Define Truth: What is truth?
Here’s a simple definition drawn from what the Bible teaches: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.
Truth is a virtue that the person of God should practice. Truth is to proceed from one's mouth, and wickedness is an abomination to the lips (Proverbs 8:7 ); the one who speaks the truth gives honest evidence ( Proverbs 12:17 ); truth is described as a commodity that one should purchase, along with wisdom, instruction, and understanding ( Proverbs 23:23 ).
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?” “Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.” “Triple filter?” “That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?” “No,” the man said, “Actually I just heard about it and ...” “All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?” “No, on the contrary…” “So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?” “No, not really …” “Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”
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Psalm 119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. ----- The sum of God’s Word is truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
We are sanctified in truth. ----- God’s Word is truth.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus = the way Jesus = the truth Jesus = the life the way = truth the life = truth
John 8:31-32 … So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The truth sets you free.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Put away falsehood. / Speak truth.
Ephesians 6:14 - Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Be covered and protected by truth.
Psalms 50:6 - And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself. Selah.
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Youth In Action - Josiah
- The noblest king to reign in the territory of Judah was Josiah. Scripture says there was no ruler of his caliber, neither before nor after him, who sought the Lord with “all his heart” as did he ( 2 Kings 23:25 )And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.).
- Josiah was but a boy of eight when he came to the throne.
- At the age of sixteen, he began to “seek” Jehovah.
- By the time he turned twenty, he initiated a campaign to purge the southern kingdom of its idolatry ( 2 Chronicles 34:1-3 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.).
- When Josiah was twenty-six, he arranged for repairs on the temple.
- It was at this time that a tremendously significant event occurred. A copy of “the law of Jehovah given by Moses” was discovered in the temple ( 2 Chronicles 34:14 ). When the religious and moral message of the sacred document was studied, and the spiritual fabric of the nation was seen to stand in such glaring contrast, a reformation was proclaimed.
- One of Josiah’s important accomplishments was the restoration of the Passover, which had not been observed with care since the days of the judges ( 2 Kings 23:21-23 ) And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.). Since the Passover was designed to preview the death of Jesus (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7 ) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:), Josiah was an important element in preparing the nation for the Savior’s arrival. What confidence Jehovah had placed in a spiritual young man.
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