4) Teaching Gift – Exegetical 8%

Rom 12:7 "...he who teaches, in his teaching;"
Eph 4:11 "...and some {as}...teachers,"

Jesus was called "Teacher" more than anyone.

Whenever you see Jesus being called "Master" or "Teacher", this is the same word. It occurs 42 times in the New Testament concerning Jesus. This is because nobody taught like Jesus.

• The people recognized Jesus as a teacher. Matt 7:28-29 The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; ²⁹ for He was teaching them as {one} having authority, and not as their scribes.
• The Scribes called Jesus Teacher. Matt 8:19 And a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
• The Pharisees called Jesus Teacher. Matt 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw {this,} they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners?"
• Rulers called Jesus Teacher. Matt 19:16 And behold, one came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"
• The Herodians called Jesus Teacher. Matt 22:16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
• The Apostles called Jesus Teacher. Mark 4:38 And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

It seems that everyone was recognizing Jesus as Teacher. Wouldn't it also make sense for His own church to recognize Him as the Teacher? Do you know what it means if we are calling Jesus "Teacher"? Does that not make us His students? If we are His students, does that mean we have the obligation to listen and apply His words to our lives?

Paul was also a teacher

• 1 Tim 2:7 And for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
• 2 Tim 1:11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
• Phil 3:5-6 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. Note: This means he would have had the first five books of the Law memorized.
• Acts 22:3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, (He was the premier teacher of the day. -Acts 5:34) strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as you all are today. Note: Only the up and coming scribes could study under the top teachers.
• 2 Pet 3:16 as also in all {his}(Paul's) letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as {they do} also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

We are also to be teachers

• Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ {to be} sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.
• 1 Tim 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
• 1 Tim 4:11 Prescribe and teach these things.
• 1 Tim 6:2 And let those who have believers as their masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these {principles.}
• 2 Tim 2:2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
• Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

We are to teach with care

• James 3:1-2 Let not many {of you} become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many {ways.} If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
• 1 Tim 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
• 2 Tim 4:3 For the 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;
• 2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

The teacher is the one that is able to take what he/she knows from experience and studying, being able to transfer it to others. The teacher is one that is able and willing to dig around in the text and pull out the gems and nuggets that need to be learned and applied to the students. This is what brings him or her great joy in life and they have no problem in doing it on a regular basis. They are those who will "search the scriptures daily, to see if these things are true" (Acts 17:11).

Signs of Maturity

1. Study
   1. They are diligent in research.
   2. They are deep in knowledge.
   3. They are dynamic in presentation.
2. Stability
   1. They are firm in their position.
   2. They are factual in their feelings.
   3. They are faithful to the Bible.
3. Satisfaction
   1. They are content with context.
   2. They are comfortable with the truth.
   3. They are calmed with the word.

Signs of Immaturity

1. Complex
   1. They tend to have too much detail.
   2. They tend to have too much study.
   3. They tend to have too much expectation.
2. Conceit
   1. They tend to be prideful.
   2. They tend to be critical.
   3. They tend to be intolerant.
3. Concerted
   1. They tend to be aggressive.
   2. They tend to be anxious.
   3. They tend to be accelerated.

Some ways to obtain joy with this gift

1. Engage in a steady regimen of exegetical study (the tearing apart of verses)
2. Commit to memorization of the scriptures.
3. Read one biblically centered book every couple of weeks (commentaries, studies, stories, et.)
4. Teach a variety of classes (different age groups, topics, texts)
5. Consistently share with your recent discoveries with others.
6. Go to seminars whenever possible.