The Importance of Doctrine

Quote :

1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully;

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers

1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Evidently, the apostle Paul put a premium on sound doctrine. Sound doctrine must be attainable, or else his words to Timothy lose meaning. Of all these people that Paul has listed for whom the law is made for, he includes any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. Is doctrine a mere human construct? I think it can be, but when a doctrine is based on sound biblical teaching, it is not mere human opinion, but divine revelation.

Quote :

2Ti 4:3 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;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Paul told Timothy that there would be a time when the people would not endure sound doctrine, but instead, because of their own desires, would heap unto themselves teachers who would scratch their "itching ears." They would turn away their ears from truth and turned unto fables. We can see this in evangelicalism today. People under the profession of Christianity introduce all sorts of new 'interpretations' that challenge and often contradict orthodoxy that has been preserved through the years by God Himself.

And while Paul was speaking specifically to Timothy, I think we can gain good insight as to how to respond to this type of thing today.

"But watch thou in all things," is the first thing we can learn to do. We should be on guard against any attempts to re-paint Christianity with a new brush. It's what many false religions have done through the centuries. Muhammad changed Jesus from God to mere prophet. Joseph Smith made Jesus a created being. Charles Taze Russell turned Christ into a created angel. Now, many have turned Jesus into a guy who simply just wanted everyone to be happy, healthy and financially prosperous who doesn't care too much about sin.

Another thing is to "endure afflictions." There will always be opposition in the way of sound doctrine, even from those who claim to have a high education in the matters of the faith. Remember back to Acts 17 when Paul went to Thessalonica and preached in the synagogues. Remember the Jews there who pursued him even into Berea to stop him from preaching the gospel. Yet, Paul continued to preach, even in Athens, where hellenistic philosophy ruled with the teachings of Epicurus and Zeno of Citium.

Quote :

Tts 2:1 ¶But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Paul here exhorts Titus, in light of the Jews and many others who were going around teaching all sorts of vain things, to speak the things which become sound doctrine.

Quote :

1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Brethren, I encourage you all to speak things that become sound doctrine, based upon the teachings of Scripture alone. Be good ministers of Jesus Christ. Be nourished in the words of faith and good doctrine.

we don't need no steenkeen doktreen


Good post