Proposition: 
The Scriptures teach that all or most of the public preaching and teaching of a congregation may 
be restricted to a single individual      

I appreciate the opportunity to continue this study by affirming this proposition.  This is the 
contrast to my opponent’s proposition.  Jeremy has affirmed a mutual male ministry that forbids 
any congregational teaching program which does not insert every brother in a endless loop of 
rotating teachers.  In this matter, as in all such concerns, we must be content only with what the 
Bible teaches.  To that end I present this affirmation.       

‘Scripture’ I take to be the whole of revelation, as known by the 66 books of the Bible, with 
particular weight given to the New Testament.  ‘Teach ‘ is the imparting of the divine intent 
through the reasonable use of its words. The remainder needs no clarification, with one possible 
exception.  The predicate ‘may be restricted’ suggests the practice in question is permitted, but not 
demanded.  Thus one man is allowed to do all or most of the public preaching and/or teaching if 
congregational circumstances deem this expedient.       

Such circumstances are clearly seen in the earliest days of the church.  Just after Pentecost several 
thousand converts needed instruction in their new faith, and thus ‘they were continually devoting 
themselves to the apostles’ teaching’ [Acts 2:42].  This small group of men were the only 
instructors for this growing body of believers at this time.  How long did it last?  No one knows 
for sure, but at this time and place the few were the teachers of the many.       

A few years later the gospel went to Gentiles, and new converts were found at Antioch.  ‘And the 
news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to 
Antioch.  Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to 
encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord’ [Acts 11:22,23].  How long did 
this situation last?  Again, no one knows for sure, but at this time and place one man’s mission 
was to encourage all the others.  Of course, in time Saul joined him in the work and the two of 
them ‘taught considerable numbers’ 
[verse 26].       

The same approach is evident in the snapshot of a single church meeting described in Acts 20.  As 
a seven-day visit concluded with the breaking of bread on the Lord’s day, Paul spoke to the 
brethren at length.  Some of the meeting seems to have included dialogue, but the bulk of the 
meeting was given to Paul and ‘he prolonged his message until midnight’ [verse seven].      

Later in the same chapter Paul discussed his earlier work at Ephesus where he taught ‘publicly and 
from house to house’ [verse 20].  Looking back, he remembered this as a time when ‘night and 
day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears’ [verse 31].His 
work paid rich dividends later, as seen in this group of elders now ‘able to teach’ [1 Timothy 3:2].  
Paul did as he later instructed Timothy to do, entrusting the gospel to faithful individuals able to 
teach others also [2 Timothy 2:2].  These passages are worthy of close attention.  Paul knew some 
men are able to teach, while others are not.  Try as one might, wish as one could, seldom does one 
find a congregation in which all men are able to teach.  Some don’t have the knowledge, some 
don’t have the will, others don’t have the maturity.  Are we to force such men to teach when they 
are not apt to teach?       

Paul settled at Corinth, teaching brethren [Acts 18:11].  Later he spoke of this as a time when he 
‘planted’ and ‘laid a foundation’  When Apollos followed him in the work, he ‘watered’ and was 
‘building upon’ this foundation [1 Corinthians 3:6,10].       

Teaching and preaching requires knowledge, skill, and maturity.  While the young have room to 
grow in all three areas, no one should be required to preach when he is lacking in these traits.  Paul 
recognized this danger when he spoke of ‘some men [who] have turned aside to fruitless 
discussion, wanting to be teachers of the law, even though they do not understand  either what 
they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions ‘ [1 Timothy 1:6,7].       

The writer of Hebrews likewise knew that teachers are not produced quickly.  It requires time for 
one to be a teacher [Hebrews 5:12], and without such patience a new convert can become 
conceited and fall into the trouble [1 Timothy 3:6]. 

If brethren enjoy a circumstance in which they have several who can preach and teach [as seen in 
Acts 13:1], then more power to them, as we say.  Let those able to teach rise to the occasion, but 
let none demand the same service from those not able to teach.  And so in other settings, who can 
forbid a few men to teach, or even one brother to preach regularly, should brethren decide it 
expedient?       

Time constraint forces this article to be short, but we will hope to expand our case as the 
discussion continues.  May we avoid worldly and empty chatter in favor of a serious study which 
is practical and productive. 

Steve Bobbitt