The spiritual gift of teaching – What is it?

TL;DR:

The gift of teaching is a special ability to clearly communicate God’s Word to help believers grow in faith and maturity. The spiritual gift of teaching is primarily focused on equipping the church to live out biblical truth and serves as a key part of spiritual leadership.

what does the bible say?

The spiritual gift of teaching is the special ability to clearly explain and apply God’s Word to help others grow spiritually. Because the truth of God's Word is of great importance to spiritual growth, the gift of teaching holds important value. The gift of teaching is mentioned in the New Testament as essential for building up the church and guiding believers toward maturity and unity in faith. Those with this gift help equip others to serve and live according to biblical truth. Teaching involves high accountability and is often connected to church leadership roles like pastors and elders. Ultimately, this gift strengthens the church by encouraging both knowledge and practical obedience to God’s Word.

from the old testament

The gift of teaching is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

The spiritual gift of teaching is mentioned in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 and is listed as an office of teacher or pastor-teacher in Ephesians 4. The Greek word translated "teach" is didasko, which means to "instruct." Just as Jesus taught His disciples and many others, those with the gift of teaching are called to help other people better know God's truth.
In Ephesians 4:12–13, teaching is listed as one of the leadership offices designed "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." This maturity leads to standing firm rather than being swayed by false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). It is also related to speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and the entire body growing in Christ and being built up in love (Ephesians 5:16).
Some people with the gift of teaching are additionally called to serve as elders or pastors in the local church. First Timothy 3 and Titus 1 both list the ability to teach as essential to those who lead in this role.
While not many should pursue being teachers due to the high accountability involved (James 3:1), those who are called and gifted can use their abilities to change lives for Christ.

implications for today

Though the spiritual gift of teaching can help both unbelievers and believers in Christ, the emphasis is on helping those who are already part of the church to grow in maturity and action. Both growth and application are important. James noted this aspect as well, commanding, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).

The gift of teaching can be useful in many contexts. People of all ages and backgrounds need to grow in understanding of God's Word and its application. Teaching can take place in a sermon, a class, a home, an office, and many other locations. Teaching can help those behind a desk or behind bars, serve both intellectuals and the illiterate, and change the lives of both mature and new believers.

How can you know if you have the gift of teaching? One way is to accept opportunities to share God’s Word with others, such as leading a small group or teaching a class, and observe if you have a natural ability to explain Scripture clearly and help others grow. You may also feel a strong passion and burden to see others understand and live out biblical truth. Additionally, receiving encouragement from others who recognize your teaching ability can be a sign. Ultimately, seeking God’s guidance through prayer and being open to His confirmation will help you discern if this gift is active in your life.

understand

The gift of teaching enables clear communication and application of God’s Word to help believers grow spiritually and mature in faith.
The gift of teaching is linked to church leadership and is vital for building unity and maturity in the body of Christ.
The gift of teaching requires high accountability for character and what is taught.

reflect

How do you currently engage with God’s Word in a way that helps you understand and apply it in your daily life?
How do you feel called or equipped to help others grow spiritually through teaching or sharing biblical truth?
How do you respond to the high accountability that comes with teaching or leading others in spiritual matters?

engage

How can we as believers better support and encourage those who have the gift of teaching among us?
What are some practical ways we can all grow in both knowledge and application of God’s Word, beyond just listening?
How can the church encourage strong biblical teaching alongside the humility and accountability required of teachers? In other words, how do we ensure that we don’t just look for skill in teaching, but that teachers have godly character and are consistently maturing?