Take Heed: An Exemplary Christian Life and Sound Doctrine

Paul’s charge to Timothy remains an essential guide for faithful Christian living and ministry.

1 Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

Paul’s Pastoral Charge to Timothy

No one questions the wisdom of an older, experienced worker offering instruction and warning to a younger colleague.  Such help and encouragement are expected.  Therefore, the two epistles Paul wrote to his young protégé should come as no surprise, especially when we consider their close relationship.  Timothy was a lad of about fifteen when he trusted in Jesus Christ through Paul’s preaching during the apostle’s first missionary journey.  When Paul passed through Lystra on his second missionary journey, Timothy became his close disciple.  Paul even called him his “Son in the Faith.”  Paul was probably in his mid-sixties and Timothy in his mid-thirties when Paul wrote to him as the young pastor of the church in Ephesus.  By then, Paul had served in the ministry for more than thirty years and had endured every kind of circumstance, as he described in his letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:23-33).

Two Essential Safeguards for Ministry

Several times in his two epistles to Timothy, Paul instructed his young disciple concerning the preservation of purity in ministry.  Throughout these passages, he emphasized two inseparable factors: a consecrated life and the preservation of pure doctrine.  As a young man, Timothy was susceptible to the charms and temptations of the world.  Yielding to the world’s promises of pleasure and riches would have ended his ministry.  In his second epistle, Paul reminded him of Demas, who loved the world and left the ministry (2 Timothy 4:10).  Timothy’s goal was to maintain a personal testimony that exemplified the true Christian life and encouraged others to follow Jesus Christ.  Rather than give others an occasion to look down upon Jesus Christ and His work, Timothy was to teach and live in such a way that he could say with Paul, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).  Such dedication requires constant vigilance, submission to the Holy Spirit, and dependence upon the grace of God for the spiritual and mental strength to resist temptation.  Paul’s admonition to Timothy to “take heed to thyself” is therefore both relevant and vital.

An Example in Every Area of Life

Paul identified six areas in which Timothy needed to focus so that he might be an example to other believers.  Together, these areas encompass the believer’s person and conduct (1 Timothy 4:12-13):

1. Word: Timothy was to be an example in his speech— “in word.” Paul told the Colossians to have speech seasoned with salt: healing rather than caustic and edifying rather than destructive.
2. Conversation: His manner of life and relationships were to lead others in the paths of righteousness.
3. Charity: His character was to be shaped by godly love toward others, whether that love was merited or not.
4. Spirit: The Holy Spirit was to be the controlling force in his life.
5. Faith: He was to walk by faith in absolute obedience to the Lord.
6. Purity: Moral purity completed the character Timothy was to pursue as he guided others in the path of service for the Lord.

Holding Fast to Sound Doctrine

The second factor Timothy was to hold fast was doctrine.  The word “doctrine” appears twelve times in the two short epistles Paul wrote to him, and in every instance, Paul demonstrates the absolute necessity of correct doctrine.  Doctrine means teaching or instruction and carries the same fundamental sense as the word “law” in the Old Testament.  In 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul explains that the inspired Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.  The Word of God is therefore the basis for both sound doctrine and correct living.

For this reason, Paul admonished Timothy to give himself to reading the Word, to urge others to follow the Word, and to remain true to its teaching and instruction.  He warned that a time would come when men would no longer endure sound doctrine but would seek teachers who preached what pleased their ears.  Some argue that, for unity’s sake, preachers should construct doctrine only upon common ground and treat certain truths as less important.  Paul states that those who do so seek to fulfill their own lusts—their carnal desires (2 Timothy 4:3).  In 1 Timothy 1:9-10, he describes those who oppose sound—whole and healthy—doctrine as practicing every kind of wicked activity imaginable.  One step taken in the direction of compromise of doctrine is a step taken toward the slippery slide of carnal living.  Likewise, in his letter to Titus, Paul commands him to hold fast and speak sound doctrine.  Since “sound” means whole or healthy, weak, or compromised doctrine must be regarded as unhealthy.

Continue in Them

Paul concluded his instruction to Timothy with the phrase “continue in them.”  Timothy was not merely to hold fast to a dedicated life and sound doctrine; he was to live them out continually.  When Joshua received the leadership of the nation of Israel, the LORD gave him essentially the same charge:

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:7-8).

Paul gave Timothy the same kind of promise that the LORD gave Joshua.  If Joshua continued in the Law—doctrine—he would have good success.  Likewise, Paul said that Timothy would save himself and all those who heard and followed him.  This was not only spiritual salvation, but also salvation from a carnal and spiritually defeated life.

A Final Call to Faithfulness

Taking heed to one’s life, continuing in faithful Christian conduct, and maintaining sound doctrine are matters of significant importance.  Notice also that the promise of blessing and success depends upon both a dedicated life and the preaching of sound doctrine.  Without sound doctrine, it is impossible to live a truly dedicated Christian life.  On the other hand, it is possible for a person to teach and preach sound doctrine while living in a manner far removed from the example of a believer.  The result is dishonor to the name of Jesus Christ.

Let us therefore follow Paul’s instruction to Timothy: hold fast to the pure doctrine of the Word of God and live a dedicated, exemplary Christian life that others may faithfully follow.