Sometimes, when you read things, they hit you. Here's 1Ti 4:16 (ESV, Greek is UBS4/NA27):
|
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. |
16 ἔπεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, ἐπίμενε αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν καὶ σεαυτὸν σώσεις καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντάς σου. |
I thought of this during lunch today while reading 2 Clement 10.5 (Ehrman's edition, Greek from Lake's edition):
|
5 It would be tolerable if they alone were doing these things; but now they persist in teaching such evil notions to innocent people, not knowing that they will bear a double penalty — both they and those who listen to them. |
5 καὶ εἰ μὲν αὐτοὶ μόνοι ταῦτα ἔπρασσον, ἀνεκτὸν ἦν· νῦν δὲ ἐπιμένουσιν κακοδιδασκαλοῦντες τὰς ἀναιτίους ψυχάς, οὐκ εἰδότες, ὅτι δισσὴν ἕξουσιν τὴν κρίσιν, αὐτοί τε καὶ οἱ ἀκούοντες αὐτῶν. |
The interesting item, of course, is the “double reward” of 1Ti 4:16, saving one's self and one's hearers; compared with the posited “double penalty” of 2Cl 10.5, dooming one's self and one's hearers.
Those of us who teach have a responsibility to teach correct doctrine (one of the major focuses of the Pastoral Epistles). It is easy, for me anyhow, to get wrapped up in the material and forget about the primary responsibility. I need to do better at that.