The Center of Preaching and Teaching in the Holy Church
The Center of Preaching and Teaching in the Holy Church
Our Lord God, who lamented saying: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), has made teaching a vital foundation for spreading His kingdom on earth.
He Himself undertook the work of teaching, and was called “Teacher.” He sent His prophets and apostles to be teachers as well. Thus, teaching became the primary work of the successors of the apostles—the bishops—and of the clergy who assist them. Teaching also became an essential part of the Church’s rites and prayers.
Preaching and Teaching Are the Work of the Lord Himself
Christ our God, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3), went about the world teaching. After John was imprisoned, “Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). St. Matthew records: “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (Matthew 9:35).
“When Jesus had made an end of commanding His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities” (Matthew 11:1). When the multitudes sought Him, “He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent’” (Luke 4:43). He also declared that the Scripture was fulfilled in Him: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor… to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18).
Out of His deep concern for teaching, the Lord was called “Teacher.”
Everyone addressed Him as “Teacher.” In the incident of the sinful woman, the scribes and Pharisees said to Him: “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery” (John 8:4). In the first conversation with John’s disciples, they said to Him: “Rabbi (which is to say, Teacher), where are You staying?” (John 1:38). Mary Magdalene also called Him “Rabboni” (which means Teacher) (John 20:16). Nathanael said to Him: “Rabbi, You are the Son of God” (John 1:49). The disciples often used this title, saying when they saw the man born blind: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?” (John 9:2).
The Lord accepted this title and even called Himself by it. He said to His disciples before the Passover: “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand’” (Matthew 26:18). He also affirmed: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am” (John 13:13).
Therefore, believers were called disciples. When the Jews saw that the man born blind believed in Christ, they reviled him saying: “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples” (John 9:28). The Christian life is discipleship to the Lord—and the Lord is the Teacher.
As a Teacher, the Lord attributed His teaching to the Father Himself, saying: “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me” (John 7:16). In His farewell prayer He said to the Father: “The words which You have given Me I have given to them” (John 17:8).
Preaching and Teaching Are the Work of the Holy Apostles
The prophets were also teachers—Noah, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Jeremiah, and all the prophets carried God’s word to the people, teaching them His ways. As the Apostle wrote: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4).
John the Baptist was also a preacher: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight’” (Mark 1:3). St. Luke wrote: “And with many other exhortations he preached to the people” (Luke 3:18).
Preaching and teaching were the very tasks the Lord entrusted to His apostles. He sent the twelve “to preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:2), and likewise the seventy (Luke 10:9). “So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:6). St. Peter affirmed: “And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify” (Acts 10:42).
Before His Ascension, the Lord commanded: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). St. Mark continues: “They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20).
St. Paul said plainly: “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17), and “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
He wrote also: “The preaching which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior” (Titus 1:3), and “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Thus the apostles lived for preaching, teaching, and exhortation: “Daily in the temple and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42). They spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).
From Pentecost onward, teaching was their constant work: “With many other words he testified and exhorted them” (Acts 2:40). They declared: “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
Therefore, the Church grew: “The word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly” (Acts 6:7).
Preaching and Teaching Are the Work of the Holy Bishops
St. Paul instructed Bishop Timothy: “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13), and “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16).
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).
“Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).
The bishop, says the Apostle, must be “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2), “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9).
The Didascalia Apostolorum elaborates that a bishop must be “full of all teaching… active in the word, reading and meditating on the Scriptures, teaching the people constantly.” It warns: “If you bishops do not instruct the people, their ignorance will be upon you.”
The holy bishops of old were indeed teachers. St. Athanasius the Apostolic went from place to place teaching and confirming the true faith, combating Arianism. St. Cyril of Alexandria, the Pillar of Faith, defended against Nestorianism. Likewise St. Dioscorus of Alexandria, St. Severus of Antioch, St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. Augustine, St. Hilary of Poitiers, St. Basil the Great, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Cyprian of Carthage, and St. Ambrose of Milan—all were teachers of the Church and defenders of the faith.
Preaching and Teaching Are the Work of Priests
The priests are also called “teachers” in the introduction to the Didascalia. Scripture says that “the law should be sought from the priest’s mouth.” Along with their priestly ministry, they are to teach: “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17).
At ordination, the bishop prays that the new priest may be filled with “the spirit of wisdom, to teach Your people with meekness.” He exhorts him: “Be diligent in reading and teaching the meaning of the Church’s Scriptures.”
Preaching and Teaching Are the Work of Deacons
Although deacons serve the poor and assist the priest at the altar, teaching is also part of their service. St. Stephen, the archdeacon, taught with great power, and “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). St. Philip the deacon preached in Samaria (Acts 8:5) and to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35).
Preaching and Teaching Are the Work of the Readers (Anagnostis)
The reader’s duty is to read and interpret the Scriptures. His ordination prayer states: “Grant that he may proclaim Your holy words, preach Your commandments to Your people, and teach them Your pure word for the salvation of their souls.”
Finally, let us care deeply for teaching, preaching, and evangelism. For “how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
Let us teach always, encourage teachers and preachers, and provide them with every opportunity and resource.
To be continued, if the Lord wills and we live.
— Article by His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education, Al-Keraza Magazine, Year One, Issue Nine, November 1965
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