Exactly what is sound doctrine? The term appears a number of times in the New Testament, especially in the epistles of Paul. The Greek term used by the Apostle Paul for "sound doctrine" in 2 Timothy 4:3 is hygiainousēs didaskalias (ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλίας). A similar Greek term for sound doctrine is used in Titus 2:1 (hygiainousē didaskalia), as well as in Titus 1:9 where a definite article is attached. The New World Translation (NWT) of Jehovah's Witnesses translates the Greek wording as "wholesome teaching."
The Greek word for "sound" in 2 Timothy 4:3 is hygiainousēs (ὑγιαινούσης), which is a state of being healthy, healthful, good for one; wholesome, nutritious, nourishing; beneficial, right; uncorrupted or positive. This word is derived from the Greek verb hugiainó (ὑγιαίνω) which means "to be sound" or "to be healthy." The Apostle Paul uses the word hygiainousēs in a spiritual sense to describe doctrine that is fully conformed to God's Word of truth and is therefore capable of giving good spiritual health and salvation to anyone who believes it.
The Greek word for "doctrine" in 2 Timothy 4:3 is didaskalias (διδασκαλίας) and this is derived from the Greek word didaskalia (διδασκαλία), which means "instruction," "doctrine" or "teaching" that a person must learn, believe and apply in their life. The Apostle Paul was expecting Timothy to retain, apply and teach Christian doctrine (teaching) as it especially extends to its necessary applications and lifestyle.
In light of the above information, we can rightly conclude that "sound doctrine" is healthy doctrine or wholesome teaching that makes a believer spiritually healthy and saves their soul. The Apostle Paul uses the word "sound" in a spiritual sense to describe doctrine or teaching that is of good quality, right or uncorrupted because of its lining up perfectly with the truth of God's Word the Bible. Paul also uses the word "sound" to describe the doctrine as giving good health and salvation to a person's spirit or soul, since the sound doctrine lines up with the truth of God's Word the Bible. A gospel that deviates from the truth taught in God's Word cannot and will not save a person; such a gospel does not make a person spiritually healthy and in right relationship with God through Christ. Proverbs 4:20-22 describes God's words as "life to those who find them and health to all their flesh." At Psalm 107:20, God is said to have used His Word to heal and deliver His people. God's Word gives both life and comfort, even in the midst of affliction (Psalm 119:49, 50). Since the Word of God is also inspired by the Holy Spirit, Jesus appropriately said "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life" (John 6:63). Peter said Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). In addition, Peter said that true believers are born of "incorruptible seed, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23). None of the benefits of God's Word will be received by a person if they accept doctrine that does not convey the real message of God's Word of truth. False doctrine will not benefit that person spiritually. God's Word of truth also sanctifies (John 17:17) but a false gospel does not.
In order for a preacher's doctrine to be sound, healthy and beneficial for a person's spirit, it must therefore be conformed to the pure message of God's Word the Bible, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit of truth. If the doctrine deviates from the Bible, then the doctrine is not of the Holy Spirit and will not be used by the Holy Spirit to give health and salvation to a person's soul. As mentioned earlier, doctrine that is not sound doctrine will produce a different gospel that is of a different Jesus and a different spirit, which in turn does not bring salvation (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-9). The healthiest condition for a person is to be in a right personal relationship with the holy God, forgiven of all sin and regenerated. Sound doctrine along with the power of the Holy Spirit and the redeeming blood of Christ function to bring this into reality. Once a person is made right with God, everything else goes well for them. False doctrine can prevent all of this from becoming a reality in the person's life. Paul gives the warning at 2 Timothy 4:3, 4 that there will come a time when people will not endure sound doctrine and will reject it to listen to man-made fables or myths that reflect what they want to hear. Teaching a distorted view of God, denying the full deity of Jesus Christ, refusing to preach about sin and repentance, encouraging hedonism instead of Christian holiness, embracing works-based salvation and using doctrine as mind control that oppresses people's lives are at least six major heresies that make a preacher's doctrine spiritually unhealthy and unable to bring salvation to the hearers. Truth is healthy; falsehood is unhealthy. False doctrine is unsound, unhealthy spiritual food that works like junk food that provides no true spiritual nourishment, or even worse, false doctrine is poisoned food that ultimately kills a person's soul.
In Titus 1:9, the Apostle Paul adds the definite article to "sound doctrine" which in Greek would be tē didaskalia tē hygiainousē (τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ). Paul literally makes the term "sound doctrine" synonymous with "the faithful word" or "the trustworthy word," which is essentially the God's Word that constitutes all scripture. The definite article is gives the term "sound doctrine" special significance in this verse, because it is used to refer to all of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity as a whole, including the truth about the person and work of Jesus Christ as well as humanity's sinfulness, salvation from sin through Christ, and the Christian's call to holy living and witnessing as an ambassador of Christ. The terms "faithful word" and "sound doctrine" in Titus 1:9 are synonymous with "the doctrine of Christ" mentioned by the Apostle John (2 John 1:9-11). Christians are commanded to teach what is in accordance with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). Sound doctrine not only leads to salvation from sin, but it also exhorts fellow believers and refutes anyone who contradicts the truth that is in God's Word the Bible (Titus 1:9). The application of sound doctrine not only benefits a person's spiritually but also benefits every aspect of a person's life both now and in eternity (Psalm 37:3-6; Proverbs 3:13-18; Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13; 1 Timothy 4:8). When a person applies what they learn through sound doctrine, God's words will be "health to all their flesh;" that is, even their body will be in good health (Proverbs 4:22), plus personal success and social relations will also benefit. The absence of sound doctrine leads inevitably to a sinful lifestyle of carnality that increases the likelihood of poor health, poverty, anxiety, depression, difficult social relations and a shorten life.
The majority of religious groups professing to be Christian place a strong emphasis on what they think is sound doctrine. Even aberrant groups like the Restored Church of God, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, UPCI and many NAR Pentecostals believe sound doctrine is important. The problem is that different religious groups interpret the Bible differently and have their own view of what sound doctrine actually is. Much of their versions of sound doctrine are actually false doctrine that does not lead to salvation and reconciliation with God. We must use discernment as we hear the preaching of these different groups. Furthermore, post-modern liberals, like those of the Emergent/Seeker Friendly churches, erroneously make the claim that doctrine is totally unimportant, that only love and tolerance matter. However, this is very different from Paul, Peter, John and the other apostles who wrote the New Testament, because they made numerous references in their epistles to both the importance of love and the importance of sound doctrine. True biblical teaching must be communicated in love.
