Rules Governing The Gift Of Teaching

[Webers_Home]

-
● 1Tim 3:1-2 . . If any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work
he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be . . . able to teach

The koiné Greek word for "overseer" is episkopos (ep-is'-kop-os) which
essentially refers to superintendents, i.e. department heads.

Seeing as how teaching is a prerequisite here, then I'd guess that the
department heads in view are the ones responsible for Christian education,
i.e. the various Sunday school classes; e.g. children, teen-agers, young
adults, married couples, singles, and senior citizens, etc.

I think it's reasonable to assume that Christian education department heads
lacking the gift of teaching quite naturally gravitate towards, and select and
appoint, under-teachers who also lack the gift of teaching; which is no doubt
why Paul said, via the inspiration of God, that an overseer's ability to teach
is a must.

Can you just imagine the mess a church would be in if not only its education
departments lacked the gift of teaching; but on top of that its pastors lacked
the gift of pastoring? From the pulpit to the pew, everyone in that church
would be totally out of sync with Christ.

/

 

[Webers_Home]

-
● 2Tim 3:16 . . All scripture is useful for teaching

At the time when the apostle Paul wrote that comment to his pal Timothy,
"scripture" was almost exclusively limited to the Old Testament. So then, it's
my judgment that someone Spirit-empowered to teach for Christ, should
work with the Old Testament as well as the New because he did.

● Luke 24:44-45 . .Then he said to them: These are the words which I spoke
to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were
written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.
And he opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the
scriptures.

/

 

[Webers_Home]

-
● 1Cor 12:27-31 . . Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a
part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of
healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and
those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Are all apostles? NO.
Are all prophets? NO.
Are all teachers? NO.
Do all work miracles? NO.
Do all have gifts of healing? NO.
Do all speak in tongues? NO.
Do all interpret? NO.

/

 

[Webers_Home]

-
Q: How would an interested party go about locating teachers endowed with
the Spirit's gift?

A: Male meerkats are attracted to female meerkats. Male eagles are
attracted to female eagles. Male elk are attracted to female elk.

Those male/female attractions aren't regulated by written how-to
instructions. In other words; every creature on earth is wired to be attracted
to its own species rather than some other species because it's in their nature
to do so, i.e. they can't help but be attracted to their own species.

According to 2Pet 1:2-4, Christ's sheep are partakers of the divine nature.
Well; that is quite an advantage over John Q and Jane Doe pew warmer.
Christ's sheep are attracted to his gifted teachers because it is in the divine
nature's nature to be attracted to its own kind.

● John 10:4-6 . .When he has brought out all his own sheep, he goes on
ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But
they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him
because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. Jesus used this figure of
speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

NOTE: The voice spoken of in that passage as "his voice" isn't literal.
According to the Lord; it's a figure of speech.

/

 

[101G]

Are all apostles? NO.
Are all prophets? NO.
Are all teachers? NO.

GINOLJC, this is true, but do all have the same gift? meaning the apostles, the prophet and the teacher...... YES. many don't know that Paul, beside being an apostle, he was also a prophet, and a teacher. just by having one gift, but many functions.

also, some people have a natural talent that is God given to perform a certain task. as in teachers some are born to teach, other are not. a gift enhance the talent.

 

[lforrest]

GINOLJC, this is true, but do all have the same gift? meaning the apostles, the prophet and the teacher...... YES. many don't know that Paul, beside being an apostle, he was also a prophet, and a teacher. just by having one gift, but many functions.

also, some people have a natural talent that is God given to perform a certain task. as in teachers some are born to teach, other are not. a gift enhance the talent.

Which comes first for gifts that have talent components? If it is talent first then how is God Glorified? Seems he would get more Glory from gifting more unlikely servants.
If the gift is first how do they know they can have it? Guess they can only know when they are put into the situation where they would need it.

 

[101G]

Which comes first for gifts that have talent components? If it is talent first then how is God Glorified?

God gets all the glory. not all gifts and talents are given in the churches only. God is glorified in both talents and gifts. Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions". shall is a future event. God is glorified at all times. God have some talented people that is not just on the church roll. but will be.

Guess they can only know when they are put into the situation where they would need it.

