BUT YOU BE SOBER IN ALL THINGS: Su de nephe (2SPAM) en pasin: (Isa 62:6; Jer 6:17; Eze 3:17; 33:2;33:7 Mk 13:34;37 Lu 12:37; Acts 20:30;31 1Thes 5:6 5:8; Heb 13:17; 1Pet 1:13 4:7 5:8 Rev 3:2) 

you must keep a clear head in everything (GWT)

be self-controlled (BBE)

you be constantly in a sober mood calm, collected, wakeful, alert in all things. (Wuest)

you must exercise habitual self-control, and not live a self-indulgent life (WNT)

keep your head in all situations (NIV)

but amid it all, keep your head (Berkley)

but you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances (TEV)

be calm and cool and steady (Amp)

be watchful in all things (NKJV)

you should keep a clear mind in every situation (NLT)

you should control yourself at all times (ICB)

be steady in all things (Barclay).

But you makes the following charge emphatically personal as Paul sets Timothy in contrast to the apostates just mentioned.  Once again (see notes 2 Timothy 2:1; 3:10; 3:14)  Paul followed the mention of those who were oppositional or wayward with a strong contrasting but you for his young disciple.

Be sober (3525) (nepho) (Click word study nepho) means literally to abstain from wine and as used metaphorically here means to be free from every form of mental and spiritual ‘drunkenness’, from excess, passion, rashness, confusion, etc. and so to be well-balanced and self-controlled so as to keep a keep a cool, calm, and collected mind.

The present imperative commands Timothy to make this his standing so that he is continually on alert, yet calm and circumspect regardless of the season.  This alert wakefulness and calm assurance would protect him from being surprised and confused when those who professed Christ turned away from the word of Christ and unto myths of men. 

Compare this command to a similar command by Jesus to His disciples to "keep (continually) watching and praying" (Mt 26:41, cf 1Cor 10:12 16:13, see note 1 Peter 5:8).

The idea is that Timothy is to be in control of his thought processes and thus not be in danger of irrational thinking ("God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of...discipline [Other translations - "sound mind, self-discipline, self-control, sobriety, sound judgment, self-restraint, wise discretion"]" - see note 2 Timothy 1:7). In contrast to this verb, the 3 verbs which follow are aorist imperatives (commands) which call for carrying out each action with a sense of urgency. Obviously, these 3 commands are the very areas in which Timothy is to exercise sobriety, calm and self-control at all times.

Rienecker adds that Timothy is

to be in a vigilant, wakeful, considerate frame of mind, taking heed of what is happening and pursuing a course with calm and steady aim.

Vine has an interesting note on be sober (nepho) stating that

whilst literally signifying freedom from the influence of intoxicants, is used in the New Testament only in a metaphorical sense, and conveys the thought of freedom from credulity as well as from excitability. It does not actually signify watchfulness, but rather indicates stability, a contrast to the excitement of drunkenness. The exhortation here is set in contrast to the fickleness of those who aspire to novelty (see notes 2 Timothy 4:3; 4:4)

ENDURE HARDSHIP: kakopatheson (2SAAM): "(2 Timothy 1:8;  2:3, 2:10; 3:10, 3:11, 3:12)

accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship (Amp)

When troubles come, accept them (ICB)

flinch from no suffering (Moffatt)

accept the suffering which will come upon you (Barclay)

Endure hardship (kakopatheo) meant to suffer physical pain, hardship, troubles, problems, difficulties, evils or distress. In secular Greek kakopatheo was frequently used to describe the hardships inherent in military service.

Timothy is certain to experience reproach and persecution (see note 2 Timothy 3:12, cf Mt 10:22, see note Philippians 1:29) but such experiences are not to becloud his sobriety and calm demeanor (see note 2 Timothy 1:7).

There is no such thing as a faithful ministry that is not costly. A painless ministry is a shallow and fruitless ministry.

MacArthur notes

Many preachers want a ministry free of difficulties. However, I believe faithfulness to God's Word and the endurance of trials are the marks of an effective ministry. A preacher has the choice of either enduring or compromising a difficult situation.

Paul had made clear the cost of ministry and had called on Timothy to "join with (him) in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God" (see note 2 Timothy 1:8), to "suffer hardship with (him), as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (see note 2 Timothy 2:3), to remember that although he (Paul) was suffering "hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal...the word of God is not imprisoned" (see note 2 Timothy 2:9), and to realize that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (see note 2 Timothy 3:12).

How did Timothy fare in obeying this difficult command?

The writer of Hebrews (probably written shortly after 2 Timothy) says "Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released..." (see note Hebrews 13:23) where the word "released" is apoluo which elsewhere refers to releasing a prisoner (e.g., see apoluo in Mt 27:15) all of which suggests that Timothy indeed fully followed Paul in his "teaching, conduct, purpose (preaching Christ)...persecutions, sufferings..." (2Ti 3:10,11)  

Like Timothy, we too need to be "strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2:1) so that we are prepared and willing to endure whatever rejection, hostility or persecution that comes from following Christ until the end of our course. 

