I also agree that we should not change God's Word, and we must be very careful in how we study and what we present (
II Timothy 2:15; Luke 8:18; James 3:1). However, the word,
teachers, is present in
Matthew 28:10 in
multiple translations:
"But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ." (Matthew 23:8-10 NKJV)
But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. And call no one your 'father' on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one teacher, the Christ." (Matthew 23:8-10 NET)
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ." (Matthew 23:8-10 NIVO)
True, some translations use other words, such as:
master,
leader, or
instructor (KJV, ASV, NAS, NIV, ESV, RSV), but do they not mean the same as the word,
teacher, even in our own tongue? And, are they not as equally as valid, as evidenced by the following Greek-English lexicons?
- strictly guide, leader; in the NT teacher, instructor (Friberg, #14506)
- teacher, leader, master (UBS, Barclay Newman, #3151)
- one who provides instruction and guidance - 'teacher, instructor.' (Louw-Nida, #33.245)
- a. properly, a guide: Numen. quoted in Ath. 7, p. 313 d. b. a master, teacher: Matt. 23:8 R G, 10. (Thayer, #2656)
- teacher (Gingrich, #3302, p.97)
So, the Greek word,
kathegetes, also seems to support the translation,
teacher, according to several lexicons.
The work of teachers is an essential and critical work in the church (
Ephesians 4:11). Now, I am
not teaching that the
work of teachers is unscriptural, just like I am
not teaching the
work of fathers are unscriptural (
Matthew 23:9). I am
not saying that you cannot even recognize or call them as such. The point that Jesus made is that we are
not to
elevate men with titles
in general:
"They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:6-12 NKJ)
Jesus merely cites 3 examples to this principle: rabbi, father, and teacher. The same lesson would apply to
any title that elevates men over their brethren. So, for example, although I may be a Bible teacher, no one should call me, Teacher M273P15C. Furthermore, although we have elders and deacons at the local church of which I am a member, I do not call them as Elder Peter, Elder John, Deacon Timothy, Deacon Titus, etc. I simply call them as Peter, John, Timothy, Titus, etc. (Names were changed to protect the innocent.
)
I hope this helps. If you are still concerned, please explain why.
Thanks for your concern. May God help us to have a sincere love of truth,
m273p15c