1 Timotheus 1
1 Paulus, von Gott, unserem Retter, und von Christus Jesus, der unsere Hoffnung ist, zum Apostel Christi Jesu bestellt,
[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 entbietet seinem echten Glaubenssohn Timotheus seinen Gruß. Gnade, Barmherzigkeit und Friede sei mit dir von Gott dem Vater und dem Herrn Christus Jesus!
[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 Wie ich dich einst bei meiner Abreise nach Mazedonien gebeten habe, in Ephesus zu bleiben, (so ermahne ich dich nun), gewissen Leuten (dort) einzuschärfen, nicht anderes (als die gesunde Lehre) zu verkündigen
[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 und sich nicht mit Fabeln und endlosen Geschlechterreihen zu befassen. Das gibt nur Anlaß zu allen möglichen Streitfragen und hindert die Wirksamkeit eines Haushalters Gottes, die den Glauben fördern soll.
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 Und was ist das Ziel der rechten Unterweisung? Liebe, die aus reinem Herzen fließt und aus einem guten Gewissen und ungeheucheltem Glauben.
[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 Davon sind manche abgeirrt und haben sich leerem Geschwätz zugewandt.
There are some people who have turned away from these true teachings. As a result, they [just] discuss what is useless.
7 Sie wollen Gesetzeslehrer sein und verstehen selbst nicht recht, was sie reden und behaupten.
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 Nun wissen wir, daß das Gesetz heilsam ist, wenn ein Lehrer (im Unterricht) den rechten Gebrauch davon macht.
We know that the laws [that God gave to Moses are] good if people consider correctly [what God intended them for].
9 Dann muß er aber die Erkenntnis haben, daß das Gesetz nicht für den Gerechten da ist, sondern für Frevler und Ungehorsame, für Gottlose und Sünder, für Unheilige und Ruchlose, für solche, die sich an Vater und Mutter vergreifen, für Mörder,
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 Hurer, Knabenschänder, Seelenverkäufer, Lügner, Meineidige und alle, die sonst noch der gesunden Lehrer zuwiderhandeln.
[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 Diese Erkenntnis steht im Einklang mit der Frohen Botschaft, wodurch die Herrlichkeit des seligen Gottes kundgemacht wird, und womit ich betraut worden bin.
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 Unserem Herrn Christus Jesus, der mir Kraft verliehen hat, schulde ich Dank. Denn er hat mich für treu erachtet und zu seinem Dienst bestellt,
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 obwohl ich (ihn) früher gelästert und (seine Jünger) verfolgt und mißhandelt habe. Doch mir ist Erbarmen widerfahren; denn ich habe in Unwissenheit gehandelt, weil ich ungläubig war.
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 Und die Gnade unseres Herrn hat sich überschwenglich reich (an mir) bewiesen: sie hat in mir jenen Glauben und jene Liebe erweckt, die sich in Christus Jesus finden.
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 Es ist ein wahres Wort und allgemeiner Anerkennung wert: "Christus Jesus ist in die Welt gekommen, um Sünder zu erretten." Ich bin der größte unter ihnen.
[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 Aber gerade deshalb ist mir Erbarmen widerfahren, weil Christus Jesus an mir, dem größten Sünder, den ganzen Reichtum seiner Langmut offenbaren und ein Beispiel davon geben wollte, was für Menschen durch den Glauben an ihn zum ewigen Leben kommen sollen. (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 Ihm aber, dem König des Weltalls, dem unvergänglichen, unsichtbaren, alleinigen Gott, sei Ehre und Preis in alle Ewigkeit! 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 Im Blick auf die Weissagungen, die früher über dich ergangen sind, ermahne ich dich herzlich, mein Sohn Timotheus: sei ihrer eingedenk und kämpfe so den herrlichen Kampf;
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 halte fest am Glauben und erhalte dein Gewissen rein! Auf dessen warnende Stimme haben einige nicht hören wollen, und darum hat ihr Glauben Schiffbruch gelitten.
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 Zu diesen Leuten gehören Hymenäus und Alexander, die ich dem Satan übergeben habe, damit ihnen unter seiner Züchtigung das Lästern vergehe.
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.
