²The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Paul’s teaching reflects that of Jesus, who said,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19–20)

Instead of writing his teachings down, Jesus inscribed them onto the hearts and minds of His disciples. His was an unchanging, living message. In His wisdom and sovereignty, He chose a dynamic method for propagating His message of the gospel: from faithful person to faithful person. The message that changed a person’s life was then passed on to change other lives. To be sure, Jesus’ loyal followers put into writing His collected teachings and activities, but the writings were never intended to be far from the human element in proclaiming the gospel.

The Christian message is not a set of doctrines or dry theology to which one must mentally adhere. No! It is a message of life and faith. And what better way to convey that message than through the life and faithfulness of followers of Christ? We remember that Paul said, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” So the apostle was not supplanting the Lord but was doing what the Lord instructed. The first step in the process of promulgating the message of God was the work and ministry of the apostles.

The human element has continued through the centuries as, first, the apostles communicated the truth to those who believed. (Keep in mind the only way we know about what Jesus taught was through the teachings of the apostles.) The second wave was carried forward by faithful believers whose mission was to replicate the teaching of Jesus as conveyed through the apostles. Thus the gift of apostleship continues to benefit us, even though the apostles are no longer with us. It follows that there is no longer a need for the apostles now since we have their teaching with us still, both written and carried forward by faithful people.

It may seem precarious to have the ongoing communication of God’s Word dependent on humans, fallen as we are, and given to straying from God. But the process has been divinely guided, being catalyzed by the faith of those whose lives have been changed by that message.

Lord, help me not to be the break in the chain of passing on the good news.