What Is Truth?

Have you ever tried to define truth without using the word truth or any form of the word truth? An indisputable fact? An absolute? With Math, it is easy to find the truth; 1 + 1 = 2. Some Science can be absolute and indisputable. Then there are the things that cannot be absolute or undisputed. So, are they any less true?

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation uses the following definitions for truth.

1. True quality: correspondence to fact or reality.

2.  Something factual: something that corresponds to fact or reality spoke the truth.

3.  True statement: a statement that corresponds to fact or reality.

4.  Obvious fact: something that is so clearly true that it hardly needs to be stated.

5.  Something generally believed: a statement that is generally believed to be true a religious truth.

6.  Honesty: honesty, sincerity, or integrity.

7.  Descriptive accuracy: accuracy in description or portrayal a criticism that had an element of truth in it.

8.  Conformity: adherence to a standard or law

9. Loyalty: faithfulness to a person or a cause.

10.  U.K. accuracy: accuracy of alignment, setting, position, or shape.

The NIV Bible has this to say about truth:

1. Every Word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His Words or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

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

3. To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

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

5. “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17

6. Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth. John 17:17

7. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves. and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is Head, that is Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15

8. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

9. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Ephesians 6:14

10. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

So I ask again: What is “Truth”? Is my truth more real than your truth? How do we know truth when we hear it?

Truth is more than believing.

For Christians, truth has to be believing what the Bible says accompanied with faith in God and His Word. For a Christian, absolute truth cannot exist entirely. For absolute truth remains without faith and Christianity cannot exist without faith.

Pray as you dig into the Word and let God reveal His truth. I, for one, do not need more than God’s Word that something is true for it to be an absolute for me.