2 Timothy 4:5

But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry.

Be thou sober ... This is not an injunction against drunkenness, a commandment Timothy did not need. Sober in this context means "that clarity of mind and sound judgment that is not blinded and carried away by follies, fables and morbid opinions."[10]

Suffer hardship ... a hardship which Paul himself was at that moment suffering, thus providing the great example for Timothy.

Do the work of an evangelist ... The New Testament does not make the distinction between this word and "preacher," as in current usage. For comment on the work of preaching, see under 2 Timothy 4:2.

Fulfill thy ministry ... Spain observed that the word "fulfill" here means "the same as the word Paul used in 2 Timothy 4:17 where Paul speaks of proclaiming the word FULLY."[11] To fulfill one's ministry is to be faithful and loyal to all of its obligations, not to stint the service, nor abridge the message, nor to shrink from giving the full measure of fidelity and devotion.

[10] R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 856.

[11] Carl Spain, Commentary on 1,2Timothy and Titus (Austin, Texas: R. B. Sweet Company, 1970), p. 153.