Formal and informal education is a ministry of the Church because education is very important in the ministry of the Church. By loving God’s norms and by meditating His commands we receive spiritual education also. We see in Ephesians 4: 11 that there was a ministry called teacher in the Church. Like Christian education the Church has taken on societal education also as a ministry. Wherever the missionaries went they began the system of public education. They worked on the realization that education and health are the two areas wherein the progress of the society lies. Christian education is more important than public education. The Church does this ministry through Sunday School and other nourishing organizations. Right from Old Testament times it is of utmost importance to teach the Word of God. For this many teachers of the law were elected.

1. Israel’s Ancient Education System : Teachers of the Law (Nehemiah 8: 1-8)
It was an important ministry among the people of Israel to teach the Book of the Law. Teachers of the Law were scholars who accepted it as their profession to teach and interpret the Book of the Law. Teacher of the Law means a Scribe (Grammateus in Greek)- Matthew 23: 2, 13, 14, 15,23, 25, 27, 29. Experts in the Law were Scribes of the Law (Nomikos- Greek) (Luke 7: 30; 10: 25; 11: 45, 46; 14:3). This word has also been translated as priest. People whose profession was to interpret written and unwritten laws were called as teachers of the law (Luke 5: 17; Acts 5: 34). Teachers of the law were advisors of the law. It was their duty to enforce the law (Matthew 12: 35; Mark 14 : 43, 53). Even though they belonged to the group of Pharisees they remained different from them. They were against the Sadducees in the problem of resurrection (Acts 23: 9). Since Christ taught authoritatively they were against Him (Matt. 7: 28, 29). Some teachers of the law persecuted Peter and John also (Acts 4:5). Though majority opposed Christ they were a few teachers of the law who believed in Him (Matt. 21: 15; 8: 19). Ezra was the head of a group who returned with Zerubabel after the Babylonian exile. He was an expert in the book of law of Moses (Ezra 7: 6, 11, 12). He was careful to study , follow and teach the Israelites the Book of Law of Jehovah. 1st day of seventh month after Nehemiah’s wall was built, men, women and all who desired to learn brought the Book of Law in front of the Church. They read it out loud so that everybody could hear it. Ezra the Scribe read this standing on a high wooden platform. That day the people cried bitterly and came to repentance. Ezra’s reading of the law and teaching it once again brought back the people of Israel.

2. Education in the New Testament Church –Teachers (Acts 18: 24- 28)
In the New Testament Church the ministry of teachers gradually formed (Ephesians 4: 11). This means one who teaches (Didaskalos- Greek).One who taught Jewish laws and customs were usually called as teachers (Luke 2: 46; Romans 2: 20). Jesus and Nicodemus were called as teachers (John 3: 2, 10). Later in the New Testament church the people who taught the Church’s teachings were called as teachers (Acts 13: 1; 1 Cor. 12: 28, 29; Ephesians 4: 11; 2 Timothy 1:11; Hebrews 5; 12; James 3: 1). Aquila and Priscilla were teachers of the Church. The family of Aquila and Priscilla were the faithful family of the 1st Century Church (Acts 18: 2, 18, 26; Romans 16: 3, 4; 1 Cor. 16: 19; 2 Timothy 4: 19). According to Claudius’ law that Jews should leave Rome, both and Aquila and Priscilla came to Corinth and got engaged in tent building. There are records that Paul also joined them in tent building and preaching (Acts 18: 1-4).When Paul left Corinth Apollos came with Paul and resided in Corinth. They received Apollos who came there taught him Christ’s way (Acts 18: 24- 28). In this way this family was a model in teaching others the Word of God.

3. Jesus the Guru- Model of all Education (Matt. 5: 1- 12)
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is very famous (Matt. 5,6,7). Many were attracted due to this teaching and accepted Jesus as a Guru. In the Bible the word teacher has been used almost 50 times. In the Old Testament three Hebrew words have been used for the translation of teacher- 1 Samuel 10: 12(Abba – Father), 1 Chronicles 25: 8 (Maven- person with understanding), Psalm 119: 99 (Melamedet- teacher). The Greek word Didaskalos has been used in the New Testament. The word comes from the root word Didasko. Teacher is the word used for Christ in New Testament (Matt. 8: 19; 12: 38; 19: 16; 22: 16, 24, 36; 22: 24; Mark 4:38; 9: 17, 38; 10: 17, 20, 35; 12: 14, 19, 32). This salutation is seen mostly in Luke. The meaning of Rabbi in John 1: 38 and Rabboni in 20: 16 is also teacher. Jesus himself acknowledges that He is teacher and Lord (John 13: 13). The nature of a teacher is seriousness.