Teacher
Comparison of Act 13:1 with Rom 12:7, 2Ti 1:11; 2Ti 4:3, Jam 3:1 shows that teachers () are not a separate order of officials, but a class of men endowed with a particular gift, which they exercised in congregations already established. As distinct from the ecstatic exhortations of prophets, the instruction given by teachers would be exposition of the OT and of the words and acts of Christ. Teachers were inferior to apostles and prophets, and were connected with pastors (1Co 12:28-29, Eph 4:11). Apostles always had the gift of teaching; prophets and pastors usually possessed it: but men might have it without belonging to any of these classes. See Church Government, Ministry.
A. Plummer.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
TEACHER
God desires that his people learn about him and his Word, and therefore he has given teachers to instruct them (Deu 33:10; Eph 4:11). They may be people of different kinds and have different ways of teaching, but their teaching must have its origin in God himself. God is the only true teacher (Psa 25:4; Psa 119:12; Mat 23:8-10; Joh 6:45; 1Co 2:12-13; 2Ti 3:16).
A variety of teachers
Although God gives special teaching abilities to some, he does not expect these to be the only teachers. Parents are to teach their children the way of God (Deu 11:19; Eph 6:4; 2Ti 3:14-15), and any godly person may teach others, though not necessarily in public meetings (2Ki 12:2; Psa 34:11-14; Pro 10:21; Act 18:26; Col 3:16; 2Ti 2:24-25;).
In Old Testament times, Israels religious and civil leaders had a wide-ranging responsibility to teach the law of God to the people (Exo 18:20; Deu 33:10; 2Ch 17:7-9; Mal 2:7; see PRIEST). Prophets taught in the name of God, bringing his message to a people who were constantly turning from the path of devotion to him (Isa 30:20-21; Jer 23:22; Jer 32:33; see PROPHET). Wisdom teachers gave instruction of a different kind, but it all helped to guide Gods people in the way that was right (Pro 2:1-2; Pro 4:10-11; Pro 7:1-5; Ecc 12:9; Ecc 12:13; see WISDOM LITERATURE).
Another group to gain prominence were the scribes, or teachers of the law. The early scribes were godly men who explained and applied Gods law sensibly (Ezr 7:6; Ezr 7:10; Neh 8:1-3; Neh 8:8), but by the time of Jesus the scribes had developed into a class of traditionalists whose teachings prevented people from entering the kingdom of God (Mat 15:9; Mat 23:1-7; Mat 23:13; Luk 11:52; see SCRIBES).
The title teacher (or, in the Hebrew, rabbi) was in common use in the time of Jesus. People used it when addressing teachers of the law, both good and bad (Mat 23:8; Joh 3:10), and likewise used it when addressing Jesus (Mar 9:5; Joh 1:38; Joh 3:2; Joh 6:25; Joh 9:2). The teaching of Jesus, however, was in marked contrast to that of the scribes (Mat 7:28-29; Mat 19:16-22).
Jesus the teacher
Jesus had not been trained in the schools of the rabbis, yet people were amazed at the authority of his teaching (Mar 11:18; Luk 4:22; Joh 7:15; cf. Act 4:13). He taught in the synagogues, in the temple, in peoples homes and in the open air (Mat 9:35; Mar 12:35; Luk 5:3; Luk 10:38-39). He taught the masses publicly and his disciples privately (Mar 6:34; Mar 13:3), delivering his messages through discussions, arguments, parables and direct teaching (Mat 13:10; Mat 22:41-46; Joh 3:1-14; Joh 8:12-20; Joh 16:29; see PARABLES).
A central theme of Jesus teaching was that he had come from God (Joh 7:28-29; Joh 8:28), that his teaching was from God (Joh 7:16) and that through him the kingdom of God had come into the world (Mat 4:23; Mat 5:1-3; Luk 17:21-22; see KINGDOM OF GOD). His teaching was so much a proclamation of the good news of the kingdom that any technical difference between teaching and preaching tended to disappear (Mat 9:35; Mar 6:6; Mar 6:12). (Elsewhere in the New Testament likewise there seems to be little difference between teaching and preaching; see PREACHING.)
Although Jesus enlightened people concerning the truth of the gospel, he also challenged them to make a response. His teaching was a call to a life of discipleship (Mar 8:34-38; Luk 9:57-62; Luk 14:25-33; see DISCIPLE).
In training his disciples, Jesus taught them the truth that his Father had given him (Joh 17:8), so that after his return to the Father, they might carry on the work of the kingdom. They were to proclaim the good news, make disciples of Jesus, and teach them the truth that Jesus himself had taught (Mat 28:19-20). Jesus promised that in this task they would have his help, through the unseen teacher whom he would send to dwell within them, the Spirit of truth (Joh 14:18; Joh 14:25-26; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:13; see HOLY SPIRIT).
