What is truth?
Scriptural thoughts that help with Pilate’s question.
I find fascinating the answer Jesus gave Pontius Pilate when interrogated by him. Jesus was brought before him as a criminal and a rebel to Rome.
Pilate asks Jesus if he is King of the Jews (thus a possible threat and rebel to Ceasar and Rome from the Roman viewpoint).
Jesus responds by saying his kingdom is not of this world. So Pilate asks if Jesus is a king. Jesus answers:
Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (emphasis added)
Jesus answer him by saying that he was born and exists for one main reason— to bear witness of the truth. Simple. He doesn’t go any deeper than that. Additionally, he says that those who possess or recognize the truth hear and recognize Jesus as a testifier of truth. Pilate responds:
What is truth?
To me, this is one of the great questions of time. In this world, sometimes it’s very hard to know what truth is.
To be clear, there is a difference between defining truth and recognizing truth.
Both the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants have excellent definitions of truth.
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; (D&C 93)
13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls… (Jacob 3)
This is a straightforward definition of truth. It’s reality. It’s things as they really are and were. It’s not what we think they were or what historians or politicians say they were but what really happens and happened (or will happen).
It’s actually one of the few black and white things that exist.
Something really is or occurred in a certain way or it didn’t — and that reality is the truth.
Now, situations and people are VERY gray. Meaning, people are a huge mix of good and bad.
Also, people’s intentions are very often hidden from our view.
We can guess at intentions, but unless we are told them (and if the person wasn’t lying), then we never really know what the truth was in that instance.
This makes life, circumstance and history very gray, and it makes truth VERY hard to identify at times. I think this is what Pilate was referring to when he said, “What is truth?”
Perhaps he meant it in an existential way, but I think he definitely was referring in part to this particular situation in trying to determine what the truth was.
Was it as the Jews said, that Jesus was a malefactor and claimed to be their king?
Was Jesus telling that truth in that he was a king but not of the world at the time? How is a mortal judge supposed to determine the truth of that matter?
The scriptures do provide some clues as to how we can determine and recognize the truth sometimes.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1)
23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. (D&C 50)
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things. (D&C 93)
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15)
66 Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness — in the wilderness, because you cannot see him — my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. (D&C 88)
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10)
In the smorgasbord of scriptures, a few themes stick out.
God declares truth and light to be the same thing.
Light is something that allows us to see things with our eyes.
Light, or truth, can allow us to see people and situations and history as they really are. Jesus sends the Comforter, also known as the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of truth to testify of Him.
Jesus declared himself to actually be the truth, the way and the life, with all of those having overlapping meaning.
Light rids a room or space of darkness, while the truth can rid our minds of doubt and misunderstanding.
If we receive light, we see things better and it’s easier to receive more light or truth. When we are full of truth (some day), we can comprehend all things (quite the promise).
As I mentioned at the start, there are lots of competing philosophies, religions, and perspectives, many of which contain some truth!
The truth can be found everywhere. Over the centuries humankind has learned to recognize and teach truth when they’ve discovered. Sometimes that wisdom is lost when people no longer treasure the truth but prefer to work in darkness and wickedness.
But, we can always use simple experiments to test out the different things we’re taught or receive.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves — It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness…
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
Sometimes we will test things out that aren’t good. They are bad seeds, we should reject them.
Sometimes we don’t really test things out. We make half-hearted efforts hoping it will be enough, but it doesn’t allow you to really find out. Jesus said a similar thing to the above seed comparison when he said:
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7)
He also said:
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8)
The truth can be learned. It takes time, effort, and experience but we can learn to recognize it.
We do have to be open to adjusting our opinions at times, hearing uncomfortable things, and analyzing ourselves and our thoughts and motives. But there is a prize.
In the words of Jesus truth is light. Light is good. The more we possess will bring us joy.
Also, we decrease our chances of suffering from self-deception or misunderstanding because we better understand things and others as they really are so we cease to suffer from false expectations.
I hope this was helpful.
Pilate’s question “What is truth?” whether sincere or not in the moment, is a sincere question for all of us.
Jesus declared himself as the bearer and embodiment of truth, and that it’ll make us free. Free to treasure it and receive more, or to ignore it or despise it (and choose to walk in greater darkness).
- Oh say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem
That the riches of worlds can produce,
And priceless the value of truth will be when
The proud monarch’s costliest diadem
Is counted but dross and refuse. - Yes, say, what is truth? ’Tis the brightest prize
To which mortals or Gods can aspire.
Go search in the depths where it glittering lies,
Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies:
’Tis an aim for the noblest desire. - The sceptre may fall from the despot’s grasp
When with winds of stern justice he copes.
But the pillar of truth will endure to the last,
And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast
And the wreck of the fell tyrant’s hopes. - Then say, what is truth? ’Tis the last and the first,
For the limits of time it steps o’er.
Tho the heavens depart and the earth’s fountains burst,
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,
Eternal, unchanged, evermore.
Excellent talk by Dieter F. Utchdorf on truth:
https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng
