Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It. In our world of today, several people argue that there is no such thing as objective right or wrong or absolute truth of any kind. However, is there such a thing as moral and/or absolute truth? Fascinatingly, there are only two possible answers to this question – yes or no. That is, there either is absolute truth, something that is true at all times and places, or there is not. Interestingly, to argue with certainty that there is no such thing as absolute truth is to make an absolute truth claim and is thus self-refuting. Following this, the only option remaining is to agree that absolute truth does exist. In order to counter this self-contradiction, some people have suggested that truth is a relative concept. That is, something may be true in one situation but not in another.

The theory of the relative concept being used to explain truth is self-contradicting and cannot be logically proven. It is without a doubt that within a closed system, there will always be certain things that are absolute. As an example, we know that 2+2=4 is an absolute in a close system. At the same time, and under the same conditions, 2+2 cannot equal 4 and equal 5. Having discredited the previous arguments on the nonexistence of absolute truth, the only remaining option is to claim that truth cannot be absolute because humans do not live within a closed system. In other words, there are other levels of consciousness or worlds under which truth can be defined differently. Behold, this obscure view has no relevance to real life in which humans live within a close system of space, time, matter, and energy.

Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

As Christians, instead of focusing on whether or not there are any absolutes, we should rather be focused on which claims of truth are absolute. Many people around the world are more likely to accept absolutes in areas of science or mathematics but tend to question truth when it comes to areas of morality. For example, some people would agree that premediated murder is morally wrong, yet what about in a society where cannibalism is practiced? Is morality therefore simply socially conditioned, based on “what works” or what a given community at a particular point in time agrees upon, or is there a standard of morality or absolute truth?

Philosophically, humans may disagree on what is ethical or moral, yet virtually all people agree on some system of right and wrong. Thus, the natural question arises, “upon what do we base our moral standards?” Although several religious systems provide moral codes or standards for their followers, yet the Bible presents a unique look at the truth. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ was asked, “what is truth?” by Pilate (John 18:38), the very man who approved the death of Jesus. Amazingly, when Pilate asked this question, he was looking straight into the eyes of the One who claimed to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). As a matter of fact, God is perfect (Father, Son, and Spirit), what He says is true. This includes the Scriptures that are called God-breathed or inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19).

Biblical Facts (Truth Claims)

The Bible holds information that leads to the truth about God. It is considered by many as a library of books. It contains 66 books and it’s divided into two parts, Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament is made up of 39 books while the New Testament is made up of 27 books. It has 1189 chapters and 31102 verses which were written by different men through different dispensations. Although the 66 books were written by several authors, they all did so under the influence of the Holy Spirit. That’s why today, we strongly hold to these books and class them as divinely revealed. In other words, these books were given by the inspiration of God; divinely breathed. The Bible is different from other books because its content carries the breath of God that brings life through Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:20-21 – “Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.“
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.“
John 1:14 – “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. …“

Is There Such A Thing As Absolute Truth / Universal truth?

To make the statement that there is no absolute truth is illogical. A good question to ask people who say, “There is no absolute truth” is this: “Are you absolutely sure of that?” If they say “yes”, they have made an absolute statement – which itself implies the existence of absolutes. Behold, they are saying that the fact there is no absolute truth is the one and only absolute truth. In addition to the problem of self-contradiction, there are several other logical problems one must overcome to believe that there are no absolute or universal truths. One is that all human beings have limited knowledge and finite minds and, therefore, cannot logically make absolute negative statements like “there is no God” (even though many do so), because, in order to make such a statement, a person would need to have absolute knowledge of the entire universe from beginning to end.

As Christians, we strongly believe that absolute truth exists and Christ is the Truth. Amazingly, there is a Creator and He has revealed His Truth to us through His Word, the Bible. Knowing absolute truth/universal truth is only possible through a personal relationship with the One who claims to be the Truth – Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ claimed to be the Only Way, the Only Truth, the Only Life, and the Only Path to God (John 14:6). The fact that absolute truth does exist points us to the truth that there is a sovereign God who created the heavens and the earth and who has revealed Himself to us so that we might know Him personally through His Son Jesus Christ. This is what we consider Absolute Truth.

John Wesley’s Argument

Let’s use John Wesley’s words to demonstrate the fact that there is absolute truth, and that it is contained without taint in the Bible:

The Bible must be the invention either of good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God.
It could not be the invention of good men or angels; for they neither would or could make a book, and tell lies all the time they were writing it, saying “Thus saith the Lord,” when it was their own invention.
It could not be the invention of bad men or devils; for they would not make a book which commands all duty, forbids all sin, and condemns their souls to hell to all eternity.
Therefore, I draw this conclusion that the Bible must be given by divine inspiration.

ALSO READ What Does The Bible Say About Relationships?

God and His Law are Unchanging and Eternal

“I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6, NKJV).
“Your statutes stand firm . . . O LORD” (Psalm 93:5, NIV).
“All His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever” (Psalm 111:7, 8, NKJV).
“Your word is truth” (John 17:17, NKJV).
“The word of God . . . lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23, NKJV)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35, NKJV).
“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20, NKJV).

Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

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

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

John 8:32 – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Numbers 23:19 – “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?“

John 16:13 – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.“

Romans 3:4 – By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

Group 1 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

John 3:5 – Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Revelation 19:11-16 – “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ...”

Group 2 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Numbers 23:9-10 – “For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations! Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!”

Psalm 86:11 – “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

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

2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 – “To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”

1 John 1:6 – “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

Group 3 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

Romans 1:18 – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

John 14:17 – “Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

John 18:37 – 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.”

John 8:12-14 – “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.”

Group 4 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Isaiah 42:3-4 – “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.”

Matthew 9:6-8 – “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”

ALSO READ What Does The Bible Say About Accidents?

John 6:50-71 – “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ...”

Group 5 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Revelation 14:6-7 – Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

James 1:18 – “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

Ephesians 4:15 – “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”

Group 6 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Psalm 19:7-11 – “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.“

Proverbs 20:20 – “If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.”

Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

John 16:7 – “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Zechariah 8:16 – “These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;“

1 John 3:18 – “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Group 7 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Psalm 51:6 – “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”

1 John 1:8 – “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

John 1:14 – “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.“

Psalm 119:142 – “Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.”

3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

Group 8 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Ephesians 4:1-32 – “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, …“

Proverbs 10:32 – “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.”

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”

Ephesians 6:14 – “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,“

John 18:37-38 – “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.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”

Group 9 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

John 14:1-31 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” …

John 1:1-51 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. …“

John 3:19-21 – “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Group 10 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

1 John 2:27 – “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”

Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.“

Ephesians 4:21 – “Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,“

ALSO READ What Does the Bible Say About Original Sin?

Psalm 43:3 – “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!“

Psalm 119:160 – “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

Psalm 25:5 – “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Group 11 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 15:26 – “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

John 1:17 – “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 11:1-40 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. …“

Group 12 – Biblical Perspective On How To Define Truth And To Defend It

Psalm 119:30 – “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.”

Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”

Hebrews 2:1-4 – “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.“

1 Peter 1:22 – “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”

Matthew 5:33-48 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. ...”