This note on Titus 1.9 in the Asbury Bible Commentary is instructive:
To hold firmly to the trustworthy message, the elder must fully comprehend it. In practical application, this means the elder is both an encourager and a refuter. He encourages some just by presenting sound (Gk., “healthful”) doctrine. At the same time, he refutes others who are opposing, or contradicting the doctrine. Thus, sound doctrine is a two-edged sword.
Teaching has two sides to it. Sound doctrine is not only the negative activity some describe it as being. Elders are teachers. They must be able to both encourage and refute by their teaching. They are guarantors of sound doctrine.
Unfortunately, not a few elders are wolves in sheep’s clothing, as Paul told the Ephesian elders, Acts 20.30: “Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them.” So they must be carefully screened and chosen.
To say that sound doctrine is a two-edged sword is not inaccurate, but the refutation of those who oppose it has a positive objective: the preservation of the teaching that saves, 1 Timothy 4.16: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Source of quote: BibleGateway.
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