The Center of Preaching and Teaching in the Holy Church

The Lord our 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 took on the work of teaching, was called the Teacher, and sent His prophets and apostles to be teachers. Thus, teaching became the principal work of the successors of the apostles — the bishops — and those who assist them among the clergy. It also became an essential part of the Church’s liturgy and prayers.

Preaching and teaching are the very 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’s arrest, “Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). The Evangelist Matthew writes, “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).
“Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities” (Matthew 11:1). When the crowds 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 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).

The Lord, out of His great concern for teaching, was called “the Teacher”

Everyone called Him “Teacher.” In the case of the sinful woman, the scribes and Pharisees said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery” (John 8:4). When John’s two disciples first met Him, they said, “Rabbi (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), where are You staying?” (John 1:38). Mary Magdalene also said to Him, “Rabboni (which is to say, Teacher)” (John 20:16). Nathanael said, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God” (John 1:49). The disciples often addressed Him this way, as when they asked about the man born blind: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?” (John 9:2).

And the Lord accepted this title and used it for Himself. When the Passover came, He said to His disciples, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand’” (Matthew 26:18). After washing their feet, He told them plainly: “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 had believed in Christ, they reviled him, saying, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples” (John 9:28). The Christian life is truly discipleship to the Lord — and the Lord is the Teacher.

Christ the Teacher attributed His teaching to the Father Himself

He said openly, “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 were the work of the holy prophets and apostles

What was the work of the holy prophets but teaching? Such was the work of Noah, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Jeremiah, and all the prophets — bearing the word of God to the people and teaching them His ways. As the Apostle says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4).

Likewise, John the Baptist’s mission was preaching. He was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight’” (Mark 1:3). St. Luke records that “with many other exhortations he preached to the people” (Luke 3:18). St. Matthew also writes, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 3:1–2).

Preaching and teaching were the command given by the Lord to His apostles and disciples

The Twelve were sent “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 said, “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify” (Acts 10:42).

The Lord commanded them, both during their training and before His Ascension: “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, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20).

So also St. Paul said plainly, “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17). And he cried out, “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). He remembered this responsibility, saying, “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: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

The apostles lived for preaching and teaching the Word

“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, the ministry of the apostles was one of teaching, as we read: “With many other words he testified and exhorted them” (Acts 2:40). When the seven deacons were ordained, the apostles said, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

Thus, St. Luke wrote: “Those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word” (Luke 1:2). And the people “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Therefore, “the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly” (Acts 6:7).

Even though the Jews were angered because the apostles “taught the people” (Acts 4:2) and “filled Jerusalem with their doctrine” (Acts 5:28), they continued preaching with great zeal and strength. St. Paul wrote, “We exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:11–12). He preached even until midnight (Acts 20:7), while Peter and John declared, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

The Lord commanded Paul, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you” (Acts 18:9). Paul fulfilled this faithfully, “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:31).

Preaching and teaching are the work of the bishops

St. Paul wrote to his disciple Timothy, a bishop: “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13); and again: “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). “Teach and exhort these things” (1 Timothy 6:2). And to Titus he wrote, “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority” (Titus 2:15).

The bishop 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 to convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9).

The Didascalia Apostolorum emphasizes this, saying: “The bishop must be full of all learning, eloquent and diligent in teaching at all times, reading and studying the books of the Lord, that he may interpret them with understanding.” It commands: “Attend to the word, O bishop; feed your people with the light of the law, that they may be enriched by your teachings.” And it warns: “If you do not teach your people, their ignorance will be required at your hand.”

The holy fathers, the bishops, were preachers and teachers

How beautiful is the history of our holy fathers the bishops, who cared deeply for teaching!
St. Athanasius the Apostolic went from place to place teaching, confirming the faithful, and defending the faith against Arianism. So too St. Cyril of Alexandria, the Pillar of Faith, fought Nestorianism with precision of doctrine. St. Dioscorus, the 25th Patriarch, and St. Severus of Antioch, who traveled for 28 years strengthening the faithful, also defended the Orthodox faith.

St. John Chrysostom (“Golden Mouth”) for his eloquent preaching, St. Gregory of Nazianzus (“the Theologian”) for his depth, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Hilary of Poitiers (“the Athanasius of the West”), St. Basil the Great, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Cyprian of Carthage, and St. Ambrose of Milan — all were true “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

They were teachers of the whole world, heroes of faith, and their sermons and writings remain sources of doctrine for us today.

Preaching and teaching are also the work of priests

The Didascalia calls priests “teachers.” From the priest’s mouth the law is sought. Alongside their priestly duties, they serve by teaching. St. Paul says, “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).

During priestly ordination, the bishop prays, “Grant him the spirit of wisdom, that he may be filled with works of healing and words of teaching, to instruct Your people with meekness.” The bishop exhorts him, “Continue in reading and teaching the meanings of the Church’s Scriptures.”

Examples include St. John Chrysostom when he was a priest in Antioch, and in modern times, priests like Fr. Philotheos and Fr. Menassa Youhanna.

Preaching and teaching are also the work of deacons

Though deacons serve the altar and the poor, teaching is also among their duties. St. Stephen the Archdeacon taught with such wisdom that “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). The deacon St. Athanasius at the Council of Nicaea gave a strong example of the deacon’s teaching role. In modern times, figures like Habib Girgis and Iskandar Hanna devoted their lives to Christian education.

Preaching and teaching are also the work of the Readers (Anagnostis)

The Anagnostis (Reader) reads the Holy Scriptures in church, understands and interprets them to the people. Canon law reminds him: “He who fills the people’s ears with words must understand their meaning.” During his ordination, the bishop prays, “Manifest Your face upon Your servant, that he may proclaim Your holy words and teach Your commandments to Your people.”

He is also told, “You must learn the Scriptures carefully, that you may exhort the people with them.”

Conclusion

Let us care 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 at all times, encourage teachers and preachers, give them opportunities, and provide them with what they need.
To be continued, if the Lord wills and we live.

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