Kutenda Mema

Wakumbushe watu kujinyenyekeza kwa watawala na watu wenye mamlaka; wawe watii na wepesi kufanya kazi yo yote halali. Wakumbushe wasimtukane mtu ye yote, wasiwe wagomvi, wawe wapole na waonyeshe unyenyekevu kwa kila mtu.

Maana kuna wakati ambapo sisi wenyewe tulikuwa wajinga, wakaidi; tukidanganywa na daima kutawaliwa na tamaa mbaya na anasa za kila aina. Tulikuwa tukiishi maisha ya uovu na wivu, tukichukiwa na watu na kuchukiana sisi kwa sisi. Lakini wakati wema na upendo wa Mungu Mkombozi wetu ulipodhihirishwa, ali tuokoa, si kwa sababu ya matendo mema ya haki tuliyotenda, bali kwa sababu ya huruma yake. Alituokoa kwa kuoshwa na kuzaliwa mara ya pili na kufanywa wapya kwa njia ya Roho Mtakatifu, ambaye Mungu alitumiminia kwa wingi kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo Mwokozi wetu. Na tukishahesabiwa haki kwa neema yake, tupate kufanywa warithi wa uzima wa milele tunaoutumainia . Neno hili ni kweli kabisa. Ninataka uyatilie mkazo mambo haya ili wale waliomwamini Mungu waone umuhimu wa kutenda mema wakati wote, maana mambo haya ni mazuri na tena ni ya manufaa kwa watu.

Lakini jiepushe na ubishi wa kipuuzi: mambo kama orodha ndefu za vizazi na ubishi na ugomvi juu ya sheria; haya hayana maana wala hayamsaidii mtu ye yote. 10 Mtu anayesababisha mafarakano, muonye mara ya kwanza na mara ya pili. Baada ya hapo, usijishughulishe naye tena. 11 Una jua kwamba mtu kama huyo amepotoka na tena ni mwenye dhambi ambaye amejihukumu mwenyewe.

Maagizo Ya Mwisho

12 Nitakapomtuma Artema au Tikiko kwako, jitahidi kuja Nika poli unione, maana nimeamua kukaa huko wakati wa majira ya bar idi. 13 Wahimize Zena, yule mwanasheria, na Apolo waje upesi na uhakikishe kwamba hawapungukiwi na kitu cho chote. 14 Watu wetu hawana budi kujifunza kuona umuhimu wa kutenda mema, ili waweze kusaidia watu wenye mahitaji ya lazima na maisha yao yasikose kuwa na matunda.

Njia Sahihi ya Maisha

Uwakumbushe watu wako ya kuwa wanapaswa kujiweka chini ya mamlaka ya watawala wao na uongozi wa dola. Wanapaswa kuwatii viongozi hao na kuwa tayari kufanya kila jema wanaloweza. Waambie hawapaswi kumtukana mtu yeyote, bali wawe wema na wapole kwa watu wote.

Hapo zamani hata sisi tulikuwa wajinga, wakaidi na tulidanganyika. Tulikuwa watumwa kwa tamaa na anasa za kila aina. Tuliishi maisha ya uovu na wivu. Tulichukiwa na watu nasi tukachukiana wenyewe kwa wenyewe.

Lakini Mungu Mwokozi wetu alitudhihirishia
    wema na upendo alionao kwa wanadamu.
Alituokoa kwa sababu yeye ni mwenye rehema,
    siyo kwa sababu ya matendo ya haki tuliyotenda na kupata kibali chake,
    bali ni kwa rehema yake.
Yeye aliziosha dhambi zetu,
    akatupa maisha mapya kwa njia ya Roho Mtakatifu.
    Ikawa kama kuzaliwa kwa mara ya pili.
Mungu ametumiminia Roho Mtakatifu kwa wingi kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo Mwokozi wetu.
Kwa neema yake Mungu alituweka huru mbali na dhambi.
    Akatufanya kuwa warithi wake tulio na tumaini la uzima wa milele.

Huu ni usemi wa kuaminiwa. Nawataka ninyi kuyasisitiza mambo haya, ili wale waliokwisha kumwamini Mungu waweze kujitoa katika matendo mema. Mambo haya ni mazuri na ya kuwanufaisha watu.

Lakini yaepuke mabishano ya kipumbavu, majadiliano kuhusu koo, mabishano na ugomvi kuhusu Sheria, maana hayana faida na hayafai. 10 Mwepuke mtu anayesababisha matengano baada ya onyo la kwanza na la pili, 11 kwa sababu unajua kuwa mtu wa jinsi hiyo amepotoka na anatenda dhambi. Amejihukumu mwenyewe.

Maelekezo ya Mwisho na Salamu

12 Nilipomtuma kwako Artema au Tikiko, jitahidi kuja Nikopoli ili kuonana nami, kwa sababu nimeamua kukaa huko wakati wa msimu wa baridi. 13 Jitahidi kumsaidia mwanasheria Zena pamoja na Apolo kwa lo lote watakalohitaji kwa ajili ya safari yao, ili wasipungukiwe na kitu cho chote. 14 Watu wetu wanapaswa kujifunza kujihusisha katika kutenda mema ili kusaidia kukitokea mahitaji, ili wasiwe watu wasiokuwa na manufaa.

15 Wote nilio pamoja nami wanakusalimu. Uwasalimu wote wanaotupenda katika imani.

Neema ya Mungu iwe nanyi nyote.

Saved in Order to Do Good

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,(A) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,(B) to slander no one,(C) to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

At one time(D) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness(E) and love of God our Savior(F) appeared,(G) he saved us,(H) not because of righteous things we had done,(I) but because of his mercy.(J) He saved us through the washing(K) of rebirth and renewal(L) by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us(M) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace,(N) we might become heirs(O) having the hope(P) of eternal life.(Q) This is a trustworthy saying.(R) And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.(S) These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

But avoid(T) foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels(U) about the law,(V) because these are unprofitable and useless.(W) 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.(X) 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Final Remarks

12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus(Y) to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.(Z) 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos(AA) on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,(AB) in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.(AC)

Grace be with you all.(AD)