Teaching and Preaching – According to Paul

 

Teaching and Preaching – According to Paul

1.      1. Teaching. In the Bible, teaching is consistently that equipping activity which happens within the community of faith. Teaching is what is required of elders. In each passage, “teach” is a translation of G1320 διδάσκαλος didaskalos (d̮iy-d̮a'-ska-los) n. 1. a teacher, an instructor. 2. (figuratively, with reverence) mentor (or even “master,” as in a voluntary choice with mutual care and consideration) or G1321 διδάσκω didasko (d̮iy-d̮a'-skō) v. to teach. Exceptions are noted below. Here’s how Paul uses those words:

1Cor 4:17 This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

1Cor 12:28,29 And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

1Cor 14:6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

1Cor 14:19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language. (G2727 κατηχέω katecheo (kat-ee-che'-ō) v.1. to sound down into the ears. 2. (by implication) to indoctrinate (“catechize”) or (genitive case) to apprise of.)

1Cor 14:26 What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. (G1322 διδαχή didache (d̮iy-d̮a-chee') n. instruction (the act or the matter). [from G1321]

Rom 6:17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred to. ((G1322 διδαχή didache (d̮iy-d̮a-chee') n. instruction (the act or the matter). [from G1321])

Rom 12:7 if service, in service; if teaching (G1322 διδαχή didache (d̮iy-d̮a-chee') n. instruction (the act or the matter). [from G1321]), in teaching;

Gal 6:6 The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher. (G2727 κατηχέω katecheo (kat-ee-che'-ō) v.1. to sound down into the ears. 2. (by implication) to indoctrinate (“catechize”) or (genitive case) to apprise of.)

Eph 4:11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Col 3:16 Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

1Tim 2:12 I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.

1Tim 3:2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

1Tim 4:6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. (G1319 διδασκαλία didaskalia (diy-d̮a-ska-liy'-a) n. instruction (the function or the information.)

1Tim 4:11 Command and teach these things.

1Tim 4:13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. (G1319 διδασκαλία didaskalia (diy-d̮a-ska-liy'-a) n. instruction (the function or the information.)

1Tim 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. (G1319 διδασκαλία didaskalia (diy-d̮a-ska-liy'-a) n. instruction (the function or the information.)

1Tim 5:17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. (G1319 διδασκαλία didaskalia (diy-d̮a-ska-liy'-a) n. instruction (the function or the information.)

1Tim 6:1-3 All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and His teaching (G1319) will not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things. If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching (G1319) of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,

2Tim 1:11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher,

2Tim 1:13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (G3056 λόγος logos (lo'-ğos) n.)

2Tim 2:2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 

2Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. (G3718 ὀρθοτομέω orthotomeo (or-tho-to-me'-ō) v. 1. to make a straight cut or slice. 2. (figuratively) to rightly dissect (the divine message); (i.e. discern and explain).)

2Tim 2:24 The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, (G1317 διδακτικός didaktikos (diy-d̮ak-tiy-kos') adj. instructive (“didactic”).)

2Tim 3:10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, (G1319)

2Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, (G1319).

2Tim 4:2,3 Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. (G1322 διδαχή didache (d̮iy-d̮a-chee') n.instruction (the act or the matter). [from G1321])

Titus 1:9 holding to the faithful message as taught (G1322), so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching (G1319) and to refute those who contradict it.

Titus 2:1 But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. (G1319)

Titus 2:7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. (G1319)

Titus 2:10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything. (G1319)

Heb 5:12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.

 

2.      2. Preaching. Preaching, in the Pauline letters, consistently portrays that gospel ministry that takes place outside the community of faith. “Preach” is a translation of G2784 κηρύσσω kerusso (kee-rïs'-sō) v. 1. to proclaim or announce; to herald (as a public crier). 2. (especially, of the gospel) to proclaim or announce divine truth or (G2097 εὐαγγελίζω euaggelizo (ev-an-ğe-liy'-zō) v. 1. to bring good news. 2. “evangelize.” 3. (especially) to proclaim the good news of redemption through Jesus (i.e. the gospel). Exceptions are shown below. Here’s how Paul used those words:

Rom 1:15 So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome.

Rom 10:14, 15 But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!

1Cor 1:21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. (G2782 κήρυγμα kerugma (kee-rïg'-ma) n. 1. a proclamation (especially of the gospel). 2. (by implication) the gospel itself. [from G2784])

1Cor 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.

1Cor 9:14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel. (G2605 καταγγέλλω kataggello (kat-an-ğel'-lō) v. to proclaim, promulgate.)

1Cor 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

1Cor 9:18 What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.

1Cor 9:27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

2Cor 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me and Silvanus and Timothy — did not become “Yes and no”; on the contrary, a final “Yes” has come in Him.

2Cor 2:12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door for me.

2Cor 11:4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly! 

2Cor 11:7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

Gal 1:8, 9 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

Gal 1:11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on human thought.

Gal 1:16 to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

Gal 2:2 I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles — but privately to those recognized as leaders — so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain. (G394 ἀνατίθεμαι anatithemai (a-na-tiy'-the-mai) v. to set forth (for oneself), i.e propound, declare)

Gal 4:13 you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness.

Phil 1:15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will.

Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (G2605 καταγγέλλω kataggello (kat-an-ğel'-lō) v. to proclaim, promulgate.)

1Thess 2:9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 

1Tim 3:16 And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 

1Tim 5:17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  (G3056 λόγος logos (lo'-ğos) n.)

2Tim 1:11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, (G2783 κήρυξ kerux (kee'-rïx) n. 1. a proclaimer, a herald. one who announces or declares. 2. (especially, of the gospel) a proclaimer of divine truth.

 

I am not saying that elders never preach, merely pointing out that the tradition we have learned (teaching is merely to inform, preaching aims to reach the heart), is not biblical. Good teaching is much more than information, it pierces the hearts of the saints, applying properly the Scriptures being taught. This is what is required of elders, this is what builds us up in our faith. What takes place in most congregations at the 11 o’clock hour is teaching – perhaps with some preaching to the unconverted mixed in. Preaching is primarily done in world, to the world. We need to reform to the Scripture.