1 Timothy 1
1 [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].
UPawuli, umphostoli kaJesu Kristu njengokomlayo kaNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu, loweNkosi uJesu Kristu ithemba lethu,
2 [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.
kuTimothi umntanami weqiniso ekholweni: Umusa, isihawu, ukuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu loJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu.
3 [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].
Njengoba ngakukhuthaza ukuthi uhlale eEfesu, ngisiya eMakedoniya, ukuze ulaye abathile ukuthi bangafundisi imfundiso eyehlukileyo,
4 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]).
futhi bangananzeleli izinganekwane lendaba zosendo olokuzalana ezingapheliyo, ezibanga ukuphikisana kulokwakha kukaNkulunkulu okusekholweni.
5 [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].
Kodwa injongo yomlayo luthando oluvela enhliziyweni emhlophe lakusazela esihle lekholweni olungelakuzenzisa;
6 There are some people who have turned away from these true teachings. As a result, they [just] discuss what is useless.
kulokhu abathile abaduhe kukho baphambukela ekukhulumeni okuyize,
7 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).
befuna ukuthi babe ngabafundisi bomlayo, bengaqedisisi lezinto abazitshoyo, kumbe langezinto abaziqinisayo.
8 We know that the laws [that God gave to Moses are] good if people consider correctly [what God intended them for].
Kodwa siyazi ukuthi umlayo ulungile, uba umuntu ewusebenzisa ngokomlayo,
9 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.
esazi lokhu, ukuthi umlayo kawubekelwa olungileyo, kodwa abangelamlayo labangalaleliyo, abeyisa uNkulunkulu labayizoni, abangangcwele labangakholwayo, ababulala oyise lababulala onina, ababulala abantu,
10 [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.
izifebe, abesilisa abalalanayo, abathumba abantu, abaqambimanga, abephula izifungo, njalo nxa kukhona okunye okuphambene lemfundiso ephilileyo,
11 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.
njengokwevangeli lenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu obusisiweyo, engaphathiswa lona.
12 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].
Ngiyambonga-ke owanginika amandla, uKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu, ukuthi wangibona ngithembekile, wangimisa enkonzweni,
13 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].
engangikade ngingumhlambazi lomzingeli lomthuki; kodwa ngahawukelwa, ngoba ngangikwenza ngokungazi ekungakholweni;
14 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].
kodwa umusa weNkosi yethu wengezelelwa kakhulu kanye lokholo lothando olukuKristu Jesu.
15 [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.
Lithembekile lelilizwi njalo lifanele ukwemukelwa konke, ukuthi uKristu Jesu weza emhlabeni ukusindisa izoni, engiyinduna yazo mina;
16 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)
kodwa ngenxa yalokhu ngahawukelwa, ukuze kimi engiyinduna uJesu Kristu abonakalise konke ukubekezela, ngibe yisibonelo kwabazakholwa kuye empilweni ephakade. (aiōnios g166)
17 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)
Kuyo-ke iNkosi eyisimakade, engabhubhiyo, engelakubonwa, uNkulunkulu yedwa ohlakaniphileyo, kakube udumo lobukhosi kuze kube nini lanininini. Ameni. (aiōn g165)
18 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].
Lumlayo ngiwunika wena, mntanami Timothi, njengeziprofetho ezenzakala kuqala ngawe, ukuze ngazo ulwe ukulwa okuhle,
19 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.
ubamba ukholo lesazela esihle, abanye abasininayo, bachithekelwa ngumkhumbi mayelana lokholo;
20 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.
okukubo uHimeneyo loAleksandro, engibanikele kuSathane, ukuze bafunde ukuthi bangahlambazi.
