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When James wrote, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the
greater condemnation," (James 3:1) he addressed a grave matter that ought to arrest
the attention of every Christian. He spoke of the grave responsibilities of teachers,
which is how the word "masters" is rendered in the American Standard Version. In his
commentary on the book of James, Guy N. Woods wrote, "The influence which teachers exercise
upon their pupils is often immeasurable; and, the impressions which they make on the
impressionable minds of their students, either for good or ill, are far-reaching in nature.
It is, therefore, vitally important for those who thus do to be duly conscious of the
importance of the work to which they aspire, and to make the requisite preparation thereto"
(New Testament Commentaries, James, 1965, Gospel Advocate Co., Nashville, p. 154).
Teaching a Bible class is a grave responsibility and James says the teacher who does not understand that fact will "receive the greater condemnation." Teachers have a great deal more to answer for than Christians engaged in other areas of service, and there are certain things required of one who would teach a Bible class. Paul instructed Timothy to, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Timothy 4:16). Of importance in this passage is the order of things to which Paul exhorts Timothy to "take heed." The very first is "thyself." Before one can be an effective God-approved teacher of the word, his life must first be one of faithful Christian service. One who is not faithful in all things pertaining to the Christian life cannot teach others. How effective is a teacher's admonition to not forsake "the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25) when he is sporadic in his attendance? What one does normally speaks louder than what he says. The same command was given to Titus. "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you" (Titus 2:7-8). Is a Bible class teacher who uses off-color, or foul, language being "a pattern of good works" in "sound speech that cannot be condemned?" The Bible teacher must not only know the will of God expressed in the Bible, but he must live it as well. The "doctrine" to which the teacher, like Timothy, must take heed is the teaching. The teaching of Christ and the apostles must be demonstrated in his own life as well as being taught to his pupils. Paul asks, "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?" (Romans 2:21). The teacher who, in effect, tells his pupils, "Do as I say, not as I do" not only negates what he teaches by his own life, but has a bad influence on those he teaches. Brother Woods further says, "The minimum qualifications (for teachers, JCB), as indicated here, are:
Of special note in the above citation is the order of qualifications for the teacher, gleaned from both Timothy and Titus:
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