Note 18 at 2 Tim. 4:5: Timothy is to "watch in all things." "Watch" is from a Greek verb "NEPHO" and originally meant "to abstain from wine, to be sober" (Thayer). Wuest translates this phrase as, "be constantly in a sober mood, calm, collected, wakeful, alert in all things". Paul put the words "watch" and "sober" together in 1 Thessalonians. 5:6 as did the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 4:7. Therefore, part of being watchful is being sober.

The word "sober" has come to mean "not intoxicated" to most people today. When used outside of describing our level of intoxication, most people think of "sober" as without frivolity or joy. But the heart of the word "sober", as used in relation to watching, is seriousness, self-control, without excess, reasonable, sane. Paul is describing someone who is aware that they are in a battle and they are on watch for the enemy. This can be done with extreme joy but it cannot be done with out focus and self-control.

When "sober" is used metaphorically, it has the idea of being in control of one's faculties, to be stable, steadfast, exercising moderation and self-restraint, dispassionate, circumspect and alert.

Note 19 at 2 Tim. 4:5: Second, Timothy is told to "endure afflictions." "Endure afflictions" is the Greek verb "KAKOPATHEO" and means "to suffer or endure evils, hardships or trouble; to be afflicted" (Thayer). Paul used this word in 2 Timothy 2:3 when he stated, "ENDURE HARDNESS as a good soldier of Christ Jesus," and in 2 Timothy 2:9 when he said, "I am SUFFERING even to the point of being chained like a criminal" (NIV).

In our comfortable and pleasure sensitive world, the thought of enduring afflictions is not well received, but it is a part of true Christianity in every culture of every age (see notes 9-10 at 2 Tim. 3:12, p. 1338).

Paul spoke this to Timothy in the context of teachers who had "itching ears" (see note 16 at v. 3, p. 1343). His point was that ministers cannot just preach what people want to hear or the truth will cease to prevail and people will build their lives on fables (see note 17 at v. 4, p. 1343). So, from the context of this statement, certainly some of the afflictions Paul expected Timothy to endure were the critical remarks people make about his ministry.

Note 20 at 2 Tim. 4:5: Third, Timothy is to "do the work of an evangelist." There is a ministry gift of an evangelist as listed in Ephesians 4:11. That's having a special gifting or anointing for the lost. Not everyone has that ministry, but everyone can and should do the work of an evangelist as Paul told Timothy to do here.

Note 21 at 2 Tim. 4:5: Fourth, "to make full proof of thy ministry" is to leave nothing undone that needs to be done; to carry out to the fullest, the commission that God has given.

The New American Heritage Dictionary defines "proof" as, "Conclusive demonstration of something." It's not enough for a minister to be called. He has to conclusively demonstrate it. This is done through the display of character and fruit. The fruit that demonstrates a minister's calling is the changed lives of those who receive the ministry and God's miraculous power (see note 4 at Acts 4:30, p. 592; note 3 at Rom. 15:19, p. 845).