Sound Doctrine

Sound Doctrine

I have yet to meet a person who is not concerned with this basic question—what does the future hold? As the Apostle Paul approached the end of his ministry, he focused his attention on the future well-being of Timothy, his “beloved child” in the faith (2 Tim. 1:2). The letters that Paul penned to Timothy were about importance matters in the faith for life and ministry. Among the topics the Apostle covered was the gospel of God, and Scripture’s divine inspiration, but he also emphasized the monumental importance of sound doctrine (2 Tim 1:8-10, 13-14; 3:16-17). Paul understood that sound doctrine is among that which matters most for the spiritual health and well-being of the individual believer and the church. It is a invaluable heritage that is to be treasured in this generation and faithfully communicated to the next (2 Tim 2:2).

So, what is doctrine? Basically, doctrine is any teaching on beliefs whether by a church, political party of other group. The Bible, for example, talks about the teachings of men (Mark 7:7–8), the teachings of demons (1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:24), and the teachings of God (John 6:45; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 John 2:27). In terms of sound doctrine, as Christians, we are concerned with divine teaching. According to one definition, doctrine is teaching from God about God that directs us to the glory of God. This provides a helpful framework of sound doctrine to identify doctrine’s source, object, and ultimate end. Let’s consider these briefly.

The Source of Sound Doctrine

The ultimate source of sound doctrine is God; however, He has chosen to teach doctrine to us through His prophets in the Old Testament and Apostles in the New Testament (2 Tim 3:16). Sound doctrine is only available to us from God’s Word and the validity of any doctrine is measured by God’s Word. Furthermore, doctrine leads us back to Scripture by equipping us to become better readers of Scripture instead of like those not instructed in sound doctrine whom are most prone to twist the meaning of the text “to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). If we acquire and adopt doctrine from any other source than the truth of Scripture, we are setting ourselves up to blaspheme our Heavenly Father and all He offers us through Christ.

The Object of Sound Doctrine

Sound doctrine has a twofold object. The primary object of doctrine is God the Father; the secondary object is all things in relation to God. Doctrine teaches us to see God as the one from whom and through whom and to whom all things exist, and doctrine directs our lives toward living for God’s glory (Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6). When we examine the twofold object of doctrine in Scripture, a pattern emerges (Rom. 6:17; 2 Tim. 1:13). The pattern of sound doctrine is (1) Trinitarian (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:4–6; Titus 3:4–7), (2) creation affirming (1 Tim. 2:13–15; 4:1–4), (3) gospel centered (1 Tim. 3:16; Titus 2:11–14), and (4) church oriented (1 Tim. 3:14–15).

The End of Sound Doctrine

Sound doctrine endorses several ends. Sound doctrine delivers us from the trap of false teaching, which threatens to stunt spiritual growth, and to enable divisiveness within the body of Christ (2 Tim. 2:24–26; Titus 1:9-11, (Eph. 4:14; Rom 16:17). Doctrine exposes God’s saving work both inside and outside the walls of the church building (1 Tim 4:16; Matt. 5:13-16; Titus 2:9–10; 1 Peter 3:1–6). Above all, doctrine promotes God’s glory. Doctrine shines forth as one of the glorious rays of God’s gospel enabling believers to walk in God’s presence and give Him the glory He deserves (1 Tim 1:10-11; 1 Peter 4:11; 2 Peter 3:18).

Church, God loves us and is gracious to us. The good gift of sound doctrine is a marvelous expression of His grace extended to us so we might know Him and the gospel of His Son and bring honor to Him as we strive to walk in the truth. Doctrine is the teaching of our heavenly Father, revealed in Jesus Christ, and transmitted to us by the Holy Spirit in Scripture. For believers, doctrine is to be received, confessed, and followed in our lives as individual believers and as a corporate body of believers. As we walk in the truth of sound doctrine we find security in our future—both in this life and in the life to come. To God be the glory!

Brent Thompson