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Although it would be easy from the context to link “evangelist” and “make full proof of thy ministry,” the wording seems to suggest just the opposite. Paul is exhorting Timothy to do the work of an evangelist even though he is not one and thereby make full proof of his ministry. But whether or not Timothy had the gift ministry of an evangelist, it is quite clear that he was to do the work of an evangelist. Just what the work of an evangelist is will be the subject of our next three newsletters.

In I Timothy 4:14 Timothy is told “...to neglect not the gift that is in thee...,” and in II Timothy 1:6 he is told “...to stir up the gift of God....” It is clear he had a gift ministry. This command “to do the work of an evangelist” was stated in this manner, as work, because it was not easy for him. It was “not natural” his temperament did not lend itself to the ministry of an evangelist, but the need was there so he had to do the work. This was not his long suit; it required hard work. However, if he was to function in his long suits, he had to have people to minister to.

The charge is encouraging to Timothy because God never asks us to do what we cannot. This directive showed that it was presently available for Timothy to effectually do the work of an evangelist even though that was not a ministry or a long suit of his. It should be encouraging to us also as we endeavor to do the work of an evangelist ourselves.

Consideration of the Four Commands in II Timothy 4:5:

This charge is the third of four imperatives found in II Timothy 4:5. These four commands to Timothy set him in contrast (not the emphatic alla but the weaker de) to those of verses three and four who do not endure sound doctrine and turn away from the truth. The use of the pronoun “thou” is emphatic and emphasizes Timothy’s personal and individual responsibility. These four commands are:

The purpose of these four commands is not only “to instruct” but also “to affect.” They increase in intensity in the form of a crescendo. The foundation is the discipline and self-control of “watching” and the culmination is in “making full proof of thy ministry.” In between these two are “endure afflictions” and “do the work of an evangelist.” Each of these commands builds in the intensity of the commitment required. This is not to say that these are steps or stages to be followed in order. Rather they are designed to elicit a progression of intensity and commitment resulting in the resolve to do whatever it takes “to make full proof of his ministry.” The Greek verb tenses indicates that the action is to go on simultaneously. The crescendo builds toward evoking a response of love and commitment from Timothy.

“Watch” is the Greek word nêphô. It occurs six times and is translated in the KJV: “be sober” and “watch.” It is used literally in opposition to intoxication, and it is used figuratively in opposition to “spiritual drunkenness,” also. It means “to be calm and collected” or “to be temperate, dispassionate, and circumspect.” Kittel says it shows an “unperturbed and proud readiness” to obey. He also says “what is in view is the equivocal and immediate self-evident antithesis to all kinds of mental fuzziness.” It is used to show mental and emotional balance characterized by reason, sanity and self-control. The adjective form, nêphaleos , occurs three times and is translated “sober” and “vigilant.” It is one of the qualifications of bishops and deacons in I Timothy 3 and elders in Titus 2:2. Timothy has been spiritually sober, unlike those of verses three and four. This command is in the present tense, which means it is to be continuous action. Timothy is to continue doing it and not stop.

“Endure afflictions” is the Greek word kakopatheô. It is used four times and is translated in the KJV: “endure hardness,” “suffer trouble,” “endure affliction,” and “be afflicted.” It means “to suffer (endure) destructive evil.” It comes from the root words kakos - destructive evil and pathos - experience. The noun form, kakopatheia, is used only once in James 5:10, which says “the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord are examples of “suffering affliction.” Kakopatheô is the aorist tense and means that the action is not continuous, but rather there will be points in time when it is necessary to rise to the challenge to “endure affliction.” It also indicates that the action should be undertaken at once.

“Do” is the Greek word poieô. It is used 579 times in the New Testament, and six times in the Pastoral Epistles It means “to do, make, work, and perform.” Poieô is the common word for “do” or “make.” It emphasizes the object or the result of the action. Prassô, another word for “do” emphasizes the means or the process or the motive of the action. The emphasis here is with “the work of an evangelist.” “Work” is the Greek word ergon. It occurs 176 times and is translated in the KJV: “work” 152 times, “deed” 22 times, “doing” once, and “labour” once. It means “business, employment, or that with which any one is occupied,” “that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking,” “any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind,” or “an act, deed, thing done.” It is the more general term, which emphasizes the idea of working as opposed to not working. The phrase “do the work” only occurs four other times in the KJV. It occurs three times in Numbers (4:3,23, and 30) of Levitical service in the phrase “to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.” II Kings 12:11 and 22:9 refers to them that do or did “the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” (II Chronicles 34:12 is similar.) I Chronicles 23:24 and 24:12 refer to them that “did the work for the service of the house of the Lord.” Poieo is the aorist tense and means that the action is not continuous, but rather there will be points in time when it is necessary to rise to the challenge to “do the work of an evangelist.” It also indicates that the action should be undertaken at once.

“Make full proof” is the Greek word plêrophoreô. It comes from the Greek words plêroô, “to fill to capacity,” and phoreô, “to bear continuously or repetitively.” It occurs five times and is translated in the KJV: “be fully persuaded,” “be most surely believed,” “be fully known,” and “make full proof of.” It means “to be fully persuaded,” or “to cause a thing to be shown to the full,” “to bring to fullness or full measure,” and “to fulfill the ministry in every part carrying through to the end.” Kittel says it also means “to complete,” and “to do one’s utmost or everything conceivable or humanly possible.” The noun form, plêrophoria, occurs 4 times and is translated “full assurance” or “assurance.” “Ministry” is diakonia. Plêrophoreô is the aorist tense and means that the action is not continuous, but rather there will be points in time when it is necessary to rise to the challenge to “make full proof of his ministry.” It also indicates that the action should be undertaken at once.

We could continue to read the entire context of II Timothy without finding out more about these four commands. There is no further instruction in Timothy as to what it means to do the work of an evangelist. Paul simply commands it. He doesn’t explain it because he knew Timothy was fully aware of what it meant because he had personally trained Timothy when he was with him. Those sections of Acts where Timothy traveled with Paul, beginning in Acts 16, should shed some more light on what it is to “do the work of an evangelist.” In Philipplans 2:19-22 Paul lists as one of Timothy’s qualifications that he had “served (douleuô) with me in the gospel (euangelion).”

Although Paul does not give Timothy anymore specific instructions on how to carry out these charges, he does tell Timothy that he has done his best to carry them out himself in II Timothy 4:6-8. Timothy must have also found II Timothy 4:17 and 18 comforting. In them Paul shares how God strengthened him, that by him the preaching (kêrugma) might be “fully known” or “fully proven” as in II Timothy 4:5.

Since the context gives us no more information on doing “the work of an evangelist,” one must go to previous use to understand its meaning. However “evangelist” only occurs three times and in no place does it specify what the work of an evangelist is supposed to be. Therefore the investigation of the entire word family will be necessary to ferret out the meaning. We will continue next week looking into their uses.