P aul describes the self-confident Jew as one who claims to be “an instructor of the foolish (and) a teacher of babes”. The word “instructor” ( paideutēs ) has the connotation of one who possesses great knowledge. The Jews, to whom had been “committed the oracles of God” [Romans 3:2], had the idea they alone possessed true knowledge. The rest – Gentiles – were fools. The “fool” as described in Holy Scripture denotes one who is devoid of understanding or one who is defiantly wicked. The Jews deemed themselves qualified to instruct those not having such knowledge. The Jews also saw themselves as “a teacher of babes”. The two descriptions – instructor and teacher – have a similar idea. The nuance is that whereas the “instructor” deals with the “foolish”, the teacher ( didaskalos ) deals with “babes” – proselytes who possess some truth but have not come to full maturity. It is clear from Paul’s description that the Jews arrogate to themselves the position of superior knowledge, claiming their qualification as guides, instructors and teachers. But we must not miss his sarcasm. He is saying to them, “Before you claim superior wisdom and ability, should you not begin by examining yourselves if you have the truth, and are living out that truth?” This was the failure of the Pharisees upon whom our Lord pronounced judgment, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” [Matthew 23:15]. James gives a similar warning to us who are teachers, “My brethren, be not many masters ( didaskalos ), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” [James 3:1]. “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” [Ezra 7:10]. You must study and live the word before you teach it.
LESSON
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
THOUGHT
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