TEACHER!

I met Prof. Watson for the last time this week. At least for formal purposes.

In the British system of obtaining a Ph.D., a student works very closely with his or her thesis supervisor, being guided in the writing of that 100,000-word volume. This is the major task of the postgraduate (“graduate student” in the U.S.): thesis-writing commences on day 1 and concludes when the supervisor declares that you’re done. And Prof. Watson affirmed I was, a few days ago. He didn’t want to see my thesis again (and, I confess, right now, neither do I!). Only one more hurdle to cross before I traverse the Atlantic permanently—the final viva voce (oral exams), to be scheduled for late May. But the labor is essentially over! Hurrah!

It has been a privilege working with Francis. A polymath, his facility in languages, his knowledge of the New Testament, his grasp of the major works of hermeneutics in the Western canon, his insightful reading and incisive critique are, to say the least, impressive. And he is also an accomplished pianist. As one of his former Oxford classmates once confided, “The rest of us were hard-working; Francis was brilliant.” So I dropped all and journeyed 5,000 miles to sojourn, once again, in another foreign land, to work with this remarkable man for the last 18 months. A teacher par excellence. I have learnt much.

That is not to say that my learning processes terminate at this point. For everyone, education is lifelong. For the believer, especially, learning about an infinite God and His Word and His work will never cease. While this growth is our personal responsibility—self-motivated and individually driven, just as in a Ph.D.—understanding our great God and applying the Scriptures can be ably guided and appropriately influenced by spiritual, skillful, and sensitive teachers. We all need them. Every Timothy needs a Paul. Every Melanchthon, a Luther. Every disciple, a discipler. And that means every one of us needs a mentor.

A wise one will hear
and increase in learning,
And a person of understanding
will acquire wise counsel.
Proverbs 1:5

We need wise counselors who can teach us about the ways of God and workings of God from the Word of God written out in their lives. This wisdom, this skill in godly living, this development of a pattern of godliness, is what it means to grow in Christ. It is essential therefore that we heed the words of those wiser ones.

Listen to counsel
and accept discipline,
That you may be wise
the rest of your days.
Proverbs 19:20

Paul was proud to call Timothy his “son” in the faith. Here was one who listened to his mentor’s words.

Now you followed my teaching,
conduct, purpose, faith,
patience, love, perseverance,
persecutions, and sufferings ….
2 Timothy 3:10–11

Let’s make sure we have around us one, or two, or more, wiser and more mature counselors, all our lives. Let’s make sure we pay attention to their teaching, emulating their conduct, purpose, faith, love, perseverance ….

So then, brethren,
stand firm
and hold to the traditions
which you were taught ….
2 Thessalonians 2:15

And let’s be proactive about pursuing counsel. Initiating contact with mentors. Seeking them out. Respecting their wisdom. And honoring them.

But we request of you, brethren,
that you appreciate those
who diligently labor among you,
and have charge over you
in the Lord
and give you instruction,
and that you esteem them
very highly in love
because of their work.
1 Thessalonians 5:12–13