The Nature of Truth
By Israel Crocker
May 2008
Truth...It is one of the most unappreciated treasures that God has given to mankind. Reasons for neglecting truth are too exhaustive to number; but this disregard may come primarily from ignorance of its great value. Philosophers have debated for centuries over how truth is obtained, if whether or not it can be reached by reasoning, or even if truth can be defined. However, the God of truth has made this precious possession accessible to anyone who is willing to know it. Studying the nature of truth will bolster Christians in confronting error; and will fortify their faith by increasing their knowledge in the inspired Scriptures.
PERSISTING PROBLEMS
Truth was misunderstood even in the days of Jesus. Pilate rhetorically asked Jesus, "What is truth" (John 8:38)? He, like many of his culture, was confused on what grounds the truth was composed. Barnes comments on Pilates' question:
This question had long agitated the world. It was the great subject of inquiry in all the schools of the Greeks. Different sects of philosophers had held different opinions, and Pilate now, in derision, asked him, whom he esteemed an ignorant fanatic, whether he could solve this long-aging question.1
Of course our Lord had previously answered the question (cf. John 17:17, 18:37), but Pilate apparently was never interested in hearing the answer. "Thousands ask the question in the same way."2
Rejecting absolute truth has not ceased. Relativism is deeply embedding itself in much of our society. It is the opposite of absolute (objective) truth. Truth, for many, is determined by one's feelings at a given moment; or what is relative to the culture or ideology. Some of the viewpoints that share the idea of relative truth are postmodernism, pragmatism, and situation ethics. What terrible effects have been thrust on our society because of the denial of the value of absolute truth!
THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE
Epistemology is an elaborate word for the theory of knowledge.3 Whether or not one can comprehend true knowledge has been a struggle for agnostics such as Pilate. Barnes continues further:
They have a contempt for the Bible; they deride the instructions of religion; they are unwilling to investigate and to wait at the gate of wisdom; and hence, like Pilate, they remain ignorant of the great Source of truth, and die in darkness and error.4
They are confused because they reject objective truth within God's word. The Holy Spirit says they are, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7).
Scripture reveals they lack the fear of the Almighty. If one does not have a reverent fear of God's greatness, then he will not be able to obtain truth. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov. 1:7). What motive would one have to pursue truth if he does not see a need to acquire it? Pilate and today's agnostics are proof of the fallacy of irreverence toward God and His word.
SOME TRUTH SPOKEN
In his Lectures on the History of Philosophy, George William Friedrich Hegel states some principles that are harmonious with Scripture. For example:
For Philosophy aims at understanding what is unchangeable, eternal, in and for itself: its end is Truth. But history tells us of that which at one time existed, at another time has vanished, having been expelled by something else. Truth is eternal; it does not fall within the sphere of the transient, and has no history. But if it has a history, and as this history is the only representation of a succession of past forms of knowledge, the truth is not to be found in it, for the truth cannot be what has passed away.5
Absolute truth is not determined by history or culture, but is eternal because of God's nature. What Mr. Hegel said was already stated in the Bible: Mal. 3:6, Matt 24:35, Heb. 13:8. However, it was Hegel's naturalistic inclinations that would be used by the infamous atheist Friedrich Neitzsche and Communism's founder Karl Marx. Our world is still reaping the fruits of this horrid, manmade philosophy. God the Spirit warns, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8). The danger is not in philosophy per se; the danger resides at the wrong source of one's philosophy. Is your philosophy from God...or from man? God's philosophy only promotes that which is beneficial to mankind (i.e., the truth), but the wisdom of the world proceeds to destruction. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Pro. 14:12).
WHAT TRUTH IS NOT
Learning what truth is not will assist in describing it. A credentialed apologist like Norman Geisler provides some negatives in this area. Geisler says that truth is not what works.6 He quotes William James who believed differently,
Truth is the expedient in the way of knowing. A statement is known to be true if it brings the right results. It is expedient as confirmed by future experience.7In other words, if something is true it is because it works. "But simply because something works does not make it true." Some people will lie because it is more expedient for them. On the other hand, truth is often times inconvenient. Jesus died because of the truth. "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice. (John 18:37)
Truth is not that which coheres.8 Geisler provides a helpful illustration:
Empty statements hang together, even though they are devoid of truth content….A set of false statements also can be internally consistent. If several witnesses conspire to misrepresent the facts, their story may cohere better than if they were honestly trying to reconstruct the truth. But it still is a lie.9
Although consistency is not the only measure for truth, something cannot be true if it does not harmonize. The false witnesses that were brought against Jesus were proved false because their stories did not match. "And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not together" (Mark 14:55- 56).
Truth is not that which is comprehensive.10 So many are persuaded by the majority. In the scientific community for example, a majority will attribute the earth's existence to the idea of evolution—either theistic or atheistic. Creationists and Bible believers can destroy evolution either by scripture, logic, and yes, even science itself. Still, so many have been prejudiced to believe in a false, self-contradicting theory, with the strongest influence being the "overwhelming majority" that believes in evolution.
