14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. What he has given Timothy he calls a pattern of sound teaching. The word translated as Pattern means an architect's sketch or drawing for making a building. And what Timothy has is a sketch, a plan, a pattern of sound teaching. A way of teaching the truth.
Sound teaching means literally 'healthy' teaching.
What Paul is saying is that the apostolic message and method Timothy has received is a pattern for building spiritually healthy teaching. If you want to stay healthy and avoid an unhealthy, spiritually defective Christianity, you must follow the apostolic plan. And that plan is, quite simply, preaching the pure gospel of Jesus Christ with faith and love. Please note, once again, it is not enough just to have the right formula of words and pass them on to others in a mechanical fashion. We must do it with faith and love, in Christ.