MASTER
The “teacher” is one of the established gifts in the church (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11; cf. Acts 13:1).
The teacher is exhorted to engage in teaching (Rom. 12:7).
“Teaching” is the intelligent exposition of the truth through the Holy Spirit, and this leaves no room for the mind and opinion of man.
Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to order some not to teach any doctrine other than what the apostles taught; and of those who persisted in teaching differently he said that they were conceited, knowing nothing, and were delirious, etc. (1 Tim. 1:3; 6:3, 4).
This is evidence that no other teaching than the apostolic could be from God; Thus, the modern formula by which one “agrees to differ” on vital points of doctrine cannot be recognized.
On the contrary, the apostle said: “I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in one mind and in one mind” (1 Cor. 1:10).
In Stg. 3:1 a word of warning is given: “Do not become too many teachers.” This is due to the greater responsibility involved. The same term (“didaskalos”) appears in Jn. 13:13, where the Lord declares that he is truly the Teacher, a title frequently given to him by the disciples. His teaching was from direct authority, and not like that of the scribes (cf. Mt. 7:29).