Session 1

HOLDFAST TO THE PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS

Hold fast the pattern of sound words

"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13)

What are these “sound words” that the apostle Paul admonishes Timothy to “hold fast?”

The word “sound” is translated from the Greek word “hugianos” which means to be in good health.
The Greeks used it to refer both to physical health as well as mental health.
Our English word “hygiene,” which Webster defines as “a system of principles for preserving health,” is derived from this same Greek word.

The word "words" here in this verse is teachings or doctrine
And the word “hugianos” are used eight times in paul epistles,
And six in reference to “sound” doctrine or sound teaching and two in reference to being “sound” in faith.

I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. 2 Timothy 1:2 NLT

I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace. Titus 1:4 NLT

What is this pattern of sound words Paul is talking about?
Sound Words means healthy teaching or healthy doctrine
The word “wholesome" sa 1timothy 6:3, is translated from the same Greek word “hugianos.”

1 Timothy 6:3, If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

1 Corinthians 11:23‭-‬25 GNT, For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.”

Galatians. 1:11-12
“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Let me tell you, my friends, that the gospel I preach is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any human being, nor did anyone teach it to me. It was Jesus Christ himself who revealed it to me. Galatians 1:11‭-‬12 GNT

1 Timothy 4:1 NLT
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

"For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;"
Ephesians 3:1‭-‬5 NASB1995

Romans 1:16 NKJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Acts of the Apostles 20:24 NLT
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Titus 3:8 NLT
This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

Paul goes on to refer to these “sound words” as “that good thing which was committed unto thee.”
The Greek expression used here means a beautiful deposit of truth.
The beautiful deposit is, once again, the truth of the mystery.
It has been committed to us to “keep” or guard or protect.
This is necessary because the world opposes this truth.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3‭-‬4 NASB1995
2 Timothy 1:15 NASB1995
You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Once people turn away from the truth, they are easily turned unto fables by false teachers.”

Titus 1:9 NASB1995, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” , 2 Timothy 4:2

2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things which thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”