The New Testament puts forward specific qualifications for those eligible to serve in the two leadership offices of the local church: pastor and deacon. The qualifications are most clearly listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-13. Verses 1-7 pertain to the office of “overseer” (also known as “pastor” or “elder”), whereas verses 8-13 relate to the office of deacon.
Though the role of the offices is quite different—pastors leading, and deacons serving—the qualifications of both are largely centered around the candidate’s character. The pastor for example is to be “sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable… not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” (1 Tim. 3:2-3) Not much is different for the deacon whose qualifications begin with “dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain, which is required.” An exemplary character is required for both offices, this is sure.
Yet, listed for the office of “overseer” (pastor/elder) is one qualification not required for the deacon. It is not one of character, but one of competency. That qualification, only listed for the overseer, is that he is to be “able to teach.” (1 Tim. 3:2) That is, he is to “rightly handle the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
Given that such a qualification is the only one listed pertaining to competency, and that it seems to be the leading difference between requirements for elders versus those for deacons, readers of the NT must know what such a phrase means.
What does it not mean to be “able to teach”?
Though many have sought to answer the question, there are three answers that are typically provided. However, it is this author’s position that each of these three answers, though well intended, fall short of Paul’s meaning of the phrase. Thus, we must first address what being “able to teach” is not.
1. It is not “able to instruct a class.” (pedagogical skill)
We must remember that being “able to teach” is in reference to teaching the Bible in the context of the local church. Given that churches are filled with those who are able to teach in professional contexts, it does not necessarily follow that they are apt to teach the Bible. We must say, however, that many qualified elders recognized their call to pastoral ministry by seeing God redeem a teaching gift he had long before placed in their lives, only to bring it to full maturation for service in the local church. (I once knew a pastor with a PhD in chemistry whom God called out of the research lab into the pastorate.)
2. It is not “able to lead a Bible study.” (devotional skill)
We thank the Lord for the many in local churches who have taken seriously Jesus’ call to make disciples, with a Bible in hand. To be sure, the Great Commission requires us to tell others about Jesus (evangelism) and teach them “all that I [Jesus] has commanded.” (Matt. 28:19) Many lead small group Bible studies in the setting of their home or church facility. Teachers often facilitate their studies with supplemental materials such as sermon discussion guides, Christian literature, or denomination publications. If such a competency of being “able to teach” was met by this proficiency, then any and all Bible study leaders with varying capacities would be qualified to serve as elders. Such is too light of a reading of “able to teach.”
However, we should note that the teaching ministry of any church, be it small group ministries in homes or seasonal classes on Sundays, are a training ground for future elders who would grow in their competency of being “able to teach.” We thank the Lord for those who have studied and trained themselves to a place of competency where they are able to make disciples by “teaching them to obey all that I [Jesus] have commanded.” (Matt. 28:19) We need not overestimate the ministry of our lay teaching ministries, but we should not underestimate it either.
3. It is not “able to preach a sermon.” (homiletical skill)
This perspective puts too much emphasis on the qualification. That is, it is thought here that only those able to fill the pulpit are those “able to teach.” Whereas it is assumed that every elder could preach a public sermon as he is qualified to do so, his public preaching ability is not the grounds for him meeting such a requirement. We should see his “ability to teach” as affording him the opportunity to preach publicly, rather than seeing his public teaching as the qualifying basis of his “ability to teach.” This third perspective is too weighty and too tight.
Surely there are those men who are not comfortable speaking in front of large audiences. There are also men who do not have, or have not yet developed, an oratory skill suitable for public speaking. Further, Paul indicates in 1 Tim. 5:17 that there are elders (overseers/pastors) who do not labor in teaching, which should be thought of as the bulk of the public teaching in the local church (e.g., a pulpit ministry). The inference is that there are those who meet the qualifications of being “able to teach” but such ability is not the labor of their ministry. Being “able to teach” may mean that he can preach a sermon, but it does not mean that he must be able to preach a sermon as a qualification for being “able to teach.”
What does it mean to “be able to teach”?
Now that we have determined what “able to teach” is not, let us now determine what “able to teach” is. What is this ability? Whatever this ability is, we must stay that it is:
1. The distinguishing mark of the pastor.
Other men may have the mark, but if their life does not match they are not qualified to be an elder. No other position of service or leadership in the church has the requirement to “be able to teach.” In a sense, those who hold the office of “overseer” (elder/pastor) are in a league of their own. As a caution, we must guard against divorcing the competency qualification of “able to teach” from the character qualification.
2. The spiritual gift of the pastor.
The teaching ability is the unique gift associated with the office of elder, and aspiring men must possess it. (1 Timothy 1:3; 1:18; 4:11; 5:17; 6:3; 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:6; 2:2; 2:15; 2:24; 4:2; Titus 2:1; 2:7-8; 2:15). We must remember that the word of God is the lifeblood of the church. We encounter God through the Word; we worship God through the Word; we follow God through the Word. We need men therefore who can break the bread of the Word, feeding, leading, caring, and guarding God’s people with a Bible in their hand (cf. Psalm 23).
3. The primary work of the pastor.
Before a pastor is anything else, he is first a teacher. The pastor(s) can do a lot of things—and will be required to as they are in the work of the ministry—but the first thing they must do is to be a teacher, both in function and competency. The pastor is a leader. Teaching and leading go together. They are inseparable.
My main argument: We find the best answer to what it means to be “able to teach” in Paul’s letter to Titus. Readers understand that chapter 1 verses 5-9 of Titus a restating of 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Much of the language and concepts are the same. (See Footnote)
I propose therefore that Titus 1:9, the concluding verse, is a Pauline commentary as to what it means to be “able to teach.” In short, I see a direct connection between “able to teach” in 1 Timothy 3:2, and the language of Titus 1:9. And so if you ask what it means to be “able to teach,” the answer is Titus 1:9.
Based on that verse, I have built an acronym to help us. Being “able to teach” is to… LEAD. It is also a helpful mnemonic device that correlates to the aforementioned conviction that our church leaders are our church teachers. Those who lead the church must be able to teach the Bible. We therefore ask one question of pastoral candidates: Are they able to LEAD?
LEARN — Can he read and write in the field of theology? “Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,”
EXPLAIN — Can he teach the Bible in a public setting? “so that he may be able to”
APPLY — Can he apply the Bible in pastoral ministry? “give instruction in sound doctrine”
DEFEND — Can he defend the Bible against error and attack? “and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
So, in the final analysis, my working definition of “able to teach” is this: The ability to teach is the ability to rightly interpret, explain and apply the Bible in a public setting in such a way that listeners learn the intended meaning of the text and are edified by its instruction for the Christian life, all with a style and delivery that is comfortable to receive and retain.
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ will accomplish the Great Commission when she raises up more pastors than she needs. They are to raise up to send out. May the Lord answer the prayers by giving us men of exemplary character and extraordinary competency in the Scriptures. Pray to that end, and encourage those you see who indeed are “able to teach.”
Footnote
Some contemporary explanations to what it means to be “able to teach” include:
Sam Emadi says, “Here’s my one-sentence summary: “able to teach” means a person is able to faithfully explain and apply the Bible so that listeners grow in their knowledge of Scripture and sound doctrine in a way that produces love for God and neighbor.”
Thabiti M. Anyabwile says, “the ability to communicate and apply the truth of Scripture with clarity, coherence, and fruitfulness.”
Nathan Finn says, “being able to teach means being able to publicly explain and apply the Scriptures to the entire congregation. All elders should be able to stand before the congregation and expound the Bible, even if some elders are uncomfortable preaching in a corporate worship gathering.”