What is truth?

[andy700700]

Ephesians 6:17
New International Version
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Matthew 4:1-11
New International Version
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

 

[GWH]

Ephesians 6:17
New International Version
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Matthew 4:1-11
New International Version
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The passage you cite in Matt. 4:5-10 teaches the need to harmonize Scripture.

 

[PaulThomson]

We take a look at the conversations between Jesus and Pilate in John 18:38
John 18:38
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

With all the deviation and the substitution with mans 'ideas' and 'tradition' as we see today, its getting very hard to an answer, that 'rightly dividing the word of truth'. We see how many handle truth today, basically for the sake of appearance. Many 'talk the talk' but do little of the 'walk', its a cosmetic truth for show and not for real. We find how the Jews wanted to receive the Passover, but not receive the One to whom the Passover meal pointed. Their religion was for show but not for real, basically a form of godliness but...

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Jesus came to tell the truth about God, the truth in His Word, and the truth about life. So how do we find out the answer to Pilates question?

Jesus Christ our Lord is truth. Getting to know Him, the Person, is getting to know the truth.

 

[UnoiAmarah]

What is truth?​

Truth is no lie.

 

[GWH]

Truth is no lie.

True:

1. Current scientific knowledge cannot explain how the universe came to exist by means of natural causes, thus it is possible that the cause of the universe is a supernatural Creator/God.

2. The most creative species is humanity, whose traits also include language, moral conscience and God consciousness (personality), so it is possible that these human traits reflect attributes of a God who created humanity.

3. Existential reality indicates that humans are mortal and life is painful, but when life is happy, one wishes it would continue indefinitely. Thus, it is rational to seek how to be saved or to become immortal in a heavenly existence.

4. Comparing all possible ways of achieving the DOD, the best or most credible way/hope at this point appears to be the God who resurrected Christ Jesus.

5. When words from God are sought, the NT teachings of Jesus and Paul seem to be the most highly inspired when compared with other scriptures (including the OT), because its concept of one God as the just and all-loving Judge (rationale for morality) is spiritually highest or most advanced, and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is most credible.

6. Thus, the truth is that it is wise to believe in the NT God and to accept Jesus as God’s Messiah.
I call this truth the Propensity Principle (PP).

 

[UnoiAmarah]

1. Current scientific knowledge cannot explain how the universe came to exist by means of natural causes, thus it is possible that the cause of the universe is a supernatural Creator/God.

The principle of causality holds that everything that begins to exist or changes must have a cause, establishing a necessary​

connection between an initial event (cause) and its result (effect) and the other precept being that the effectual cause cannot be it own cause. It was revealed from the philosophical dictum that nothing comes from nothing.

Science's explanation for the existence of the physical universe is the eternal primordial atom which contained all space,​

mass, time and energy in a highly condensed state which Pope Pius XII famously declared in 1951 that the Big Bang theory, proposed by Catholic priest Georges Lemaître, was a scientific validation of the Catholic faith, arguing it confirmed the doctrine of creation.

On the other hand, those who assert that a supernatural Creator/God created the heaven and the earth in the beginning. ​

It should be understood that term 'create' infers by implication bringing something into existence which has never existed in substance or form prior to its being created.

Neither the Big Bang nor the "Heaven and earth" meet the principal requirement of the causality principle. The effectual​

cause cannot be it's own cause so what created the primordial atom, if one argues the eternal God created the primordial atom then the question becomes what is effectual cause of God. The other argument for the effectual cause of the the primordial atom is that it is eternal. While the primordial atom is claimed to allow the materialist the freedom to deny the existence of God, IMO it will eventually require all men to deny the existence of God since an eternal universe would not require a Creator. Saying that the eternal primordial atom was created by an eternal God is the equivalent of the cosmic egg myth.

The interpretation that God created the heaven and earth would infer by implication that in the beginning God created all​

space, mass, time and energy. The same results occur with the creationist interpretation, if God created the heaven and earth then what is the effectual cause of God. Thus, if the effectual cause is it's own cause then the principle establishes it a false. However that is not to say Genesis 1:1 is false, but rather the interpretation is incorrect.

But as written, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt 7:14 ​

IMO opinion if one will listen they will hear that the principle is wisdom, and will see in Prov 4:7 that it is the key thing to getting understanding, that they might perceive what is written in the scripture. "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" John 5:26

 

[GWH]

The principle of causality holds that everything that begins to exist or changes must have a cause, establishing a necessary​

connection between an initial event (cause) and its result (effect) and the other precept being that the effectual cause cannot be it own cause. It was revealed from the philosophical dictum that nothing comes from nothing.

Science's explanation for the existence of the physical universe is the eternal primordial atom which contained all space,​

mass, time and energy in a highly condensed state which Pope Pius XII famously declared in 1951 that the Big Bang theory, proposed by Catholic priest Georges Lemaître, was a scientific validation of the Catholic faith, arguing it confirmed the doctrine of creation.

