We who have had the privilege of being called by Adonai, have a responsibility to attempt to draw the unsaved towards an acknowledgment of sin and to the only antidote to the corruption that is sin, faith in the Lord Yeshua. So, in a sense, we are all teachers. Not to mention the fact that we are to teach our children and grandchildren (Deuteronomy 4: 9).
In these notes we will look at some of the most notable teachers in scripture whom Adonai has provided and the lessons we can learn from them.
We will be looking at the teaching provided by, and the teaching methods used by, Moses, Bezalel and Aholiab, Samuel, David, Solomon and Ezra in the Tanakh; and in the Brit Hadashah, we will look at Barnabas, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos, Timothy and Titus.
Moses taught Israel “statutes and judgments” exactly as Adonai had instructed him (Deuteronomy 4: 5). He was the mediator of the word of Adonai. He always made clear that he was not the originator of the word he brought. He always deferred to Adonai as the source of his message.
Numbers 12:3.
(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Whilst indeed humble, Moses spoke most powerfully in communicating the word of Adonai and the gravity of disobedience.
Deuteronomy 4: 7 – 9.
“For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call on Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget these things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.”
Moses made clear the price of departing from the ways of Adonai.
Deuteronomy 30: 17 and 18.
“But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today; that you shall surely perish …”
So, we see Moses was a humble man without deceit, but a powerful teacher in the service of Adonai. He was motivated by his love for his people and his desire for the glory of Adonai. These factors produced a teacher with no personal ambition but a powerful adherence to the word of Adonai.
Bezalel and Aholiab were skilled artisans called out by Adonai in the desert to carry out the design of the tabernacle and to create the furnishings for it.
Exodus 35: 30 – 33.
“And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.”
The Lord specifically designated Bezalel and Aholiab to be the principal artisans for the tabernacle. We see here the Holy Spirit working among Israel in ancient times. These men were already skilled in the tasks required, but the Spirit of Adonai greatly enhanced their skills.
But they were also gifted with the ability to teach and to pass on their skills and abilities.
Exodus 35: 35.
“And He has put in his heart the ability to teach; in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.”
We see here that in these two men, how Adonai recognized that they were “gifted artisans”. He then greatly enhanced their skills and gave them the ability to teach. Perhaps we should not be surprised that we commit ourselves to the Lord, we find ourselves using abilities we already had but for a higher purpose.
Samuel (the last of the Judges of Israel) dedicated himself to teaching the people “the good and right way” (1 Samuel 12: 23).
He addressed the people at Saul’s coronation. His teaching was based on the character of Adonai. For Adonai to abandon His people, Samuel argued, would be inconsistent with His unfailing faithfulness. But the people must trust in Him; “… if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away …” (1 Samuel 12:25).
But Samuel knew that simple oratory from him was not sufficient to safeguard the people. So, Samuel told them, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you … (1 Samuel 12: 23).
For Samuel, not to pray for the people he sought to teach would be a sin. He recognized the cost for the people of disobedience, and he wanted them to escape that fate.
So, we see from Samuel that giving instructions to those we wish to teach would be insufficient, if not reinforced by the power of prayer.
David taught his son, Solomon, the correct attitude with which to approach Adonai and with which to build, and arrange the staffing of the Temple. He also passed on the detailed, divine instructions for its construction.
David’s advice to his son, “… know the God of your father., and serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind …” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
The plans for the Temple were not from David’s creative imagination; “… plans for all that he had by the Spirit.” (1 Chronicles 28: 12.”
David shows that true service for Adonai is more than rational and intellectual, it requires the commitment of the emotions as well. Loyalty of heart is essential for faithful, effective service and teaching.
David’s teaching of Solomon reflects this. He wanted to pass on every detail he had received because of his loyalty to Adonai, and we can see how carefully he taught Solomon.
In 1 Kings we read about Solomon’s outstanding wisdom and his ability to teach numerous subjects including literature, botany and zoology.
1 Kings 4: 32 and 33.
“He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. Also, he spoke of trees, from the ceder tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things and of fish.”
Solomon was the author of a large part of the Book of Proverbs. He is held to be the author of the Song of Songs, Psalms 72 and 127, and of the Book of Ecclesiastes.
In addition to giving him a hearing heart and a discerning heart, which he had asked for, Adonai also gave him “largeness” (breadth) “of heart”. His understanding is described as limitless and immeasurable, like “the sand on the seashore”.
Solomon was clearly one of Adonai’s most gifted teachers but there is no reason to believe that each of us does not have a gift which Adonai could use, or we could receive by request.
We read of Ezra in the book which bears his name.
Ezra 7: 10.
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”
Ezra was a scribe and a priest who was committed not only to keeping the Law himself but to teach it to others. Throughout his life, Ezra concentrated on the study, practice and communication of the word of Adonai. He sought to understand the law with his entire being having diligently search the scriptures, so that he could live by them and teach Israel. Because of this, the gracious hand of Adonai empowered him.
We can see that the pattern of Ezra’s preparations to teach was exemplary. He studied first. Then he attempted to live a life of obedience. He practiced the law which he had studied in his own life before he opened his mouth to teach.
But, of course, the strength of Ezra’s leadership and teaching came not simply from his own efforts, but it came from the grace of Adonai. Ezra was a man of the book and therefore an effective teacher. He was a living illustration of the opening verses of Psalm 1.
Psalm 1: 1 – 3.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
In the Brit Hadashah (Acts 13: 1 and 2), we learn about Barnabas, whose name means “son of consolation”. He was one of the teachers at Antioch and was a lasting influence on Saul of Tarsus.
“Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers.”
Among these were Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas was a member of the priestly tribe of Levi. He was well-placed to be a prophet and teacher in the early church.
“Prophets” in the early church had a significant role as proclaimers of Adonai’s revelation. Remember that they did not have any written New Testament texts. The prophets gave revelation from the Spirit of God. Their purpose was to lay the foundations of the church, to receive and proclaim the revelations of Adonai and to give confirmation of that word through signs, wonders and miracles. It is therefore not surprising that the pagans in Lystra (Acts 14: 11) thought that Barnabas and Paul were gods.
The function of “teachers” was to explain the meaning of what the prophets revealed and to help the Saints to apply these revelations to their daily lives.
Barnabas confirmed Paul’s conversion story to the other apostles and accompanied him on his first missionary journey to Galatia. He was also a role model for those saints who donated property to the church (Acts 4:36).
In Barnabas we see a man whose life reflected his teaching; a man of contentment who was unequivocal and effective.
Acts 11:24.
“For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
Not a bad epithet!
Paul of Tarsus was the early church’s most gifted teacher. He is known to have taught throughout the Roman empire, notably in Antioch in Syria (Acts chapter 13) and at Ephesus (Acts chapter 9).
Paul was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin. He was born in Tarsus in Celicia. He learned tent-making and studied under the great teacher, Gamaliel. As a Pharisee he persecuted the church until he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, converted and received the Holy Spirit.
It is interesting to note that despite the suddenness of his conversion and his immediate response, he still had many years of preparation for the work he would complete for the Lord.
After his conversion, he worked with the believers in Damascus (Acts chapter 9), in the desert region of Arabia (Galatians chapter 1), and in Jerusalem. Facing violent opposition from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Paul returned to Tarsus (Acts chapter 11) where he apparently worked in the church for ten years.
Then, Barnabas brought him to Antioch in Syria, where they were called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to undertake the famous missionary journeys.
In 35 years, the gospel reached from Jerusalem to Rome. Much of the credit for this is due to Paul’s work Thus fulfilling the words of the Lord Yeshua.
Matthew 16:18.
“… I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Before His Asencion to heaven, the Lord Yeshua commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations, and this was how it was to be carried out.
Acts 1: 8.
“… you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
No one played a bigger part in this work than Paul. Persecution of believers scattered the saints into Samaria and beyond. Paul founded numerous churches in Asia Minor and Greece. He wrote many doctrinal and supportive letters to these churches and to individuals. He was instrumental in extending evangelistic work to the Gentiles. His written work comprises up to a quarter of the Brit Hadashah.
Paul’s main arguments in evangelism would rest on the facts of history and the life and resurrection of the Lord Yeshua. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul testified about the living Messiah with whom he had met.
The methodology which Paul used in teaching with Jews was to persuade and reason with his listeners using the Prophets and the written Torah. He reasoned with Greeks by using the Greek gods and showing how useless they were to help people. Then he would take them to the true God as revealed by the Lord Yeshua.
Thus, he used a mixture of Greek and Hebrew philosophy to reason with people concerning the need for repentance for the forgiveness of sin.
Acts 28: 23.
“… many came to him at his lodgings, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning to evening.”
Aquila and Priscilla were a believing couple who were forced to leave Italy when the Emperor Claudius ordered all Jews out of Rome. Aquila, like Paul, was a tentmaker. Paul met them in Corinth and worked with them in the church at Ephesus. Thereafter they seem to have returned to Rome (Romans 16:3).
They are never mentioned in scripture apart from one another. It seems likely that they were a particularly effective team.
Famously these two believers taught the way of Adonai to a talented young orator called Apollos.
Acts 18: 24 – 26.
“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”
This passage presents a rather lovely picture of this couple quietly taking this powerful orator to one side to carefully instruct him. Perhaps their approach as a couple experienced in working together could be a relevant model for some of us.
Now, let us, having already looked at him in connection with Aquila and Priscilla, consider Apollos himself.
This man was a Jew but with a distinctly Greek name. He came from Alexandria, the second greatest city in the Roman empire. It was named after Alexander the Great who founded it, and it was an important seaport on the northern coast of Egypt.
Alexandria was a very cosmopolitan city with a population of Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and Jews. It was a renowned seat of learning. A Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures had been produced there 150 years before the birth of our Lord. It was famous for its great library and was considered to be the cultural and educational centre of the entire world.
To stand out in this situation, Apollos must have been very impressive. He was a disciple of John the Baptist. As we have seen, he did not know about the finished work of Messiah, His resurrection, His ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit, until he met up with Aquila and Priscilla. But when he was enlightened, his skill as a teacher had great effect in Corinth, Achia (mainland Greece) and later with Titus in Crete.
It is much to his credit that this powerful orator was not so filled with pride, that he could not learn from a quiet word from a tentmaker and his wife, a couple not previously known to him.
Timothy was the protege of Paul and the pastor and teacher of the young church at Ephesus. He received encouragement and guidance from Paul by letter.
1 Timothy 1: 3 – 4.
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia – remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause dispute rather than godly edification which is in faith.”
Timothy became Paul’s chief protege having been well-spoken of by believers in Derbe and Iconium. He was raised by his godly mother and grandmother. He was always faithful to Paul, who clearly had great confidence in him.
Paul dispatched Timothy to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey, to Corinth on his third journey, to Philippi during his first Roman imprisonment and to Ephesus during his final travels.
In Ephesus, he was assigned by Paul to stay on to complete his work of challenging false teachers who were few but influential. The errors which Paul left Timothy to deal with appear to be largely Jewish in nature. These involved unrestrained genealogies and allegorical interpretations of the Law. But this could have been combined with Gnostic speculation about the existence of many spiritual beings.
Therefore, Timothy was to teach clear and sound doctrine and to deride human speculation. No-one was to pervert the gospel of the Lord Yeshua.
Teachers should avoid worthless subjects. He/she must also be ever ready and prepared to defend the gospel even in the most adverse of circumstances.
2 Timothy 4: 2.
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
The foundation for any effective teaching is Adonai’s truth. This is a sacred and demanding task requiring perseverance and courage. Patience, preparedness and authority are essential requirements to meet these responsibilities.
Titus is mentioned numerous times in the letters of Paul. He carried Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians and went to Dalmatia at Paul’s request. Principally, he is known for his leadership of the church in Crete where it is believed he eventually settled.
When Paul put Titus in charge of the church in Crete, it was a young congregation of believers who were vulnerable to false teachers. Paul relied on Titus to establish good leadership and sound teaching.
In his letter to Titus, Paul emphasized that living by example was a great importance along with sound teaching. The teacher’s personal life was an essential aspect of his work.
Titus 2: 7.
“… in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
The inconsistent lives of those who profess the Lord Yeshua bring reproach on the faith.
Titus 3:8a.
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.”
Titus was not to be put off by people who would complain about his youth, his Gentile background or any natural disability. He was proclaiming the word of Adonai and that was all that mattered.
Titus was working among a hostile population. His task was far from easy. To gain any sort of hearing among his target population, he had to receive a universal testimony for righteousness and demonstrate a selfless and godly life.
We cannot end this discussion of the great teachers without reference to the greatest of all. The Lord Yeshua could hold a huge crowd spellbound on a barren hillside to the extent that they completely forgot about their need for food.
His teaching revealed the most important information mankind needs. He revealed the Good News of salvation, the reconciliation of man to Adonai, the forgiveness of sin, the future indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the coming messianic kingdom and the prospect of eternal life in Him.
He was the perfect, divine teacher because, Messiah “knew what was in man” (John 2: 28).
His brief conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well convinced many.
John 4:42.
“Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
Conclusion.
Even with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can never hope to reach the teaching standards of our Lord. But we all have a responsibility to invite others to seek the Lord and to learn of His lovingkindness and His mercy and forgiveness.
There is much we can learn from the great teachers from scripture.
In Moses, we can see love for the people he sought to teach, his strong desire for the glory of Adonai and his disinterest in any sort of personal aggrandizement.
In Bezalel, we can see how the Lord may use our existing skills and enhance them as we serve Him.
In David, we see that to instruct well is not just an intellectual matter but must come from a loyal heart.
In Solomon, we see someone phenomenally well-equipped by Adonai to teach. He received because he asked.
In Samuel, we see the need for sound doctrine reinforced by prayer.
In Ezra, we see the need for study in depth and a genuine attempt to live in accordance with what we seek to teach.
In Barnabas, we see a role model, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
In Paul, we see that where you start from does not matter. Many years of preparation may be required. We also see his legendary perseverance and resilience.
In Aquila and Priscilla, we see the effectiveness of teamwork and a gentle, respectful approach.
In Apollos, we see a powerful and effective man who was not too proud to receive instruction himself.
In Timothy, we see the importance of sound doctrine and preparedness for opposition.
In Titus, we see the importance of a correct personal life as an essential aspect of teaching.
I’m sure we all know the frustrations of seeking to encourage those we love to seek out the Lord. Perhaps there are things we can take from these notable teachers in the Tanakh and the Brit Hadashah.
AMEN.