Preparing Others To Teach

Timothy 2:1-2

In the book Super Freakonomics, the authors examine a little of the research into the effect of genetic factors, cultural factors and other influences on what people accomplish. As they mention, a boy born in August has one and a half times as good a chance of making the Major Leagues in baseball as a boy born in July. It has nothing to do with natural talent, but with cut off dates for enrolling in youth leagues. Since the cutoff is August first, boys born in august are almost a year older when they start than boys born in July. The greater maturity makes them appear more talented, and they get more attention, further increasing their skills.

While this is a major difference, there is a far greater difference. A boy who’s father was a Major League player is 800 times as likely to become a Major League player. Similar discrepancies are found in other sports and professions. While there are differences in physical ability and mental capacity, they are not nearly that pronounced. Most of the difference is a result of learning and effort at the job. Often those with less innate ability out do the more talented because they work harder at it.

People tend to accomplish what they devote most of their energy to, whether becoming a professional athlete, banker, plumber, terrorist, or drug addict. In the next few verses, Paul lays down some principles that must be followed to have a ministry that will be pleasing to God. As Galatians 1:10 stresses, we have to choose whether to please God or someone else. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” What pleases God seldom pleases most of those around us.

Every Christian will have to give his own account according to Romans 14:12. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Those who are pastors and teachers are also responsible for what they have taught and how they have influenced others to serve God. Hebrews 13:17 describes this. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

I Corinthians 3:13-15 warns, “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

It is with an awareness of the responsibility, and the consequences of how we fulfill it that Paul gives the next few instructions. Notice these next two verses.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (II Timothy 2:1-2)

Because of the ease with which some turn away, and the responsibility for teaching them, Timothy must recognize the grace of God. Our salvation, and our righteousness is a gift from God. They are not the result of our efforts. At the same time, we have a responsibility to live up to what we have, and especially if we are in a position of leadership. Failure to understand this weakens our ability to teach others.

The Great Commission, for all Christians, is found in Matthew 28:18-20. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach(matatheno, disciple) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching(didasko, teaching) them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The job isn’t complete until they have been saved, baptized, and taught to obey Christ’s teachings. Evangelism is only the first step.

Paul instructs Timothy to commit what he has learned to faithful men, but to do it in a way they will be able to teach others also. It is especially the pastor’s responsibility. Hebrews 5:11-6:8 describes a group who have not learned what they should have, with the result that some are not even truly saved, and none are equipped to carry out the whole Great Commission.


Hebrews 5:12-14 makes it clear that they had not been properly taught, and were stuck, not even clearly understanding the basics of what was required for salvation. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Even to win others to Christ requires more than knowing the mechanics of the ‘Romans Road’ or some other ‘Plan of Salvation.’ While they are basic, an understanding of one’s natural state of sin, of the Holy Spirit’s action, and personal commitment underlying the promises is critical. Salvation can not be received without all of the above as well as confessing Christ, although many may not be conscious of their presence at the time.

To resolve the problem and prepare the group to fulfill their responsibility, the author states his plan in Hebrews 6:1-3.

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.”

He then goes rather deeply into what was required for our salvation, on God’s part and the consequences of not taking it seriously. Paul is charging Timothy with the seriousness of the responsibility.