"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:13).
The apostle Paul characterized his teaching as a "pattern of sound words." The idea of a "pattern," or form, is an outline by which we can mold our thinking and living As such, the divine pattern of New Testament teaching has the following characteristics:
1. ABSOLUTE. Paul speaks of only one pattern, that truth which has been delivered by God and applies to all men. Paul instructed Timothy to not only hold fast this pattern of sound words, but also to commit these things "to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). There are to be no changes, amendments, or variations in the pattern as it is handed down. It is to mold each believer in the same way. This is also why Paul said that he taught the same thing "everywhere in every church" (1 Cor. 4:17). One message has been given for all men everywhere (cf. Jude 3).
2. RESTRICTIVE. A pattern is restrictive by its very nature. It outlines the exact dimensions or rules to be followed. To go beyond the pattern will not only violate the limits of the pattern, but create something different than the pattern. A blueprint restricts a construction company to build only the building designed in the blueprint. Instructions for playing a board game restrict each player to act only within the rules. "Whoever transgresses [goes beyond] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9). To "transgress" God's word is to violate the restrictive nature of God's divine pattern.
3. REPLICATING. If a thousand women followed the same exact dress pattern, they would produce a thousand dresses exactly alike. One can watch a baseball game played the same way in New York as in California because the same rule book guides both games. Thusly, if everyone would follow the exact pattern of the New Testament, only a New Testament church would result in every case. The name, organization, work, membership would reflect the revealed pattern of the New Testament. Of course, if we were to add or subtract from that pattern, we would then create a different pattern [human, not divine] and thereby a different "church." Perhaps this is why Jesus said that He would tell some religious folks on the Judgment Day, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matt. 7:23). "Lawlessness" is acting in violation of God's pattern. Unity is found in all following the pattern of sound words.
Are we following the absolute, restrictive, and replicating "pattern" of sound words? Let us be careful to believe and teach only what that divine pattern reveals.
- Lakeland Hills Leader, 2/13/11