1 Timotheo 1
1 Paulo, Mtume wa Kristo Yesu, kulingana na amri ya Mungu na Mwokozi wetu Yesu Kristo aliye ujasiri wetu,
[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 kwa Timotheo mwanangu wa kweli katika imani: Neema, rehema na amani zitokazo kwa Mungu Baba na Kristo Yesu Bwana wetu.
[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 Kama nilivyokusihi nilipoondoka kwenda Makedonia, ubaki Efeso ili kwamba uweze kuwaamru watu fulani wasifundishe mafundisho tofauti.
[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 Pia wasisikilize hadithi na orodha za nasaba zisizo na mwisho. Haya husababisha mabishano zaidi kuliko kuwasaidia kuendeleza mpango wa Mungu wa imani.
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 Basi lengo la agizo hili ni upendo utokao katika moyo safi, katika dhamiri nzuri na katika imani ya kweli.
[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 Baadhi ya watu wamelikosa lengo wakayaacha mafundisho haya na kugeukia mazungumzo ya kipumbavu.
There are some people who have turned away from these true teachings. As a result, they [just] discuss what is useless.
7 Wanataka kuwa waalimu wa sheria, lakini hawafahamu wanachosema au wanachosisitiza.
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 lakini tunajua kwamba sheria ni njema kama mtu ataitumia kwa usahihi.
We know that the laws [that God gave to Moses are] good if people consider correctly [what God intended them for].
9 Tunajua kuwa, sheria haikutungwa kwa ajili ya mtu mwenye haki, bali kwa ajili ya wavunja sheria na waasi, watu wasio wataua na wenye dhambi, na ambao hawana Mungu na waovu. Imetungwa kwa ajili ya wauao baba na mama zao, kwa ajili ya wauaji,
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 kwa ajili ya waasherati, kwa ajili ya watu wazinzi, kwa ajili ya wale wanaoteka watu na kuwafanya watumwa, kwa ajili ya waongo, kwa ajili ya mashahidi wa uongo, na yeyote aliye kinyume na maelekezo ya uaminifu.
[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 Malekezo haya yanatokana na injili yenye utukufu ya Mungu mwenye kubarakiwa ambayo kwayo nimeaminiwa.
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 Ninamshukuru Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu. Alinitia nguvu, kwa kuwa alinihesabu mimi kuwa mwaminifu, na akaniweka katika huduma.
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 Nilikuwa mtu wa kukufuru, mtesaji na mtu wa vurugu. Lakini nilipata rehema kwa sababu nilitenda kwa ujinga kwa kutoamini.
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 Lakini neema ya Mungu wetu imejaa imani na upendo ulio katika Kristo Yesu.
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 Ujumbe huu ni wa kuaminika na unastahili kupokelewa na wote, ya kuwa Kristo Yesu alikuja duniani kuokoa wenye dhambi. Mimi ni mbaya zaidi ya wote.
[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 Lakini kwa sababu hii mimi nilipewa rehema ili kwamba ndani yangu mimi, awali ya yote, Kristo Yesu adhihirishe uvumilivu wote. Alifanya hivyo kama kielelezo kwa wote watakaomtumaini Yeye kwa ajili ya uzima wa milele. (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 Na sasa kwa Mfalme asiye na ukomo, asiyekufa, asiyeonekana, Mungu pekee, iwe heshima na utukufu milele na milele. Amina. (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 Ninaliweka agizo hili mbele yako Timotheo, mtoto wangu. Nafanya hivi kulingana na unabii uliotolewa hapo kwanza kukuhusu wewe, ili kwamba uhusike katika vita njema.
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 Fanya hivyo ili kwamba uwe na imani na dhamiri njema. Baadhi ya watu wameyakataa haya wakaangamiza imani.
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 Kama vile Himeneyo na Alekizanda ambao nimempa shetani ili wafundishwe wasikufuru.
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.
