Terms for Truth

The English word has developed and maintained the broadest, most general and varied usage, going beyond both Hebrew and Greek, which were already extended in connotation. It is possible to analyze and classify the special applications of the term almost indefinitely, using other terms to indicate specific meanings in special connections, e.g. loyalty (Jud 9:15); honesty (Ex 18:21); fidelity (De 32:4); justice (Ro 2:2); uprightness (Isa 38:3); faith (Isa 26:2); righteousness (Ps 85:10); reality (Joh 17:19); veracity (Ge 42:16). It is unfortunate that translators have generally adhered to single terms to represent the original words. On the other hand, they have sometimes introduced words not represented in the original, and thus unduly limited the meaning. An example is Eph 4:15, where the original meaning “being true,” i.e. in all respects, is narrowed to “speaking the truth.” Source: International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

John 3:33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

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 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 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.

Only those things revealed to us by the Holy Spirit by the will of Father God are to be considered true. Everything else is subject to translation, examination and searching out the lies that are contained within.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience

We all were born into this world where the airwaves were filled with lies. That is the realm of the devil, Satan, the father of lies. Satan has not stopped for one moment in his quest to lie to everyone in order to keep us from the truth. It is the only weapon he has in this world.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

John 14:6 (parsed) Jesus said to him, “I am the truth”

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.

Thoughts precede acts but not always.

There is a lot of negativity in motion these days. Put downs take a lot less energy than lifting up.

Paul gives us encouragement to control our thoughts in the hope that our actions will follow after righteousness. While following righteousness is a fitting lifestyle, doing it to receive praise is not. Praise be to God and God alone.

What objective evidence do we have that what we do glorifies God and God alone?

To answer that question we must ask ourselves if the question itself is valid. What is objective evidence? It is an object that provides evidence. A gun is fired and a man is killed. The bullet is retrieved from the body and ballistics matches the rifling on the gun with the bullet. That is objective evidence that the gun killed the man. The gun is guilty, guns are bad. No, that is a negative assertion since a gun cannot fire itself.

This is just an extreme example of negativity. More subtle and dangerous negative assertions are in play here. We are presenting the gospel of truth to a world that hears lies and has bought into those lies and does not know the truth.

• Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
• Romans 7:4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
• Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
• Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

We are that object evidence that Godly thoughts lead to righteous acts and we know by history that those who are rooted and grounded in lies will object. Judging people puts them on the defensive, that is human nature.

Present the gospel of truth and let the truth speak for itself.