TEACHERS
The teacher is the instructor in the Word. Some combine the two functions
calling the person a "teaching pastor" or "pastoring teacher." The message of the
teacher is gathered from the completed revelation of God which is contained in the
Scripture. The prophet speaks by revelation, direct revelation. The teacher speaks
from the completed revelation, the Word of God, with knowledge gained through
study and with wisdom gained through experience. He reveals what may be
known of God through the intellect. While the prophet speaks from the Spirit,
bypassing the intellect, the teacher, inspired by the Spirit, speaks from the
intellect, revealing that which may be known of God through study, through
experience, and through the Word of God.
Therefore, as revelation is the foundation of the prophet, so knowledge is
the foundation for the teacher. Luke tells us that there were certain teachers with
the prophets in Antioch (Acts 13:1). Paul refers to himself as a "teacher of the
Gentiles in faith and verity" (I Tim. 2:7) and as a "preacher, and an apostle, and a
teacher of the Gentiles" (II Tim. 1:11).
We have discussed the five ministry gifts spoken of by Paul to the church at
Ephesus. In the Book of Romans, Paul adds other ministries to these: ruling,
giving, and showing mercy. He tells us
For I say through the grace given unto me, to every
man that is among you not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the mea-
sure of faith....Having then gifts differing according
to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy,
let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that
teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth on exhor-
tation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he
that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy,
with cheerfulness
(Rom. 12:3-8).
The three offices he includes here that were not in his letter to the Ephesians are giving, ruling, and showing mercy.
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