Sound Doctrine
“The time will come,” Paul wrote to Timothy, “when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in
all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full
proof of thy ministry.” [
2 Timothy 4:3-5
.]
“Sound doctrine” is Bible truth—truth that will promote piety and
devotion, confirming God’s people in the faith. Sound doctrine means
much to the receiver; and it means much, too, to the teacher, the
minister of righteousness; for wherever the gospel is preached, every
laborer, whatever his line of service, is either true or untrue to his
responsibility as the Lord’s messenger.
Paul wrote again, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with
Him, we shall also live with Him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with
Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: if we believe not, yet He
abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself. Of these things put them in
remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about
words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.” [
2 Timothy
2:11-14
.]
Some who in Paul’s day listened to the truth, raised questions of
no vital importance, presenting the ideas and opinions of men, and
seeking to divert the mind of the teacher from the great truths of the
gospel, to the discussion of non-essential theories and the settlement
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of unimportant disputes. Paul knew that the laborer for God must be
wise enough to see the design of the enemy, and refuse to be misled or
diverted. The conversion of souls must be the burden of his work; he
must preach the word of God, but avoid controversy.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God,” he wrote, “a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more
ungodliness.” [
2 Timothy 2:15, 16
.]
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