What Is Truth?
Characteristics of Truth
It can't be a lie!
It can't have as its source a liar.
All men are liars; therefore truth cannot originate from men.
There can only be one original source of truth.
Truth is pure.
Truth is holy.
Truth is sure (reliable).
Truth is right.
Truth cannot decay.
Truth is eternal.
These are just some of the reasonable and logical conclusions of what the characteristics of truth must be to be truth.
Now let's look at these characteristics and see if they can be found in the Bible. (all scripture quotations are in italics and from the King James Bible)
Truth can't be a lie. This is just plain obvious.
It can't have as its source a liar. This is also plain and obvious. Now, a liar can tell a truth now and then, but he cannot be the originator of truth.
All men are liars; therefore truth cannot originate from men. Since all men are liars and truth cannot originate from liars, truth cannot originate with men. Therefore we can judge Titus 1:2 to be true.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Since God cannot lie, He can be a source of truth; in fact, since...
There can only be one original source of truth...
There can only be one God. And you cannot determine (make it so) otherwise with any authority because you are a man (or woman, mankind) and as such cannot be the originator or author of truth.
There is one God.
1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
This mediator between God and men is God Himself, in human form.
1Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
If God is the source of truth, truth must come from Him before we have access it.
Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
Isaiah 9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
Since God gave the Word, the Word is truth, because "God...cannot lie."
Jesus, while praying for His disciples, said to God the Father, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17)
So if God's Word is truth, it must have the other characteristics of truth mentioned above.
Truth is pure. Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Psalm 19:8 ...the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Truth is holy. Romans 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
2Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Truth is sure (reliable). Psalm 19:7 ...the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Truth is right. Psalm 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart...
Truth cannot decay. 1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Truth is eternal. 1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth...
1Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting...
Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
So now we know that the Word of God is Truth, and that Jesus Christ, Who was God manifested in the flesh, is Truth.
For more on the Word of God, click here.
It can't be a lie!
It can't have as its source a liar.
All men are liars; therefore truth cannot originate from men.
There can only be one original source of truth.
Truth is pure.
Truth is holy.
Truth is sure (reliable).
Truth is right.
Truth cannot decay.
Truth is eternal.
These are just some of the reasonable and logical conclusions of what the characteristics of truth must be to be truth.
Now let's look at these characteristics and see if they can be found in the Bible. (all scripture quotations are in italics and from the King James Bible)
Truth can't be a lie. This is just plain obvious.
It can't have as its source a liar. This is also plain and obvious. Now, a liar can tell a truth now and then, but he cannot be the originator of truth.
All men are liars; therefore truth cannot originate from men. Since all men are liars and truth cannot originate from liars, truth cannot originate with men. Therefore we can judge Titus 1:2 to be true.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Since God cannot lie, He can be a source of truth; in fact, since...
There can only be one original source of truth...
There can only be one God. And you cannot determine (make it so) otherwise with any authority because you are a man (or woman, mankind) and as such cannot be the originator or author of truth.
There is one God.
1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
This mediator between God and men is God Himself, in human form.
1Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
If God is the source of truth, truth must come from Him before we have access it.
Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
Isaiah 9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
Since God gave the Word, the Word is truth, because "God...cannot lie."
Jesus, while praying for His disciples, said to God the Father, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17)
So if God's Word is truth, it must have the other characteristics of truth mentioned above.
Truth is pure. Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Psalm 19:8 ...the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Truth is holy. Romans 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
2Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Truth is sure (reliable). Psalm 19:7 ...the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Truth is right. Psalm 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart...
Truth cannot decay. 1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Truth is eternal. 1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth...
1Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting...
Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
So now we know that the Word of God is Truth, and that Jesus Christ, Who was God manifested in the flesh, is Truth.
For more on the Word of God, click here.
Have a question or comment? Click here.
