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.17To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[4] Amen. (代上29:11; 诗10:16; 约1:18; 羅1:23; 西1:15; 提前6:15; 來11:27; 约一4:12; 犹1:25; 启4:9)18This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, (林前9:7; 林后10:4; 提前4:14; 提前6:12; 提后2:2; 提后2:3)19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, (提前3:9; 提前6:9)20among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (徒13:45; 林前5:5; 提后2:17; 提后4:14)