<p>4:5- see on 2 Tim. 2:3.</p><p><i>But you, be sober in all things- </i>The word means literally to be sober as in not being drunk. Every time it is used, it is in the context of being prepared for the Lord's second coming and not being caught off guard (1 Thess. 5:6,8; 1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8). The reference is surely to the Lord's parable about the household servants who are to remain sober and care for the others in the household (Mt. 24:45-50). Timothy had been set over the church at Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3) and thus that parable spoke to him directly as one &quot;whom his lord has set over his household&quot;. The soberness or awareness was therefore in relation to looking out for the needs of the household.</p><p><i>Suffer hardship- </i>The same words used about Paul himself, and his earlier encouragement to Timothy to endure hardship (2:3,9). Paul so consciously sets himself up as Timothy's pattern (1 Tim. 1:13-16).</p><p><i>Do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry- </i>Paul encouraged Timothy to &quot;do the work of an evangelist&quot; <i>despite</i> all the doctrinal and pastoral problems and needs at Ephesus. These are never to be an excuse for not evangelizing. This was in addition to &quot;fulfil your ministry&quot;- which according to 1 Tim. 1:3,4 was to stamp out false teaching and encourage good works. In other words, his pastoral calling should not mean that he overlooked evangelizing fresh blood for the church. So often evangelism has been overlooked because of pastoral concerns, and yet it is fresh blood which is so helpful in moving beyond the pastoral problems.</p>