1The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last days some people will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that will fool them. They will believe things that demons will teach them. 2Teachings like those come from liars who pretend to be what they are not. Their sense of what is right and wrong has been destroyed. It’s as though it has been burned with a hot iron. 3They do not allow people to get married. They order them not to eat certain foods. But God created those foods. So people who believe and know the truth should receive them and give thanks for them. 4Everything God created is good. You shouldn’t turn anything down. Instead, you should thank God for it. 5The word of God and prayer make it holy.
6Point out these things to the brothers and sisters. Then you will serve Christ Jesus well. You will show that you’ve grown in the truths of the faith. You will show that you’ve been trained by the good teaching you’ve obeyed. 7Don’t have anything to do with godless stories and silly tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8Training the body has some value. But being godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now living and the life to come. 9This is the truth you can trust and accept completely. 10This is why we work and try so hard. It’s because we have put our hope in the living God. He is the Savior of all people. Most of all, he is the Savior of those who believe.
11Command and teach these things. 12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure. 13Until I come, spend your time reading Scripture out loud to one another. Spend your time preaching and teaching. 14Don’t fail to use the gift the Holy Spirit gave you. He gave it to you through a prophecy from God. It was given when the elders placed their hands on you.
15Keep on doing these things. Give them your complete attention. Then everyone will see how you are coming along. 16Be careful of how you live and what you believe. Never give up. Then you will save yourself and those who hear you.
谨防伪君子
1圣灵明确地说，日后必有人离弃真道，去追随那些迷惑人的邪灵和鬼魔的学说。 2这些学说是出自假冒伪善的骗子，他们良心丧尽，麻木不仁4:2 “良心丧尽，麻木不仁”希腊文是“良心被烙铁烫过”。， 3禁止人结婚和吃某些食物。其实那些食物是上帝创造的，为了让相信并且明白真理的人存感谢的心领受。 4上帝所造的一切都是美好的，若以感恩的心去领受，就无需任何禁忌， 5因为上帝的道和人的祷告可以使食物圣洁。
6你要提醒弟兄姊妹这些事，这样你就是基督耶稣的好仆人，会不断地从你所信的真道和所遵行的美好教导上得到造就。
做信徒的榜样
7但你要弃绝世俗、荒诞的传说，要训练自己做个敬虔的人。 8锻炼体魄益处还少，敬虔生活受益无穷，拥有今生和永世的应许。 9这话真实可信，值得完全接受。 10我们努力奋斗正是为了这个目的，因为我们的盼望在于永活的上帝。祂是全人类的救主，更是信徒的救主。 11你要吩咐和教导这些事。
12不要因为年轻而叫人小看你，总要在言语、行为、爱心、信心和纯洁各方面做信徒的榜样。 13在我来之前，你要专心宣读圣经，勉励会众，教导真理。 14不要忽略你的恩赐，那是借着预言在众长老把手按在你身上时赐给你的。 15你要全心全意地做这些事，让大家都看到你的长进。 16你要注意自己的言行和教导，要持之以恒。这样，你不但能救自己，也能救那些听你教导的人。
