1. The training of men presently to hold office in Christ’s Church (particularly, the offices of pastor and teacher/doctor) is warranted by Scripture in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
2. The Old Testament training of prophets to proclaim God’s Word to the people was accomplished through schools for the prophets (especially during the ministries of Elijah and Elisha). Those being trained for a prophetic ministry were called “sons of the prophets” (2 Kings 2:1-15) and assembled together in companies to teach and to be taught (1 Samuel 19:20).
3. Likewise, the New Testament training of men for the ministry is seen in those who were called the disciples (or students) of John the Baptist (Matthew 9:14; Luke 7:19), in the training of the twelve disciples by Jesus (Mark 3:14), and in the training of the seventy (Luke 10:1,17). Paul’s training of Timothy likewise provides a biblical basis for training and equipping men to
serve as officers in the church (Acts 16:1-3). Paul’s training of Timothy for the ministry was to issue forth in his training of other men (2 Timothy 2:2).
4. All biblical training for the ministry should provide the scriptural, theological, philosophical, historical, linguistic, hermeneutical, hortatory, and practical tools needed to teach, preach, and lead Christ’s flock in the paths of truth and righteousness to the glory of God and to the growth of the sheep.
5. All such training will prove to be fruitless apart from the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Just as the disciples of Christ spent three years in being trained by the Lord Jesus, Jesus not only sent them forth to minister what they had learned from Him as His disciples (students), but sent them forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). Training is not only academic, but is spiritual as well.