And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12).
Christ placed teachers among His people so that by instruction we will be
fortified in faith and furnished to serve Him. The value of faithful teachers
to the body of Christ cannot be overstated.
The word of God must be taught. Early Christians went "everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). Timothy was exhorted, "If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed" (1 Tim. 4:6). What a teacher teaches is crucial. Teach a child error and he will grow up living that error. Teach him the truth and he is equipped to live for God for a lifetime.
Teaching the word of God is essential to saving the lost. Jesus commissioned His apostles to "go therefore and teach all nations" (Matt. 28:19, ASV). He further explained that "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." (Mark 16:16). Faith begins with being taught the word of God (Rom. 10:17; 1:15-16).
Teaching is fundamental to the spiritual growth of every Christian. Making disciples is only the beginning. Jesus went on to say, "teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you" (Matt. 28:20). Teachers bear the great responsibility of imparting a knowledge of the word of God to others so they can learn the will of Christ and follow Him. One cannot be a faithful disciple without being taught. Teachers stand in the gap to replace ignorance with understanding. Good Bible teachers help us be good disciples.
To be a good teacher one must be willing to learn. Opportunities to teach others the gospel will be placed before every Christian at some point. We need to be ready. Being equipped to teach comes by first being taught. Before Apollos rose to teach he had "been instructed in the way of the Lord" (Acts 18:24-25). He needed more instruction, so Aquila and Priscilla "explained to him the way of God more accurately." He accepted their teaching, and thus equipped, he "vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 18:26-28). Simply put, a teacher who refuses to be taught and to improve himself is a poor teacher.
Teachers must be developed. "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). The babe in Christ first needs to become a student of the word in order to grow in faith and be "apt to teach" (Heb. 5:12-13; cf. 2 Tim. 2:24). An ill-equipped teacher harms those he would instruct as well as himself.
Teachers will answer for what they teach. "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment" (Jas. 3:1). James' cautionary tone impresses on us the seriousness of being a teacher. By your words you will either "save both yourself and those who hear you," or consign to eternal darkness yourself and those who accept your error (1 Tim. 4:16).
Teachers help protect us from being "destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos. 4:6). Thank God for faithful teachers of His word.
- The Spirit's Sword, 7/6/14