11 These are the things you must insist on and teach. 12Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.15Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
The basic doctrine Paul wanted to teach is found in 1 Tim. 3:16-19
Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great:
“He* was revealed in flesh,
vindicated* in spirit,*
seen by angels,
proclaimed among Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.”
It was about Jesus the Christ the Son of God. Paul once more reminds Timothy that he should insist on the doctrine of the divinity and humanity of Jesus: that the divine took human flesh for the sinners. Timothy was young. For someone that is young it is difficult to teach these teachings that are new to the Greek world. It is even more difficult to teach to some people who are older, more experienced and better learned. Timothy seems to be in this situation. Scholars believe that Timothy was shy. He was not one of the outspoken people we know in the Bible, like Apolos and Titus.
The text quoted from 1 Tim. 3:16-19 is about Christ. It explains who Christ is. This is the subject on which we should insist on and teach. If someone knows Christ, that is all he/she needs. Paul writes in Philippians 3:10-11
“I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, …”
It is not that Paul does not know Christ. But it is that there is a lot more to know about Christ. There is a lot more to know Christ. Therefore we teachers of the gospel should insist on making Christ known as much as he revealed himself to us. This is a time when people do not appreciate teaching. People do not have patience to listen to teachings.
Paul also writes that teachers should “set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Timothy was exhorted to be example in speech and conduct. Paul had another exhortation for Timothy,
“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy
with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.”
I have heard no one teaching on what this gift that Timothy has received through the laying by the council of elders. All evidences indicate that this gift is the gift of teaching. Paul exhorts Timothy to teach without being intimidated. He urges Timothy not to neglect the gift of teaching. The gift of teaching takes a lot of time and energy. A teacher cannot suddenly stand on the podium and start teaching. A teacher has to study, research and pray. The teacher gets insight from heaven by the enlightenment from the Holy Spirit. Since it takes a lot of work teachers may be tempted to abandon research and study. Teachers that abandoned study would become ineffective ‘teachers’. Teaching is such a fundamental gift that at that time it was given to Timothy through laying of hands of elders. This kind of ordination gives power to the teacher. It gives him authority in front of those who listen to him. On the other hand it puts obligation to prepare when he delivers his message.
“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Here the exhortation is to pay a close attention. Pay close attention to yourself. What does that mean? It means “synchronize your life with what you teach.” This interpretation agrees with 1 Timo. 4:11 where it says, “set the believers an example in speech and conduct.” Speaking is not enough. One has to show his/her teaching by living it. Pay attention to your teaching, exhorts Paul. This is to say that the teaching should be according to the rest of the scripture. It should be according to the apostolic testimony. It should be according to the Psalms and the prophets. One cannot just get up and teach a strange teaching. He/she cannot teach an interpretation far from what the church fathers have taught.
The gift of teaching saves both the teacher and the hearer. Teaching is a tool for shepherds and pastors. It is by teaching that we can bring people back to true faith. It is by teaching that we expose the lie of false prophets and teacher. It is by preventive teaching that we can save people from falling into traps of false teachers that specialize in material gain as the main product of the faith in Christ. By making people focus on health and wealth these false teachers rob the chance of true relationship to Christ the Son of God. The job of a true teacher is preaching the cross of Jesus Christ and bringing people to the study of the Word of God.
May the Lord Bless all
Rev. Teka Obsa Fogi
Pastor: Oromo Christian Fellowship
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