More than 60 times in the New Testament the definite article “the” is found before the word “truth,” to emphasize the single, absolute and distinctive nature of Divine truth. The plural form of “truths” is never found in Scripture, which again would seem to be God’s way of emphasizing the single, absolute and distinctive nature of Divine truth. Let’s examine what we can learn about “the truth” from the usage of that expression in the N.T.
Through the work and guidance of the Holy Spirit, “all the truth” has been given to us in Scripture (John 16:13). Knowing that we can trust it (for, it is “the truth”) and knowing that we are not missing anything God intended for us to have (for, it is “ALL the truth”), we must come to Scripture with the utmost respect for how God expects us to respond.
First of all, consider that there are devastating ways in which man may respond to “the truth.” Scripture affirms that “the truth” can be (but should not be) “suppressed” (Rom. 1:18), “exchanged for the lie” (Rom. 1:25), “rejected” (Rom. 2:8), “withheld” (1 Tim 6:5), “opposed” (2 Tim. 3:8), “strayed from” (2 Tim. 2:18; Jas. 5:19), “turned from” (2 Tim. 4:4; Tit. 1:14) and “lied against” (Jas. 3:14). May God help us to never treat “the truth” or act toward “the truth” in these ways.
Even more so, Scripture makes it very clear that “the truth” can and needs to dwell or abide in us (1 John 1:8; 2:4; 2 John 2; 3 John 3), in order that we might respond properly and as Divinely expected. “The truth” can be and needs to be (but, because of freewill, it doesn’t have to be) “heard” (Col. 1:5), “known” (John 8:32; 1 Tim. 2:4; 1 Tim. 4:3; 2 Tim. 2:25; 3:7; Tit. 1:1; Heb. 10:26; 1 John 2:21; 2 John 1), “believed” (2 Thess. 2:12-13; 1 Tim. 4:3), “loved” (2 Thess. 2:10), “obeyed” (Gal. 3:1; 1 Pet. 1:22), “practiced” (John 3:21; 1 John 1:6), “manifested” (2 Cor. 4:2), “lived” (Gal. 2:14), “told” (John 8:45-46; John 16:7; Rom. 9:1; Gal. 5:7), “spoken” (2 Cor. 12:6; Eph. 4:15; 1 Tim. 2:7), “established in” (2 Pet. 1:12), “stood in” (John 8:44), “walked in” (3 John 3-4), “turned back to” (Jas. 5:19) and “worked for” (3 John 8).
When we respond properly to “the truth,” Scripture reveals the power of the single, absolute and distinctive truth. It “makes us free” (John 8:32), “sanctifies” (John 17:17, 19), “purifies” (1 Pet. 1:22) and “testifies” of our faithfulness as we comply (3 John 12).
There is much for us to learn from and about “the truth.” May we be reminded that apart from Jesus, who is “the truth” (John 14:6), there is no truth! His truth is not relative or multiple choice! It is absolute and powerful!