A Look at the Church of Christ #8 - What the Bible Teaches about Preachers
A Look at the Church of Christ #8:
What the Bible Teaches about Preachers
Text: 1Timothy 4:12-16
Introduction:
(1) The preaching of God’s Holy Word is essential (Rom. 10:14-17).
(2) Therefore, someone must be “the preacher.”
(3) Today, we will look at what the Bible teaches about preaches.
Discussion:
I. What are the qualifications to be a preacher?
A. He must be a Christian (1 Tim. 1:2).
B. He must be a man (1 Tim. 2:8-15)
1. After emphasizing the content of one’s prayer (vv. 1-7), Paul will now (v. 8) emphasize the manner of one’s prayer.
a. Men are to lead the prayers in the public worship assembly (Note: ‘everywhere [Gr. topos] = church’s meeting places [Ferguson]).
b. Men are to pray while lifting ‘holy hands.’
(1) This was a common posture for praying.
(2) However, “perhaps the main thing being emphasized is not so much the posture, but what the posture signifies – in this case – a holy life” (Reese 60).
(3) Thus, “not merely pure actions but pure motives are essential in Christian worship” (Guthrie 84).
2. In verses 9-10, Paul stresses the importance of a woman’s being dressed modestly in the public worship assembly.
a. “Paul’s purpose is probably not to ban these altogether, but to warn against expensive and extravagant preoccupation with one’s appearance” (Schreiner 119).
b. He stresses that “the ultimate adornment is a life of good works” (Reese 66).
3. In verse 11, Paul discusses the manner in which a woman is to learn.
a. She is to learn ‘in quietness’ (Gr. hesuchia), which is best understood as “a quiet demeanor and spirit that is peaceable instead of argumentative” (Schreiner 123).
b. Note: The word used here differs from the word used in 1 Cor. 14:34, which basically carries the meaning of “say nothing, keep still, keep silent” (BDAG).
4. In verse 12, Paul notes two things that a woman is not to do within the public worship assembly.
a. First, she is not to ‘teach.’
(1) ‘Teach’ does not exclude all forms of teaching (e.g., Acts 18:36; 2 Tim. 1:5; Titus 2:3-5).
(2) ‘Teach’ (Gr. didaskein) carries “the sense of authoritative public doctrinal instruction” (Hughes 69).
(3) Further, it is modified with ‘over a man.’
b. Second, she is not to ‘have authority over a man.’
(1) ‘Have authority’ (Gr. authrntein) means “to have or exercise authority” (Knight 141).
(2) I.e., a woman is not to take a public leadership role in the public worship assembly.
5. In verse 13-14, Paul explains the reason for the limitation of the role of women in the public worship assembly.
a. First, the order of creation demonstrates that God has a design for the sexes.
b. Second, Eve’s fall is an example of what happens when one ignores “her divinely ordained position. Instead of following she chose to lead. Instead of remaining submissive to God, she wanted to be ‘like God’” (Hendrickson 110).
6. In verse 15, Paul uses ‘childbearing’ as “a synecdoche for the entire status of women in their relationship to God and men” (Coffman). I.e., a woman will be saved if she assumes her God-ordained role.
C. He must be an example (2 Tim. 2:20-26).
1. A cleansed life (v. 21a.)
2. A sanctified soul (v. 21b.)
3. Useful to God (v. 21c.)
4. Prepared for good work (v. 21d.)
5. A pure heart (v. 22)
6. A discerning mind (v. 23)
7. A gentle manner (v. 24)
8. A humble spirit (v. 25a.)
9. A compassionate attitude (vv. 25b.-26) [MacArthur]
II. A Preacher’s Responsibilities:
- Note the difference between an elder and a preacher:
Ø Elder – Take heed to self and to the flock (Acts 20:28)
Ø Preacher – Take heed to self and the doctrine (1 Tim. 4:16)
A. He must study (2 Tim. 2:15).
B. He must teach (2 Tim. 2:2; 4:1-5).
C. He must submit to the eldership (Heb. 13:17).
D. He must carry out his individual Christian responsibilities (1 Cor. 15:58).
III. The Congregation’s Responsibilities Toward the Preacher:
A. They must investigate his teachings by the Word of God
1. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
2. “But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21-22).
B. They must put the teachings into action.
1. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
2. “As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord .' So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. And when this comes to pass — surely it will come — then they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ezek. 33:30-33).
C. They must support him.
1. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” (1 Thess. 5:11-13).
2. “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.’ Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:1-14).
D. Note: Use correct Biblical expressions to refer to him.
1. Reverend – Only used in KJV in reference to God (Psa. 111:9)
2. Pastor – Used only in reference to Jesus (John 10:11) and elders (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-2)
3. Father – Not to call anyone your “father” in a spiritual sense except God (Matt. 23:9).
Conclusion:
- Indeed, “how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things” (Rom. 10:15).