Wuest adds that endure hardship

is aorist imperative which speaks of a sharp command given with military snap and curtness. Timothy needed just that....How we in the ministry of the Word need that injunction today. What ‘softies’ we sometimes are, afraid to come out clearly in our proclamation of the truth and our stand as to false doctrine, fearing the ostracism of our fellows, the ecclesiastical displeasure of our superiors, or the cutting off of our immediate financial income. I would rather walk a lonely road with Jesus than be without His fellowship in the crowd, wouldn’t you? I would rather live in a cottage and eat simple food, and have Him as Head of my house and the Unseen Guest at every meal, than to live in royal style in a mansion without Him (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)

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In Our Daily Bread we read a devotional entitled "Not Satisfied"...

Sometimes we are not satisfied with the responsibilities God has given us, thinking we are fitted for a larger ministry. Looking enviously at the size or scope of a fellow believer’s calling, we think less of our own work and begin to neglect it. In his book Be Faithful, Warren W. Wiersbe illustrated how one Christian leader handled that problem. “A young preacher once complained to C. H. Spurgeon, the famous Baptist preacher, that he did not have as big a church as he deserved. ‘How many do you preach to?’ Spurgeon asked. ‘Oh, about a hundred,’ the man replied. Solemnly, Spurgeon said, ‘That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.’”

The truth of Spurgeon’s Statement is borne out in Paul’s reminder to “make full proof of thy ministry,” which means, “fulfill your ministry.” The apostle was telling his young friend in the faith to do all that God has called him to do. But this did not mean that Timothy was required to do the same things Paul was called to do. Nor did it mean that he would accomplish as much as the apostle would. Rather, it meant that whether Timothy’s task was large or small, in the limelight or behind the scenes, he was to fulfill his ministry in a diligent and commendable manner.

The same is true of us. Whether we are teaching three unruly boys in a Sunday school class, directing a girls club of hundreds, or preaching to thousands, we’re to do the job faithfully. That’s what God expects. And as we do, we will be fulfilling our ministry. -D. C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST: ergon poieson (2SAAM) euaggelistou: (Acts 21:8; Ep 4:11;1Ti 4:12 15)

Do the work of telling the Good News (ICB)

Do the work of a "gospelizer", literally of the "good message teller"! Perform this task with urgency and resolve (aorist imperative), obeying this sharp command given with military snap and curtness.

Evangelist (euaggelistes from eu = good, well + aggéllo = proclaim, tell) a bringer of good tidings or one who proclaims the good news (the Gospel) and is used only three times in Scripture (also Acts 21:8 see note Ephesians 4:11) and once in a non-Christian inscription meaning "a proclaimer of an oracle". This does not mean that the minister is to become a traveling or professional evangelist. It means that his work is to be evangelistic — he is to seek to win souls in all that he does (cf notes 1 Peter 3:15).

The related verb euaggelizo meaning to proclaim good news is used 61x (click here for all uses in NASB) and the noun euaggelion, meaning good news or gospel is found 76x (click here for all uses in NASB). Clearly preaching the gospel to the lost is a significant message in the NT.

As Hiebert writes

the manifold tasks, the harassing difficulties, the manifestation of antagonism must not distract him from his primary task of being...a bringer of God's good news." He goes on to explain and I agree that "The term (euaggelistes) used without an article (equivalent to the English "the") does not here designate a distinct office but rather characterizes him as one whose chief activity is the bringing of the good news of the Gospel of Christ. His ministry is to be evangelistic in nature. (cf 1Cor 1:17)

How does one go about this work of proclaiming the gospel?

(1) Keep the message clear, simple and to the point, the most succinct "definition" of the gospel being in (see notes 1Corinthians 15:1, 15:2; 15:3; 15:4; 15:5; 15:6 ; 15:7; 15:8).

(2) Rely not on manipulative techniques, but on the power of God as did Paul in (see note Romans 1:16)

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote

"You should not put direct pressure on the will. The will should always be approached primarily through the mind, the intellect, and then through the affections...As the mind grasps [God's Word], understands it, the affections are kindled and moved, and so in turn the will is persuaded and obedience is the outcome...Obedience is not the result of direct pressure on the will, it is the result of an enlightened mind and a softened heart" (Preaching and Preachers - Zondervan 1971).

We are to have the attitude of Paul who

"determined to know nothing among (the Corinthians) except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1Cor 2:2)

Spurgeon said we are to "Give the ungodly no rest in their sins".

Edwards adds that

The fact that Paul says, do the work indicates that this will not be an easy or natural task, for evangelism never is. But it is impossible to follow Christ without becoming a "fisher of men." (Mt 4:19). If we are not fishing for men, seeking to draw them out of the bitterly cold waters of Satan's domain, then we must question whether we really are following Christ. One may admire Christ, believe in Christ, even give to Christ without seeking lost souls, but one cannot follow Christ without becoming intimately involved in the great quest of doing the work of an evangelist. (2 Timothy- Call to Completion)

FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY: en diakonian sou plerophoreson (2SAAM): (2 Ti 4:4, 2:5, 2:6, Acts 12:25 Jn 4:34 17:4 Ro 15:19;1Cor 1:17 Col 1:25; 4:17)
 

make full proof of thy ministry (KJV)

fill your ministry to the brim (Williams)

completing the work which has been given you to do (BBE)

Do all the duties of a servant of God (ICB)

discharge to the full your duties as a minister (Berkley)

carry out to the full the commission that God gave you (Phillips)

leave no act of your service unfulfilled  (Barclay)

discharge all your duties as a minister (Moffatt)

fulfill the service asked of you (NJB)

I especially like the Darby translation

fill up the full measure of thy ministry.

