teaching

The process of instruction and the content of instruction. Little is known of the modes of teaching used in Israel during OT and NT times. Cultural parallels suggest that some schools were established to teach reading and writing to the small percentage of the population who were literate. Occupational, cultural, and moral instruction took place within the family, clan, and village. Education at a higher level probably took place within the king’s court by scribes, and instruction in religious law was probably carried on by priests in the Temple. The books of Proverbs and Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) reflect some of the contents of higher education. The book of Deuteronomy stresses that the law of Israel must be taught and learned and this conviction continued into the rabbinic period. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is presented as a teacher, and large blocks of his teachings are spaced throughout the Gospel (Matt 5-7, Matt 10, Matt 13, Matt 18, Matt 24-25). The Pauline and post-Pauline Letters speak of an office of teacher (1Cor 12:28-29; Eph 4:11), but do not say how teaching was carried out. Faithful teaching of the gospel is also emphasized in the Pastoral Letters (1Tim 4:6, 1Tim 4:11, 1Tim 4:16; 1Tim 6:2, 1Tim 6:3).