Προς Τιμοθεον Α΄ 4
1 το δε πνευμα ρητως λεγει οτι εν υστεροις καιροις αποστησονται τινες της πιστεως προσεχοντες πνευμασιν πλανοις και διδασκαλιαις δαιμονιων
But the Spirit distinctly says that in later times there will be some who will fall away from the faith, and devote their attention to misleading spirits, and to the teaching of demons,
2 εν υποκρισει ψευδολογων κεκαυτηριασμενων την ιδιαν συνειδησιν
who will make use of the hypocrisy of lying teachers. These people’s consciences are seared,
3 κωλυοντων γαμειν απεχεσθαι βρωματων α ο θεος εκτισεν εις μεταληψιν μετα ευχαριστιας τοις πιστοις και επεγνωκοσιν την αληθειαν
and they discourage marriage and enjoin abstinence from certain kinds of food; though God created these foods to be enjoyed thankfully by those who hold the faith and have attained a full knowledge of the truth.
4 οτι παν κτισμα θεου καλον και ουδεν αποβλητον μετα ευχαριστιας λαμβανομενον
Everything created by God is good, and there in nothing that need be rejected – provided only that it is received thankfully;
5 αγιαζεται γαρ δια λογου θεου και εντευξεως
for it is consecrated by God’s blessing and by prayer.
6 ταυτα υποτιθεμενος τοις αδελφοις καλος εση διακονος ιησου χριστου εντρεφομενος τοις λογοις της πιστεως και της καλης διδασκαλιας η παρηκολουθηκας
Put all this before the followers, and you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, sustained by the precepts of the faith and of that good teaching by which you have guided your life.
7 τους δε βεβηλους και γραωδεις μυθους παραιτου γυμναζε δε σεαυτον προς ευσεβειαν
As for profane legends and old wives’ tales, leave them alone. Train yourself to lead a religious life;
8 η γαρ σωματικη γυμνασια προς ολιγον εστιν ωφελιμος η δε ευσεβεια προς παντα ωφελιμος εστιν επαγγελιαν εχουσα ζωης της νυν και της μελλουσης
for while the training of the body is of service in some respects, religion is of service in all, carrying with it, as it does, a promise of life both here and hereafter.
9 πιστος ο λογος και πασης αποδοχης αξιος
How true that saying is and worthy of the fullest acceptance!
10 εις τουτο γαρ και κοπιωμεν και ονειδιζομεθα οτι ηλπικαμεν επι θεω ζωντι ος εστιν σωτηρ παντων ανθρωπων μαλιστα πιστων
With that aim we toil and struggle, for we have set our hopes on the living God, who is the Saviour of all, and especially of those who hold the faith.
11 παραγγελλε ταυτα και διδασκε
Remember these things in your teaching.
12 μηδεις σου της νεοτητος καταφρονειτω αλλα τυπος γινου των πιστων εν λογω εν αναστροφη εν αγαπη εν πνευματι εν πιστει εν αγνεια
Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but, by your conversation, your conduct, your love, your faith, and your purity, be an example to those who hold the faith.
13 εως ερχομαι προσεχε τη αναγνωσει τη παρακλησει τη διδασκαλια
Until I come, apply yourself to public reading, preaching, and teaching.
14 μη αμελει του εν σοι χαρισματος ο εδοθη σοι δια προφητειας μετα επιθεσεως των χειρων του πρεσβυτεριου
Do not neglect the divine gift within you, which was given you, amid many a prediction, when the hands of the church elders were laid on your head.
15 ταυτα μελετα εν τουτοις ισθι ινα σου η προκοπη φανερα η εν πασιν
Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that your progress may be plain to everyone.
16 επεχε σεαυτω και τη διδασκαλια επιμενε αυτοις τουτο γαρ ποιων και σεαυτον σωσεις και τους ακουοντας σου
Look to yourself as well as to your teaching. Persevere in this, for your doing so will mean salvation for yourself as well as for your hearers.
