The apostle Paul was a preacher. In the New Testament there are a number of texts in which he tells us that he preached (Acts 20:25; 1 Cor. 1:23; 15:11; 2 Cor. 1:19). In addition, we also find accounts in the book of Acts in which the author tells us that Paul preached (Acts 9:20; 28:31). We are even given some information about what Paul spoke about when he preached. Shortly after he became a believer in Jesus we are told in very general terms that he preached that Jesus is God’s Son and the Messiah (Acts 9:20, 22). Even more specifically we actually have some of the content of Paul’s sermons that he preached in different places (Acts 13:16-41; 17:22-31). Paul devoted multiple decades to preaching. Though the church in Corinth at one time expressed their displeasure with his public speaking (2 Cor. 10:10) I doubt that anyone can seriously deny that he was an effective preacher. The proof of his effectiveness is that he founded and discipled congregations in multiple locations in the first century world. 

In Paul’s day there were no Christian magazines, so we have no records of anyone interviewing him to pick his brain about preaching. If he were alive today someone would surely interview him and ask what he believed to be the essential principles of effective preaching or teaching. While no tape recordings of his sermons exists, and no interviews were done, I think that we can find out what he considered important by examining what he wrote. Below we will look at two passages that he wrote to others and one that he wrote about himself. As we look at these texts we will see three things that Paul considered to be important characteristics of preaching and teaching.

The Substance of Preaching and Teaching

In the book of 2 Timothy Paul wrote to his friend and coworker who was at that time in the city of Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3). It is clear from what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:10-11 that the two men had a rich history, they had lived through some challenging situations together. In the opening verses of 2 Timothy 4 Paul gave Timothy a solemn charge and told him to “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2 NIV 1984). In these words the apostle reveals to us what the substance, or content, of preaching or teaching should be; it should be the Word of God. Stated differently it should be the Scriptures. This is what preachers are called to declare. This was also stated as a priority in Paul’s first letter to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:13). In these texts Paul advocated a practice that he himself followed. In the biblical passages which contain the actual texts of his sermons we can see that he preached the Word of God. For example, in Paul’s sermon in Acts 13:16-41 he made multiple references to Old Testament people and events. He mentioned the judges, Samuel, Saul, and David. He also mentioned the Israelites time in Egypt, their exodus from it, and their wanderings in the wilderness. He then went on to speak about people and events that we have in our New Testament Scriptures. He mentioned John the Baptist and Jesus and made reference to both Jesus’ death and resurrection. If Paul were preaching today we would say he utilized both the Old and New Testament Scriptures. Modern-day ministers should also be able to use both in their preaching and teaching. 

Contemporary sermons may at times include things like song lyrics, poems, and references to televisions shows, and current events. The use of these things in sermons is fine but all of them need to be subservient to the Word of God. They should only be referenced to help highlight the teachings of the Scriptures. And this is the reason: People are to live by “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4 NIV). The task of the preacher is to declare the Word of God and apply it to the lives of men and women in the situations that they encounter in life

The Seriousness and Soundness of Preaching & Teaching

In another of the Pastoral letters, the book of Titus, Paul gave some advice about teaching to another one of his coworkers. Paul had commissioned Titus to take care of some unfinished business in the ministry on the island of Crete and to appoint elders in the churches there (Titus 1:5). This was a significant responsibility that was entrusted to this man. I would like to call your attention to Paul’s counsel about teaching in a couple of verses in chapter two (Titus 2:7-8). I believe that what he wrote in these verses holds true for preaching as well. As you read the text you will find that two of the key points that emerge from it are seriousness and soundness. The references to “integrity” and “soundness of speech” speak of the accuracy of what is taught (Titus 2:7-8 NIV). Preachers need to get it right! Sloppy or lazy presentations of the truth will not do. We have seen the hazards of this type of preaching in our own day. Perhaps you have heard a preacher emphasize one aspect of the truth and completely ignore other relevant Scriptures that should have been brought up to clarify, or balance out, the text that was being preached. When this happens the whole counsel of God is not being brought to the people. This results in a lopsided, indeed at times, misleading and inaccurate presentation of what the Bible teaches. Healing is one topic that has been handled inadequately by some. The preaching of the Scriptures is to be done with great care. The Bible itself urges this upon those who present the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15). In fact, another New Testament writer, James, tells us that teachers will be “judged more strictly” (Jas. 3:1 NIV). No preacher in good conscience would want to be open to the charge of misrepresenting God. Peter and Jude tell us that this is something that false teachers do (2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4). Whether one preaches topically or expositionally the accurate presentation of the biblical text should be a top priority. The Scriptures serve many purposes (see 2 Tim. 3:16), and we need all of them. Sometimes the message is not popular, but it is needed. The truth also needs to be presented in a serious manner. Those who listen need to understand that what they are hearing is not to be taken lightly, it is not something they can ignore without peril. God really does expect people to do what He says. Obedience is a sign of our love for the Lord (John 14:15, 23) and the instructions the Lord gives us in His Word are a sign of His love for us.

The Spirit in Preaching 

The material I present in the previous section placed a lot of responsibility on the human instrument, the preacher or teacher. He or she is called upon to give a sound and serious presentation of the truth. This requires great care and preparation. However, effective preaching or teaching is not solely a human activity. The Scriptures are the divinely inspired text and the preacher or teacher is the human instrument, but there is one more very important aspect of preaching that Paul mentioned in his writings. I am speaking of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowered Paul’s preaching ministry. He mentioned this in two of his letters, the first letter to the Corinthians and the first letter to the Thessalonians (1 Cor. 2:1-5; 1 Thess. 1:5). The Spirit took the message he proclaimed in these cities and made it effective. The proof of this is that Paul founded churches in both places. In our day we have the Scriptures and many resources to help us understand them better. We should make use of these tools. But if we stop at this point, and do not seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit on our labors we will not be as effective as we could be. Our divine mission requires a divine empowerment. We may admire Paul’s commitment, drive, and intellect, and he brought all of them to his ministry, but let us not lose sight of his power. He depended on the Holy Spirit. We also need the Spirit’s ministry today. The Word and the Spirit truly do work together!

Conclusion 

In this article we have looked at some principles of preaching and teaching that the apostle Paul mentioned in his writings. While these three principles are not a complete list of the important things to consider in the ministry of the Word of God they do provide some key points for us to focus on. No preacher or teacher will ever outgrow the need for these essential principles. These basics are crucial to a faithful and fruitful proclamation of the Word of God. In our pursuit of making a difference for the Lord, let us give ourselves to following the proven principles used by Paul and others who broke ground for the gospel and helped disciple the first generation of Christians.

John P. Lathrop is a graduate of Zion Bible Institute and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is an ordained minister with the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. He has written articles and book reviews for a number of publications including: the Pneuma Review, the Africanus Journal of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Christian Trends Magazine, in India, and  Berita Mujizat and Jurnal Jaffray, both in Indonesia. He is also the author of four books.