How to Teach the Truth
This article also appears at SOLA Network.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:16–19)
In this passage, the apostle Paul tells the young church leader Timothy: Give everything you got so that when you stand before God, he approves of your work. You want to hear God say “well done.” You want to present it proudly.
Put another way, have you ever presented a project or turned in a paper where you know you did well? That feeling you felt is what it means to be unashamed of your work.
So what type of work did Paul have in mind? It was to rightly handle the word of truth. The skilled worker rightly handles scripture with accuracy, boldness, and clarity. He is a craftsman, someone who cuts straight, who sets forth without distortion.
Preaching takes place in the pulpit, but teaching God’s Word still takes place in our everyday lives—in our homes, in our small groups, and in our conversations. Can you lead and instruct others safely using Scripture?
Reading and Meditation
Let’s begin with an easy question: Have you read all of God’s word? This is the one weapon that you have to fight against false teachers and the lies of the world. It is the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of Truth. You need to read your Bible.
Maybe the concept of reading the entire Bible is intimidating. If you don’t know where to begin, go through the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Read through Paul’s letters to the churches of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Start there, and then sink your teeth into the Old Testament. If you are a worship leader or an artist of any kind, soak yourself in the Psalms. If you want to meet strong women of the faith, work your way through Ruth and Esther. And if you really want to build some spiritual muscle, eat the meat of Romans, Hebrews, Isaiah, and Daniel. After you read, you need to think about it. This is what it means to meditate on God’s Word day and night.
Interpretation and Application
Once you have started to care enough about the Bible to read it and think about it, you can now try to understand it correctly. This is what it means to have the correct interpretation of the Biblical text. We all have to start somewhere.
Grab a study Bible and read through the notes and check the cross-references. Make connections between words, phrases, ideas, and themes. Grab a commentary and check out good resources online. Listen to sermons and see how they’re structured, following the flow of the text and finding the main points.
Ask questions in Sunday School and don’t settle for mediocre small groups. Find and meet with others who are serious about Bible study. After you’ve studied, seek to apply God’s word to your life. Go from head knowledge to heart transformation. Live out what you’ve learned. Take the Bible to task. God’s word will not return empty.
Teaching the Truth
When you know what God’s Word says, and when you have lived it out yourself, you will be best prepared to begin teaching others. Faithful stewards are skilled workers, laboring with the Law of the Lord, leading others to Jesus. It is particularly important for you to see that some of Paul’s last words echo the words of Christ, as teaching is commanded in our great commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)