On the other hand, those who assert that a supernatural Creator/God created the heaven and the earth in the beginning. ​

It should be understood that term 'create' infers by implication bringing something into existence which has never existed in substance or form prior to its being created.

Neither the Big Bang nor the "Heaven and earth" meet the principal requirement of the causality principle. The effectual​

cause cannot be it's own cause so what created the primordial atom, if one argues the eternal God created the primordial atom then the question becomes what is effectual cause of God. The other argument for the effectual cause of the the primordial atom is that it is eternal. While the primordial atom is claimed to allow the materialist the freedom to deny the existence of God, IMO it will eventually require all men to deny the existence of God since an eternal universe would not require a Creator. Saying that the eternal primordial atom was created by an eternal God is the equivalent of the cosmic egg myth.

The interpretation that God created the heaven and earth would infer by implication that in the beginning God created all​

space, mass, time and energy. The same results occur with the creationist interpretation, if God created the heaven and earth then what is the effectual cause of God. Thus, if the effectual cause is it's own cause then the principle establishes it a false. However that is not to say Genesis 1:1 is false, but rather the interpretation is incorrect.

But as written, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt 7:14 ​

IMO opinion if one will listen they will hear that the principle is wisdom, and will see in Prov 4:7 that it is the key thing to getting understanding, that they might perceive what is written in the scripture. "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" John 5:26

Yes, #1 leaves us with the choice of believing either God or the universe is eternal or created,
but it is a fallacy to think/assume that nothing is uncreated or uncaused rather than Being (Exo. 3:14).

That is why there are five more points in the PP for your consideration.

 

[UnoiAmarah]

That is why there are five more points in the PP for your consideration.

I think the main point to consider is John 3:12, so using the Propensity Principle what is the degree of probability that vegetation, as we have here on earth, can grow in temperatures 200 degrees below zero?

the NT teachings of Jesus and Paul seem to be the most highly inspired when compared with other scriptures (including the OT)

Inspired means to be moved to do something, we can see in 2 Peter 1:21, wherein it is written, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Yet in the KJV of the OT you will find no reference using the term "Holy Ghost". What you will find is the first reference to the "Spirit of God" in Genesis 1:2 where some say he it was hovering upon the waters, while I see the Being of God walking on the water, but the KJV scribed moved on the waters. But do you see the other Being in Genesis 1:2? What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: Matt 10:27 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 John 1:6

Paul wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Tim 3:16. Moreover, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." 1 Thess 2:13

However, Jesus said "But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham." John 8:40. Any thought pop into you mind when you read what Jesus said?

But if we are going to talk about inspiration, there is not one person that has ever been able to read the written spoken word without it being written first , let's say in a book, and without someone first teaching them how to read the written spoken word. Man cannot even learn to speak another language without having interaction with someone actually speaking the language much less read a book. (See Isaiah 29:11) In WWII the US used native Americans to speak in their native tongue to send messages and nobody was able to decipher the meaning of the words. (Look up Code talkers)

However, they claim that the cuneiform tablets were deciphered by a man who simply looked at the cuneiform tablets and was able to read them. And of course, what do you think was written on those tablets?

In conclusion there is a difference between the milk and the meat.

 

[GWH]

I think the main point to consider is John 3:12, so using the Propensity Principle what is the degree of probability that vegetation, as we have here on earth, can grow in temperatures 200 degrees below zero?

Inspired means to be moved to do something, we can see in 2 Peter 1:21, wherein it is written, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Yet in the KJV of the OT you will find no reference using the term "Holy Ghost". What you will find is the first reference to the "Spirit of God" in Genesis 1:2 where some say he it was hovering upon the waters, while I see the Being of God walking on the water, but the KJV scribed moved on the waters. But do you see the other Being in Genesis 1:2? What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: Matt 10:27 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 John 1:6

Paul wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Tim 3:16. Moreover, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." 1 Thess 2:13

However, Jesus said "But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham." John 8:40. Any thought pop into you mind when you read what Jesus said?

But if we are going to talk about inspiration, there is not one person that has ever been able to read the written spoken word without it being written first , let's say in a book, and without someone first teaching them how to read the written spoken word. Man cannot even learn to speak another language without having interaction with someone actually speaking the language much less read a book. (See Isaiah 29:11) In WWII the US used native Americans to speak in their native tongue to send messages and nobody was able to decipher the meaning of the words. (Look up Code talkers)

However, they claim that the cuneiform tablets were deciphered by a man who simply looked at the cuneiform tablets and was able to read them. And of course, what do you think was written on those tablets?

In conclusion there is a difference between the milk and the meat.

I see you do not want to discuss the PP further, but it is about ultimate reality beyond physical sciences.

In my conclusion the NT is divinely inspired, because its concept of one God as the just and all-loving Judge (rationale for morality)
is spiritually highest or most advanced, and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is most credible.

 

[UnoiAmarah]

I see you do not want to discuss the PP further, but it is about ultimate reality beyond physical sciences.

I asked you what the Propensity Principle would rate the degree of probability that vegetation, as we have here on earth, could grow in temperatures 200 degrees below zero?