Sunday, May 16, 2010

Full Proof

2 Timothy 4:5 KJV
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The center reference notes in my Scofield Bible bring our attention to the following verses.

1 Timothy 4:12 KJV
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:15 KJV
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Making full proof of our ministry, if we are going to keep our context in our verse is to
• Watch in all things and
• Do the work of an evangelist

Knowing that the days of preaching sound doctrine will become increasingly difficult the preacher is charged to watch and be aware:
• Be aware of those who turn unto fables
• Be aware of those who offer the fable they turn to and
• Be aware of his own tendency to tickle the ears of his hearers


The work of the evangelist has been conceived to be any number of things that may or may not be Biblical. One thing is for sure, Timothy was told to stay in Ephesus while he did it so it is not likely the work of a traveling preacher.

The point is to do the work of the ministry with honest and holy zeal. This is not the sort of thing you do as a sideline. My son used the term "hobby preacher." While a pastor may need to do other things to support his family, yet his first and highest obligation is to pour himself into his ministry.

May God grant us that type of preacher in these days when so many have turned away from sound doctrine.

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