Lets take a small survey of Timothy.
How important is doctrine?
1 Timothy 1:3-5, "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
Notice the goal of their instructing of doctrine has three results: Love from a pure heart, good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:18,19, "This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith."
Fight the good fight, keeping faith, i.e., maintaining the doctrine and a good conscience.
1 Timothy 4:6, "In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following."
By pointing out certain matters of doctrine, Timothy would be nourished on the words of faith and the sound doctrine.
1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
If living according to a set of doctrinal standards and defending them is not what Paul is advocating Timothy to do, then this verse makes no sense.
1 Timothy 6:13-16, "I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen."
"Keep the commandment" equals abide in the doctrine that you know.
2 Timothy 1:12-14, "For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you."
The "standard of sound words" is doctrine. He was to guard that valued treasure.
2 Timothy 2:2, "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
Reproduce the sound doctrine in others that will reproduce it as well.
2 Timothy 2:15, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Being a workman of God handling the truth of doctrine accurately.
I will close here and conclude this study next time. God bless as you remain faithful to His Word...
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