Teaching

Definition

Teaching is instructing members in the truths and doctrines of God’s Word for the purpose of building up, unifying, and maturing the body.

1 Corinthians 12:28 CSB

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.

Romans 12:7 CSB

if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;

Ephesians 4:11 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Instructing

Truths

Doctrines

what is doctrine?

The body of teachings of the Christian faith concerning its central beliefs. Doctrine is grounded in Scripture and aims to maintain the integrity of Christianity by distinguishing it from non-Christian beliefs. Doctrine is of central importance in Christian preaching and teaching in that it equips the people of God for effective and faithful service in his world.

Simply Put: Doctrine is what we believe, and WHY!

Hebrew word: leqah - what is received. This is the revealed teaching. YAHWAH revealed, gave to Moses, what He wanted His people to know.

Leqah - also translated to LAW!

New Testament, Greek - 2 words

didaskalia - both the act and content of teaching!

This word is used with an overwhelming majority in the books called the Pastoral Epistles. These books teach what we can simply call: orthodox beliefs.

didache - used more commonly outside of the Pastoral Epistles. This word can mean the same as the previous word, but this word is often used in the teachings of Jesus.

Matthew 7:28 CSB

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,

Teachings - didache

also in the teachings where Jesus claimed to be divine

John 7:16–17 CSB

Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t mine but is from the one who sent me. If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.

Jump forward to Pentecost and the Christian Doctrine began to really take shape.

Acts 2:42 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

People began to respond to the instruction, to the teachings, given to those who were to ‘teach them everything that Jesus has commanded’!

And clearly, as we saw at the beginning verses mentioned, God has called some and given some the unique gifting and ability to specifically teach His doctrine.

Purpose

Ephesians 4:10–13 CSB

The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

Build up the body

Ephesians 4:14 CSB

Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

Unify the body

Ephesians 4:16 CSB

From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Ephesians 2:17–21 CSB

He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Mature the body

Ephesians 4:15 CSB

But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.