Luke was a physician, "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), but he was not a doctor! The title "doctor" was not worn by medical men in Luke's time, but teachers were then called doctors. Therefore one reads that Jesus reasoned with "the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2:46,47). Again, in Acts 5:34 it is written: "Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space."
Therefore, teachers were the first to be called doctors and the title was applied to medical men, perhaps because they were recognized as learned men. Jesus' attitude toward the title is expressed in Matthew 23:10, in the Geneva Bible, the 1560 edition, in the following manner: "Be not called doctors: for one is your doctor, even Christ." Knowing how Jesus felt about wearing the title, it is not likely that Luke ever used the title in his lifetime. To call him "doctor" is to commit a serious error, to say the least, a misleading anachronism. If one wants to be correct, he will not call Luke "Doctor."
Only recently have men begun to call themselves "doctors" at church functions. When I began to preach during the mid 30's I cannot recall even one individual who allowed himself to be called doctor. Men then simply did not wear the title in the church.
To call men "doctor" at a church function is a departure from former practice. Brother Clem Thurman, writing upon the subject, wrote in Gospel Minutes on March 21, 1997 the following: "When I preached in Abilene, Texas thirty years ago, I became good friends with dozens of men on the faculty of ACU, nearly all of whom had earned doctorate degrees (Ph.D or similar). At academic functions they were usually called 'doctor' but at church functions, every one of them refused the title Doctor. And they were right."
"Ye are all one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28) means that all titles, which by their very nature separate us, are prohibited. We are truly to be "one in Christ." The Lord does not permit His people to wear titles in His church.
An historic discussion between Ira M. Boswell, a minister for the Christian church, and N. B. Hardeman, a minister for the church of Christ, took place in Nashville, Tennessee in 1923. In that discussion, Boswell said in the very beginning of the first night's session, "Just here let me offer a word that I may put myself right -- that is I never refer to myself as 'Doctor'...I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be a 'Reverend.'" And he said this at the beginning of the discussion in that he had been introduced as "the Rev. Dr.," and so his brethren "may not misunderstand."
Therefore, in order to keep the record straight, remember that Luke is not an example of one who used the title "Doctor" in the church, neither should he be called doctor at church functions today! Therefore, as Jesus said: "Be not called doctors: for one is your doctor, even Christ."
To those who love the Lord this will be enough said to get them to refrain from the use of all titles that will elevate to different levels in the church of the Lord.
Think on these things.
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