Ultimately, every Bible teacher falls into one of two categories: those whom God approves and those He does not.
We can discuss teaching styles, methods, and personalities—discussion or lecture, expository or topical, inductive or deductive, creativity or conventionality. We can weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each. But those distinctions, important as they may be, are not the final measure of a Bible teacher. When everything else is stripped away, there are only two categories that ultimately matter. And the distinction between them comes down to one thing: whether the teacher correctly handles the Word of God.
Paul instructed Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, CSB).
Each phrase in this verse carries weight:
• Be diligent: This conveys intentionality and urgency. Teaching the Bible is a task not to be taken lightly; it’s a sacred responsibility demanding focused commitment. John MacArthur says the diligent teacher “gives maximum effort to impart God’s truth as completely, as clearly, and as unambiguously as possible.”
• to present yourself to God: To “present yourself to God” is to place yourself and your handling of His Word before Him for His examination. The Bible teacher ultimately teaches for an audience of One.
• as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed: God’s pleasure is the ultimate goal; His approval matters most. “We speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God” (1 Thess. 2:4, NIV).
• correctly teaching the word of truth: Paul used the word “worker” in this verse, and this is what the work is: to “correctly” teach “the word of truth.”
The Greek term translated “correctly teaching” (orthotomeō) comes from a compound word meaning “to cut a straight path.” In the Greek translation of the Old Testament it carries this idea, describing the act of laying out a road or path along a straight and direct course (Prov. 3:6).
The teacher God approves is one who cuts God’s Word straight. John Stott explains this to mean being “accurate on the one hand and plain on the other in our exposition.” Accuracy in our understanding of Scripture matters. Clarity in our explanation of Scripture also matters.
Based on this verse, a comparison of the teacher whom God approves and one He does not approve might look like this:
The Teacher God Approves | The Teacher God Does Not Approve |
| Has focused commitment | Careless with God’s truth |
| Seeks God’s approval | Motivated by personal agendas |
| A worker; actively labors in the truth | Avoids the hard work of rightly handling Scripture |
| Has no reason to be ashamed | Has reason to be ashamed |
| Handles the Word of God accurately | Distorts or misuses the Word of God |
| Communicates the truth clearly so others can understand | Confuses or obscures the truth |
In light of this verse, ask yourself these questions:
• Am I willing to do the hard work necessary to interpret Scripture accurately and contextually?
• Do I genuinely desire God’s approval more than the approval of people?
• When I teach, am I explaining what the biblical text means—or using the text to say what I want to say?
• Do I communicate biblical truth in a way that others can understand it for themselves?
