Teacher's Responsibility to God in Teaching God's People

The responsibility of a teacher to God when instructing God's people is rooted in the understanding that God himself is the ultimate teacher and source of all knowledge ^{[3, 1]}. Human teachers, whether parents, ministers, or those with a spiritual gift of teaching, are seen as instruments in God's larger plan of instruction ^{[2, 9]}.

Parents are specifically charged with the duty of instructing their children in God's word, teaching them about God's judgments and miraculous works, and commanding them to obey God ^[2]. This parental instruction is part of a broader responsibility to "train them up for God" ^[2]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Ephesians 6:1, emphasizes that children's obedience to pious parents is a path to their own piety, highlighting the parents' role in teaching the fear of the Lord ^[8].

Ministers, in particular, are called by God, qualified by Him, and commissioned by Christ ^[6]. They are described as "stewards of the mysteries of God" and "ambassadors for Christ," entrusted with the gospel ^[6]. Their authority is given by God for the purpose of edification ^[6]. The content of their teaching should adhere closely to the word of God, focusing on "the truths and duties of the gospel" rather than "Jewish fables and traditions," as Matthew Henry notes on Titus 2:15 ^[10]. The apostle Paul's ministry, for example, involved "preachyng the kyngdome of God and teachynge those thinges which concerned the lorde Iesus with all confidence vnforboden" ^[4].

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this teaching dynamic. The Spirit is promised as the teacher, providing wisdom and revealing the things of God and Christ ^[5]. The Spirit brings Christ's words to remembrance, directs in godliness, and enables ministers to teach effectively ^[5]. This divine enablement underscores that human teachers are merely servants, as God is the one who performs the "real work of redemption" ^[12]. Therefore, identifying oneself proudly as a follower of a human teacher is considered wrong because God deserves the honor ^[12].

The concept of teaching God's people also implies a recognition of God's supreme authority. Job 21:22 asks, "Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high" ^[1]. This rhetorical question highlights that God is not in need of instruction from humanity; rather, humanity is in need of instruction from God. Job 36:22 further states, "Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?" ^[3]. These passages affirm God's unparalleled role as the ultimate instructor.

The gift of teaching is recognized as a spiritual gift within the church, distinct from prophecy, in that teachers address the church through the study of God's word ^[9]. Jesus himself is identified as the ultimate teacher of God's will, contrasting with the scribes and Pharisees ^[7]. This emphasizes that all human teaching within the church should align with Christ's teachings and God's revealed will. John Gill, commenting on Job 27:10, suggests that teaching can involve understanding "the works of God, and methods of his providence," particularly concerning the wisdom of God in His dealings with humanity ^[11].

Sources

Job “Job 21:22 (BBE) — Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parents — Receive their children from God -- Ge 33:5; 1Sa 1:27; Ps 127:3. Their duty to their children is To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To bring them to Christ. -- Mt 19:13,14. To train them up for God. -- Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4. To instruct them in God's word. -- De 4:9; 11:19; Isa 38:19. To tell them of God's judgments. -- Joe 1:3. To tell them of the miraculous works of God. -- Ex 10:2; Ps 78:4. To command them to obey God. -- De 32:46; 1Ch 28:9. To bless them. -- Ge 48:15; Heb 11:20. To pity them. -- Ps 103:13. To provide for them. -- Job 42:15; 2Co 12:14; 1Ti 5:8. To rule”
Job “Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? -- Job 36:22”
Acts “Acts 28:31 (Tyndale) — preachyng the kyngdome of God and teachynge those thinges which concerned the lorde Iesus with all confidence vnforboden.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holy Spirit, the Teacher, The — Promised -- Pr 1:23. As the Spirit of wisdom -- Isa 11:2; 40:13,14. Given In answer to prayer. -- Eph 1:16,17. To saints. -- Ne 9:20; 1Co 2:12,13. Necessity for -- 1Co 2:9,10. As such he Reveals the things of God. -- 1Co 2:10,13. Reveals the things of Christ. -- Joh 16:14. Reveals the future. -- Lu 2:26; Ac 21:11. Brings the words of Christ to remembrance. -- Joh 14:26. Directs in the way of godliness. -- Isa 30:21; Eze 36:27. Teaches saints to answer persecutors. -- Mr 13:11; Lu 12:12. Enables ministers to teach. -- 1Co 12:8. Guides i”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ministers — Called by God -- Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4. Qualified by God -- Isa 6:5-7; 2Co 3:5,6. Commissioned by Christ -- Mt 28:19. Sent by the Holy Spirit -- Ac 13:2,4. Have authority from God -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Authority of, is for edification -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Separated to the gospel -- Ro 1:1. Entrusted with the gospel -- 1Th 2:4. Described as Ambassadors for Christ. -- 2Co 5:20. Ministers of Christ. -- 1Co 4:1. Stewards of the mysteries of God. -- 1Co 4:1. Defenders of the faith. -- Php 1:7. The servants of Christ's people. -- 2Co 4:5. Specially protected by God -- ”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 23:10: 23:10 Teacher: This title denotes the function and office of leading others into knowledge about God. Jesus, not the scribes and Pharisees, is the teacher of God’s will (5:17).”
Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 6:1: Here we have further directions concerning relative duties, in which the apostle is very particular. I. The duty of children to their parents. Come, you children, hearken to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. The great duty of children is to obey their parents (Eph 6:1), parents being the instruments of their being, God and nature having given them an authority to command, in subserviency to God; and, if children will be obedient to their pious parents, they will be in a fair way to be pious as they are. That obedience which God demands from their childr”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 12:7: 12:7 teacher: The gift of teaching comes third in the list of gifts in 1 Cor 12:28 and fifth in Eph 4:11. While prophets communicate to the community a message received directly from God, teachers address the church on the basis of studying the word of God.”
Titus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Titus 2:15: The apostle closes the chapter (as he began it) with a summary direction to Titus upon the whole, in which we have the matter and manner of ministers' teaching, and a special instruction to Titus in reference to himself. I. The matter of ministers' teaching: These thing, namely, those before mentioned: not Jewish fables and traditions, but the truths and duties of the gospel, of avoiding sin, and living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Observe, Ministers in their preaching must keep close to the word of God. If any man speak, let him speak as”
Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 27:10: I will teach you by the hand of God,.... To serve God, and speak truth, says one of the Jewish commentators (g); rather the works of God, and methods of his providence, with wicked men and hypocrites; the wisdom of God in his dispensations towards them; the reasons why he suffers them to live in outward prosperity and happiness, and what in the issue will be their case and circumstances; wherefore some render the words, "I will teach you the hand of God", or "of", or "concerning the hand of God" (h); and so Mr. Broughton, of God, his hand; not his works of nature which ”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:5: 3:5-9 To identify oneself proudly as a follower of a human teacher is wrong because God does the real work of redemption, so he deserves the honor. • We are only God’s servants: Cp. 2 Cor 4:5.”

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