Truth.

The epistemological problem. 
Stackhouse reflects that there has been a simple progression of opposing views of truth. 
Is truth subjective or is it objective? 

I was surprised to learn from a Catholic theologian Jean Daniélou (1905–1974) that truth is both objective and subjective. 
To the Greek mind the term truth refers to objectively always independent of the person. 
To the Hebrew mind truth is always personal and has a personal responsibility aspect.  Truth is something you do. 

Stackhouse records the pendulum  movements from rationalism, empiricism of Kant, modernism of the age of science and now more recent postmodernism, where truth is just that which appeals to the individual. We are familiar with the power games of Foucault played out in Australian politics as advocates for differing social issues promote their personal preferences as normative, or at least participative for the direction of a society. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke with amazing clarity when He said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." (John 14:6). 
He,God the Son, is Truth in Himself (as some said in a past age "the ground of our being", Truth as both objectively understood with the mind, and Truth as subjectively experienced by His followers 

John 8:12 ESV - 12 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."

John 8:31-32 ESV - 31 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."



What is truth? by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey

Vance Havner explains, "Preaching the truth makes people either sad, mad, or glad. Too many people today leave church on Sunday neither sad, mad, nor glad; they go out as they came in. Better go out mad than just go out!" Jesus said to Pilate, "for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37). Pilate cynically posed a rhetorical question to this statement when he said to Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Truth is three things. 

Truth is incomparable. There is nothing like it! I am referring to objective truth not the subjective variety of truth. People erroneously refer to "my truth" and "your truth." William Webster warns, "Truth by its very nature divides. Where you have appeal to unity at the expense of truth all you can produce is uniformity." Adrian Rogers said, "It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills." Truth is incomparable in a world full of lookalikes and imitation. 

Truth is indispensable. O.S. Hawkins observes, "Apostolic preaching was empowered by the Holy Spirit, centered in the word of God, filled with doctrinal truth and confrontational." Jesus proclaimed, "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32) and He prayed, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). 2 Timothy 2:15 reads, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Truth is indispensable in a world full of lies and deception.

Truth is inescapable. Romans 2:2a reads, "But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth. . ." One day you will face the truth. Truth is a person and His name is Jesus, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). He also said, "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). 2 Timothy 2:24-26 reads, "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." Truth is inescapable in a world full of lusts and gratification. 

Keep this in mind when asked, "What is truth?"   

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, Author of Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and
Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Logos and Amazon © February 5, 2025 All Rights Reserved

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