¹³Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

Paul’s admonition contains two interesting words. The first, translated “standard,” carries the connotation of a model or prototype. The second, “sound,” conveys the idea of being healthy or correct. We are to hold to clearly worded, firmly stated teachings that are unambiguous in their meaning and not straying in one iota from the truth as Paul taught it.

The temptations always exist for those who preach and teach to be innovative or clever in how they communicate. To be sure, we need creativity in communication, with illustrations to help people understand. But our cleverness must serve our ultimate goal of clarity. This was an important point for the apostles, whose ministry was based on the clear, unadulterated truth of the Word of God. Paul wrote to Timothy that an elder, in particular, must be “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” (Titus 1:9). The truth matters! In our efforts to communicate, we must strive to present the truth in interesting and relevant ways, but above all we must be clear!

Unfortunately, some take this concept in a different direction. They use the right words but redefine their meanings. For example, a person can say, “I believe that salvation comes by grace through faith.” This sounds good and uses biblical words. However, in some contexts and religious traditions, the word “grace” is something one earns through repetition of prayers and good deeds. In those contexts, such a statement as salvation by grace would mean something completely different from what the apostle Paul intended. So we must strive for sound meaning, and not just sound words.

For Timothy, and for all teachers and preachers of the Word, their behavior in this regard should be a prototype or model for how Christians should talk about the truth. In fact, the servant of God should live his entire life as a model to others, as Paul says about himself: “I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Tim. 1:16).

Paul knows his time is short, and he has faithfully preached the Word. Now his great desire is for that truth to be conveyed via Timothy to all those who come afterward—from one generation to the next.

Lord, remind me when I stray from the straight and narrow way of Your truth.