What Is Truth? (Part 1)
Truth, for the true
believer, is simply what God has to say about anything. It is interesting to
note that in the Gospel of John this subject is dealt with often, and it is
Pilate who asks the question in John 18:38. While it is correct that Jesus
Himself is truth (John 14:6), John makes it clear that the Word of God is the
truth (John 17:17) and that the Holy Spirit will lead the believer into all
truth (John 16:13). Not only does this ministry of the Spirit as our guide and
teacher lead us into truth, but that truth is used in our sanctification (John
17:17). The text also clearly states that the Holy Spirit will carry on that
ministry of truth because He indwells the believer as He began to do at
Pentecost (John 15:26; 16:7, 13).
In the church age,
every believer has the advantage of access to the clear statements of the Bible
text and the guidance of the indwelling Spirit. The Scripture, on which we
depend for truth, was inspired in the original writings and is without error.
Truth is stable and consistent within the text because its words and the whole
were supervised by the pure oversight of the Holy Spirit.
SO,
WHAT HAPPENED TO TRUTH?
Concepts are
clarified as we stand back and look at the whole. For instance, there are only
two religions in the world. One is Biblical Christianity, and the other is what
I have come to call “Humianity.” All religions other than Biblical Christianity
find part or all of their sources in flawed human thought. The names of those
religions are irrelevant. Their beliefs are legion, but they all have the same
source even if their degrees of error are wide as an ocean. Final truth is
found in God’s Word. Even if those religions use some Bible and have some
truth, that truth is negated by the infusion of human reason.
The same concept is
true in the science of hermeneutics. There is only one biblical hermeneutic
that God has given to the believer. Man has invented multitudes of
hermeneutical systems, but once again they all fall into the same category.
They are humanly devised so that there are only two hermeneutical systems: the
one biblical system and the one whose source is man. There is a wide variety of
systems outside the biblical one, but they are all one because they all use the
same human source.
Truth is found in the
clear statement of the text before man adds his convenient adjustments to the
scripture. Theological error does not come from the Bible text; it comes from
man’s attempt to force the Bible to agree with human thought. Truth is safe within
the bonds of the biblical hermeneutic because this system is simply the normal,
plain, consistent, literal use of language.
SO,
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
There are many who
confess that they practice this normal use of language. They even use it some
of the time…but the minute man begins to play God and gets carried away with
his own ideas, truth is lost. Failure to use the biblical system and the clear
rules all the time creates the same human error.
I’m constantly reading from a number of sources and am amazed at how frequently writers ruin a perfectly good study of the text by finding ways to add their own thoughts to its content.
In the biblical hermeneutic, the very first step is exegesis. We
are obligated to use the appropriate grammar, definition, syntax, etc. Now,
this may sound simple - but it isn’t. It is far too easy to manipulate the text
by forcing a meaning into it and then making that appear to be the only
possible answer. This is a favorite trick used by grammarians. Remember, the
Bible was not written for scholars. While we are grateful for the ministry of
these godly men, God in His grace has given the rest of us believers a way to
know when our theological leg has been pulled.
When the interpreter
has finished with the issues of the language, all he has is a question; but he
does not have an answer until he has completed the hermeneutical process. The
next step for authentication is context. We all know that a text without a
context is a pretext. Unfortunately, there are few who practice the rule, and
this is the big bear trap. No interpretation that rests on one text can be
trusted. If the teaching is central to the faith, it will be supported by both
the micro and macro texts. Even here, though, it is possible to go astray; and
this is another trick used by those who ignore the biblical hermeneutic.
Contextual authority must be clearly identified by the text itself. That simply
means that passages being considered must actually – and without question -
apply to the subject under consideration.
The next step in the
one biblical hermeneutic has to do with the historical setting of the content
of the passage. This step enhances our understanding of the grammatical
conclusion, but it does not create the doctrine. This is one of the reasons we
don’t develop doctrine from the parables. On the other hand, this step is a
bright light in exposing the insertion of theological systems into a text. The
Holy Spirit was not acting in a foolish manner when He gave us historical
settings that allow us to ask, “Does this illustration by God confirm the
interpreter’s conclusion?”
FINALLY
This marvelous
process of the one biblical hermeneutic is an affront to theological systems
and constructs that make it possible for humans to press their ideas and
conclusions on the text. Is it possible for anyone to ask, “What does the text
say” and get the answer God put there? Yes, it is…if only we are sufficiently
humble to admit we have been playing games with a holy book at the expense of
truth. (To be continued)
Shepherd’s Staff is
prepared by Clay Nuttall, D. Min
A
communication service of Shepherd’s Basic Care, for those committed to the
authority and sufficiency of the Bible. Shepherd’s Basic Care is a ministry of
information and encouragement to pastors, missionaries, and churches. Write for
information using the e-mail address, Shepherdstaff2@juno.com
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