2 Timothy 4 · Verse 5

2 Timothy 4:5

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5, King James Version

2 Timothy 4:5 in other translations

BSBBut you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
WEBBut you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
ASVBut be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
YLTAnd thou--watch in all things; suffer evil; do the work of one proclaiming good news; of thy ministration make full assurance,
DARBYBut thou, be sober in all things, bear evils, do the work of an evangelist, fill up the full measure of thy ministry.
BBEBut be self-controlled in all things, do without comfort, go on preaching the good news, completing the work which has been given you to do.
WebsterBut watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

What does 2 Timothy 4:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. I am no longer here to withstand these things; be thou a worthy successor of me, no longer depending on me for counsel, but thine own master, and swimming without the corks [Calvin]; follow my steps, inherit their result, and the honor of their end [Alford]. watch thou--literally, "with the wakefulness of one sober." in all things--on all occasions and under all circumstances (Tit 2:7). endure affliction--suffer hardships [Alford]. evangelist--a missionary bishop preacher, and teacher. make full proof of--fulfil in all its requirements, leaving nothing undone (Ac 12:25; Ro 15:19; Col 4:17).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. But watch thou in all things. Be vigilant against error and against sin, and faithful in the performance of duty. Mt 25:13; 1Cor 16:13.

Endure afflictions. 2Ti 2:3. The Greek word here is the same which is there rendered "endure hardness."

Do the work of an evangelist. On the word evangelist, Acts 21:8. The phrase here means, do the work of preaching the gospel, or of one appointed to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation. This is the proper business of all ministers, whatever other rank they may maintain. Whether it was ever regarded as the proper duty of a separate class of men to do this, Eph 5:11.

Make full proof of thy ministry. Marg., fulfil. Comp. Rom 14:5. The word here used denotes, properly, to bear or bring fully; then to persuade fully; and then to make fully assured of, to give full proof of. The meaning here seems to be, to furnish full evidence of what is the design of the Christian ministry, and of what it is adapted to accomplish, by the faithful performance of all its duties. Timothy was so to discharge the duties of his office as to furnish a fair illustration of what the ministry could do, and thus to show the wisdom of the Saviour in its institution. This should be the aim of all the ministers of the gospel. Each one should resolve, by the blessing of God, that the ministry, in his hands, shall be allowed, by a fair trial, to show to the utmost what it is adapted to do for the welfare of mankind.

(b) "things" 2Ti 2:3 (1) "full proof" "fulfil" (c) "of thy ministry" 1Timm 4:12,15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 But watch thou in all things - It is possible to be overtaken in a fault, to neglect one's duty, and to lose one's soul. Watching unto prayer prevents all these evils. Endure afflictions - Let no sufferings affright thee; nor let the dread of them either cause thee to abandon the truth, or relax in thy zeal for the salvation of men. Do the work of an evangelist - That is: Preach Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world; for this, and this alone, is doing the work of an evangelist, or preacher of the glad tidings of peace and salvation by Christ. An angel from God was first sent to do the work of an evangelist, and how did he do it? Behold, said he, I bring you good tidings of great joy; Ιδου γαρ, ευαγγελιζομαι ὑμιν χαραν μεγαλην, ἡτις εσται παντι τῳ λαῳ. Behold, I evangelize unto you great joy, which shall be to all people; to you is born a Savior. Those who do not proclaim Christ as having tasted death for every man, and who do not implicitly show that every human soul may be saved, do not perform the work of evangelists; they, God help them! limit the Holy One of Israel. Yet, as far as they preach the truth in sincerity, so far God acknowledges and blesses them and their labors; they do a part of the work, but not the whole. Make full proof of thy ministry - Push all thy principles to their utmost power of activity; carry them on to all their consequences; and try what God will do for thee, and by thee. Neglect no part of thy sacred function; perform faithfully all the duties of which it is composed; and do God's work in his own way and in his own spirit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:1-5

People will turn away from the truth, they will grow weary of the plain gospel of Christ, they will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them. People do so when they will not endure that preaching which is searching, plain, and to the purpose. Those who love souls must be ever watchful, must venture and bear all the painful effects of their faithfulness, and take all opportunities of making known the pure…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 4:1-5 →

2 Timothy 4:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣὺSuYou yourselfG4771
δὲdehoweverG1161
νῆφεnēphedo be soberG3525
ἐνeninG1722
πᾶσιν,pasinall things,G3956
κακοπάθησον,kakopathēsondo endure afflictions,G2553
ἔργονergon[the] workG2041
ποίησονpoiēsondo performG4160
εὐαγγελιστοῦ,euangelistouof an evangelist,G2099
τὴνtēntheG3588
διακονίανdiakonianministryG1248
σουsouof youG4771
πληροφόρησον.¶plērophorēsondo fully carry out.G4135

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 4:5

  • 2 Timothy 1:8

    Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

  • 2 Timothy 2:3

    Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Peter 1:13

    Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

  • Colossians 4:17

    And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

  • 2 Timothy 3:10-12

    But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

  • 1 Timothy 4:15

    Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

  • 1 Timothy 4:12

    Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

  • Acts 21:8

    And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:6

    Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

  • Ephesians 4:11

    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

  • Luke 12:37

    Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

  • 2 Timothy 2:10

    Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
watch.
Isa 56:9,10; 62:6; Jer 6:17; Eze 3:17; 33:2,7; Mr 13:34,37; Lu 12:37
Ac 20:30,31; 1Th 5:6; Heb 13:17; Re 3:2
endure.
1:8; 2:3,10; 3:10-12
an.
Ac 21:8; Eph 4:11; 1Ti 4:12,15
make full proof of. or, fulfil.
Ro 15:19; Col 1:25; 4:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Timothy 4:4

    And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • 2 Timothy 4:5

    But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

  • 2 Timothy 4:6

    For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Read all of 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pero tú vela en todo, soporta las aflicciones, haz la obra de evangelista, cumple tu ministerio.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais toi, sois sobre en toutes choses, endure les souffrances, fais l’œuvre d’un évangéliste, accomplis pleinement ton service;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Du aber sei nüchtern in allem, leide Trübsal, tue das Werk eines Evangelisten, vollführe deinen Dienst.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tu vero vigila, in omnibus labora, opus fac evangelistæ, ministerium tuum imple. Sobrius esto.