But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine… Titus 2:1
You may be wondering what the verse above has to do with hygiene, and it is understandable if you are. The verse does not say anything about hygiene, at least not as it reads in our English translations. Before getting into the biblical teaching about good spiritual hygiene, it seems prudent to define hygiene. Webster defines hygiene as “a science of the establishment and maintenance of health; conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health.” Therefore, when we consider good spiritual hygiene, we are discussing the science of the establishment and maintenance of conditions and practices that are conducive to spiritual health.
This is where the verse above, and a host of others in the New Testament come into play. It is true that the word hygiene never occurs in the Bible, but the principle is inherent to these passages. The word translated “sound” in Titus 2:1 is the Greek word hugaino, and it is the progenitor of our English word hygiene. It means “to have sound health, that is, be well; figuratively to be uncorrupt, true in doctrine (Strong); “met. to be healthful or sound in faith, doctrine, etc. (Mounce). This meaning is clearly seen in some of the other passages of the New Testament in which our term appears.
In Luke 15:27, one of the servants of the prodigal’s father told the older brother that their father killed the fatted calf because his brother had come and their father received him “safe and sound.” The entire phrase “safe and sound” is from our word, hugaino. In Luke 5:31, we read Jesus’ reply to the scribes and Pharisees when they asked Him why He ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners. He replied that those who are well, hugaino, have no need of a physician. And again in 3 John 2, John expressed his desire that Gaius would prosper in all things and be “in health” as his soul also prospered. These verses describe physical health and provide the metaphorical significance to the idea of spiritual health in the term under consideration.
It is interesting that the Holy Spirit chose a term describing good physical health to describe the teaching that is expected of His people. Looking back to Titus 2:1ff, if we pick up the context in the first chapter, we see that Titus was left at Crete to establish qualified elders for the purpose of securing the spiritual hygiene of the church. Titus 1:9-16 describes the poor spiritual health of some because they did not hold fast to the truth of God’s word. The result was that they were “abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (vs. 16). The elders were to use sound (hugaino) doctrine to rebuke their unsound teachings and practices (vv. 9-13). The aim of this work was “…that they may be sound (hugaino) in the faith…” (vs. 13). This was likewise the reason Titus was to speak the things that are conducive to sound (hugaino) doctrine (Titus 2:1).
Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-4 to preach the word under every circumstance was prompted by the reality that a time was coming when brethren would “not endure sound (hugaino) doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Much the sane way that our bodies depend on wholesome foods to function properly, so our souls must have the right nourishment to thrive. May we all speak and hear the things that are proper for sound, healthy teaching that we may grow and thrive in our spiritual lives.