4:1 Paul wanted Timothy to proclaim the truth in his public ministry as well as to adhere to it in his personal life. He introduced the command in verse 2 with a very solemn preamble in verse 1 (cf. 1 Tim. 5:21; 6:13). He reminded Timothy that God was watching him as was Jesus Christ who will judge all men. He further reminded him that Christ will return (soon implied) and set up His kingdom. Timothy should prepare to meet Him by carrying out Paul's command (cf. Mark 13:34-35).
Paul's point was this. Jesus Christ will judge Christians at the judgment seat of Christ and then appear again at the Second Coming (cf. 1:10) and set up His millennial kingdom on the earth. Consequently Timothy needed to herald the Word of God (v. 2) and faithfully carry out the ministry that God had given him (v. 5).76
"The [Roman] Emperor's appearance in any place was his epiphaneia["appearing"]. Obviously when the Emperor was due to visit any place, everything was put in perfect order. The streets were swept and garnished; all work was up-to-date. The town was scoured and decorated to be fit for the epiphaneiaof the Emperor. So Paul says to Timothy: You know what happens when any town is expecting the epiphaneiaof the Emperor; youare expecting the epiphaneiaof Jesus Christ. Do your work in such a way that all things will be ready whenever He appears.'"77
4:2 Herald the Word of God! That is the primary responsibility of every leader of God's people (cf. 1:14; 1 Tim. 6:20).
"kerysso["preach"] is the verbal cognate of kerych, the herald' whose duty it was to make public proclamation. The verb thus means proclaim aloud, publicly' and is used in the NT of public proclamation or preaching' of the message that God has given . . ."78
We must preach the Word in season and out of season (continually, always, not just during special periods of emphasis). Paul already explained the reason for this in 3:16-17. Timothy was to use the Word of God to reprove (convict) those in error (an appeal to the emotions). He was to use it to rebuke those in sin (an appeal to the mind). He was also to use it to encourage those living in harmony with God's will (an appeal to the will). He was to carry on all of these activities--conviction, warning, and appeal--very patiently and with careful instruction (cf. 2:25; 3:10; 1 Tim. 1:16). There are five imperatives in this verse.
"Christian reproof without the grace of long-suffering has often led to a harsh, censorious attitude intensely harmful to the cause of Christ. But the other requirement is equally essential, for correction must be intelligently understood and hence based on teaching'. To rebuke without instruction is to leave the root cause of error untouched."79
"Christian ministry centers on the Word of God, God's own expression of his will for people whom he desires to bless. If God had not spoken, we would not have known about him. Since it is through his Word that he continues to speak with his people, ministry first and foremost must be the communication of his Word."80
4:3-4 Paul explained the reason for this charge next. "They"are the people to whom Timothy and his followers would preach, his listeners. In the future they would not tolerate the truth but would only listen to speakers who told them what they wanted to hear (false doctrine, entertainment, etc.).
"In other words, they have made themselves the measure of who should teach them and what teaching is acceptable."81
Moreover they would choose to believe myths rather than the truth (e.g., evolution, humanism, reincarnation, etc.). The context seems to indicate that these people were believers (cf. Luke 8:13; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:12; 2 Tim. 2:12).82
4:5 In view of this increasing opposition Timothy needed to keep alert (cool-headed, "wide awake"83) by avoiding false teaching. To do this he needed to maintain self-control under all circumstances.84He needed to endure hardship willingly and to continue proclaiming the gospel to the lost. He would thereby carry out the ministry God had entrusted to him completely. Four more imperatives appear in this verse (cf. v. 2).
Job or Ministry?85
A job is one you choose;
A ministry is one Christ chooses for you.
A job depends on your abilities;
A ministry depends on your availability to God.
In a job you expect to receive;
In a ministry you expect to give.
A job done well brings you self esteem;
A ministry done well brings honor to Jesus Christ.
In a job you give something to get something;
In a ministry you return something that has already been given to you.
A job well done has temporal remuneration;
A ministry well done brings eternal rewards.
"Thus with the words of the solemn charge in 4:1-5 Paul in effect brings to a conclusion his words of instruction regarding Timothy's duties as a minister of Christ. This charge gathers up the concerns expressed throughout the letter and crystallizes them in nine memorable imperatives that begin with preach the word' and end with fulfill your ministry.' With these imperatives Paul calls on Timothy to proclaim and apply God's word with much patience and careful instruction, to be clearheaded in every situation, to bear whatever difficulties such a ministry may involve him in, to evangelize, and to do whatever is necessary to accomplish the ministry to which Christ has called him."86
