WLC 159

Q159. How is the word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?

They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.

Proof texts

• Titus 2:1,8 — [1] But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. [8] and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
• Acts 18:25 — [25] He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
• 2 Tim. 4:2 — [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
• 1 Cor. 14:19 — [19] Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
• 1 Cor. 2:4 — [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
• Jer. 23:28 — [28] Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD.
• 1 Cor. 4:1-2 — [1] This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
• Acts 20:27 — [27] for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
• Col. 1:28 — [28] Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
• 2 Tim. 2:15 — [15] Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
• 1 Cor. 3:2 — [2] I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
• Heb. 5:12-14 — [12] For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, [13] for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
• Luke 12:42 — [42] And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
• Acts 18:25 — [25] He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
• 2 Cor. 5:13-14 — [13] For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. [14] For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
• Phil. 1:15-17 — [15] Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. [16] The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. [17] The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
• Col. 4:12 — [12] Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
• 2 Cor. 12:15 — [15] I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
• 2 Cor. 2:17 — [17] For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
• 2 Cor. 4:2 — [2] But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
• 1 Thess. 2:4-6 — [4] but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [5] For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness. [6] Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
• John 7:18 — [18] The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
• 1 Cor. 9:19-22 — [19] For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. [20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. [21] To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
• 2 Cor. 12:19 — [19] Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
• Eph. 4:12 — [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
• 1 Tim. 4:16 — [16] Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
• Acts 26:16-18 — [16] But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, [17] delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles — to whom I am sending you [18] to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Titus 2:1,8 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 27 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q88 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WCF 27.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q88 · WCF 27.1 · HC Q65 · BC 8.1 · BC 8.2 · BC 8.3 · 1689 28.1