[Ohio]

Originally Posted by John

In the verses you cite, I do not see that Paul had schools with the purpose of training leaders. I see no formal program or process (or, dare I say, “system”) in which he was training selected believers to be leaders. First, here is Acts 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. - (Act 19:8-10 NASB)

Of course, John, there are no scripture delineating some course of leadership training, but there are cases where Paul took opportunity to train leaders. Here are my observations from these verses --

• Paul took the disciples away from those who spoke evil of the way
• Paul was in this setting with only desirous disciples/believers
• Paul taught daily in this school, not just Sunday morning service
• Paul had opportunity for two years to develop the disciples
• The fruit of this was that all in Asia heard the word of the Lord

Originally Posted by John

As you can read in context, even though Paul used Tyrannus’s school, he was not presenting training materials for the Christian leaders of tomorrow. He was not reasoning with the disciples (or some select group of novitiates). He was reasoning and persuading those who would listen about the kingdom of God. When the environment in the synagogue became not conducive to his discussions, he moved to a school building and continued, preaching the word of the Lord and reaching all in Asia. It sounds like these were gatherings with the purpose to bring people to salvation to me.

If Paul was not training Christian leaders of tomorrow, what was he doing? He was teaching them the truths of the kingdom of God. He was equipping them in the gospel work. He was training shepherds to care for others. Paul was developing the next generation of elders, deacons, evangelists, shepherds, teachers, etc.

I frankly don't understand your statements, "I do not see that Paul had schools with the purpose of training leaders. He was not reasoning with the disciples." How do we distinguish between the disciples and those who "would listen to about the kingdom of God"? I'm quite sure Paul would measure his words according to the audience, but I believe that Paul labored to pass on everything he knew, and all that he was, and all that he himself was doing for the Lord. In a nutshell, Paul was struggling to reproduce himself in the disciples at the school of Tyrannus, proven by the fruit after two years.

John, perhaps our discussion here is simply one of semantics. I am in no way justifying "the stuff" that goes on at the FTTA or the Catholic monasteries of my youth, but I am saying that Paul took many opportunities to train future leaders. Paul trained Timothy and Titus to train future leaders. He told Timothy to lay these things before the brothers, (I Tm 4) charge and teach these things, being a pattern to them, etc. II Tim 2.2 repeats this charge, "and the things which you have heard from me through many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who will be competent to teach others also."