“Healthy” expresses good physical health and describes the proper use of information that is to be taught, but not put into practice by correctly dividing doctrine and teaching.
In response to the Pharisees and scribes complaining against Christ’s disciples concerning them eating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus explains that one who is healthy does not have a need for a physician, for the Messiah has not come for the righteous, but the sinners to change their minds, Luke 5:30-32.
When healthy is used with teaching, it is the type of teaching that is according to the gospel of the proper opinion of the happy God, which was committed to Paul. This teaching has to do with properly handling Old Testament information, which is to be learned but not practiced. The Law is good, but it is for the unrighteous; all those who do things that are contrary to healthy teaching, 1 Timothy 1:8-11. We are righteous in Christ; therefore, we are not under law. Rather, our standard is to live by grace out from faith.
If anyone does not commit himself to the healthy words of our Lord, we are to withdraw ourselves from them, 1 Timothy 6:3. Of these who do not hold to the words of our Lord are those who teach that gain is godliness, where according to healthy words godliness with contentment is great gain. Since we brought nothing into this world, and will take nothing with us, going after money leads to all kinds of temptations and snares, for the fondness of money is a root of all wrong actions, 1 Timothy 6:6-10.
We are in a time where most assemblies claiming to be Christian are not putting up with healthy teaching, but with itching ears seeking after their own desires they heap up teachers for themselves who teach things that ought not to be taught while subverting whole households for dishonest gain, turning their ears from the truth unto fables, 2 Timothy 4:3-5. This is the time of the Laodicean assembly, Revelation 3:14-22. An assembly that is lukewarm to Jesus, putting him on the outside of the Church, Revelation 3:20. A church that is wealthy in worldly goods; however, no healthy words are being taught in it, Revelation 3:17-19. They reject the truth for fables such as following the Sermon on the Mount, living by the Ten Commandments, the purpose driven life, and other teachings of men that seek to deceive the saints. As Christians, we have been warned to stay away from these places, for these assemblies will be spewed out of the mouth of our Lord, for He rejects their unhealthy words. And although He will save his own from these assemblies, being part of them negatively impacts our ability to glorify God by living out the salvation He has provided for us. In contrast to the Laodicean type of assemblies are the churches that are like the one in Philadelphia. These are the assemblies that guard God’s word, yet are seen as not having much strength, for it is an assembly that does not measure success on the number of attendees or how full the offering plate is, but on the spiritual growth and edification of the saints.
