Wisdom Wednesday Wisdom and Truth Part 4
The Wisdom of Knowing the Truth
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” Pilate asked ….(John 18:37-38a). NASB 95
When Jesus was examined by Pilate and asked about His claim of kingship, Jesus responded that He came to testify to the truth. Further, he explained that those on the side of truth listened to Him (and accepted Him).
Pilate reacted with a common response, “What is truth?” (or, who can know what is true?)
Jesus claimed an absolute truth about absolute reality. The day before this, Jesus claimed to be the absolute way to the Father, the truth about absolute reality and the means to obtain eternal life. (John 14:6)
Jesus’ claim was absolute and exclusive of all other claims of truth about ultimate reality. By truth, we mean that which corresponds to reality. Theologian Norman Geisler has commented on the unique and exclusive characteristic of the truth claims affirmed by followers of Jesus:
Non-Christians often claim that Christians are narrow-minded, because they claim that Christianity is true and all non-Christian systems are false. However, the same is true of non-Christians who claim that what they view as truth is true, and all opposing beliefs are false. That is equally narrow. The fact of the matter is that if C (Christianity) is true, then it follows that all non-C is false. Likewise, if H (say. Humanism) is true, then all non-H is false. Both views are equally narrow. That’s the way truth is. Each truth claim excludes contradictory truth claims. Christianity is no more narrow than is any other set of beliefs, whether atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, or pantheism. [1]
The Human Quest for Truth
Philosophers have long sought a process for knowing the truth about life and for obtaining the truth about all things, including God’s existence. Epistemology is the philosophical discipline of studying the processes to acquire and justify beliefs, knowledge, and to establish truth. Applying rational thought, logic, and deep serious analysis, multiple schools of thought have developed since the earliest philosophers at the time of Christ. Some of the fundamental Western schools of thought are shown in the chart below. Contrasting rationalism and empiricism views of truth distinguish between whether true knowledge can only be apprehended in the mind, or by the senses, respectively. Immanuel Kant introduced arguments for criticism, the view that knowledge of truth can only be known in the world of physical phenomena but allowed for the existence of metaphysical (beyond physical) knowledge, but not the assured apprehension of it. This led to the competing views of idealism and positivism, where the positivist adopts a materialist position (nothing exists other than matter and energy). This was the view promoted by Carl Sagn in the 1980’s television series, where he proclaimed, “The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be.”
Philosophy students still study all these classical schools as well as emerging thought on how to obtain the truth. Yet reason alone has failed many in their quest for ultimate truth.
The Godly Quest for Truth
Christan philosophers (Philo–sophia: love of knowledge) have offered logical arguments for the existence of God. Among the most common include:
- Cosmological argument claims that everything that begins to exist has a cause, therefore the first Cause must be God.
- Teleological (Purposeful) argument observes that the universe exhibits order, complexity, and purpose. By deduction this purposeful design infers a Designer-God.
- Moral argument observes that universal and fundamental objective moral values and conscience exist across all cultures, so this requires a Giver of our conscience and a lawgiver that is God.
Regarding God’s existence, Paul simply stated, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans)1:20.
But more than that, the complete truth of God’s plan of redemption in Jeus Christ requires God to enable man to fully understand God’s work. Jesus explained to His disciples before his crucifixion how God would reveal this plan:
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:12–13) See also John 14:7
We may know the truth of God’s redemption in Jeus Christ, and how to walk with him each day by the guidance of God’s Spirit.
Let us pray with the psalmist that God’s Spirit will reveal to us the truth to walk in wisdom, “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11)
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[1] Norman Geisler, Bakers Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Grand Rapids MI, Baker, 1999, p. 745.