3:1 masters. “Masters” here means “teachers.” The gift of teaching (I Corinthians 12:28) is from God and involves great responsibility. It is presumptuous for anyone to try to teach God’s Word unless he has been called and prepared by God to do so in its truth and fullness. He must first believe in its absolute authority and perspicuity, be a diligent student of the Word (II Timothy 2:15), and be “apt to teach” (II Timothy 2:24-25).