Word
Gems
What is a
man but the sum of his thoughts?
- Truth:
-
- Editor's Essay: Ultimate
Reality:
- A brief look at
"truth" in the Scripture
The primary Hebrew word for "truth," transliterated for
readers of English, is, along with several closely-related varieties, the familiar term
"amen." In the KJV Old Testament, the Hebrew "amen" is often
translated as faithfulness, truly, verily, support, firmness -- and truth.
- At the heart of the meaning of the root is the idea of
certainty. And this is borne out by the NT definition of faith found in Heb 11:1.
The basic root idea is firmness or certainty. In the Qal it expresses
the basic concept of support and is used in the sense of the strong arms
of the parent supporting the helpless infant... The idea of support is also seen
in II Kgs 18:16, where it refers to pillars of support.
In the Hiphil (causative), it basically means "to cause to be certain, sure" or
"to be certain about," "to be assured." In this sense the word in the
Hiphil conjugation is the biblical word for "to believe" and shows that biblical
faith is an assurance, a certainty, in contrast with modern concepts of
faith as something possible, hopefully true, but not certain. Following from this we find
the word in the passive Qal participle used with a passive meaning "one who is
established" or "one who is confirmed," i.e. "faithful one" (2
Sam 20:19; Ps 12:1 ...) In the Niphal conjugation the meaning is "to be
established" (2 Sam 7:16; 1 Chr 17:23; 2 Chr 6:17; Isa 7:9). The ... participle means
"to be faithful, sure, dependable" and describes believers (Num 12:7; I Sam
2:35; Neh 9:8). This form is also used to describe that upon which all certainty rests:
God himself (Deut 7:9), and his covenant (Ps 89:28 ...). One interesting illustration of
the relationship between "belief" and "being established" is seen in
Isa 7:9. Ahaz is told that unless he believes (Hiphil) he will not be established...
i.e. without faith he has no stability.
The various derivatives reflect the same concept of certainty and dependability.
The derivative amen "verily" is carried over into the New Testament in
the word amen which is our English word "amen." Jesus used the word
frequently (Mt 5:18, 26, etc.) to stress the certainty of a matter. The Hebrew and Greek
forms come at the end of prayers and hymns of praise (Ps 41:13); 106:48; 2 Tim 4:18; Rev
22:20, etc.). This indicates that the term so used in our prayers ought to express
certainty and assurance in the Lord to whom we pray. (Theological Wordbook of
the Old Testament, Gleason Archer, Vol. 1, pg. 51, 52)
The primary New Testament Greek word for "truth" is aletheia:
- ALETHEIA, truth, is used (a) objectively,
signifying "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested,
veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer), e.g., Rom. 9: 1 ; 2 Cor. 11: 10; especially
of Christian doctrine, e.g., Gal. 2 : 5, where "the truth of the Gospel" denotes
the true teaching of the Gospel, in contrast to perversions of it; ... the word has an
absolute force in John 14 : 6; 17 : 17; 18 : 37, 38; in Eph. 4 : 21, where the R.V.,
"even as truth is in Jesus," gives the correct rendering, the meaning is not
merely ethical truth, but truth in all its fulness and scope, as embodied in Him; He
was the perfect expression of the truth; this is virtually equivalent to His
statement in John 14:6" (Expository
Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vine, pg. 158, 159)
Also, regarding a close-kin word, alethinos, translated in the
KJV as true: "denotes true in the sense of real, ideal,
genuine."
From both the Old and New Testaments, we find that the root ideas of
"truth" center upon notions of that which is real, firm, genuine, certainty --
as Vine put it, "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance."
- Considering all of this, I submit that the word
"truth," cast in modern language, should be translated as "reality."
And when we are speaking of "truth" from God's perspective, we are speaking of
"ultimate reality."
What is Ultimate Reality, that undergirding or basis of all
that we see -- and even all that is hidden from the five senses -- the entire universe and
beyond?
- I will begin my brief answer to this exceedingly large
question by offering the essay's conclusion: Ultimate Reality is God and His purpose;
the love of God made manifest in the Person of Jesus Christ.
See the link above to view the following verses:
The charitable works of Jesus, the "Suffering Servant," reveal
to us the love of the Father (Eph. 4:21). The "new commandment" of love is
"true" in Christ, that is, it finds genuine expression in the life and deeds of
Jesus (1 John 2:8). Accepting this as his own mission (John 18:37), Jesus proclaimed that
he was the "truth" (John 14:6). The law given by Moses offered man a view of
God's love, but only in bare outline form, in shadows and types; in Jesus, we see God's
love coming to full-flower in all its glorious felicity (John 1:17).
