Προς Τιμοθεον Α΄ 4

1 το δε πνευμα ρητως λεγει οτι εν υστεροις καιροις αποστησονται τινες της πιστεως προσεχοντες πνευμασιν πλανοις και διδασκαλιαις δαιμονιων

Now the Spirit expressly declares that in later times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons;

2 εν υποκρισει ψευδολογων κεκαυτηριασμενων την ιδιαν συνειδησιν

through the hypocrisy of men who teach falsely and have their own consciences seared as with a hot iron;

3 κωλυοντων γαμειν απεχεσθαι βρωματων α ο θεος εκτισεν εις μεταληψιν μετα ευχαριστιας τοις πιστοις και επεγνωκοσιν την αληθειαν

forbidding people to marry, and insisting on abstinence from foods which God has created to be partaken of, with thankfulness, by those who believe and have a clear knowledge of the truth.

4 οτι παν κτισμα θεου καλον και ουδεν αποβλητον μετα ευχαριστιας λαμβανομενον

For everything that God has created is good, and nothing is to be cast aside, if only it is received with thanksgiving.

5 αγιαζεται γαρ δια λογου θεου και εντευξεως

For it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer.

6 ταυτα υποτιθεμενος τοις αδελφοις καλος εση διακονος ιησου χριστου εντρεφομενος τοις λογοις της πιστεως και της καλης διδασκαλιας η παρηκολουθηκας

If you warn the brethren of these dangers you will be a good and faithful servant of Christ Jesus, inwardly feeding on the lessons of the faith and of the sound teaching of which you have been, and are, so close a follower.

7 τους δε βεβηλους και γραωδεις μυθους παραιτου γυμναζε δε σεαυτον προς ευσεβειαν

But worldly stories, fit only for credulous old women, have nothing to do with.

8 η γαρ σωματικη γυμνασια προς ολιγον εστιν ωφελιμος η δε ευσεβεια προς παντα ωφελιμος εστιν επαγγελιαν εχουσα ζωης της νυν και της μελλουσης

Train yourself in godliness. Exercise for the body is not useless, but godliness is useful in every respect, possessing, as it does, the promise of Life now and of the Life which is soon coming.

9 πιστος ο λογος και πασης αποδοχης αξιος

Faithful is this saying and deserving of universal acceptance:

10 εις τουτο γαρ και κοπιωμεν και ονειδιζομεθα οτι ηλπικαμεν επι θεω ζωντι ος εστιν σωτηρ παντων ανθρωπων μαλιστα πιστων

and here is the motive of our toiling and wrestling, because we have our hopes fixed on the ever-living God, who is the Saviour of all mankind, and especially of believers.

11 παραγγελλε ταυτα και διδασκε

Command this and teach this.

12 μηδεις σου της νεοτητος καταφρονειτω αλλα τυπος γινου των πιστων εν λογω εν αναστροφη εν αγαπη εν πνευματι εν πιστει εν αγνεια

Let no one think slightingly of you because you are a young man; but in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, be an example for your fellow Christians to imitate.

13 εως ερχομαι προσεχε τη αναγνωσει τη παρακλησει τη διδασκαλια

Till I come, bestow your attention on reading, exhortation and teaching.

14 μη αμελει του εν σοι χαρισματος ο εδοθη σοι δια προφητειας μετα επιθεσεως των χειρων του πρεσβυτεριου

Do not be careless about the gifts with which you are endowed, which were conferred on you through a divine revelation when the hands of the elders were placed upon you.

15 ταυτα μελετα εν τουτοις ισθι ινα σου η προκοπη φανερα η εν πασιν

Habitually practise these duties, and be absorbed in them; so that your growing proficiency in them may be evident to all.

16 επεχε σεαυτω και τη διδασκαλια επιμενε αυτοις τουτο γαρ ποιων και σεαυτον σωσεις και τους ακουοντας σου

Be on your guard as to yourself and your teaching. Persevere in these things; for by doing this you will make certain your own salvation and that of your hearers.