The majority is usually wrong; and in terms of Biblical principles, the majority is always wrong. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil;…" (Ex. 23:2a). The worldly-minded shape the majority. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:13-14). Biblical history proves that the few in number have faithfully sought after God's objective will.
1. Two out of twelve spies were right. (Numbers 13)2. Only eight people out of possible billions were saved by Noah's preaching. (1 Peter 3:20)
3. Only five kings of the 20 from the Southern tribes were faithful; while no king out of the 21 from the Northern kingdom were true.
Geisler continues with this important supposition: "Truth is not ‘that which was intended.'"11 Something is not true merely because one is sincere. "If something is true because someone intended it to be true, then all sincere statements ever uttered are true— even those that are patently absurd."12 How many times has the Christian crossed swords with some person who believed that sincerity was sufficient in religion? Yet, if the logic is ensued to its end, then even a Muslim or Buddhist could be saved in their earnest sincerity.
So many refuse to search for true worship because they have fallen prey to the fallacy of the prominence of sincerity alone. They overlook the tendency to remove God's will as the source of truth, and completely trust in themselves for spiritual guidance. This has never pleased God...It never will.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Rom. 10:1-3)
"Sincere people are often sincerely wrong."13
One last consideration is that truth is not that which feels right.14 "Better felt than told" sums this approach to religion; and once again man places himself as ruler and judge over his own religious standards. Yet, feelings can change, and man is often fickle in his ways.
If one uses feelings to discern truth, what about when something does not feel good? Part of growing in Christ is learning and accepting concepts that causes one make sacrifices. Putting away sinful habits will not always be easy or pleasurable; but they must stopped. Geisler adds:
It is evident that bad news can be true. But if what feels good is always true, then we would not have to believe anything unpleasant. Bad report cards do not make a student feel good, but the student refuses to believe them at his or her academic peril. They are true. Feelings are so relative to individual personalities. What feels good to one may feel bad to another.15
With these considerations of what truth is not, the nature of truth is more apparent.
"WHAT IS TRUTH?"
Pilate's question can be answered today. Defining truth will help comprehending its nature. Who is the source of truth? The Bible reveals, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He" (Deut. 32:4). Logically, to be the God of anything would imply that He is the creator of it. As the God of truth, then, He is the source of all that is eternally true. The definition of truth is stated by Jesus in His prayer, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17). Thank God for His clarity on this subject that has thwarted philosophers for centuries. Wayne Grudem comments on John 17:17:
This verse is interesting because Jesus does not use the adjectives alethinos or alethes ("true"), which we might have expected, to say, "Your word is true." Rather he uses a noun, aletheia ("truth"), to say that God's Word is not simply "true," but it is truth itself. The difference is significant, for this statement encourages us to think of the Bible not simply as being "true" in the sense that it conforms to some higher standard of truth, but rather to think of the Bible as being itself the final standard of truth. The Bible is God's Word, and God's Word is the ultimate definition of what is true and what is not true: God's Word is itself truth. Thus was are to think of the Bible as the ultimate standard of truth, the reference point by which every other claim of truthfulness is to be measured. Those assertions that conform with Scripture are "true" while those that do not conform with Scripture are not true.16
THE "RING" OF TRUTH
Friend, you can gather from reading the previous material that extensive research has been implemented into what truth is. But there is something about truth that goes beyond just its definition. The value of truth is immeasurable. It is empowering. Truth is evidence of God's love and interest in His creature man. A world without truth would be chaotic, never giving increase to man's wellbeing. Truth is that which keeps us out of harms way. It provides guidance during times of difficulty, and rebukes those who try to lead others away from it. In its perfection the truth anticipates all error and forces one to be honest in order to unlock its treasure. It can be comprehended by the simplest heart, but contemplated by the deepest thinker. It is designed by God to teach as one is "able to hear it" (Mark 4:23), while with the same words harden the heart of the wicked. Christians can sink their teeth into truth and be nourished no matter how many times they hear the same principles reiterated. Truth becomes sweeter each time to the humble, but more bitter to its enemies.
The very nature of truth proves that it came from a higher Being: The Great I AM. Who has loved us enough to impart His truth, which is the only way to reunite with Him in eternal bliss. The inspired psalmist adequately expressed, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:104-105).
End Notes:
1. Albert Barnes, "The Gospels, in Barnes Notes. Ed. Robert Frew (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996) 9:367.2. Ibid.
3. Antony Flew, A Dictionary of Philosophy (New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 1979), 109.
4. Ibid., Barnes.
5. George Hegel, in The Philosopher's Handbook. Ed. Stanley Rosen (New York, NY: Random House Reference, 2000), 349.
6. Norman Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 199), 741.
7. Ibid., 8. Ibid., 9. Ibid., 10. Ibid., 11. Ibid., 12. Ibid., 13. Ibid., 14. Ibid., 742., 15. Ibid.
16. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rap ids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 83.