Only God Himself can give us a genuine conviction of "truth,"
the strong assurance that we are loved by Him; no human teacher, no matter how skillful
his instructional methods, can impart this gift (1 John 2:27). This is why many who study
the Scriptures, even a great deal, do not necessarily have the "truth," do not
know God's love (2 Tim. 3:7). The "truth" may be aided by, but is not dependent
upon, academics. And once "truth," the love of God, is realized, one's spirit
will be set free from all that weighs down and burdens (John 8:32).
If we say that we know God but continue to walk in "darkness,"
that is, if we fail to love others, the "truth" is not in us (1 John 2:4).
We "purify our souls," we become more God-like, when we
"obey the truth" -- when we love others (1 Peter 1:22). The church is to
safeguard the "truth" -- which does not mean that we are all to become scholars
(because scholars themselves differ greatly in their opinions regarding doctrine) -- the
church is to be the place, in a loveless and hostile world, where God's love will be found
(1 Tim. 3:15), the only sign Jesus gave ("by this shall all men know you") by
which his people could be identified.
Genuine dedication to God can come only by experiencing the love of God.
Jesus prayed that the same conviction that he felt, inspired by his personal knowledge of
the Father, could be the inspiration to motivate all men (John 17:17, 19).
As I read the testimony of atheists, I am struck by how often they refer
to a wound inflicted upon them by "Christians" or others who claim to know God.
Jesus, with his "millstone" metaphor, and the apostles, warn us about this
tragedy of "talking the talk" without "walking the walk" (2 Peter
2:2). Those who claim to be superior to others, evidenced by an easy willingness to
condemn any who fail to measure up to their "high" standards, John blasts with
the term "liar" (1 John 2:4).
- It seems, from God's point of view, that there can be no
greater oxymoron in the universe than for one to claim knowledge of Him while spewing
hatred or apathy toward fellow human.
It is indeed significant to witness the poignant contrast developed for
us: those who fail to love are branded as "liars;" while Jesus, the perfect
representation of the love of God, is called the "Truth."
The Devil, we are told (John 8:44), refused to "live in the
truth," and, seemingly as a consequence, became infused with the spirit of murder!
On the night before Jesus died (see John 14-16), he encouraged his men
with a promise to send "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17; 16:13). We should
notice here, I think, that Jesus could have referred to the coming Spirit in a number of
ways; he could easily have called it "the Spirit to perform miracles"; or,
"the Spirit of wisdom"; or, "the Spirit to build the church" -- and
many others. While all of these have validity, he chose none of these; instead, he spoke
of the Spirit as a means to "the truth."
What was he thinking when he used this phrase, "the Spirit of
truth"? The context of the upper-room discussion strongly suggests that Jesus was
attempting to strengthen and encourage his disciples. They were troubled at his insistence
that he must leave them -- now, after being with them continually for three years. He
asked them to choose not to be afraid (14:1, 27). He reminded them, once again, of the
power of love as a means of knowing God (14:21, 23).
In all of this, Jesus seems to be saying that the "Spirit of
truth," that Spirit which allows one to "see" and "know" the
Father (14:17), will give one the power to understand that all things are in God's
control; that this power is always an expression of love -- even when suffering and
tragedy strike; that, in view of all this, our hearts need not be troubled (14:1, 27).
This mindset -- one of seeing the best in every circumstance, of trusting the Father with
one's life even in the face of dire suffering -- is the fruit of the "Spirit of
truth," a Spirit which teaches us to love and to see the guiding hand of Love in all
that happens in life.
And why should one adopt such a sunny disposition, even when troubled?
Because to do so speaks to ultimate reality -- "the truth." The ultimate nature
of the universe -- no matter how we may be hurting temporarily -- is one of love.
- All things are in the Father's hands, and He will surely
write a happy ending -- if not in this life, then in the next -- to every tearful story.
And that is the truth.
As the light of Jesus and the Father rest upon us (14:23), we come to
sense that what we initially are tempted to deem wishful thinking and a fairy tale -- is
actually true! We can "see" the final chapter of our raw and ragged lives, and
we win after all! This is the "Spirit of truth."
Considering all of this, it is not surprising to find the aging apostle
John, near 100 years of age, displaying a little emotion when he asserts, "I have no greater joy than to
hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 1:4).
Those who call Jesus "Lord" will, of reasonable necessity,
obey his "commandment" which is a call to "walk in the truth," a plea
to "love one another" (2 John 1:4-6).
- The nature of Ultimate Reality impinges, of
course, upon every other subject! Allow this insight to color your entire view of life as
you ponder the workings of the world.
Keep this in mind when you consider the subject of God and suffering.
I suggest that you read the NDE accounts,
many of them messages from God, commandments to love. Love is stressed so much in the NDE
reports.
Another topic, one of intriguing correlation to "truth," is
that of "existence" by
physicist, Dr. Gerald Schroeder.
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