Truth (אֱמֶת, emeth; ἀλήθεια, alētheia). Factuality, faithfulness, firmness, reality, reliability.
Old Testament
The most
common term for “truth” in the Old Testament is אֱמֶת (emeth). The semantic range of אֱמֶת (emeth)
includes factuality and validity as well as faithfulness, firmness and
reliability. In the Septuagint, it is most often translated using ἀλήθεια
(alētheia). πίστις
(pistis) or δικαιοσύνη
(dikaiosynē) are also occasionally
used. Truth can be predicated of people as well as propositions.
As Factuality
When used in
a factual sense, אֱמֶת (emeth) indicates a genuine state of
affairs as opposed to a false one. It is used in Deuteronomy in the context of
a legal investigation (Deut 13:14; 17:4; 22:20). In Daniel 10:1, “truth” is
used to describe the word that Daniel received in a vision. It can also be used
as an indication of honesty in speech:
• The Queen of
Sheba discovered that the reports she had heard about Solomon were factual (1
Kgs 10:6–7).
• The widow of
Zarephath told Elijah after he raised her son from the dead that “the word of
the Lord in your mouth is truth” (1 Kgs 17:24 NRSV).
• The king of
Israel insisted that Micaiah tell the truth when he prophesied (1 Kgs 22:16; 2
Chr 18:15).
• The one who
can dwell in the Lord’s sanctuary is one who tells the truth (Psa 15:2).
• Zechariah
prophesied to the returned exiles that they ought to speak the truth to one
another (Zech 8:16).
As Faithfulness and Reliability
אֱמֶת (emeth), understood as “faithfulness”,
frequently occurs together with חסד (chsd), “mercy,” to indicate God’s
loyalty to people (Gen 24:27; 32:10; Exod 34:6; 2 Sam 2:6; Pss 25:10; 61:7;
89:14; Mic 7:20):
• God’s אֱמֶת (emeth)
is contrasted with the wrongdoing of his people (Neh 9:33).
• The works of
his hands are אֱמֶת (emeth)
in the sense of faithfulness (Psa 111:7–8).
• God’s
promise to David “from which he will not turn back” (NRSV) is described as אֱמֶת (emeth)
(Psa 132:11).
People are also described as אֱמֶת (emeth)
in the sense of faithfulness or reliability (Exod 18:21; Jos 2:14; Neh 7:2).
New Testament
The most
common terms associated with truth in the New Testament are ἀλήθεια
(alētheia, “truth”), ἀληθής
(alēthēs, “true”), ἀληθινός (alēthinos, “true,” “real”), ἀληθεύω
(alētheuō, “to tell the truth”), and ἀληθῶς
(alēthōs, “truly”). These words are
used in three senses:
As Factuality
Truth may be
used to convey a sense of being in accordance with fact or reality, as opposed
to being false or in error. This is the dominant sense of “truth” in the New
Testament. Frequent uses include:
• To
characterize a quality of speech, indicating honesty or sincerity (Mark 5:33;
John 4:18; 8:40; 16:7; Acts 26:25; 2 Cor 7:14; 12:6).
• To contrasts
telling the truth with lying (Rom 9:1; Eph 4:25; 1 Tim 2:7).
• To describe
the gospel (2 Cor 4:2; Gal 2:5, 14; Eph 1:13; Col 1:5; Heb 10:26; 3 John 3–4).
As Faithfulness and Reliability
Though truth
as faithfulness or reliability is more common in the Old Testament, it is used
in the New Testament in Rom 3:4, 7, and 15:8.
As Reality
Truth may be
used to describe that which is real and genuine, as opposed to fake or only an
imitation. It also describes that which is complete versus incomplete.
• Jesus is the
true light (John 1:9).
• The Father
desires true worshipers (John 4:23–24).
• Jesus’ body
is true food (John 6:32, 55).
• Jesus is the
true vine (John 15:1).
• The truth of
God is exchanged for a lie (Rom 1:25).
• Jesus
ministers in the true tabernacle (Heb 8:2; 9:24).
• Love must be
performed not with words, but in truth (1 John 3:18).
Bibliography
Hübner, H. “ἀλήθεια
(alētheia), ας
(as), ἡ.” Pages 57–60 in Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament 1.
Edited by H.R. Balz and G. Schneider. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990.
Nicole,
Roger. “The Biblical Concept of Truth.” Pages 283–97 in Scripture and Truth. Edited by D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge.
2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1992.
Quell,
Gottfried, Gerhard Kittel, and Rudolf Bultmann. “Alētheia.” Pages 232–51 in Theological
Dictionary of the New Testament 1. Edited by Gerhard Kittel. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1985.
Scott, Jack
B. “ʾaman.” Pages 51–53 in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
1. Edited by R. L. Harris. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980.
Thiselton,
Anthony. “Truth.” Pages 874–902 in New
International Dictionary of New Testament Theology 3. Edited by Colin
Brown. UK: Paternoster Press, 1997.[1]
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