Matthew 7:28, 29 - Now when Jesus finished these sayings, the effect was that the crowds were astounded at his way of teaching; for he was teaching them as a person having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 8:19 - And a certain scribe came up and said to him: 'Teacher, I will follow you wherever you are about to go.'
1 Timothy 4:7, 8 - But turn down the false stories which violate what is holy and which old women tell. On the other hand, be training yourself with godly devotion as your aim. For bodily training is beneficial for a little; but godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.
Hebrews 5:14 - But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.
Hebrews 12:11 - True, no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness.
2 Peter 2:14 - They have eyes full of adultery and unable to desist from sin, and they entice unsteady souls. They have a heart trained in covetousness. They are accursed children.
1 Peter 5:10 - But, after YOU have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called YOU to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish YOUR training, he will make YOU firm, he will make YOU strong.
1320 didaskalos – n Teacher, Master, an instructor HELPS – acknowledged for their mastery in their field of learning
1320 didasko – v To teach, instruct, impart knowledge
1128 gymnazo – v To train, exercise, discipline lit. to practice naked (games) fig. train
1129 gymnasia – n Exercise, training, discipline
1131 gymnos – adj nude, naked (abs or rel, lit or fig), bare, exposed
3101 mathetes – n disciple, learner, pupil. HELPS (from math-, the mental effort needed to think something through).
The inspiration for this piece follows a recent public talk in which the speaker dwelt at length on the training that Jesus provided for his followers. We know that Jesus was known as Teacher, The Teacher, even Good Teacher, a title that he rejected (Lu 18:19). However, from where does the idea emanate that he was a trainer, that his disciples were trained by him? Are teaching and training interchangeable terms? If not what are the differences? Training is an activity pursued with great alacrity by the WTS, and that affects everyone called a Jehovah’s Witness, but does it have any basis in Scripture? Having consulted many dictionaries, it can be safely stated that these activities are not synonymous. They are not the same. Yes, they are both means by which to impart knowledge and skills, but the methods and objectives are very different. Teaching focuses on theoretical knowledge and understanding. The aim is to stimulate critical thinking, problem-solving and analysis. Teaching aims for long-term development; the appreciative pupil who loves learning will make this a life-long endeavour. He will continue to apply the mental effort required needed to think things through. Training however is purely practical, in equipping the individual with the skills necessary to perform a certain task or job. It usually involves demonstrations, practice sessions and real-life scenarios aimed at a specific outcome. There is usually a training manual that specifies the instruction required and outlines the course that must be completed before the trainee can be said to be qualified. It is short-term and ceases once the trainee has completed the course or demonstrates suitable ability.
Teaching provides the what and why; training delivers the how.
Both terms are found in the Bible, yet the idea of training has very few instances; the verb ‘to train’ appears four times and the noun ‘training’ just once. The verb ‘to train’ is gymnazo which literally means to practice nude, naked; from the adjective gymnos – nude, naked, bare, exposed. The idea stemmed from the Greco-Roman games, the Olympics, in which contestants would train, and subsequently perform, naked, having thrown off all encumbrances that might entangle and hinder them from victory (Heb 12:1). Modern corporations have huge training budgets. For them training is vital for various reasons, but mostly reputational and financial. They have to be concerned with product quality, health and safety, efficiency, production schedules and so on. The new recruit needs to know what is expected of him and so he must be trained, often through an induction programme, to absorb the corporate values, to make the product, provide the service, in a way that aligns with the objectives of that organisation. It might range from simple on-the-job training, to elaborate classroom settings and workshop experience; it could even lead to industry-recognised qualifications. As for the employee, he might gain skills and experience that he can transfer to other employers, or that he can adapt in his own private life, but most likely this training is very specific. For example, he might be required to operate a machine. He is not required to understand why this is necessary; he does not need to know how the machine works, who designed and built it and the materials used. The employer wants him to operate it safely for x hours per day and then he can go home. That is the training that the new recruit must positively respond to in order to be useful, fit for purpose.
