WHAT IS TRUTH? 

Part Two

As I was contemplating what to write in this blog "What Is Truth?", I Googled this question on the internet. I discovered a lengthy Wikipedia article which outlined some of the philosophical theories concerning Truth, and what it means. These include what are known as Substantive Theories, which include:

                                       Correspondence Theory

                                       Coherence Theory

                                       Constructivist Theory

                                       Concensus Theory

                                       Pragmatic Theory.

Then there are Minimalist or Deflationary Theories, including:

                                       Performative Theory of Truth

                                       Redundancy and Related Theories.

There are also what are known as:

                                       Pluralist Theories.

I discovered that, of the above, the Correspondence Theory seems to have the highest level of support in relation to the definition of Truth - in philosophical terms.

I am reminded of the verse in 2Timothy 3:7 where the apostle Paul, speaking of the days in which we are living, describes people who would be "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

If you who are reading this are on a quest to know ultimate Truth in all its dimensions, may I suggest you take a look in the Bible at the One who is TRUTH HIMSELF, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus finished His earthly ministry, He told His disciples that He would send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:13 that ".....when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will tell you things to come."

In John 18:36-38, as Jesus stood before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who would decide whether He would live or be condemned to be crucified, Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Pilate therefore said to Him: "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered: "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone is of the truth hears My voice."

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all."

Pilate asked Jesus one of the most important questions He could have asked of the Son of God: "What is truth?" and he didn't bother to wait for the answer. Like Pilate today many are searching for the meaning of Truth in Philosophy, Religion, Science - even Politics and always coming up short.

The apostle Paul warns in Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

He goes on to say in verses 9 and 10 For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Does it matter what we believe to be the Truth today? Isn't truth relative to the circumstances, culture, socio-political setting in which we find ourselves today? Ah.....we shall have to leave the answers to these questions for another time in the not too distant future.

If you would like to know how you can encounter the TRUTH, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be, as the Bible says "born again" by the Spirit of God, one place I can suggest is: www.vision.org.au This is the online home of Vision Christian Media in Australia, which also is the online platform for Vision Christian Radio, broadcasting to well over 700 cities, towns, and small communities in every state and territory in Australia. Click on "Grow your faith" at the top of the page, then "Looking for God?" God Bless!