Following a structure that is found throughout the Pastoral Letters, the reference to apostasy in verses 3-4 is immediately followed by words of instruction to Timothy, exhorting him to a course of action that is appropriate for the situation. This verse therefore begins with As for you (literally “But you”; see Good News Translation) and continues with four more imperatives.

Be steady (literally “be sober”) has the primary meaning of abstinence from wine, although in a wider sense it also refers to an ascetic life, a life withdrawn from involvement in the world. It is, however, used here metaphorically, in which case it means being alert and controlled both in speech and conduct. This is the meaning that is reflected in many translations; for example, Good News Translation “keep control of yourself,” New International Version “keep your head,” Phillips “keep your mind sane and balanced,” New English Bible “keep calm and sane,” Contemporary English Version “must stay calm.” Another model for always be steady is “But you must stay calm no matter what happens to you.”

Endure suffering is a theme that runs through this letter (see, for example, 1.8; 2.3; and 2.9). It refers to bearing hardships with patience and courage (so Jerusalem Bible “be brave under trials,” Phillips “meeting whatever suffering this may involve”).

Evangelist occurs only here in the Pastoral Letters and twice more in the New Testament (Acts 21.8 and Eph 4.11). The word can literally be rendered as “one who proclaims the gospel” (so Phillips “go on steadily preaching the gospel,” Jerusalem Bible “the preaching of the Good News,” Good News Translation “do the work of a preacher of the Good News”). In the Ephesians reference evangelist is mentioned as one of the various offices or functions within the church, together with apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers. This office may have developed as the church became more organized; the primary role of the evangelist was to proclaim the Good News to nonbelievers in order to bring them to faith.

The word for fulfill is a compound verb that gives the idea of doing something completely (so Jerusalem Bible “thoroughgoing,” Phillips “carry out to the full”). Ministry translates the Greek word diakonia (from which “deacon” is derived), which is used here in a general sense as referring to any type of Christian service, and not specifically to the ministerial office of deacon that is discussed in 1 Tim 2.8-13. What the clause is saying, then, is that Timothy should do everything that is necessary in the performance of his duties as a servant of God. Another way to express this is “As a servant of God you must do all the work that he has assigned (or, asked) you to do.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• But you must stay calm (or, control yourself) no matter what happens to you, and endure whatever suffering this involves. You must work hard to tell the Good News, and as a servant of God you must do all the work he has assigned you to do.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .