What is Truth? - The Question

By Andy Foster

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So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [34] Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” [35] Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” [36] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” [37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” [38] Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” (John 18:33-38 ESV)

This is the greatest conversation ever to take place and it ends with a question that is at the crux of all understanding, purpose and hope. Pilate’s response whatever his intention, whether he was cynical or not, ask the most profound question ever voiced in human history. - "What is truth?" 

The answer to this question continues to be asked by a world that seeks to find the answer from every source imaginable apart from the One who has and is the answer. 

So, what do we say truth is? The post modern world says that truth is relative or subjective if it even exist at all.

However scripture defines truth very differently. Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory and being of God. This is a theological answer being that the answer is from and through God

Truth is also ontological or that is to say how they things really are. Reality is what it is because God declared it so and made it. Therefore God is the ultimate source, author, determiner, governor and standard of all truth.

The OT refers to God as the “God of truth” Dt. 32:5, PS 31:5, Is. 65:16)

The NT proclaims that Jesus Christ is Truth incarnate - the perfect expression of God and therefore the absolute embodiment of all that is true. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 ESV)

[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)

[8] “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 ESV)

That is profound. Jesus says that He is truth. Christ is the full manifestation of all truth because He is God. 

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3 ESV)

Not only is truth revealed through God himself, but also through His word. Jesus said that the written Word of God is truth. Scripture does not merely contain nuggets of truth; it is pure, unchangeable, and inerrant truth. 

Jesus prays - Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17 ESV)

Paul exhorts us to -

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

You cannot say that you believe in Jesus Christ yet not believe in the Word of God because Jesus Christ is the full manifestation of the Word.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV)

...for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

(Acts 20:27 ESV)

So, “What is Truth?. Truth is Jesus Christ being the perfect embodiment of God as revealed through His inerrant Word.