It is an acceptable concept that preachers and special educated people should teach the Bible in our world today. If a person desires to teach the Bible he will first consider going to a school that grants Biblical degrees or he will seek an online theological school that offers degrees in Bible so that he will be accepted as a credited and qualified teacher, preacher, theologian. Now, I do not reject the concept of advanced education in any of the previously mentioned type of advanced schools; my problem is that I do not find anywhere in the Bible that God established an ecclesiastical standard for teachers of the Bible. That there are no such standards is exemplified by the fact that throughout the whole of the 66 Books of the Bible {i.e. Genesis to Revelation} God’s teachers, prophets, and chosen leaders were of all types of people from all walks of life; they were farmers, herdsmen, kings, fishermen, tax collectors, and educated persons [i.e. Saul – Paul]. There is no indication that God requires that teachers of the Bible have some advanced, accredited degree from a theological school or a graduate study in Bible. So far as is known the writers of the New Testament were fisherman, physicians, a tax collector, and Paul a converted Pharisee; God did not select leaders based on their educational qualifications.
Let me say here; there is no reason to qualify or disqualify a teacher predicated upon the amount of or lack of advanced biblical degrees from an institute of higher learning. Whether a brother in Christ possesses an advanced degree in Bible or not is not the important consideration for the Bible teacher. The very first quality that a Bible teacher should possess is; that he/she is a Christian. Other important considerations for a Bible teacher is, does he know the Bible, is he familiar with the concept of interpretation, and the nature and extent of revelation from God? These and similar qualities are the qualities that enable a person to teach the Bible. Also along this line of reason we must recognize that the teacher ought to know their place in the scheme of God’s plans. The teacher is not necessarily a boss {i.e. the Pope, the Pastor, or His Most Excellent Father, His most worshipful Master, etc.} but he is simply a teacher of the Bible with a task greater than any other and more beneficial to mankind than any occupation he/she may undertake (2 Timothy 4:1-5). It is noteworthy to observe the qualifications of an elder in the church of Christ; he is to be able to teach in such a manner that he can convince the person who is difficult of understanding (Titus 1:9).
Indeed, a good Bible teacher must plan, study, and pray about their work of teaching the Bible. Paul the apostle encourages all to be consistent in teaching; “For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church. {ASV} (1 Corinthians 4:17). The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy in the two letters he wrote to him about how to excel as a Bible teacher. Please observe some of the instruction that Paul gave to Timothy:
1 Tim 1:3, “As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,” ASV
1 Tim 2:12, “But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.” ASV
1 Tim 4:11-16, “11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all. 16 Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shall save both thyself and them that hear thee.” ASV
1 Tim 6:1-2, “1 Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.” ASV
2 Tim 2:2-4, “2 and the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardships with (me), as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of (this) life; that he may please him who enrolled him as soldier.” ASV
2 Tim 2:24-26, “24 And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, 25 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.” ASV
Also, to the Hebrew Christians Paul wrote concerning the need for teachers to mature and not to become unfruitful (i.e. See also 2 Peter 3:18). Hebrews 5:12-6:1, “12 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For every one that partakes of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. 14 but solid food is for full-grown men, (even) those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 6, “1 wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” ASV
CONCLUSION: Therefore, let us proceed to always speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent. Let us also seek purity of mind and doctrine as we undertake to teach the Bible to others wherever we may be privileged to do so. We must take care to present not only sound teaching but present ourselves as pure, humble, and dedicated servants of the Most High God (i.e. “The One True God.”)