The words "sound doctrine" are only found in the letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1). We are commanded to fight for sound (i.e., healthy) doctrine (teachings) [2 Tim. 4:2-3], but very few of us know what healthy doctrine is. The very last letters Paul wrote were those to Timothy and Titus, who each had 20+ years of congregational community experience. In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul wrote, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course." These letters were the last teachings Paul left behind. In them, he was careful to explain healthy teaching.
"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may instruct the young women in sensibility: to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be slandered.
Likewise urge the younger men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be a model of good works, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in word which is irreproachable, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
Urge slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not contradicting, not pilfering, but demonstrating all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in everything." Titus 2:1-10
This, fellow believers, is Paul's definition of 'sound doctrine.' It turns out that healthy doctrine is focused on all the same things that Scripture, the new birth, grace, the fellowship of the Congregation, and the atonement are focused on. Good deeds! Take notice of all the 'to be' rather than 'to believe' statements. Sound doctrine is to be "temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance." Sound doctrine is teaching that produces godly living. Sound doctrine leads toward good deeds. Paul emphasizes this in his second letter to Timothy:
"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to depart from wickedness."" (2:19)
The next time sound doctrine is brought up to you, tell the person that you are consumed with being sound in faith, love, and perseverance. When the other person asks why that came up, read them Titus 2:1-2. It might also be fun to follow up with 1 Timothy 1:3-7:
"As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions." 1 Timothy 1:3-7
Read the context surrounding 1 Timothy 1:10, 2 Timothy 4:3, and Titus 1:9 and 2:1. Sound doctrine produces good deeds. Healthy doctrine has more to do with obedience to Jesus than it does to things we can only speculate over. Observe some sound doctrine below:
- Believe in your heart that Yahweh raised Jesus from the dead and confess with your mouth that Jesus is King (Rom. 10:9-10). Then be baptized for the release/forgiveness of sins and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
- Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to Yahweh in King Jesus (Rom. 6:11).
- Read the Scriptures and use them to teach, reprove, correct, and instruct in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Find like-spirited people who will do the same for you. This is congregational life. Do this in and out of the assembly (Heb. 3:13; 10:24-25).
- Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly. Grace teaches us to do so (Titus 2:11-12), and walking by the Spirit makes it possible (Rom. 8:3-13; Gal. 5:16-25).
- Assemble with other disciples at least one or two, and get to know each other enough that you can provoke each other to love and good deeds and exhort one another (Heb. 10:24-25). [see 1 Thessalonians 5:14 for the best working definition of exhortation.]