Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

TEACHING

Jesus is presented in the NT Gospels as a teacher (Gk. didáskalos) or “rabbi” (Mark 4:38; 9:5; John 1:38), teaching (didaskeín) “with authority” (Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32). In Matthew Jesus gives the disciples authority to continue this teaching (Matt. 28:19-20). For John, Jesus’ teaching authority is from the Father (John 8:28); the Holy Spirit will teach the disciples when Jesus departs (14:26; cf. Luke 12:12 par.).

The NT distinguishes between teaching and proclaiming or preaching (Acts 4:2; 1 Tim. 5:17). The subject matter of teaching is vague; it included but went beyond the basic kḗrygma of preaching. Jas. 3:1 emphasizes the serious burden of the teacher’s task.

Paul understands teaching as one of the individual spiritual gifts to be used for the benefit of the whole body of Christ (Rom. 12:7). In 1 Cor. 12:28 the office of teacher is listed third (after apostles and prophets; cf. Eph. 4:11). Paul himself is occasionally presented as a teacher (of traditions, 2 Thess. 2:15; of “my ways in Christ Jesus,” 1 Cor. 4;17; ; cf. Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 2:7).

Gk. didaskalía occurs 15 times in the Pastoral Letters as a term for authoritative Christian doctrine (cf. didachḗ in Acts 2:42; Rom. 6:17; 16:17; 2 John 9-10). The teaching of “sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10; Titus 1:9) is opposed to false teachings (1 Tim. 1:3-7; Titus 1:10-16), and is linked to proper interpretation of Scripture (1 Tim. 1:8-11; 2 Tim. 3:16). The Pastorals emphasize the teaching office of the bishop (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9); women are not to teach men (1 Tim. 2:12; but cf. Titus 2:3).

Bibliography. J. A. Fitzmyer, “The Office of Teaching in the Christian Church According to the New Testament,” in Teaching Authority and Infallibility in the Church, ed. P. C. Empie, T. A. Murphy, and J. A. Burgess (Minneapolis, 1980), 186-212; response by J. Reumann, 213-31.

Martin C. Albl

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

TEACHING

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)