This final charge summarizes the entirety of 2 Timothy.

Fulfill (plerophoreo from pleres = full + phoréo = fill) is literally to fill full and here is a command for Timothy to accomplish his ministry fully and wholeheartedly. Timothy was to carry out his ministry to its end, completing all its demands and requirements. Paul had written a similar exhortation to Archippus to "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill (see word study pleroo) it." (see note Colossians 4:17) Here we learn that ministry is a gift from God, and we are stewards who one day will give an account of our work (see notes 1 Peter 4:10; 11). It is also interesting that plerophoreo was used in secular Greek describing

a man to whom money had been entrusted who in turn satisfies the investor by the return he makes.

Earlier Paul had commanded Timothy to "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure (Gk = paratheke = deposit, something committed to one's charge) which has been entrusted to you" (see note 2 Timothy 1:14). Now Paul is commanding Timothy to fully satisfy the One Who had entrusted so much to him when He returns (Mt 25:14-30). He will hear "well done" (Mt 25:21) only if he "discharges his ministry to the full" and the same can be said of every believer for all have received this "treasure".

Ministry (1248) (diakonia > English = "deacon") means the rendering or assistance or help by performing certain duties, often of a humble or menial nature serve, including such  mundane activities as waiting on tables or caring for household needs—activities without apparent dignity.

Diakonia is translated 19x as "ministry" and 7x as "service", and specifically referring to a personal ministry done in the service of another, such "service" often being of a humble or menial nature.

Diakonia speaks of Christian work in general, every mode of Christian service and does not have the "specialized" meaning which the English word "ministry" conveys. This is not referring to a group of professional, seminary trained individuals. In the first letter Paul wrote

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service (diakonia).

This verse clearly teaches that ministry (or "service") is not just something we do for God but is something we have received from God, Who does His work through us. Our attitude in this service is to be wholehearted as was Paul's who wrote that

"I labor (to point of exhaustion), striving (agonizing) according to His power, which mightily works within me" (Col 1:29).

You may be saying "but I'm not a "minister". Then read these next few verses to see how the NT describes the purpose of believers.

Paul teaches

"We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works , which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them"  (Eph2:10) and thus we are each saved for the purpose of good works.

Peter reminds of our calling as

A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (see note 1 Peter 2:19)

And thus clearly each of us has a ministry to proclaim Christ. 

Finally, Paul reminds us that "we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God". (2Co 5:20) and thus every believer has been given the privilege of "the ministry of reconciliation" (2Cor 5:18).

Spurgeon wrote,

The propagation of the gospel is left, not to a few, but to all the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ: according to the measure of grace entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit, each man is bound to minister in his day and generation, both to the church and among unbelievers...[All Christians are] to exert themselves to the utmost to extend the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (Lectures to My Students, p22). 

William James once wrote,

"The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it."

I don't know if James was a Christian but nevertheless describes a goal every disciple should pursue, the laying up for themselves of

treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal (see note Matthew 6:20)

It is only as we spend our lives in "fully discharging" our divinely-appointed ministry that we realize the greatest use of this fleeting life. Like Christ, we should strive with every fiber of our being to be able to say at the end of our life,

I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do. (Jn 17:4, cf Jn 4:34)

Or like Paul we should be willing to say

I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24, cf 20:28)

Clearly not every minister completes his ministry... to the brim... does everything Christ wants Him to do... undertakes every ministry that God desires for him... fills every ministry he undertakes to the brim. And so the urgent charge to each believer:

Fulfill your ministry!

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Our Daily Bread has the following devotional on fulfilling one's ministry...

Sometimes we are not satisfied with the responsibilities God has given us, thinking we are fitted for a larger ministry. Looking enviously at the size or scope of another believer's calling, we think less of our own work and begin to neglect it.

In his book Be Faithful, Warren W. Wiersbe told how C. H. Spur­geon, the famous Baptist preacher, handled that problem. "A young preacher once complained to Spurgeon that he did not have as big a church as he deserved. `How many do you preach to?' Spurgeon asked. 'Oh, about a hundred,' the man replied. Solemnly, Spurgeon said, `That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.

The truth of Spurgeon's statement is borne out in Paul's reminder to "fulfill your ministry." The apostle was telling his young friend in the faith to do all that God had called him to do. But this did not mean that Timothy was to do the same things as Paul. Nor did it mean that he would accomplish as much as the apostle would. Rather, it meant that whether Timothy's task was large or small, in the limelight or behind the scenes, he was to fulfill his ministry in a diligent and commendable manner. —D. C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)