It is notable that in the four instances of gymnazo, it is self-training that is referred to, either in an active way or experientially. Timothy was required to train himself in godly devotion. The antithesis is mentioned by Peter, unrighteous people who are trained in greed, ‘experts in greed’ (NIV). Mature people train themselves to distinguish good from evil by honing their perceptive powers, and those who respect parental discipline, human or heavenly, are trained by it for righteousness and peace. This is by submitting to the Father and yielding to his guidance. Stubborn resistance to discipline benefits no one. At 1 Peter 5:10 the translators of NWT seem to have missed the point. In ‘will finish your training’ there is a different Greek word katartisei – to complete, repair, adjust, restore, make perfect, etc. Whilst ‘training’ is not absolutely wrong, it leads the reader astray by not alerting him that this is a different word with a different focus to that otherwise translated as training. Responding to training is very much the responsibility of the trainee, but here it is God who will perfect you, restore you, adjust you and so on. This is God’s active role in our lives through which we can see beyond our sufferings and focus on the promise of restoration. It was Jehovah who restored Job’s health, wealth and prosperity and it is Jehovah who will restore those who continue to suffer for the sake of righteousness. Training does not really come into it.
On the other hand, teaching is a central theme of the whole Bible. To serve God we must understand his laws and principles and this generates a two-fold responsibility – to learn and then to teach. Having learned, believers are then expected to guide others in the truth of God’s word. The Levites were to teach the Israelites God’s statutes and commandments. The Proverbs emphasise the value of teaching and learning. Jesus the great teacher taught through illustrations, parables and sermons. He wanted his followers to be curious, to ask questions, to think about his teachings for themselves and to apply their God-given thinking ability. The gifts to men, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were to equip the saints for their work, all of this directed by holy spirit (Eph 4:11-12, Jo 14:26). Teaching is a biblical mandate to ensure that each generation understands and lives according to God’s will. To achieve this we must understand what and why God wants.
Let us consider some of the questions posed by Jesus.
Matthew 8:26 Why are you so afraid? To his disciples who were about to drown.
Mark 8:36 Why gain the whole world and yet forfeit your soul?
Mark 14:37 Simon, are you asleep?
Matthew 16:15 Who do you say I am?
Luke 6:46 Why do you call me Lord?
Luke 24:38 Why are you troubled? He had just walked through a locked door!
John 5:6 Do you want to get well? To the man who had been paralysed for 38 years.
Matthew 6:28 Why do you worry about clothes?
Luke 12:25 Who can add one hour to his life by worrying?
John 6:5 Where are we to buy bread?
John 11:26 Do you believe this?
John 21:15-18 Do you love me? – three times!
Jesus knew the answers to every single question he posed but he wanted to hear those answers from his audience. He wanted them to introspect and then formulate and enunciate the answers themselves. Jesus did not tell his followers what to believe. Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man? Think about what I have just told you and work it out for yourself. If I simply tell you that Samaritans are your neighbours whom you should love as yourself you’ll think I am crazy.
According to zondervan.com there are 173 questions raised by Jesus and recorded in the four gospel accounts. Some are repeated according to the parallel accounts, others are followed by subsidiary questions, so the exact number depends on the method of counting employed. However they are enumerated, there are a lot of questions that Jesus used to stimulate his followers and to help them understand why they were following him. This is real teaching.
So why is the WTS so focussed on training? There are training courses for elders, for pioneers, for circuit overseers and their wives, for missionaries, for branch committees, inter alia, all focussed on those who represent and manage. Anyone who wants to be involved in construction and maintenance must be trained, even if they are already a professional in their field of expertise. Nobody is even allowed to clean a Kingdom Hall until they are suitably trained. Some of this is for insurance reasons, some for practical purposes, but ultimately it is control. The governing body determines what you should believe and how you should behave; what you can wear, how you should groom, what you may and may not celebrate, the amount and level of education you are allowed, who you can associate with. Those who are trained to be obedient simply go along with everything they are told, even though very little of it is found in the Bible, some of it is contrary to Bible teachings, and much of it is irrelevant to salvation and our love for Jesus, Jehovah and all that they have done for us.
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