Those who are ordained to the ministry ought to be men who are adept at teaching, and none can meet this requirement unless they first have a good understanding of the basic doctrines and practices of the church and have a reasonably thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. No one can teach what he does not know. But even knowledge, standing alone, will not qualify a man to teach if he has no God-given abilities to convey that knowledge to God's people. A man who cannot aptly communicate his thoughts to others in an understandable way can certainly not qualify for so demanding an office as the ministry. Even if a man had all the other qualifications for the ministry, without this one he should not be ordained. 

    No church is likely to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth if they are led by a man who is not capable of teaching them from the Scriptures. It is not enough that a man merely preach but he is to teach and preach (See Matt. 11:1). And one of the reasons he must have a good knowledge of what is expected of God's people is because the requirement rests upon him to teach them to observe all things, whatsoever Christ has commanded them (See Matt. 28:20). 

    Many good men have been treated very unfairly by being put into the pulpit when they had no gift to preach and teach. Permanent damage has been done to them and to the church by laying a weight upon them that they were not qualified, or able, to carry. I know of no other one error that has done the Old Church more damage. 

    Let us thoroughly familiarize ourselves with the scriptural qualifications of the ministry and strive as best we can not to ordain men to that office who do not meet the requirements. As a result of mistakes in this regard, many a useful gift has been buried and the men who possessed them rendered detrimental to the cause they sought to represent. 

    Paul told Timothy, "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Tim. 2:2).