We read in Acts 4:13 that Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. Yet the Jewish leadership took note they had been with Jesus. Even Jesus was theologically uneducated by the standards of his day. The question was asked of him how this man got such learning without having studied (Jn.7:15). Jesus responded that his teaching came from the Father who sent him.

Yet I get the impression that there is a disdain for the average person who walks with Jesus. It is only the theological scholar that is respected. Even in this forum.

I find it interesting that those who are making the most impact for the kingdom are the common, ordinary people. Would that I woukd be a common, ordinary man and stay close to Jesus.

Blaine Scogin

I have found that Calvary Chapel is blessed with many, many unschooled ordained pastors.

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Jeff Marshalek

hi Martyr,
In what way do you think the unschooled are not considered the same as in Acts?

hi Rookie,
Is that not a contradiction "ordained" and "unschooled" or not?What schooling do you have attain before you can be ordained?
Yours Staff

I think it was Richard Baxter who said something like, "although you need the knowledge of Christ to be saved, you don't need the knowledge of a theologian."
Christ comes by way of revelation to the soul.
The law is the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, and Christ puts that law in our hearts.
The heart must be plowed, weeded, and gardened properly that the good seed spring forth to everlasting life, and bear much fruit for the glory of God. Watch over your heart with all diligence.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God... (James 1:5).
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." - 1 Cor 13:2
"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tonggues, they shall cease; whether there bbe knowledge, it shall vanish away." - 1Cor 13:8
If you seek Christ and find Him, then you really do have all things, regardless of what the world says, the flesh, or the devil.

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Richie

Actually, it's more like unlearned men who have been taught by the Holy Ghost.

Though that doesn't have much weight. There have been unlearned, unschooled men who have made shipwreck of many and also have introduced crazy teachings.

Paul was a learned man, Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

So it's not unschooled men that we should be looking for, rather men and women who are sold out whether they be noble, learned, unlearned, nobodies, weak and base, and have the Spirit of Almighty God residing in them.

I completely agree with this point. Jesus did not go to any Bible School nor did Peter. It is not Bible Scholars that are to be given the elder-ship in Church, but the one whose is able to live like Christ should be given.
Even Paul himself though he is a trained teacher of Law, he considers it worthless compared to the knowledge of Christ.

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Sreeram

dearest Blaine, you wrote:

I get what all are saying, and God will use a man as He sees fit... some uneducated and some PhD's. Stop looking at either one.

I have to laugh tho when people lump Jesus in as being "uneducated".

Seriously? You're going to call the Creator of the world, the Almighty God, the omnipotent One... God Himself... uneducated?

While Jesus grew and matured in human form as we all do, He had the knowledge of God within Him because He WAS God. Let's remember that He was completely man... AND completely GOD. The hypostatic union of God and man in Jesus did not elevate His manhood, and it did not decrease His God-hood.

So please stop saying that He was uneducated. He did not require education. That is NOT the same as John or Paul or Peter or anyone else. When you do that you take away from His diety.

The Pharisees called him uneducated, but they also called Him a drunkard and a glutton. None of those things were true.

Krispy

Jesus spoke to the "educated" men of His day and spoke of their zeal for missionary service. They would "travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte and turn him into twice the son of Hell" that they were. Matthew 23 is a scathing critique of educated men, men without fruit.

When I meet Christians, I care much less about what they know, much more whether there is tender love for Jesus present. The sweet aroma of that fellowship- oooh, it smells good in some people despite their education.

It has taken me way too many years to realize that no one has their doctrine perfected like mine... I jest of course.

Something happened to me that was surprising. Years ago I was on a short term mission trip to Guatemala. The reception and love we got from the Roman Catholics there was phenomenal, the protestants (like most of us were) were cool and some actually unfriendly. And hearing Mother Theresa describe her love for Jesus I got goosebumps! Yet the doctrines of the Roman church which seem crazy to me were not the currency of her witness.

I guess I still have a lot to learn..?

And by the way- I have very little formal Theological education!

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Tom Cameron