Originally posted by Mark Osgatharp:
Does anyone care to comment on how to reconcile the mandatory seminary theory with the following Scripture found in I John:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
Mark Osgatharp </font>[/QUOTE]Hi Mark,
First, I doubt that any of us are proposing
mandatory seminary training. However, I would insist upon mandatory training, whether it be formally through a college or seminary or informally by way of being mentored by a seasoned pastor.
Second, the verse which you use (1 John 2:27) is in no wise dealing with whether or not the minister should be trained for the ministry. John writes that there are false teachers trying to deceive the brethren (1 John 2:26). However, the illumination of the Holy Spirit abides in them [us], so that believers do not need anyone to what is the true faith and what is false.
John is not writing about ministerial training. For the sake of argument, though, let's say that John is saying that believers do not need to be taught the Word of God by others. That's what it appears if you discount the context. Then that would contradict a host of other scriptures, and we know that the Word is not self-contradictory. A look at some in Paul letters to Timothy will suffice to show the importance of teaching.
An elder must be "able to teach" (1 Tim 3:2).
Paul writes to Timothy to ". . . teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing . . ." (1 Tim 6:2-4).
Paul writes to Timothy, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in
preaching and teaching" (1 Tim 5:17).
Paul instructs, "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and
teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure
sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Tim 4:1-4).
Concerning the Word of God, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for
teaching" (2 Tim 3:16).
Concerning teaching those who would minister the Word to others, Paul writes, "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and
what you have heard from me [have been taught?] in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men [isn't Paul telling Timothy to train others?] who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim 2:1-2).
Does a minister
have to go to Bible college or seminary? Certainly not. Does a minister have to be trained in the Word? Absolutely. What I have seen too often, and perhaps it is different in your neck of the woods, but a good ole boy comes to Christ and has a heart for the Lord. Graced with the gift of gab and able to stand up and speak before others, folks tell him he ought to be a preacher. Soon, he is ordained and becomes a pastor himself. No training, no mentoring, little understanding of the whole counsel of God, but now he is preaching and
teaching others. And the church suffers for it.
Bill
