The other night for a personal study, I went through the letters of First and Second Timothy and Titus, noting everything that Paul told Timothy and Titus about good teaching. Then I went back through and did the same for teaching, which is not good. The contrast is interesting, and those who would teach God’s word can learn a lot about what we should and should do by studying these contrast.
Here is what I noted:
Teaching Which Edifies
- Produces love from a pure heart and faith form a sincere conscience (1 Tim. 1:5).
- Faithfully proclaims, exhorts, and teaches the word (1 Tim. 4:13).
- Brings about and ensures salvation (1 Tim. 4:16).
- Is willing to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12).
- Effectively passes on that which has been learned (2 Tim. 2:2).
- Solemnly charges (2 Tim. 2:14).
- Continues in what has been learned (2 Tim. 3:14).
- Teaches in all seasons (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
- Reminds the people (Titus 3:1).
- Instructs in practical application of the word (Titus 3:14).
Teaching Which Does Not Edify
- Gives credence to myths and endless genealogies (1 Tim. 1:4).
- Fruitless, arrogant, and lacks understanding (1 Tim. 1:6-7).
- Gives more weight to the thoughts of men than the Word of God (1 Tim. 4:1-3).
- Deals with worldly fables (1 Timothy 4:7).
- Morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words (1 Tim. 6:4).
- Is constantly at friction with other men (1 Timothy 6:5).
- Wrangles (to dispute about trivial things) about words (2 Tim. 2:14).
- Empty chatter (2 Tim. 2:16).
- Is foolish and ignorantly speculates (2 Tim. 2:23).
- It leads those weak in faith into fruitless study or sin (2 Tim. 3:6-7).
- Gets involved in foolish (senseless) controversies, genealogies, disputes about the law (Titus 3:9).
- All together unprofitable and worthless (Titus 1:9).
Preach The Text 