Teaching and study of God's Word

Scriptures considered: Heb 5:12-14; 1 Cor 14:24-26, 29-32

10. All the men involved in teaching and contributing to the study of the Word, and every member of the body a student of the Word.

This point was addressing the need for every Christian to be not just a casual browser or familiar with God's Word, but that we ought to let the Bible be our guide in all things. This point will be addressed further later.

Looking at the Scriptures mentioned above, you will see that only men are called to teach in the body of Christ corporately. We also see that each man that is married is to be head of his home, teaching and loving his family, as he has the responsibility before God for his household. Not all men may be gifted as teachers in the body of Christ, but each must take up the job with the Lord's help, to guide his family into God's truth. 

In many churches, the corporate teaching has been given to a single man. This is not the way we see in God's Word. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 14, we see multiple prophets speaking, others discerning or judging the validity of the teaching. How often I have seen that one man is exalted as leader in the church, with no one else daring to question him, or even ask for better explanation. This heirarchical system is not healthy, and has stunted the growth of many a church. If one looks at the Biblical system of elders, they all must be apt(able and willing) to teach. 

The following portion of our discussion seems to be a controversial subject, yet the Bible is clear in the matter. Though culture has changed over the last 2000 years, God has not changed. The passages discussed here are not to be twisted or disregarded, especially as the standard is set out in 1 Corinthians 11 as to the reason for men leading. 

There has never been a Biblical issue of inequality between the genders, but of headship. Man is head of the wife, Christ is head of the church, and God is the head of Christ. It speaks of the responsibility and order, not of abuse or inability of women to teach, but rather that women should not usurp authority over men in any situation, even if the man is unwilling to take the headship role. He is still responsible for his job, and will be accountable to God if he does a poor job. This is a much larger topic, but for the sake of brevity, I will end for now. Feel free to pick up this discussion via comments section, Facebook, or email.

Mark