“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Titus 1:9). Paul told Titus that he should hold fast to the faithful Word – the Gospel – that Paul had taught him. By doing this, Titus would be able to use sound doctrine to convince and exhort others, particularly in this verse, those causing trouble. The word “sound” comes from the Greek word from which we get “hygiene.” “Hygiene” means healthy, for good or wholesome. By knowing and using the Gospel, Titus would bring spiritual health to those he taught.
In 1 Timothy 6:3, Paul used the same Greek word, and it is translated as “wholesome.” Paul said that those who will not acknowledge wholesome teaching are proud and really do not know anything. They end up arguing about anything and everything, intent on causing trouble and hoping to gain from the situation. Titus was told to speak those things that represent healthy doctrine (Titus 2:1).
In Proverbs 3:8, we are told that fearing the Lord and using His wisdom (His words) will be healthy – “health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Not only will obeying God make us spiritually healthy, but it will encourage physical health in many ways. Proverbs 4:22 reads, “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” In this verse, the Hebrew word for “health” means “heal, cure or medicine.” Indeed, God’s Word is the medicine for our spiritual life and can bring better health in the physical.
Make sure you are getting healthy words. Study your Bible. Learn all you can from it. Obey God and put those healthy words to use in your life. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
