What Does Doctrine Mean?
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When you read your Bible, do you know you’re reading doctrine? Biblical doctrine is all about our spiritual health — a health that is directed and nurtured by the Lord God through His Word.
In a broad sense, doctrine means whatever is taught. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary adds, “…hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master.” The doctrines of any teacher are the ideologies or truths he or she teaches. People throughout the ages have taught their particular doctrines, but that does not make them true or false, because theirs may be an ordinary theory or simply their opinion.
Doctrine is also a verb in that it means the action of teaching (e.g. indoctrinate). Included in its definitions is doctrine’s meaning of learning, or knowledge, the truths found within the doctrine, or the validation of the doctrine as taught by the teacher.
What Is the Biblical Definition of Doctrine?
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary defines biblical doctrine as, “the entire body of essential theological truths that define and describe the good news rooted in the significance of the life of Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 1:10; 4:16; 6:3; Titus 1:9). Webster’s 1828 adds, “The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his Apostles.”
God has revealed Himself and His redemptive plan in history via the Bible. Within the Bible are the various doctrines about God Himself, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, man, sin, the church, salvation, and eschatology. The Bible therefore defines doctrine as the biblical teaching about all it includes. The Bible says, “No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Yes, human authors penned the Bible, and God wrote the Bible through those human authors. From what Peter says, we can see what the human author says is also what God says. What the Bible teaches, is what God teaches. Who better to tell us all about Himself than God?
The word, doctrine is synonymous with knowledge and teaching (different translations will use one of the three, to no detriment of the meaning or value of doctrine). Therefore, if the version you read says doctrine, where others say knowledge or teaching, it means the same thing.
What Do Christians Do with Doctrine?
A simple answer to this question is learn it, obey it, and share its truth whenever you are given the opportunity.
Learning doctrine
This is huge. When we consider the vast range of truth in the Bible and how it orders our lives, we can be overwhelmed. Doctrine permeates the Bible because God wants us to know Him, our history, how we are to live as Christ followers, and what to expect.
Obeying doctrine
Biblical doctrine is the pathway from, in, and to the Truth (John 14:6). Living the Christian life is living out the doctrines of the Bible, for what we believe about God and creation is formed by the doctrines we believe and obey. Some doctrines instruct our faith, while others instruct our life and conduct.
For example, Jesus is God (John 1:1, 14; 20:28; Hebrews 1:8) isn’t a command. It’s a truth to be believed and told to others. We obey when we believe.
Jesus taught we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We cannot yet fully obey this, but it’s a command we can strive toward, and we know one day we will be able to completely obey (when we are in glory).
Sharing doctrinal truth
Everything the Bible teaches us is worthy of sharing with others. Everything. Sharing doctrine is part of evangelism, for it explains who and why we are as we are.
Teacher, pastor, and writer, Kevin DeYoung, in his book “Daily Doctrine,” gives us a humble look at his purpose for learning (and then teaching) biblical doctrine, “But the overarching goal in all this learning is to understand what the Bible teaches, defend what the Bible teaches, and enjoy the God whom the Bible reveals.”
Scholars have aided our understanding of doctrine by creating what’s called a systematic theology. A systematic theology logically organizes doctrines according to particular topics and questions (as listed above). Various systematic theologies exist that employ different interpretations of the Bible (usually per denominational distinctions and not with an intent to change non-negotiable distinctives, such as the Bible being our ultimate authority).
Why Does Sound Doctrine Matter?
Sound doctrine is the spiritual sustenance the Lord God gives us in His Word alone. Scholars and expositors will help us understand difficult passages by showing us other passages which undergird the teaching found in the passages. Scripture is the best interpreter of itself, and it takes prayer, time, wisdom and, of course, the indwelling Holy Spirit. No tradition of men, new revelations, or twisting of Scripture will supersede anything the Bible has already said.
Many false teachers existed in the time when the Bible was being written, and they continue their heretical practices today. Some men desire to “be like God” (Genesis 3:5) and hold their understanding above what God intends for His Word. If something in the Bible baffles them, they lean on their own understanding and reject what God says. One famous and very popular talk show host heard a pastor say God is a jealous God (the Scripture reference may have been Deuteronomy 4:24). She immediately thought he meant God is jealous of her. She made a grave error when she didn’t ask for clarification (the passage means God is jealous for His people, which is a stark contrast to her perception). She rejected God and her false doctrine has since led millions down the path of idol worship, saying Jesus is not the only way to God.
What if we get it wrong? Everything we believe has eternal implications because we always act on our beliefs. Judgment is coming. For true Christians, we will lose rewards for sins of omission and commission. For unbelievers, rejection of Christ brings eternal judgment.
Christians are under constant attack from the evil ones. The attacks against sound doctrine come mostly through temptations to compromise our faith. In his masterful commentary on the book of Revelation and John’s letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2:1-3:22), G.K. Beale reveals some of the churches’ compromising nature. He writes on page 33, “The focus of the book is exhortation to the church community to witness to Christ in the midst of a compromising, idolatrous church and world.”
Compromise is a word that should remain unused and unknown to Christians regarding sound doctrine.
How Can Christians Be Sure They Follow Sound Doctrine?
Because we are to explain our hope (1 Peter 3:15), we need to know why we have such hope. That hope is found in Jesus Christ and in His Word. It’s imperative we read, meditate upon, and study our Bible. Pray before reading and ask the Lord for wisdom as you do. When you ask in sincerity and faith, he always gives wisdom (James 1:5). Learn excellent hermeneutics (the science of biblical interpretation), ask questions of more spiritually mature Christians (including your pastor), and read solid, biblical commentaries once you’ve exhausted your search within the Bible. But do be like the Bereans, who searched the Scriptures to make sure what they were being told was what the Bible teaches (Acts 17:10-11).
Because we are to reason with men (Philippians 4:5; Acts 17; 19:9; 24:24; 26:25), we must stand on solid, true doctrine. Sound, biblical doctrine is always good, true, and always glorifies God.
Because we love and obey God, we defend our faith with surety, humility knowing our Source for all truth is God’s Word as the Spirit guides us (John 16:13).
Don’t neglect to meet with your church, for there we find our forever family, those who are in the same walk with Christ as we. God gives us a unified church to be a strong witness for Christ. Grow together and hold each other accountable.
Don’t take the evil ones lightly. Their purpose is to negate and sully our witness for Christ. The Bible has an answer for every lie the devil can throw at sound doctrine.
If you don’t have an answer for someone with questions, it’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” But follow that up with, “But I can find that answer for you.”
Recommended Resources for the Application of Sound Doctrine
The Bible is our best resource. Follow along with the Apostles throughout the book of Acts. Make note of how they reason with others with Scripture, for Acts is like a lesson in apologetics (reasoning for the faith).
Read through the epistles and see how the Christians refuted false teaching.
Read the book of Jude and see what he says about false teachers.
Daily Doctrine by Pastor Kevin DeYoung
Systematic Theology (volume 1) by Stephen Wellum
Reformed Systematic Theology Series by Joel R. Beeke
Core Christianity by Michael Horton
40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible by Robert Plummer
Knowing and standing on sound doctrine is hard, rewarding work. I pray the Lord gives you energy, focus, and wisdom as you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Photo credit: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko
