What Does Sound Doctrine Look Like?

The phrase “sound doctrine” is mentioned a few times in scripture. So what is “sound doctrine”?

For something to be sound, it has to be whole. In other words a healthy doctrine, wholesome.

​We don’t need to look far to see that sound doctrine is being contested in our days. This is not a surprise as we can see in scripture.

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2 Timothy 4; 1- 4
 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
 
If you note the phrase in verse 3, it says “they will not endure sound doctrine”. There is a reason for this. Sound doctrine has to be endured because it is not always comfortable.

So how is scripture defined?

​2 Timothy 3; 16 - 17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

In other words, all scripture (not selected parts), is profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction and for instruction.

So for doctrine to be sound, there will be times of correction, not just feel good messages.
The bible also tells us to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2; 15).

For a doctrine to be sound it must have been rightly divided, in other words, correctly divided, balanced with other scriptures and reflect the nature and character of God.

We need to be very careful what we pay attention today.  If it is not wholesome, we have no business paying attention to it. The bible says “flee all appearance of evil” (1 Thel 5;22).

1 Timothy 6; 3-5
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

The bible says “withdraw thyself” for a reason.

Let’s stay in the middle of the road with sound doctrine.

​Bisi Oladipupo