What Is 'The Truth'?

Steve Bostin from Christadelphians New Lynn

A Scriptural Phrase

The phrase “the truth” is commonly used in expressions like “being in the truth” or “living the truth.” This usage stems directly from scripture, where the phrase appears 66 times in the New Testament. A third of these instances are found in the writings of John, who frequently employs sharp contrasts such as light versus darkness and truth versus falsehood.


The Knowledge of the Truth

Scripturally, “the truth” is fundamentally linked to a specific knowledge and worldview. A key reference is 1 Timothy 2:4-5, which states that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Therefore, the truth centres on recognising God as the Creator and Jesus Christ as His Son, along with the purpose embodied in that relationship.

The Practice of the Truth

However, the truth is not merely a set of facts to be acknowledged. The Bible also speaks of “practicing the truth” or “obeying the gospel.” This indicates that fully accepting the truth necessarily involves resulting actions and a way of life motivated by that truth. It is a combination of right belief and right practice.

The Truth Defined

The apostles provide clear definitions of this truth in their preaching. For example, in Acts 2:22-24, Peter declares: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst… this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death.” Several similar summaries in the Acts of the Apostles align closely with the core tenets of the Christadelphian statement of faith.

The Truth and the Trinity Doctrine

While these apostolic definitions might sound broad, they contain crucial distinctions. For instance, these statements proclaim Jesus as “the Son of God,” not “God the Son.” There is no Trinitarian formula. This foundational difference directly affects worship and practice. It leads to praising Jesus for his achievements as the Son, rather than worshipping him as God Almighty. It also upholds the essential need for Jesus’ role as the one mediator between God and man, which is altered by other theological frameworks.

The Truth and the Personal Devil Doctrine

Furthermore, these apostolic statements make no mention of a personal, supernatural devil. The belief in such a being is a flat contradiction of the monotheistic view presented in scripture, which affirms there is no other being like or beside God. Accepting the biblical truth changes one’s behavior: it removes fear of another powerful evil being and prevents blaming such a being for life’s problems or personal sin, focusing instead on the need for personal repentance and change.

A Note on Using ‘The Truth’

Finally, it is perhaps unhelpful to use the phrase “the truth” as a direct synonym for the Christadelphian community. This can suggest a presumptuous judgment that membership here is the only place where truth resides. While we believe we hold the truth as revealed in scripture, it is not our place to make that definitive judgment about others.

Summary of the Truth

In summary, “the truth” is a scriptural term we should use. It encompasses the knowledge of the one God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the purpose of God revealed in the gospel. It is as much about a resultant way of life as it is about a body of knowledge. We should be mindful to use the term in its rich, biblical sense, avoiding a presumptuous application that refers solely to our community.

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