Titus 2:1

¹You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

There are two things you don’t discuss with friends – politics and religion. They are divisive, and people get emotional about them; avoid those subjects at all costs. Right? You may have heard this phrase before: “Doctrine divides.” And you know it’s true. Doctrine – good, sound, biblical doctrine – does divide. It divides the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats, believers from unbelievers, uniting those of common confession in an enduring bond that transforms relationships. The idea behind the popular phrase, however, is that “doctrine” is dangerous to relationships, so we ought to leave it out of conversations and life; all will surely get along much better without bringing up “doctrine” or “politics and religion.” Author Ian Ramsey said regarding doctrine, “Theology seems often to the outsider just so much word-spinning, air-borne discourse which never touches down except disastrously” [quoted by David Wells, No Place for Truth, pg. 97]. Today the Emerging, or Emergent, Church is all about Christian growth apart from preaching and teaching; they say fellowship and love is where growth comes from. But Paul disagrees with these assessments. He stresses again here the importance of sound doctrine. Truth is for life; sound doctrine is essential to healthy Christian living. Christian growth comes from the preaching and teaching of sound doctrine. Growing in the transforming knowledge of the gospel, God’s word in its fullness, is crucial to becoming like Christ.

Why the taboo of doctrine? One preacher said, “All doctrine does is reveal what was already present in the minds and hearts of the people involved. Sound doctrine exposes dangerous and damnable beliefs and practices. That’s why it is so actively opposed. Without sound doctrine many will hold to a false assurance of Christian profession. Doctrine shakes the foundation of our lives, laying bare what our lives and faith is built upon. Unfortunately, some identify doctrine as sectarianism – simply the peculiar dogmas that make one religious group or denomination different from another. That skirts over the heart-and-soul of biblical doctrine. Doctrine is the clear formulation, explanation, and application of the Word of God that “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This does result in divisions; that is inevitable. But this is nothing new. It is precisely what our Lord declared concerning His own ministry: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword’ (Matthew 10:34-36).”

What is included under the heading of “sound doctrine”? All the phrase “sound doctrine” means is “healthy and vital teaching,” or “truth.” It is the set of beliefs that directs your behavior. Sound doctrine is essential for edification, for discipleship, for growth in grace. This is what Christianity is all about – having your heart formed, your mind transformed, and your will conformed to God’s. Once these elements fall into place through the teaching of sound doctrine, godly behavior, holiness, naturally follows. So “sound doctrine” includes the whole of God’s word, and that alone. “Sound doctrine” includes the milk and the meat of the gospel, the truth that Jesus saves sinners in its simplest form, and the truth of how we come to be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone by the Scriptures alone to the glory of God alone. “Sound doctrine” includes growing in general knowledge about God and His will, and it includes the methodology of how to apply that practical knowledge into everyday life. Patrick Fairbairn concludes fittingly, saying, “Christianity is primarily, indeed, a doctrine, but only that it may be in the true sense a life.” And so here in Titus 2:2-14, Paul will instruct Titus on how to teach “sound doctrine.” Paul lays the application first, in v2-10, and follows up with the “doctrinal” foundation for the application in v11-14.