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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
Parallel translations
  • WEB But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
  • BSB But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
  • NKJV But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
  • NASB But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
  • NLT But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

In contrast, Timothy must be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, and fully carry out his ministry. Faithful endurance and gospel work are his calling whatever others do.

Overview

Against the backdrop of itching ears and wandering hearers, Paul calls Timothy to steady, clear-headed faithfulness. He is to accept suffering, proclaim the gospel, and complete the ministry entrusted to him. This summarizes the resolve required of every faithful servant of Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 25

  • 2 Tim 2:3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
  • 2 Tim 1:8Be 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;
  • 1 Pet 1:13Wherefore 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;
  • Col 4:17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
  • 2 Tim 3:10–12But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
  • 1 Tim 4:15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
  • 1 Tim 4:12Let 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 21:8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
  • 1 Th 5:6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
  • Eph 4:11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
  • Mark 13:37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
  • Rev 3:2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
  • Acts 20:30–31Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
  • 2 Tim 2:10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
  • Heb 13:17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
  • Luke 12:37Blessed 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.
  • Ezek 3:17Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
  • Mark 13:34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
  • Isa 62:6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
  • Ezek 33:2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
  • Rom 15:19Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
  • Jer 6:17Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
  • Ezek 33:7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
  • Isa 56:9–10All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
  • Col 1:25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Timothy videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Timothy 4:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 TimothyMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.

How 2 Timothy 4:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.