What Is Truth?

John 18:37–38 ESV

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.

John 18:

Staring in the face of Jesus, Truth Incarnate, Pilate asks the question: “What is truth?” Was he being cynical or genuine?

If Jesus stood before a person in our day, the conversation might go much differently. If Jesus said he was born for the purpose of bearing witness to the truth and that everyone who is of the truth hears his voice, he might be met with a snicker and an eye-roll.

Or, maybe, another person might respond by clarifying Jesus’ words with, “You mean, true to them, don’t you?”

I read an article over 20 years ago that suggested, “truth ain’t what it used to be.” That statement is a wild understatement today. For many today, truth is relative and any appeal to it is simply a power-play.

Any appeal to sharing the truth is met with suspicion at best and scorn at worst.

But Jesus, takes the truth very seriously. You don’t call yourself the Truth and declare that bearing witness to the truth is why you were born and came into the world if you don’t take it seriously. The rest of the Bible agrees.

But what is truth?

One answer would be to say that truth is what corresponds to reality… to the way things are.

The New Testament has much more to say about truth, so let’s take a look as some of the key ideas.

Truth as opposed to falsehood and lies

Ephesians 4:25 ESV

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

The New Testament assumes some things are true and some things are not.

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Truth as reality

Hebrews 9:24 ESV

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

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Truth as trustworthy affirmations

John 6:47 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

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Truth as faithfulness and reliability

The quality of truth

Philippians 4:8 ESV

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.

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Truth as an aspect of the character of God

Romans 3:3–4 ESV

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 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.”

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Truth as a human quality

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Jesus Christ as truth

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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The Spirit of God as truth

John 16:13 ESV

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.

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The gospel and the Christian faith as truth

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

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,

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