Some time ago I was a participant on an e-mail discussion group that included a number of men employed in the ministry of a religious organization. One of the fellows raised a question to the rest of the individuals in the group. His question was, “What constitutes great preaching?” There were a number of ideas kicked around but one response triggered a study. The person’s comment was that perhaps rather than great preaching we should be focusing on great teaching.
Isn’t preaching and teaching the same thing? We have ministers standing in pulpits every week “preaching” sermons to their congregations and they generally feel they are teaching the people in attendance about the Word of God. Most consider themselves “preachers.” They would think of a “teacher” as one who spends time in a classroom with “students.” Is “preaching” and “teaching” the same thing, according to Biblical usage?
To begin our study let us notice a couple of Scriptures. (Note: this is a Bible study so be prepared to read a lot of Scripture.)
Matthew 11:1, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.”
Acts 5:42, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
We find in these two verses references to both teaching and preaching. Apparently in the mind of the writer there is a difference. Hopefully, in this study we will be able to see what that difference is. As we begin our study we will find that there are a number of Greek words that have been translated into the single English word “preach” and also, several Greek words that are rendered “teach” in English. Let’s look first at a number of the words translated “preach.”
The first Greek word we will look at is euaggelizo, G2097 in Strong’s. This word is used 55 times in the New Testament and is translated as “preach” 23 times, “preach the gospel” 22 times, “bring good tidings” twice, “show glad tidings” twice and once each as “bring glad tidings,” “declare,” and “declare glad tidings.” Various definitions given in the lexicon are, to bring good news, to announce glad tidings, and it says “in the NT used especially of the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God.”
The following are just a few of the passages where this Greek word, euaggelizo is used.
Matthew 11:5, “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
Luke 1:19, “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.”
Luke 4:43, “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.”
Acts 8:12, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Romans 10:15, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (In this verse the word “preach” in the first phrase “And how shall they preach....” is another Greek word G2784, kerusso, which we will look at later. In the last phrase “preach the gospel” and “bring glad tidings” are both translated from G2097, euaggelizo.
The second Greek word we will look at is diaggello, G1229 in Strong’s. It is used only three times in the NT, as preach, signify and declare. The lexicon defines this word “to carry a message through, announce everywhere, through places, through assemblies of men, etc. To publish abroad, declare.” Let’s look at the three places it is used.
Luke 9:60, “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”
Acts 21:26, “Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.”
Romans 9:17, “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”
A third Greek word which is used 17 times in the NT is kataggello, number G2605 in Strong’s. It is translated as preach, show, declare, teach, speak of. The definitions given by the lexicon are, “to announce, declare, promulgate, make known. To proclaim publicly, publish. To denounce, report, betray.” The following are a few of the 17 places kataggello is used.
Acts 13:5, “And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to [their] minister.”
Acts 17:23, “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with the inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.”
Acts 26:23, “That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”
Rom. 1:8, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”
1 Cor. 2:1, “ And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.”
Phil. 1:18, “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”
Let us move on to another Greek word that has been translated as “preach.” It is laleo, Strong’s number G2980. It has been translated primarily as “speak,” a total of 244 times. Other ways it has been used: “say” 15 times, “tell” 12 times, “talk” 11 times, “preach” 6 times, and “utter” 4 times. The lexicon definition is” “to utter a voice or emit a sound. To speak. To use the tongue or the faculty of speech. To utter articulate sounds.” We will look at a few passages where laleo is used.
Matt. 13:13, “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”
Mark 2:2, “And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive [them], no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.”
Luke 2:20, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
John 4:27, “And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?”
John 18:20, “Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.”
The next Greek word we will look at is the one referred to earlier. It is kerusso, Strong’s G2784. It is used 61 times in the NT and is translated 51 of those times as “preach,” and the other 10 times as “publish,” “proclaim,” “preached,” and “preacher.” The definition given in the lexicon is, “to be a herald, to officiate as a herald. To proclaim after the manner of a herald. To publish, proclaim openly. Used of the public proclamation of the gospel.”
We will look at a few passages where kerusso is used.
Matt. 3:1, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea.”
Matt. 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matt. 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Mark 1:14, “ Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.”
Mark 13:10, “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”
Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Acts 28:31, “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
1 Cor. 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.”
There is yet one more Greek word for us to look at. It is kerux, G2783 in Strong’s. It is used 3 times and in all three places it is translated “preacher.” As defined by the lexicon: “A herald or messenger vested with public authority, who conveyed the official messages of kings, magistrates, princes, military commanders, or who gave a public summons or demand, and performed various other duties. In the NT God’s ambassador, and the herald or proclaimer of the divine word.”
Here are the 3 Scriptures where kerux is used.
1 Tim. 2:7, “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”
2 Tim. 1:11, “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
2 Pet. 2:5, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”
We have looked briefly at the six Greek words that are used throughout the NT and are translated into the English words “preach,” “preached,” “preacher,” etc. At this point could we make any general statement as to what it means in the NT to “PREACH?” What is it that is generally being “PREACHED?”
