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No.37.
The Work of an Evangelist (4: 5).
pp. 95 - 98
The opening of the charge to Timothy reveals that it is no light undertaking to have to
preach the Word in the condition that the apostle has indicated in II Tim. 4: 2-4. We
return to the subject and gather from the nature of the exhortation to Timothy and the
apostle's references to himself and his work, the true character of witness for these
closing days.
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make
full proof of thy ministry" (II Tim. 4: 5).
Nepho, the word translated "watch", is derived from pino to drink, with the negative.
Now it would be a great mistake to assume from this literal meaning of the word chosen
by the apostle, that there was a tendency on the part of Timothy to over indulge in strong
drink. The reverse, in fact, was the truth. Timothy was so very abstemious in his habits,
that the apostle had to write to him saying:
"Be no longer a hydropoteo, a water drinker, but use a little wine for thy stomach's
sake and thine often infirmities" (I Tim. 5: 23).
The word nepho took upon itself, quite naturally, a secondary meaning. Not only did
it mean "sober" as distinct from being "drunk", it meant "watchful" or "vigilant" as
opposed to slackness and irresponsibility. The Lord used the figure in His parable of the
unready servant:
"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming,
and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken"
(Matt. 24: 48, 49).
Nepho occurs but six times in the N.T., three passages occurring in Paul's epistles to
Timothy and three in the first epistles of Peter. We shall gather the intention of the
apostle, if we consider these six occurrences in their contexts.
"Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober, for they that
sleep, sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us,
who are of the day, be sober" (I Thess. 5: 6, 8).
The context speaks of the second coming of Christ, and the day of the Lord, which,
coming as a thief in the night, will overtake the unwatchful:
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 1: 13).
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer"
(I Pet. 4: 7).
"Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet. 5: 8).