Therefore, any baptized believer is a teacher, either by word or example (1 Timothy 4:12-13), no matter what their age, chronologically or spiritually speaking.
A mistaken concept in the Lord's church, is that a new member must have years of teaching experience before they can successfully teach others.
Paul didn't think so. As he addresses the Jews, he asks, "You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? (Romans 2:21). In the ensuing verses, it is implied that they were not practicing what they were teaching, but the responsibility to teach was still theirs.
Question: If we can teach ourselves when we first become a Christian, through a reading and study of the Scriptures (Ephesians 3:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV), can we not we teach others, even though we might still be young in the faith? Of course we can (and should).
While there's no doubt that new converts need formal instruction and training in the Scriptures by seasoned teachers of the Word, a new convert can still teach himself, and thus by doing so, can teach others, strengthening his own faith (2 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 10:17; 2 Peter 3:18).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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