I think that you will have to agree with me when I say that I see the primary meanings and usage of all of these words is that of proclaiming, declaring, publishing, announcing, making known, the good tidings, the good news, the gospel of the kingdom of God and the Word of God. These words all seem to be used in speaking to the public at large, to the general population. They are used regarding John the Baptist, Jesus, the Apostle Paul and others speaking to the large groups they encountered about Jesus the Messiah, the kingdom of God and in general the gospel.
Now, as Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story.” Let’s look at the Greek words translated “teach” and see how they differ from those translated “preach.”
We will begin with the Greek word that is translated “teach” or “taught” 97 times in the NT. It is didasko, G1321 in Strong’s. Here are the definitions as given in the lexicon. “To teach. To hold discourse with others in order to instruct them. To be a teacher. To discharge the office of teacher, conduct one’s self as a teacher. To teach one. To impart instruction. Instill doctrine into one. To explain or expound a thing. To teach one something.”
Following are a few Scriptures where this word, didasko, is used.
Matt. 5:2, “And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,”
Matt. 26:55, “In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.”
Matt. 13:54, “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?”
Matt. 21:23, “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority”
Mark 1:21, “And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.”
Mark 6:2, “And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?”
Mark 6:34, “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
Acts 5:21, “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.”
Acts 5:25, “Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.”
1 Cor. 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”
The next word we will look at is directly related to didasko, G1321, that we have just been looking at. It is G1322, didache. 29 times out of 30 this word is rendered “doctrine” and once as “has been taught.” Notice the definitions from the lexicon. “Teaching. That which is taught. Doctrine, teaching, concerning something. The act of teaching, instruction. In religious assemblies of the Christians, to speak in the way of teaching, in distinction from other modes of speaking in public.”
Here are just a few of the 30 places it is used.
Matt. 7:28, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.”
Mark 12:38, “And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces.”
Luke 4:32, “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”
Acts 17:19, “And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?”
Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine (G1319) both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
Since we just referenced G1319 in Titus 1:9 let us look at it next. It is didaskalia. It is translated into the English words “doctrine” (19 times), “teaching” and “learning” each twice. The lexicon definitions are: “Teaching, instruction. Teaching. That which is taught, doctrine. Teachings, precepts.”
Let’s look at a few verses in which this word, didaskalia, is used.
Matt. 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching (#1321, didasko) for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Romans 12:7, “Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, (G1321, didasko) on teaching.”
Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
1 Tim. 1:10, “For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
2 Tim. 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Titus 2:1, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.”
Another related word is didaskalos, G1320 in Strong’s. This word is used 58 times in the KJV. The majority of the times, 40, it is rendered “Master” referring to Jesus. The other 18 places the word is used it is translated “teacher” (10 times), “master” (not capitalized, 7 times), and “doctor” once. Didaskalos is defined by the lexicon as: “A teacher. In the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man. One who is fitted to teach.”
Once again we will look at a few of the times this word is used.
Matt. 8:19, “And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Matt. 10:24, “The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his lord.”
Luke 2:46, “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.”
Acts 13:1, “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”
Rom. 2:20, “An instructor (G3810) of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.”
1 Cor. 12:28, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
1 Cor. 12:29, “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?”
Heb. 5:12, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach (#1321) 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.”
There are two more related words we need to take a quick look at, G1317 and G1318 in Strong’s. G1317, didaktikos, is the word translated “apt to teach” in the letters to Timothy. (1 Tim. 3:2 and 2 Tim. 2:24) The word is simply defined as: “apt and skillful in teaching.” G1318, didakto, is rendered twice as “which one teacheth” and once as “taught.” The word is defined as: “That can be taught. Taught, instructed by one. Teachings, precepts.”
Notice quickly a couple of passages where this word, didakto, is used.
John 6:45, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
1 Cor. 2:13, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
There is another Greek word that is translated into the English word “teach” at least twice in the NT. It is matheteuo, G3100 in Strong’s. It is also rendered “instruct” and “be disciple” one time each. The lexicon definition is: “To be a disciple of one. To follow his precepts and instructions. To make a disciple. To teach, instruct.”
We will look at all four places this word, matheteuo, is used.
Matt. 13:52, “Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”
Matt. 27:57, “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple.”
Matt. 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 14:21, “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch.”
Although matheteuo is used only 4 times a related word is used over 260 times. It is mathetes, G3101. It is the Greek word that is translated into English as “disciple.” The definitions of mathetes as given in the lexicon is: “A learner, pupil, disciple.”
Here are just a few of the verses in which mathetes is used.
Matt. 5:1, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain and when he was set, his disciples came unto him.”
Matt. 13:36, “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.”
John 21:12, “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.”
Acts 1:15, “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)”
Acts 6:7, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
Acts 9:26, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.”
