Admirable it is when people want "to be teachers" (1 Timothy 1:7). Some second generation Christians were rebuked because "by this time you ought to be teachers" (Hebrews 5:12), but they were unprepared. More dangerous, however, are those eager to teach but who teach error, and do it boldly, understanding "neither what they say nor whereof they confidently affirm" (1 Timothy 1:7, ASV).

Unfortunately the eager false teachers of Paul's day have descendants in our day. In a large congregation the preacher and class teachers affirmed confidently a no works, no law theology, and even ridiculed regular church attendance as a childish endeavor seeking "Brownie points."

But the preacher (on a $2,000 a month salary), when asked for a sermon about the judgment day, lost his ability to affirm confidently: "I don't have that worked out yet." One of the members handed him a list of Scriptures about the judgment day (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Matthew 11:20-25; 12:41-42; 25:31; Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 John 4:17; Revelation 20:15-20) to build his confidence, but to no avail.

An experienced gospel preacher, one with "an understanding of the times" (cf. 1 Chronicles 12:32), sadly remarked, "Many preachers affirm nothing confidently any more."