Are you being told the truth from the Bible?

In opposition to the commonly held beliefs about truth, the Bible robustly affirms absolute truth that can be known and understood. In fact, Scripture argues that it is a denial of truth that causes much of the disarray in one’s heart and the world. It is conformity with truth that creates order and brings freedom.

As is apparent by simply listing key biblical passages that speak to this subject, honesty and telling the truth are highly valued by God and are considered an integral part of a life of integrity and faithfulness to him. The Mosaic law commands that God’s people do not lie or deceive each other (Leviticus 19:11) or give false testimony about another (Exodus 20:16). The Psalmist describes the person whose walk is blameless and righteous as speaking the truth from the heart (Psalm 15:2).

The New Testament echoes this when it connects honesty and truthfulness with the believer’s new life in Christ (Colossians 3:9). One of the first manifestations of the believer putting off the old self and putting on the new self in Christ is a commitment to honesty (Ephesians 4:24-25).

The virtue of honesty is grounded ultimately in the character of God—that is, we are to be truthful because God is truthful. God never lies the Bible informs us (Titus 1:2), and both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are referred to as the truth (John 14:6, 16:13; 1 John 5:6). Similarly, God’s word is called the truth (Psalm 119:142, John 17:17).

Theologically, honesty is a virtue because, like all the virtues, it is rooted in God’s nature. Truthtelling is a moral principle to be followed because God is truthful, and we are called to emulate his character.

God holds truth and love together in a perfect marriage. When they are married, there is no conflict. When they are sundered, we face dilemmas; for example , when love requires deception or when truth causes harm ( telling a child a truth he or she is not prepared to understand).

This is not because there is something wrong with God, but because of the fallen nature of our world. Until God’s kingdom is fulfilled, those who would follow God will experience periodic conflicts as they try to love in truth and tell the truth in love.

In other words, the fact that truthtelling is a biblical principle does not necessarily mean that it is an absolute to be always followed in every circumstance. There are at least two occasions in the bible in which deception seems to be allowed, if not praised. For example, the midwives who were charged with caring for the infant Moses carried out an elaborate deception in order to safeguard the life and well-being of Moses ,

hiding his Hebrew origins and leading the Pharaoh to believe that he was actually one of his own sons (Exodus 2:1-10). In addition, Rahab deceived the soldiers of Jericho in order to safeguard the lives of the Israelite spies who came to serve as advance scouts of the promised land (Joshua 2:1-24). She actually ends up in God’s Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 on account of her faith, exercised in protecting the lives of the spies (of which the deception was an integral part).

So, how do we start living in truth?

The world has given us a hundred different ways to understand truth. In a postmodern world, all truth is relative. Absolute truth, therefore, does not exist (which is a truth claim in itself).

Pluralism, on the other hand, claims all truths are equally valid. To which, you might ask, can a dog both be a dog and not be a dog? The law of non-contradiction would say no.

Socratic thinking, which takes on many faces today, claims that although truth may exist, it cannot be truly known. An atheistic worldview must, by default, uphold this understanding. If the brain is merely a haphazard assortment of neurons firing at random intervals, then who could trust it?

Scripture presents a different understanding of truth. Psalm 119:160 says to God, “the sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgements is everlasting.”

Truth is everything that aligns with ultimate reality as designed and defined by God. In the book of John, Jesus affirms this statement: “Sanctify them in the truth,” He prays to His Father,“Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

What Does the Bible Say about Seeking Truth?

Unlike the Socratic view, which denies anyone’s ability to ever really know anything at all, Jesus told His listeners that “if you continue in My word, then you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

It seems that Jesus believed that truth is both real and capable of being understood. His statement also suggests that we do not inherently know what is true—God must reveal it to us. Therefore, we are in bondage. According to Jesus, discovering truth does not come passively, nor can it be found by reaching deep into the crevices of one’s own brain. It must be sought after through discipleship, by continuing in His word, with the aid of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13).

This teaching aligns with Romans 1:20, which states, “for since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” The truth about who God is cannot be found by looking within one’s mind but by looking outside oneself.