Didaskalos is the standard Greek word for a teacher or instructor, carrying overtones of recognized authority and expertise. In classical usage it could denote a chorus-trainer or schoolmaster, but in the New Testament it functions overwhelmingly as a title of respect. It is applied to Jesus more than forty times — by disciples, inquirers, and opponents alike (Matt 8:19; 12:38; Mark 4:38; John 3:2) — and the evangelist John explicitly equates it with the Hebrew Rabbi (John 1:38). Paul lists 'teachers' among the foundational gifts to the church (1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11), while James warns that 'not many of you should become teachers' given their stricter judgment (Jas 3:1). Spanish maestro, French maitre, and German Lehrer all preserve the authoritative connotation.