Pat
Well-Known Member
WHAT mATTERS? NO NEED OF TEACHERS?
Scripture tells us that the church has been gifted with human teachers. “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…” 1 Corinthians 12:28 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith…he who teaches, in teaching;” Romans 12:6-7 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11 So it is clear that human teachers are set in the church to teach us. So why does the Bible in the following passage tell us that we don’t need teachers? “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you;” 1 John 2:27 This anointing is a clear reference to the Holy Spirit who was promised to be given to Christians after the resurrection of Jesus. (John 14:16, :26; 15:26; 16:7) Jesus also affirmed that it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things…” John 14:26 So why is there this apparent contradiction? 1 Corinthians 2 tells us that the things of the Bible cannot be understood by intellectual means. The Bible is a spiritual book, so attempts by human translators to make the Bible “easier to understand” don’t realize that it is only under the Holy Spirit’s guidance and leading can one gain understanding of the Word of God. Humanistic attempts to make the Bible easier to understand are futile unless under the leading of the Holy Spirit. A human teacher in the church can only convey information about God and the Bible. It is only by the Holy Spirit that one can understand that information.
What matters? We must become as the Bereans in Acts 17 who “…were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11 They heard and received the teachings of Paul and Silas, but then went to the authority of the Word of God under the leading of the Holy Spirit, to be assured that “those things were so.” “Not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:13 Don’t be afraid to ask the author of the Bible what He meant about what is written. In fact, make that a habit. He’s waiting to be asked and ready to answer. Then rely on the Holy Spirit to give you understanding.
