The Bible says:
“I am ... the truth.”
— John 14: 6
It’s a fact that fact and truth are synonymous. Something cannot be true if it’s not supported by facts.
Reality is said to be true to fact, or correspond to true truth. It’s also a fact that a fact and a lie have never been synonymous but are antonyms.
Reality cannot be honestly explained with a lie. But a lie will be used to create an alternate but false reality.
The word “truth” in Greek means “the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the real, the manifested, veritable essence of a matter.”
Truth comes in two versions, subjective truth and objective truth. Which truth a person follows will determine their eternal destiny.
Subjective truth is truth that is determined by oneself, “of, relating to, or arising from oneself or mind” and originates in the imagination. Subjective truth is not true truth because it contradicts itself and doesn’t correspond with reality.
Objective truth is truth that isn’t determined by oneself, but “relating to what’s exterior to oneself or mind.” Objective truth is synonymous with what’s real. Objective truth is true truth because it’s true to itself and corresponds with reality.
Subjective truth denotes that which refers to the thinker, and objective truth, that which refers to the thing thought of.
When subjective truth is followed, situation ethics is at work, where everyone does what’s right in their own eyes.
When objective truth, which is God’s Word is followed God decides what is right in every situation. This is called Christian ethics when one does that which is right in God’s sight.
Jesus called Himself and God’s Word “the truth.” (
John 14: 6; 17: 17) He called Himself “true” when declaring that He was the fulfillment of prophetic truth.
Had Jesus labeled Himself and the Bible as “true,” He would be saying they were less than some greater standard of truth that when judged by it they would be found true.
Since Jesus’ claim that He and the Bible are “truth” is true, then truth originated with God, and men aren’t true until they’re using Him and the Bible as a reference point for all they say and do.
Since Jesus’ claim that He and the Bible are “truth” is true then He and the Bible explain reality truthfully, and they are the standards by which we should judge all things today to see if they’re true.
Subjective truth is truth that’s decided by a sinful heart. Objective truth is truth that’s decided by a thrice holy God, and will always be the true truth. Christians must follow the Truth to be true to Jesus.
God has given man the Truth in His Word and it tells the truth about fallen man and Jesus Christ who is our only Savior, and the Truth that men can know and receive by faith the Truth into their heart and realize that reality that corresponds to this Truth.
James H. Cagle is a Ray City resident who pastored several churches for a total of 11 years. Email him at pastorjameshcagle@ yahoo.com
