Recently, a single phrase from 1 Timothy 1 caught my attention. I’ll copy the passage below so you have some context:
1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Ti 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1Ti 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1Ti 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
1Ti 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
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;
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
I thought, hmm, who decides what is contrary to sound doctrine? Clearly, we know the Law of God, written throughout scriptures, is sound doctrine and is easily understood (not so easily applied!) But then Paul writes this catch-all phrase…it would appear that teachers (fathers, mothers, presbytery, etc) should teach against any other thing that [they think] is contrary to sound doctrine.
Or, is this saying something else? As in, anything else that is also doctrine of the scripture? If so, why didn’t Paul just write that? As in, “and all the other scriptures.” The Holy Spirit provides discernment to every disciple in determining sound doctrine, and conversely, unsound doctrine. Unsound doctrine in 21st century America is mixing worldly worship methods with Godly. Unsound doctrine is believing that you should avoid the extremes of the world and so a 1-piece bathing suit is the responsible choice for unclothing yourself in public. Sound doctrine applies God’s teachings and principles in a faithful manner in all times, places, and cultures. For some reasons when I hear “Sound” I think seaworthy – as in a vessel–successful, fit for any journey.
Do you think teachers are allowed to be silent about the soundness or unsoundness of doctrine (teaching) that isn’t specifically articulated in Scriptures?