Preachers need to always remind themselves of Paul's own view of preaching. Here are five important principles taken from his first letter to Timothy:

5. Preaching requires a devotion to the truth

Alongside the previous point we see that, as the climax of the personal instructions to Timothy, he is told to watch his life and doctrine as through this means he will be the agent of salvation (1 Tim 4:16).  It should be noted that this comes at the end of a section where Paul has used verbs of great intensity to underline what is required of Timothy.  He is to be devoted to this public ministry of reading scripture, preaching and teaching. He is to be diligent, giving himself completely to the task and he is to persevere (1 Tim 4:13-16).  This commitment to the truth is undergirded at the very end with the stirring call for Timothy to guard the deposit (6:20), such is its value.  The preacher must be devoted above all to the word of God.

Editor's note: this week's posts are taken from our forthcoming book Teaching 1 Timothy written by Angus MacLeay – it will be available in the summer. We wanted to encourage preachers with a biblical view of preaching as it is found in this important letter. 

Preachers need to always remind themselves of Paul's own view of preaching. Here are five important principles taken from his first letter to Timothy:

4. Preaching must be based on a platform of godly living

One of the distinctive contributions of 1 Timothy is the amount of material devoted to the need for godly living for the church leader and preacher.  Not only is it an essential qualification that the church needs to consider in appointing the preacher (1 Tim 3:1-7), but in the ongoing work training in godliness is vital, as witnessed in the teaching to Timothy himself at 1 Tim 4:6-8.  The way we live does affect the way we preach and how we are heard.

Editor's note: this week's posts are taken from our forthcoming book Teaching 1 Timothy written by Angus MacLeay – it will be available in the summer. We wanted to encourage preachers with a biblical view of preaching as it is found in this important letter. 

Preachers need to always remind themselves of Paul's own view of preaching. Here are five important principles taken from his first letter to Timothy:

3. Preaching requires appropriate gifts but also hard work

The distinctive qualification of the overseer is that he is able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2).  Though deacons are required to be capable of holding on to the deep truths of the faith, there is a recognition that without the distinctive gifting of being able to teach they are not able to fulfil the main leadership and preaching role.  However, though the overseer/elder needs this gifting, the chief mark which Paul highlights as deserving of respect is that they direct the affairs of the church wisely and work hard, indeed labour, at preaching and teaching (1 Tim 5:17). This is underlined by the quotation from the Old Testament in which the preacher is compared to the ox laboriously treading out the grain (1 Tim 5:18).  It may not be a flattering picture for the gifted preacher to be viewed as an ox but the point is that preaching is hard work and deserves all our strength and mental application.

Editor's note: this week's posts are taken from our forthcoming book Teaching 1 Timothy written by Angus MacLeay – it will be available in the summer. We wanted to encourage preachers with a biblical view of preaching as it is found in this important letter. 

Preachers need to always remind themselves of Paul's own view of preaching. Here are five important principles taken from his first letter to Timothy:

2. Preaching is based on a clear message about Christ

At 1 Timothy 2:3-7 Paul gives a concise explanation of the way preaching the gospel to the nations/Gentiles flows from a clear doctrinal conviction about the nature of God, the person of Christ and substitutionary atonement.  Preaching which does not proceed from these doctrines will always lack conviction and substance.

Editor's note: this week's posts are taken from our forthcoming book Teaching 1 Timothy written by Angus MacLeay – it will be available in the summer. We wanted to encourage preachers with a biblical view of preaching as it is found in this important letter. 

Preachers need to always remind themselves of Paul's own view of preaching. Here are five important principles taken from his first letter to Timothy:

1. Preaching flows out of a passion for Christ and the gospel

At various points we see Paul gripped by the message of grace and the wonder of knowing God (1 Timothy 1:15-17; 6:14-16).  His praise of God is not strictly speaking required in his argument but the words about God tumble out indicating his passion.  Genuine preaching that warms the congregation and causes hearts to burn (Luke 24:32) must come from hearts already on fire for Christ and the gospel.  The preacher, like Paul, may need to remind himself of the glory of the gospel of grace as Paul does at 1 Timothy 1:12-15 in order to burn with passion for Christ in the pulpit.

Editor's note: this week's posts are taken from our forthcoming book Teaching 1 Timothy written by Angus MacLeay – it will be available in the summer. We wanted to encourage preachers with a biblical view of preaching as it is found in this important letter.