Insights through questions
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Theology 101 is currently asking what theological truths are brought to light when pondering biblical questions. Previously we have given thought to questions that raise the topics of the nature of Christ and the nature of man. This week our focus is the question Pilate asked when Christ was on trial: “What is truth?”
Pilate’s question was in response to Christ’s assertions that He came into the world to bear witness to the truth and that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice (John 18:37–38).
Pilate could have been asking a sincere question or a cynical one. Since we do not have access to the intonation in his voice or the expression on his face, we cannot know for sure the intention of his question. We simply take it at face value as a starting point for pondering the nature of divine truth.
Sacred truth
When we allow the Bible to answer Pilate’s question, the answer would be in the wording of the confession in Psalm 119:142, “Your law is truth,” amplified further in Psalm 119:160, “The entirety of Your word is truth.” Such is the confession of Christ in His well-known prayer in John 17, “Your word is truth” (v. 17).
We might think of this as “inscripturated” truth — truth conveyed in written form in the sacred Scriptures.
When we allow Christ Himself to answer Pilate’s question, He would add, “I am the truth,” as well as the way and the life (John 14:6).
Such also was the testimony concerning Christ borne by those like John who kept company with Him during His ministry: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
‘Settled in heaven’
When we allow the apostolic witness to answer Pilate’s question that witness would add, “The Spirit is truth” (1 John 5:6).
This witness accords with what Christ Himself attested when speaking about the coming of the Holy Spirit: “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit indwells all believers we might think of this as “indwelling” truth.
As the psalmist exclaimed, “Behold You desire truth in the inward parts” (Psalm 51:6).
Divine truth is not on a sliding scale. What was true in Bible times is true today, despite popular thought. We confess with Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”
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