Teaching

Summary:

It is written in the Bible that "TEACHING" (Romans 12:7) is listed among the spiritual gifts.

The action of the one teaching is to bring clarity, as they "UNFOLD" the word to give light to others.

In ancient contexts, teaching is linked to the "SHARPENING" of the mind so a student can discern truth from error.

The Greek word for "TEACHING" can be modified by the word for "HEALTHY", describing teaching as spiritual medicine.

The Bible also warns that people are able to teach FALSE things, emphasizing the need to abide in the teaching of Christ.

You can find more details below:

Teaching:

It is written in the Bible that "TEACHING" (Romans 12:7) is listed among the spiritual gifts.

This is a spiritual gift among the list of other spiritual gifts available.

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List of spiritual gifts:
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The spiritual gift of "TEACHING" is mentioned alongside other gifts in both Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 14. The word in ancient Greek manuscripts is a verb, describing thus an ACTION. 

In Romans 12, Paul wrote about the spiritual gift of "TEACHING" (Romans 12:7) within a list of spiritual gifts in Romans 12 such as "prophecy" (Romans 12:6). 

Similarly in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul listed those two distinct spiritual gifts, as he wrote: "if I-come to you speaking (in) tongues, what will-I-profit you unless I-speak (to) you either by (a) revelation or by knowledge or by (a) prophecy or by (a) TEACHING?" (1 Corinthians 14:6). 

The spiritual gift of "TEACHING" may again be mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14 when Paul wrote: "Whenever you-come-together, each (one) has (a) psalm, HAS (A) TEACHING, has (a) revelation, has (a) tongue, has (an) interpretation. Let all (things) be-done for edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26). 

Here Paul indicated that someone "HAS (A) TEACHING" (1 Corinthians 14:26) for the edification of others (the same way someone can have a tongue or have an interpretation for example, which are other spiritual gifts for the edification of others).  

Examples of teaching:

There are numerous examples of someone "TEACHING" in the Bible.

For example, Jesus taught the multitudes, as it is written: "And having-opened His mouth HE-WAS-TEACHING them, saying, “Blessed (are) the poor (in) spirit, because the kingdom (of) the heavens is theirs. Blessed (are) the (ones) mourning, because they will-be-comforted" (Matthew 5:2-4).

Jesus was also teaching using parables, as it ia written: "And HE-WAS-TEACHING them many (things) IN PARABLES. And He-was-saying (to) them in His teaching, “Listen! Behold, the (one) sowing went-out to-sow. And it-came-about during the sowing (that) some (seed) fell along the road. And the birds came and ate it up" (Mark 4:2-4).

Jesus was also teaching using the Scriptures, as it is written: "And He-was not permitting that anyone carry (an) object through the temple. And HE-WAS-TEACHING and saying (to) them, “HAS-IT NOT BEEN-WRITTEN THAT ‘My house will-be-called (a) house (of) prayer (for) all the nations’? But you have-made it (a) den (of) robbers”." (Mark 11:16-17). This was a reference from Isaiah 56:7, where it is written: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the people" (Isaiah 56:7). 

What teaching involves:

Giving light and clarity:

TEACHING involves enlightening the eye, which means bringing light and clarity. 

It is written: "The UNFOLDING of your words GIVES LIGHT; IT IMPARTS UNDERSTANDING to the simple" (Psalm 119:130). 

The one teaching is essentially "UNFOLDING" the word of God in order to give "LIGHT" (or clarity) and "UNDERSTANDING" to people. 

Sharpening someone's mind:

Paul wrote to Timothy to "Be-diligent to-present yourself approved (to) God, (a) worker not-needing-to-be-ashamed, CUTTING-STRAIGHT the word (of) TRUTH" (2 Timothy 2:15). 

TEACHING involves having the ability to be CUTTING STRAIGHT the word of TRUTH.

In some ancient Semitic contexts (which influenced New Testament thought patterns), the concept of TEACHING is linked to "SHARPENING". 

To TEACH is to "SHARPEN" the mind of the student so they can discern TRUTH from error like a sharp blade. 

Healthy teaching as spiritual medicine:

The Greek word for "TEACHING" [didaskalia in Greek] can be modified by the adjective "HEALTHY" or "SOUND" [hygiainousa in Greek].

For example, Paul wrote to Titus "to-exhort with HEALTHY TEACHING" (Titus 1:9) and to "be-speaking (the things) which are-fitting (for) HEALTHY TEACHING" (Titus 2:1).

In that sense, a HEALTHY TEACHING can be viewed as spiritual medicine.

People are able to teach false things:

Examples of people teaching false things:

People can be described in the Bible as being able to teach FALSE things (in contrast to TRUE things).

For example, Jesus rebuked those who taught the (FALSE) traditions of humans over God's word, as Jesus said: "GOD COMMANDED saying [in Exodus 20:12]: ‘Be-honoring (your) father and (your) mother’, and [in Exodus 21:17] ‘Let the (one) speaking-evil-of father or mother come-to-an-end (by a) death’. BUT YOU SAY, ‘Whoever says (to his) father or (his) mother: “Whatever you-might-be-benefitted from me (is a) gift [to God]”" (Matthew 15:4-5), and Jesus added: "they-are-worshiping Me IN VAIN, TEACHING (as) teachings (the) COMMANDMENTS (OF) HUMANS" (Matthew 15:9). 

Another example: it is written: "And certain ones having come down from Judea were TEACHING the brothers that 'UNLESS YOU ARE CIRCUMCISED BY THE CUSTOM OF MOSES, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED'" (Acts 15:1).

Teaching false things can make people spiritually unhealthy:

In contrast to "HEALTHY TEACHING" (Titus 2:1), if people are taught false things that are NOT HEALTHY, the "body" (the church) can get spiritually SICK, as for example Paul wrote to "be-shunning the PROFANE EMPTY-CHATTERINGS. For they-will-advance further (in) non-worship, and their talk will-have (a) spreading like GANGRENE, (of) whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus" (2 Timothy 2:16-17). 

The need to abide in the teaching of Christ:

​Paul warned that: "If anyone TEACHES-DIFFERENT (TEACHINGS), and does NOT come-to HEALTHY words — THE (ONES OF) OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST — and (to) the teaching in-accordance-with well-worship, he-has-become-conceited, understanding nothing, but BEING-DISEASED with-respect-to controversies and word-battles, out-of which comes envy, strife, blasphemies, evil suspicions, constant-frictions, (from) people having-been-corrupted (as to) the mind and robbed (of) the truth, (while) supposing (that) well-worship is (a) means-of-gain" (1 Timothy 6:4-6). 

It is crucial to abide in the teaching of Christ, as it is written: "Everyone going-ahead and not ABIDING IN THE TEACHING OF CHRIST does not have God; the one abiding in the teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring THIS TEACHING, do not receive him into the house and do not speak greetings to him" (2 John 1:9-10).

This is why Paul wrote before mentioning teaching to "LET THE WORD (OF) CHRIST BE-DWELLING IN YOU RICHLY, with all wisdom TEACHING and admonishing each-other" (Colossians 3:16).

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