… and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine…
Summary: Paul and Timothy both know what “sound doctrine” is. You can see it in the letter that Paul writes to Timothy.
Since this is part of one of Paul’s famous “paragraph long” sentences, let’s look back and see how we got here. He begins with an introduction: “We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.” Then he starts his sentence with, “We also know that the law is made… for lawbreakers and rebels…” Eventually, he gets around to “…and for whatever else is contrary to … sound doctrine…”
Which leads us to ask, “What is sound doctrine?”
Paul gives us a partial answer back in verse five:
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5)
In another letter, Paul writes:
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10)
It sounds like the heart of sound doctrine is love (agapē). But what is love? The Bible answers this simply:
“God is love.” (1 John 4:16)
The logic is inescapable. Sound doctrine is all about love (agapē), and since God is love, it is all about God.
But what about the details?
This is where we work our way back through the pages of Scripture, tracing out the threads that connect a specific doctrine to God’s love. The threads we are looking for are tied to Jesus.
For example, Jesus summarizes “all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40) in two simple commands: love God above all else, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).
This, in turn, summarizes the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:7-21).
In time, we find ourselves reading Gospel passages like Matthew, chapter five, where Jesus teaches us the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-10). Each “thread” leads us back to the heart of the Gospel, love.
Finally, we come to the end of the threads where we find “seeds” (Matthew 13:31-32). These are the seeds of love. They grow into beautiful trees bearing amazing fruit …
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)
Application: Test doctrines by looking for the threads that lead to the cross of Jesus.
Food for Thought: How do we know if a teaching is “unsound?”
The word used for doctrine could also be translated as teaching. And also according to Bible Hub, the word used for “sound” refers to wholeness, good health – being safe and sound. If a teaching is inconsistent with the whole of Scripture it is unsound. It is not a healthy or safe teaching. If it clearly inconsistent with the whole counsel of Scripture, it is not safe to adopt.
Thanks, Rich!
I guess that means we should read our Bibles! 🙂
How do we know if a teaching is “unsound?”
So much that can be said here!
Unsound doctrine is anything that denies:
The absolute sovereignty and Holiness of God, His love, grace, and provision for mankind.
Psalm 115:3
English Standard Version
3 Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
Psalm 99:9
9 Exalt the Lord our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the Lord our God is holy!
That mankind is completely dependent on God for all aspects of life.
Romans 11:36
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
That sin reigns in our heart until we accept the gift of redemption through Christ brought about by His willing sacrifice. That it is Christ’s redemptive work that brings our salvation, not our own works.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That by accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, our obedience to Him empowers us to do good works in His name, which serves God’s Will.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
That we are then dead to sin and alive in Christ.
Romans 6:11
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
That we turn from sin because we have been given evidence of God’s Spirit, and our desire is to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, serving God and serving others in love.
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
That the Holy Spirit is both our seal and down-payment for eternity.
Ephesians 1:14
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
That in Christ we have hope for full reconciliation with God in Heaven, and can abide in His presence for eternity.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
That Christ abides in us, and that our awareness of His presence is measured according to our abiding in Him.
John 15:4
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Thank you, Chris!
Well thought out and well written!
Well done Guy’s!
I agree! 🙂