Teaching was important in the early church

Teaching was an important part of the work of the early church, perhaps the most important part. Being a good teacher was part of the qualifications for leadership. Knowing how to, and being able to teach was considered part of being a mature Christian.

A few verses (all KJV) that use the word, teach:
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[Comment: Jesus commanded His followers to teach.]

Acts 4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
[Comment: In the two verses above, the Sanhedrin recognized the importance of teaching, and hoped to muzzle it.]

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
[Comment: Peter and John, and the other apostles, didn't obey!]

1 Timothy 4:11 These things command and teach.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

1 Corinthians 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.
[Comment: Paul thought teaching was important.]

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,
[Comment: in the two verses above, Paul made clear that the ability to teach was important in leaders.]

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
[Comment: mature Christians should be able to teach, and not need as much instruction as immature ones.]


Notes: 1) I did not include any verses--there are quite a few--referring to Jesus as teaching.

2) Generally, I am reluctant to use the KJV in this blog, because of the changes in the language since it was produced, preferring the ASV, which is nearly three centuries newer, and also in the public domain, but in this case I have used the KJV, because it uses the word "teach" in all of these passages. The ASV doesn't.

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October 9th. Found two typos and corrected them.