‘Let not the vain speeches of any trouble you and draw you aside from the truth...’
From verse 4, of the purported Epistle of Paul the
Apostle to the Laodiceans, Quaker Translation based
on Sixtus Senensis MSS in Sorbonne Library, Paris and
the Library of Joannes a Viridario, Padua and also the
British Museum under Harleian MSS. Cod. 1212 as
described on page 94 of The Lost Books of the Bible,
published 1979, Testament Books, a division of
Random House, Inc., New York.
Well if the preacher doesn’t preach, who will?
Some texts limit the number of teachers in an assembly
or church meeting. James 3:1 commands that not many
of us become teachers. Also, I Corinthians 12:29 asks,
All are not teachers are they? But in order to understand
God’s instruction we should look at all Scripture
dealing with teaching; and, Scripture also commands
that we teach one another.
Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all
wisdom teaching and admonishing one another...
Colossians 3:16.
...by this time you ought to be teachers... Hebrews 5:12.
...if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man
enters, he is convicted by all... I Corinthians 14:24.
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...when you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching,
has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation...for
edification... I Corinthians 14:26.
...you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and
all may be exhorted... I Corinthians 14:31.
Most of these verses, though applicable anywhere, are
in the context of church meetings.
Also, remember these verses commanding us to teach
one another are written to the church and not just
elders. In fact, elders are rarely directly addressed in
most epistles which emphasizes the one-on-one
relationship we have with our creator. In the case of
the Colossians in 4:16, Paul said, when this letter is read
among you, have it also read in the church of the
Laodiceans....
We rejoice like Paul in I Corinthians 1:4-7 when the
body is gifted with teachers. But when this happens
we are not to abdicate our duties to participate in
teaching one another because God gifted a few. In fact,
God enjoys working through our weaknesses. II
Corinthians 12:9, 10, Judges 7:2.
If we say we are not able to teach one another we deny
God’s Spirit in us. As for you, the anointing which you
received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for
anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about
all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has
taught you, you abide in Him. I John 2:27.
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Paul’s requirement that all participate does not mean
all should teach by expositing Scriptures. In the
assembly we teach each other by singing, by talking
about Christ’s faithfulness and giving testimony to
what God is doing in our lives. We may contribute to
the church meeting by reading Scripture, praying or
encouraging. Paul gave teaching a lower priority than
reading of Scripture or exhortation in I Timothy 4:13,
...give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to
exhortation and teaching.
We all learn in different ways and God’s spirit works in
different ways. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the
same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the
same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God
who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given
the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. I
Corinthians 12:4-7. Again, the context of this text is in
the assembly or church meeting of the Corinthians.
When Paul heard the Corinthians were following
teachers to the neglect of other gifts he said in I
Corinthians 4:20: For the Kingdom of God does not consist
in words but in power. Of course we are fed by God’s
Word but Paul was making the point that Corinthian
teachers were incorrect in their prominent role and he
instructed everyone to participate.
The practice of one teacher addressing passive listeners
was characteristic of Hellenistic Jews who adopted
teaching methods from Greek philosophers.
Previously in synagogues Judaizers took turns reading
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and discussing as Jesus did when he read from Isaiah
in Luke 4:16-21. Each believer, including elders,
participated in those meetings of the early church.
Perhaps it is from a guilty conscience or maybe
insecurity about being a workman who does not need to be
ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth II Timothy
2:15, that drives us to rely so heavily on professional
religious teachers, but this is not the relationship Christ
desires for us.
Teachers are integral in New Testament discipleship,
but a danger exists when we begin to choose favorite
teachers and preachers from the body while limiting
our interaction with others, James 2:1. This focus may
lower our zeal for personal interaction with God’s
Spirit as we seek His character and pleasure while
studying Scripture. Focusing on men’s teaching as a
substitute for cultivating a relationship with the Holy
Spirit may make us languid in our duty to grow in
knowledge of Him even though we may be learning
about Him.
This favoritism in the assembly may reveal a lack of
interest in the brother seated in the pew behind us. It
may indicate that we do not desire interaction or
information of how Christ is working in his life. When
looking to our favorite teachers as our service to God
we may minimize the presence of God indwelling
other believers whom we consider immature in faith or
to whom God has given a different path in life.
Conversely, the elimination of favorite teachers will
allow us to love one another as we interact and
recognize our Father’s Spirit in each other.
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As elders we should be aware of the danger Paul
identified in I Corinthians 1-4. We should ensure our
teaching contributions are not protracted or do not
encroach on participation by others. Our role should
include facilitating participation and encouraging those
who are timid.
For decades our society has enjoyed the marvels of
sitting passively and enjoying the technology of
television. But as internet and broadband became
available volumes have been written about the
advantage of internet over television for one reason: it
is interactive. Is this not what Paul told the
Corinthians? Do not passively focus on a few teachers
but interact. When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has
a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an
interpretation...for edification... I Corinthians 14:26.
But, with untrained elders or laity teaching churches,
will the flock be exposed to heresies which will confuse
the believer or lead them astray?
There is already heresy in the visible church today.
Believers are being misled because they are depending
on men to lead them in His Word instead of the Holy
Spirit. In II Timothy 4:3 Paul writes, The time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to
have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves
teachers in accordance to their own desires. When we
think of unsound doctrine many things come to mind
but what could be more basic than turning from our
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‘one another’ duties of loving each other to our favorite
leaders as did the Corinthians?
Heresies will exist. At least in Paul’s model for the
church we will have many participating in order to
offset or challenge any teaching that is taking away or
adding to Scripture. We cannot change hearts but we
can follow the traditions Paul installed in churches and
heed his warnings not to follow men but Christ. The
elder who is not seminary trained may not utilize
systematic theologies to teach the flock. I do not
apologize for being too simplistic when reminding us,
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so
that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every
good work. II Timothy 3:16-17. If the man of God is
equipped by Scripture for every good work, exactly
what is the additional benefit of those initials behind
the name of Reverend such and such?
Jesus, our self-proclaimed jealous God, emphasized He
was the only teacher we should recognize. In Matthew
23:8 He says, Do not be called Rabbi; for One is your
Teacher and you are all brothers. This does not mean we
should not teach one another. That would contradict
other Scripture given by Christ’s Spirit. But it does
mean that while learning from one another we should
not lean toward an Apollos for understanding because
doing so would draw our eyes off our Savior. Notice
this verse puts the duty on the teacher to encourage the
listener to not rely on the teacher, but instead
communicate Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.
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By following Paul’s model we will continue to be
blessed with godly, gifted men but we will also see
God at work in every believer. This is important
because from the backdrop of ordinary men and
women God may be more clearly seen by more people
than from the backdrop of a clergy robe.
II Timothy 2:2 states, the things which you have heard from
me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Sometimes we use this verse to hand pick young
candidates for seminary but when Paul said, faithful
men who will be able, he is simply saying men who
believe will be able by the empowerment of God’s
Spirit to teach others. Emphasize the promise as you
read that verse. Remember what Jesus said in John
16:13, But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will
guide you into all the truth.
The Holy Spirit will guide converts into all truth. Not
that their grammar will improve or their
communication skills will change overnight; but God’s
Spirit will give them a heart to serve and the truth of
Christ to share. How to teach one another and
accurately handle the word is very important but our
relationship with Christ, the vine, is even more
important. We will make mistakes, it is not as if
professional preachers do not, and guess what? God
will perfect those mistakes in us and in those listening.
Christ will be faithful if we hold to Him. He promised
us.
