TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD

[Alex2165]

TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD​

1Corinthians 2.1-5
Paul knew that he is not alone who preach Gospel to masses, and he also perhaps noticed how others preach the Word of GOD and teach the Gospel, and for this reason he made certain remarks concerning the style and the purpose of preaching.

GOD Personally called some to teach and proclaimed Christ and His Gospel to all who is willing to listen, and they preach Gospel driven by the Holy Spirit of GOD.
Others, who are not called by GOD to preach Gospel and did not send by Him, sent themselves on the mission to preach Gospel. They have their own reasons and have no Holy Spirit in them.

They preached in their own way, boasting by "superiority of speech," (1Corinthians 1.17.19, 2.1) (2Peter 2.17-19) which means with elaborate, convoluted, hard to understand speech, portrait themselves educated, trying to impress listeners, but at the same time unable to reach minds and hearts of the people and bored people with their meaningless "educated, philosophical, theological" gibberish without giving them essential understanding of the Message.

2Peter 2.17-19
"arrogant words of vanity." KSB.
"bombastic nonsense." NRSV
"great swelling words of vanity." KJV.
"great swelling words of emptiness." Gideons.
"boastful words." NIV.
"loud boasts of folly." ESV.
"They make proud and stupid statements." GNB

Such teachers only glorify themselves and seek public attention, satisfying their own pride and arrogance, and do not glorifying GOD in their doing, confusing people with their "educated" speech and leave listener in the dark without making any substantial point or encouragement leading to formation of faith, hope, and love for GOD They are "empty vessels."

For this reason, Paul and James issued certain warnings to some of their associates and churches:

2Timothy 1.13
13. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me in the path and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2Timothy 4.3-4
3. The prime time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires (Isaiah 30.10).
4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Hebrews 5.12-14
12. Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the Oracles of GOD. You need milk, not solid food,

James 3.1-2
1. Not many of you should become teachers my brothers and sisters, you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Philippians 1.15-16
15. Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.
16. These proclaim Christ out of Love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the Gospel,

 

[Mathetes66]

Thank you Alex. You make some good distinctions about teaching & preaching the word of God. You brought out verses that showed what people preached, how they preached it & with what motives/motivation they preached. Each born again Christian, a disciple & follower of the Lord Jesus Christ & His teachings, should be ready at any time to share his/her testimony & faith in Christ. Various people have various spiritual gifts, whether adminstratively or speaking gifts or serving gifts or miraculous gifts, yet we all have a testimony & the command of Christ as His disciples to teach all nations concerning the gospel, the 'good news' concerning the Lord Jesus Christ that He is the Savior of the world.

Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came & spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven & in earth. Go ye therefore & TEACH ALL NATIONS (make disciples), baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit: TEACHING THEM TBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU & lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I Peter 3:15,16 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts & ALWAYS BE READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER to anyone who asks about the hope you possess, yet with gentleness & reverence; keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your GOOD BEHAVIOR in Christ.

2 Timothy 2:22-26 So flee youthful passions & pursue righteousness, faith, love & peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have NOTHING TO DO with foolish, ignorant CONTROVERSIES; you know that they BREED QUARRELS. And the Lord’s servant MUST NOT BE quarrelsome but KIND TO EVERYONE, ABLE TO TEACH, PATIENTLY ENDURING EVIL, correcting his opponents WITH GENTLENESS. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth & they may come to their senses & escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.