The work of apostles
Jesus inner group of disciples, the apostles, were the teachers in the early church, and believers accepted their teaching as authoritative (Act 2:42; Act 5:42). Even the teaching of additional apostles such as Paul was recognized by the church as being an authoritative interpretation of the life, work and teaching of Jesus (Act 15:35; 1Co 14:37; 1Co 15:1-5; 1Th 2:13; see APOSTLE).
As the church grew, God provided for it further by giving to certain people the gift of teaching. These teachers did not have the unique position of apostles, but they had the God-given ability to understand and teach the Old Testament Scriptures and the apostolic doctrines (Rom 12:7; 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11; 1Ti 4:13-16). It seems that the office of apostle, having fulfilled the primary purpose for which Jesus appointed it, died out once the church was well established (Eph 2:20). The gift of teacher, however, has continued.
Teachers in the church
In the list of gifts that the risen Christ gave to the church (Eph 4:11), teachers are linked with pastors in a way that indicates that both words refer to the same people. Teachers must be pastors. Through their teaching they care for and feed the flock (Act 20:28; see PASTOR). They aim to build up the church through producing greater ability among the church members to serve God and understand his Word (Eph 4:12).
The instruction that teachers give should cover the whole of Gods Word (Act 20:27; cf. Mat 28:20), so that Christians will increasingly develop the ability to discern between what is wholesome and what is not, and so grow towards spiritual maturity (Eph 4:13-14; Col 1:28; Heb 5:12-14). At the same time they will help bring healthy growth to the church as a whole (Eph 4:15-16). Teachers should not waste time arguing over senseless matters, but concentrate on the sort of teaching that produces the knowledge of God, a sincere faith and a pure life (Col 1:28; 1Ti 1:3-5; 1Ti 4:6-8; 2Ti 2:23-25; 2Ti 4:1-2).
Those who are taught have a responsibility to support financially those who teach them (1Co 9:14; Gal 6:6; 1Ti 5:17). At the same time they must beware of false teachers. They must therefore test what they hear, to make sure it is consistent with the Christian faith (1Th 5:20-21; 2Th 2:15; 1Ti 6:3; cf. Act 15:1; 1Ti 1:7; 2Ti 4:3-4; 1Jn 4:1; 2Jn 1:7-11; see HERESY).
Teachers, for their part, must make sure not only that what they teach is true, but that their lives are consistent with their teaching (1Ti 4:15-16; Jam 3:1). They should also look for those who show signs of having the gift of teaching and help them develop it (2Ti 2:2; cf. 1Ti 4:13-14; Heb 5:12; see GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT).
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Teacher
TEACHER., though strictly meaning teacher, is translation master by Authorized Version throughout the Gospels except in Joh 3:2. In two other passages besides this, viz. Mat 23:8 and Joh 3:10, Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 gives the correct translation; and in every case where both Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 translate master, (Revised Version margin) gives teacher as an alternative reading. In Luk 2:46 is rendered doctor, and in Joh 1:38 it is stated to be equivalent in meaning to Rabbi (see artt. Rabbi and Master).
This was the word by which our Lord was always addressed. Even His enemies admitted His claim to be a teacher. And not only was He recognized as a teacher, but the supremacy of His teaching was, and is, universally acknowledged. His contemporaries felt His superiority and could not withstand the influence of His teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Mat 7:29), and never man so spake (Joh 7:46). In modern times, too, even those who cannot assent to some of the cardinal doctrines of His religion bow before the majesty of His speech, and proclaim Him the greatest moral and religious teacher the world has ever seen. See Supremacy.
Christs great bequest to the world as a teacher is His revelation of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. This twofold message is peculiar to His gospel, and forms the keynote of His teaching. Christ the Teacher is indeed Christ the Revealer. He reveals the truths concerning mans true nature and destiny, and his relationship to God; and sheds an ineffable light upon all the dark and perplexing problems of life, death, and immortality.
But Christ was more than a mere teacher. His teaching is not only instructive: it is also creative. His words do not come with power to the intellect alone: they also appeal to the heart and influence the will. They are spirit and they are life (Joh 6:63). They pass into the soul of man and there quicken and create new life. The discourse with Nicodemus (John 3) was intended to emphasize this very fact, that Jesus was not only a Teacher but a Saviour, and that the passport into the Kingdom of God was not mere knowledge, but a new life which demands new birth. Christ is not merely the truth: He is also the life. His truth liberates and saves; and those who receive it into their hearts and minds are thereby raised to a higher and a nobler life of righteousness and holiness, and are endued with power to become sons of God (Joh 1:12). His teaching still exercises this cleansing and life-giving power; and everywhere men in quest of God and salvation re-echo the assertion of St. Peter, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life (Joh 6:68).
Dugald Clark.