Acts 21:16, “There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, and old disciple, with whom we should lodge.”
Now that we have looked at the Greek words translated “teach,” “teacher,” “taught,” etc. can we make any general statements about what it means to teach? Do we see any differences between teach and preach?
Our assessment of “preach” was that of proclaiming, declaring the gospel message to the public at large. But, in looking at “teach” we see the act of instructing, of explaining or expounding a thing, of instilling doctrine or teaching in another. One that “teaches” is a “teacher.” One that is “taught” is a “disciple.” I believe we can state, based on the Scriptures we have looked at and reviewing the meanings of the various Greek words we studied, that when the NT speaks of “preaching” it is referring to the proclaiming of the gospel to those who have never heard the message of Jesus the Messiah. And, further, when it speaks of “teaching” it is in reference to the instruction of those who have heard and/or are responding to that “preaching.”
Let us look at just a few Scriptures which I believe illustrates this understanding and explanation.
Matt. 11:1, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples (G3101), he departed thence to teach (G1321) and to preach (G2784) in their cities.
Who would we say He “preached” to? To the general populous, the multitudes of the cities. And, who would He have been “teaching”? To those who heard His message and came to learn more.
Acts 14:21-23, “And when they had preached (G2097) the gospel to that city, and had taught (G3100) many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch. Vs.22 Confirming the souls of the disciples (G3101), and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Vs. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commanded them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
The gospel was preached to that city, is says. Indicating it was the public as a whole. Who, then, do we think the “many” were that were taught? It seems logical that it was those who became disciples.
The apostle Paul tells us that he was ordained or appointed a “preacher.” Let’s look at the two verses that he states this.
1 Tim. 2:7, “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher (G2783), and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher (G1320) of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”
2 Tim. 1:11, “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher (G2783), and an apostle, and a teacher (G1320) of the Gentiles.
With what we have studied these verses are simple to explain. Paul was a preacher, “a herald or messenger vested with public authority, herald or proclaimer of the divine word,” often speaking to large groups of people concerning Jesus and the gospel of the Kingdom of God. He was a teacher, “one who teaches concerning the things of God,” to those among the Gentiles who were responding to the public proclamation and were being placed within the body of the Messiah. He also says he was an apostle. This word is from the Greek apostolos, G652 in Strong’s. It is “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.” He was commissioned by Jesus the Messiah to “Go!” He went both preaching and teaching.
In addition to the above verses where Paul says he was ordained/appointed a preacher, we see only two additional verses mentioning preachers.
Rom. 10:14, “ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher.”
2 Pet. 2:5, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”
In both verses we find the proclaiming of a message or warning as a herald. These do not refer to bringing a message to a congregation on Sunday morning.
As we conclude this study I’d like to reflect a bit on the belief and assumption that many have, including most of those in the “ministry” of the religious organizations. They believe, because that is what they have heard and had expressed to them for all their lives, that a “minister” is a “preacher.” It is felt that he must “preach” a sermon each week to his or her church congregation. But, this is not what the Scriptures reveal.
The NT refers to elders (G4245 in Strong’s, presbuteros, “those who presided over the assemblies or churches”), bishops and overseerers (G1985 in Strong’s, episkopos, “an overseerer; a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent; the superintendent, elder or overseerer of a Christian church). Metaphorically, the “overseerers of Christian assemblies” were referred to as shepherds (G4166 in Strong’s, poimen, translated in the AV as shepherd [15 times], Shepherd [2 times], and pastor [1 time].)
Let’s notice a very interesting verse written by the Apostle Paul, Ephesians 4:11. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” “Pastors” is G4166, poimen, and teachers is G1320, didaskalos. But most obvious by it’s absence is “preacher.” There is no mention of Christ giving the function of “preacher” to His church.
Church “pastors,”and “ministers,” of whatever organization, need to realize they are not a “preacher” but need to learn to be proper overseerers and teachers. They need to quit concerning themselves with “what is great ‘preaching’” and learn to be humble servants and “helpers of the joy” of those they have been given the opportunity to serve. They need to be learning to properly teach. If they don’t have that gift they need to be asking for it, and if they aren’t receiving it they need to switch occupations.
Is there not a place and a need for a “preacher?” In three verses in the NT we find the job function of “evangelist” mentioned, including Eph. 4:11 that we just looked at. That function could be equated with that of “preaching.” The Greek word translated “evangelist” is G2099 in Strong’s, euaggelistes. The main definition given in the lexicon is: “bringer of good tidings.” This Greek word is of course a related word to euaggelizo, (G2097) that we looked at earlier, that is translated “preach, preach the gospel, bring good tidings, show glad tidings, bring glad tidings, declare, declare glad tidings.” There are some that have been given the function of proclaiming the gospel to the world as an evangelist, as a “preacher,” but most who claim to be, feel they are, and are thought to be by most of their congregations ARE NOT.
first revision 12/15/02
more recent revision 6/6/11
latest revision 9/10/19
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