What Is Soundness?
"For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;" This passage, in the midst of Paul's charge to Timothy is a description of the attitude on the part of the unfaithful child of God which makes every faithful gospel preacher examine himself carefully and periodically to see that he is not conforming to the pressure found therein.
Our course in this study is to determine two points. First what is soundness? Next, how many may we maintain soundness once we have found it?
What is soundness? The word translated "sound" in 2 Tim. 4:3 is also rendered "sound" in these other passages; 1 Tim. 1:10 "sound doctrine"; 2 Tim. 1:13 "sound words"; Tit. 1:9 "sound doctrine"; Tit. 1:13 "sound in the faith"; Tit. 2:1 "sound doctrine"; Tit. 2:2 "sound in faith." It is observed that in these passages the word "sound" is rendered either "sound in the faith", "sound words", or "sound doctrine". All three of these areas of "soundness": in faith, in words, and in doctrine, are essential to the salvation of the soul. To fail to conform to the New Testament pattern in any one of these is spiritual suicide.
The word "sound" itself is translated from a word which means: to be whole; to be in health or healthy; to be safe; wholesome: Since this is in the context of the New Testament, it is a spiritual wholesomeness; spiritual safety; spiritual wholeness, and spiritual healthiness.
"Soundness" then is the quality of having been so exposed to God's word that there is, within one, a 'wholeness", or "spiritual healthiness", that can only come from such an exposure. In Tit. 1:9, the elder is exhorted to "hold to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gain-sayer." Now observe, please, the order of the passage: 1. The elder is to hold to the faithful word which is according to the teaching. (Question: How can one be an elder, much less hold to the faithful word, if he does not know what the faithful word is?) 2. The result of holding to the faithful word is evident from the rest of the passage. It is two things (1) exhorting in the "sound" doctrine, and (2) convicting the gainsayer. "Soundness" is therefore dependent on a through exposure to God's faithful word, the New Testament. No respect, no cry of "soundness" can ever, under any circumstances, be applied to an elder, a gospel preacher or anyone else in the body of Christ unless the teaching he does represents a disposition of having held to the faithful word. And one sins in the sight of the Almighty God, who submits himself to the authority of an elder or the teaching of a preacher, who is not "SOUND" by virtue of HAVING HELD TO ALL OF THE FAITHFUL WORD.
But again, the manner of "holding to the faithful word" must be in harmony with the word "sound" for it to be a scriptural "holding". Is an elder or preacher "sound" when he holds to part of the faithful word and neglects the rest? The word "sound" means "whole" as rendered here.
Is an elder or preacher "sound" who insists on teaching Christian living (church attendance, giving properly, proper speech, proper conduct by abstaining from every appearance of evil, etc. . . ) and yet is ignorant of, or refuses to teach what he knows on the Bible pattern of congregational cooperation, benevolence, and other related matters? Certainly he is not "sound" by the standard of Titus 1:9.
But, what of the reverse of the above situation? What of the elder or preacher who knows the sinfulness of the sponsoring church, the sinfulness of the church support of human benevolent societies and combines, and yet is ignorant of, or refuses to teach what he knows to be the truth on matters of "good old, scriptural CHRISTIAN LIVING AND CONDUCT" on the part of the members where he may be preach, or may have the oversight as an Elder? What of an Elder who favors social drinking? Or who tells the congregation where he has the oversight that their attendance at church is dependent on whether they want to come or not, and that they are not obligated to come to all services? Is he "sound" solely because of his opposition to one departure from God's book, while fostering and encouraging another? Brother Whiteside says it this way in Doctrinal Discourses, page 273, "In this realm (spiritual JCJ) the Bible is the law we must respect; our whole being must be brought into harmony with God's will, if we would be sound morally and spiritually. There will then be symmetry of development, and there will be no abnormal growths, which are always an indication of unsoundness somewhere."
No elder or preacher is infallible. Sometimes elders confuse soundness with infallibility. They "think" they are sound, therefore, they must be followed infallibly, and everyone, preacher or otherwise, who does not submit to their decrees is a troublemaker. Brethren, soundness and infallibility are incompatible to say the least! Let no one consider himself "sound" solely because of his scriptural conformity on one or two points. But rather let him delve into God's word and when he truly "holds to the faithful word" then let him be considered "sound".
— James C. Jones, Richmond 25, Virginia