Category Archives: Teacher Qualities

Conscientious Bible teachers carefully and thoroughly attend to their teaching, making sure their lesson preparation, as they study of God’s Word, leads to that which rightly represents truth as God intended. We have to be conscientious to follow the exhortation in 2 Timothy 2:15 to correctly handle the word of truth.

To Correctly Handle the Word Requires Bible Teachers to be Conscientious.

The Greek word, orthotomeo, used for “correctly handles” comes from the words “orthos” meaning straight and “temno” meaning to cut. Hence, Bible teachers are to cut straight when it comes to God’s Word. Such accuracy requires a conscientious approach to studying and teaching the Bible.

What Conscientious Bible Teachers Don’t Do and What They Do Instead

They don’t zigzag, sometimes on and sometimes off the line of Truth. Rather, they seek to stay true to God’s Word.

They don’t go around in circles, staying ambiguous so as to be all inclusive of everyone’s opinions. Instead, they cut straight to the core of what God says.

They don’t take short cuts to cut out parts people don’t like. Rather, they keep on the straight and narrow path laid out by God.

While Bible teachers should exemplify moral integrity in all areas of life, they also need to be irreproachable in the way they handle God’s Word according to 2 Timothy 2:15.

What It Means for Bible Teachers to be Irreproachable

Irreproachable Bible teachers are those who do “not need to be ashamed.” Within the context of 2 Timothy 2:15, we can learn just what that might mean.

1) Irreproachable Bible teachers are not perfect but they do their best.

God’s ways far exceed ours. Even well-educated scholars or theologians could get some things wrong. God understands the limitations of our humanity (Ps. 103:14). We are not all-knowing or all-wise. We cannot always see the big picture, the beginning from the end. And so, we’re told “Do your best” not to be perfect. We’re told to diligently work at it not to get it right one hundred percent of the time. We’re to do all we can to accurately represent God’s Word.

2) Irreproachable Bible teachers understand that ultimately they give an account to God and hence strive to please Him in all they do.

Accountability to our ministry leaders matters. God exhorts us to submit to them. The effect our teaching has on students matters. Since truth is what sets them free, we must make sure what we teach truth as God intended. While these reasons should sufficiently motivate us to remain above reproach, at the end of the day, the shame of not correctly handling the Word comes when we present ourselves before God. — “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Cor. 3:12-15)

3) Irreproachable Bible teachers don’t merely coast through their teaching.

Teachers who do not need to be ashamed work at their teaching. They put in the time and effort of studying for lessons so they can accurately present Truth. They take their responsibility seriously as workers for the Lord.

4) Irreproachable Bible teachers know and value the standard to which they aspire.

If we don’t care about how we handle the Word, we will probably put little effort into it. Bible teachers who don’t need to be ashamed undoubtedly are those who have a good grasp on the reality that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful …” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Consequently, they believe that nothing short of a correct interpretation can be satisfactory. Rather than make something up, they will admit they don’t know. Rather than compromising or twisting it to say something that sounds more appealing to their hearers, they will stand true to their Lord.

We’ve been looking at qualities describing an effective Bible teacher using 2 Timothy 2:15. Now we come to the words “a workman.”  A worker can be defined as someone who is industrious.

Truths About Being a Workman or Worker

Since the Greek word ergates is usually used of someone who works for hire, we must remind ourselves of two key truths.

1) We serve at the bidding and to the standard of another, our Lord God. We aren’t the boss. The mandate to present ourselves to God backs up this truth. We answer to Him.

2) We have a part to do under His leadership. As teachers we can’t biblically justify not putting time and effort into our teaching because of our belief that God is the real teacher, that He’s the One who changes people’s lives. While it’s true that He makes the seed of His Word grow, we have a responsibility to work in cooperation with Him, planting and watering that seed (1 Cor. 3:7-9). And as we read on in 2 Timothy 2:15, our work must be done correctly.

What is the work an industrious Bible teacher has to do?

According to 2 Timothy 2:15, the worker is one “who correctly handles the word of truth.” We’ll look more closely at what this means in a future post. For now, let’s simplify it to two tasks:

• adequate preparation in studying God’s Word
• accurate presentation of God’s Word

What qualities describe an industrious Bible teacher?

The same verse describes the kind of workman God looks for:

diligent (“do your best”)

accountable (“to present yourself to God”)

faithful (“as one approved”)

irreproachable  (“who does not need to be ashamed”)

conscientious (“and who correctly handles the word of truth”)

What qualities cannot be used to describe an industrious Bible teacher?

To be the kind of worker described in 2 Timothy 2:15, Bible teachers . . .

cannot be lazy. – They will do the work.

cannot be negligent. – They will do it right.

cannot be haphazard. – They will do it right all of the time, not just when it’s convenient