Paul charged Timothy to "preach the word," but there was yet another part to be done,--"to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." This work cannot be neglected with safety. Ministers must be instant in season and out of season, watching for souls as they that must give an account. They must exercise great carefulness. Watch in all things, watch for the devices of Satan, lest you be beguiled from doing the disagreeable part of the work. Difficulties must not intimidate or discourage you. Having well-balanced minds and established characters, meet the difficulties, and in overcoming them gain a rich experience. Do the work of an evangelist,--water and cultivate the seed already sown. When a new church has been raised up, it should not be left destitute of help. The minister should develop the talent in the church, that meetings may be profitably kept up. Timothy was commanded to go from church to church, as one who should do this kind of work, and build up the churches in the most holy faith. He was to do the work of an evangelist, and this is an even more important work than that of the ministers. He was to preach the word, but he was not to be settled over one church.

Paulus opfordrede Timotheus til at prædike ordet, men også til at være tålmodig. Man bør ikke forsømme dette. Prædikanterne bør i tide og utide være på udkig efter sjæle, som de vil blive krævet til regnskab for. De bør vise stor omhyggelighed. I alle ting bør de være på vagt over Satans snigløb, så de ikke lokkes til at forsømme det ubehagelige. Lad ikke vanskeligheder holde dig tilbage eller gøre dig mismodig. Mød vanskelighederne med et afbalanceret sind og en fast karakter. Når du overvinder vanskelighederne, får du samtidig en rig oplevelse. Gør en evangelists indsats - vand og plej den sæd, der allerede er sået. Når man har plantet en ny menighed, bør den ikke overlades til sig selv. Prædikanten skal søge at udvikle menighedens talenter, så man kan blive ved at holde møder. Timotheus fik besked på at tage fra menighed til menighed og opbygge menighederne i den allerhelligste tro. Han skulle udføre en evangelists arbejde, hvilket er endnu mere betydningsfuldt end prædikantens. Han skulle prædike ordet, men ikke forblive ved en menighed.