Paul before, Saul had a talent, only God intervene.

 

[Webers_Home]

-
● 1Cor 14:18-19 . . I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of
you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct
others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

The primary purpose of any tongue-- whether a crow's caw, a cow's moo, or
a gerbil's squeak --is to communicate. Well; if a teacher's Sunday school
class and/or his congregation consists of folk who speak his own language,
then for their sake, if not for Christ's, the teacher should teach them in his
own language. If not, then he is supposed to have a translator on hand so
the people get something out of what he's trying to explain.

● 1Cor 14:5 . . He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in
tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

● 1Cor 14:6-12 . . Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues,
what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge
or prophecy or word of instruction?

. . . Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or
harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a
distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call,
who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible
words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will
just be speaking into the air.

. . . Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of
them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what
someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to
me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel
in gifts that build up the church.

/

 

[Webers_Home]

-
● 1Cor 2:1-5 . .When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with
eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about
God. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive
words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith
might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

One of the hindrances to Christianity's propagation is the fact that it won't
hold up in a court of law; and that's simply because Christianity is illogical
and unscientific, i.e. it cannot be empirically proven true beyond a shadow of
sensible doubt.

Apologetics can be defined as a branch of theology devoted to the defense of
the divine origin and authority of Christianity. That definition does not depict
the Spirit's method. He offers no apologies; for example:

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Gen 1:1)

The Spirit didn't begin the Bible with an argument as to the existence of a
supreme being; nor make a case for its posit that the cosmos, with all of its
forms of life, matter, and energy is the product of intelligent design. In other
words: the Spirit comes across as a closed-minded kook; thoroughly
unwilling to come to its senses and listen to reason.

● 1Cor 2:14 . . A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of
God; for they are foolishness to him

Thus I must conclude that people endowed with the Spirit's gift to teach for
Christ, don't do so by means of apologetics; which in my opinion amount to
nothing more than perpetual bull sessions that never get to the bottom of
anything.

/

 

[Webers_Home]

-
● 1Tim 2:11-13 . . Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I
suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be
in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

It's important to note that this is neither a gender issue nor an issue related
to competence; it's an issue related to primogeniture-- for that reason, and
that reason alone, it is a disgrace for Christian women to lead Christian men
in a Christian congregation.

That rule applies to home Bible studies too. If Christian men are present,
then Christian women are supposed to bite their tongue no matter if they
know the Bible better than the man leading the study.

BTW: A mixed-gender home Bible study without a Spirit-endowed male
expositor is not a Bible study at all; no, it's a bull session. In those
situations, it doesn't matter if women speak since the discussions are really
no more Spirit-directed than a common chat.

A natural question arises in cases of women like Anne Graham Lotz. Is she
out of order? No; because Anne's preaching and teaching are typically public
rather than before a Christian congregation.

So then, though women aren't permitted to speak to a mixed-gender
Christian congregation, that doesn't mean they can't speak to a mixed
gender public forum, or in the street; or in a coliseum, or in a stadium, or in
a convention center, or on radio and television; or with a megaphone out on
Pluto.

The best place in church for women blessed with the Spirit's gift to teach for
Christ is in a women's group; and if a man should invade a women's group
led by a Spirit-gifted woman; I think he should be asked to leave.

Q: What about Deborah in the Old Testament book of judges? Exactly how is
she an exception to this rule, if indeed she was?

A: Deborah was a Jewish woman whose association with Jewish people and
with the Jews' God was by means of a very different covenant than the one
by which Christian women associate with Christian congregations and with
Christianity's Christ. I do not recommend using Deborah, or any other
woman in the Bible, as an excuse to defy Christ.

● John 15:14 . .You are my friends if you do as I wish.

FYI: A very important point too often overlooked in Deborah's case is that
there is no textual evidence indicating that she intruded either the
priesthood or the Sanhedrin.

/

 

[Webers_Home]

-
● 2Tim 2:3-7 . . No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--
he wants to please his commanding officer.

Pastors and teachers are called of God to teach and preach things that edify
Christ's body (Eph 4:11-14). God forbid they use their pulpits and/or their
classrooms for other purposes, e.g. political activism, business interests,
endorsements, etc.

/