Special Topic: "Truth / True"

SPECIAL TOPIC: "TRUTH / TRUE"

"Truth" (the concept) in John's writings
1. In a sense John combines the Hebrew background and Greek background of aletheia "truth" as he did logos (cf. John 1:1-14). The Hebrew (BDB 52, KB 63, see Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith, and Faithfulness in the OT, III, IV) denotes that which is true, or trustworthy (often associated in the Septuagint with pisteuo). In Greek it was associated with Plato's reality versus unreality; heavenly versus earthly. This fits the dualism of John. God has clearly revealed (the etymology of aletheia is to expose, unconceal, clearly manifest) Himself in His Son.
2. This is expressed in several ways.
  1. NOUN, aletheia, truth
    1. Jesus is full of grace and truth (cf. John 1:14,17 ‒ OT covenant terms)
    2. Jesus is the focus of John the Baptist's witness (cf. John 1:32-34; 18:37 ‒ last OT prophet)
    3. Jesus speaks the truth (cf. John 8:40,44,45,46 ‒ revelation is propositional and personal)
    4. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (cf. John 14:6)
    5. Jesus sanctifies them in truth (cf. John 17:17)
    6. Jesus (the Logos, 1:1-3) is truth (cf. John 17:17)
  2. ADJECTIVE, alethes, true, trustworthy
    1. Jesus' witness (cf. John 5:31-32; 7:18; 8:13-14)
    2. Jesus' judgment (cf. John 8:16)
  3. ADJECTIVE, alethinus, real
    1. Jesus is the true light (cf. John 1:9)
    2. Jesus is the true bread (cf. John 6:32)
    3. Jesus is the true vine (cf. John 15:1)
    4. Jesus is the true witness (cf. John 19:35)
  4. ADVERB, alethos, truly
    1. Samaritan witness to Jesus as Savior of the world (cf. John 4:42)
    2. Jesus is true food and drink, as opposed to the manna of Moses' day (cf. John 6:55)
3. The term "truth" and its derivatives also express others' testimony to Jesus, alethes
  1. John the Baptist's testimony is true (cf. John 10:41)
  2. John's (the author of the Gospel) testimony is true (cf. John 19:35; 21:24)
  3. Jesus seen as true prophet (cf. John 6:14; 7:40)
  For a good discussion of truth in the OT and NT see George E. Ladd's A Theology of the New Testament, pp. 263-269.
"True" (the term) in John's writings
1. God the Father
  1. God is true/trustworthy (cf. John 3:33; 7:18,28; 8:26; 17:3; Rom. 3:4; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 6:10)
  2. God's ways are true (cf. Rev. 15:3)
  3. God's judgments are true (cf. Rev. 16:7; 19:2)
  4. God's sayings are true (cf. Rev. 19:11)
2. God the Son
  1. the Son is true/truth
    1. true light (cf. John 1:9; 1 John 2:8)
    2. true vine (cf. John 15:1)
    3. full of grace and truth (cf. John 1:14,17)
    4. He is truth (cf. John 14:6; 8:32)
    5. He is true (cf. Rev. 3:7,14; 19:11)
  2. the Son's testimony/witness is true (cf. John 18:37)
3. It can have a comparative sense
  1. the law of Moses versus Jesus' grace and truth (cf. John 1:17)
  2. the tabernacle in the wilderness versus the heavenly tabernacle (cf. Heb. 8:2; 9:1)
4. As so often in John's writings, this word had several connotations (Hebraic and Greek). John uses them all to describe the Father and the Son, as persons, as speakers, and as their message which is to be passed on to their followers (cf. John 4:23; 19:35; Heb. 10:22; Rev. 22:6).
5. For John these two ADJECTIVES describe the Father as the one and only trustworthy Deity (cf. John 5:44; 1 John 5:20) and Jesus as His true and complete revelation for the purpose of redemptive, not just cognitive, facts!
"Truth" in Paul's writings
1. Paul's usage of this term and its related forms comes from its OT equivalent, emet, which means trustworthy or faithful (BDB 52, KB 63; see Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith, and Faithfulness in the OT). In interbiblical Jewish writings it was used of truth in contrast to falsehood. Maybe the closest parallel would be the Dead Sea Scrolls' "Thanksgiving Hymns," where it is used of revealed doctrines. The members of the Essene Community became "witnesses of truth."
2. Paul uses the term as a way of referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  1. Romans 1:18,25; 2:8,20; 3:7; 15:8
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:6
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:7; 11:10; 13:8
  4. Galatians 2:5,14; 5:7
  5. Ephesians 1:13; 6:14
  6. Colossians 1:5,6
  7. 2 Thessalonians 2:10,12,13
  8. 1 Timothy 2:4; 3:15; 4:3; 6:5
  9. 2 Timothy 2:15,18,25; 3:7,8; 4:4
  10. Titus 1:1,14
3. Paul also uses the term as a way of expressing his speaking accurately/truthfully
  1. Acts 26:25
  2. Romans 9:1
  3. 2 Corinthians 7:14; 12:6
  4. Ephesians 4:25
  5. Philippians 1:18
  6. 1 Timothy 2:7
4. He also uses it to describe his motives in 1 Cor. 5:8 and lifestyle (also for all Christians, cf. 3 John 4) in Eph. 4:24; 5:9; Phil. 4:8.
5. He sometimes uses it for people.
  1. God, Rom. 3:4 (cf. John 3:33; 17:17)
  2. Jesus, Eph. 4:21 (similar to John 14:6)
  3. Apostolic witnesses, Titus 1:13
  4. Paul, 2 Cor. 6:8
6. Paul uses the VERB form (i.e., aletheuo) only in Gal. 4:16 and Eph. 4:15, where it refers to the gospel. For further study consult Colin Brown (ed.), The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 3, pp. 784-902.

Special Topic: Faith, Believe, or Trust