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.
謹防偽君子
1聖靈明確地說，日後必有人離棄真道，去追隨那些迷惑人的邪靈和鬼魔的學說。 2這些學說是出自假冒偽善的騙子，他們良心喪盡，麻木不仁4·2 「良心喪盡，麻木不仁」希臘文是「良心被烙鐵燙過」。， 3禁止人結婚和吃某些食物。其實那些食物是上帝創造的，為了讓相信並且明白真理的人存感恩的心領受。 4上帝所造的一切都是美好的，若以感恩的心去領受，就無需任何禁忌， 5因為上帝的道和人的禱告可以使食物聖潔。
6你要提醒弟兄姊妹這些事，這樣你就是基督耶穌的好僕人，會不斷地從你所信的真道和所遵行的美好教導上得到造就。
做信徒的榜樣
7但你要棄絕世俗、荒誕的傳說，要訓練自己做個敬虔的人。 8鍛煉體魄益處還少，敬虔生活受益無窮，擁有今生和永世的應許。 9這話真實可信，值得完全接受。 10我們努力奮鬥正是為了這個目的，因為我們的盼望在於永活的上帝。祂是全人類的救主，更是信徒的救主。 11你要吩咐和教導這些事。
12不要因為年輕而叫人小看你，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心和純潔各方面做信徒的榜樣。 13在我來之前，你要專心宣讀聖經，勉勵會眾，教導真理。 14不要忽略你的恩賜，那是藉著預言在眾長老把手按在你身上時賜給你的。 15你要全心全意地做這些事，讓大家都看到你的長進。 16你要注意自己的言行和教導，要持之以恆。這樣，你不但能救自己，也能救那些聽你教導的人。
