How Do We Know What We Know? Thinking About The Idea Of "Truth"
How do we know what we know? Where do we derive what we know? What formulates our answers? What is an objective reason for our religious belief as Christians? All of these are very fundamental questions that constitute easy yet complex answers. So, what is our answer? The answer would be connected and springing forth from the person of Christ.
Truth is often seen as an abstract item that is drifting around in time and space that mankind stretches out to acquire, understand and harness. However, as Christians we would funnel truth down to not an abstract ideology or philosophy but rather a person, Christ.
Jesus in John 14:6 states, “I am the way and the truth and the life…” Jesus is very specific in saying this. In the original Greek he says, “Egw eimi,” which essentially applies the emphasis, “I… I am the way, the truth, the life…” Furthermore, Christ not only applies the truth to himself but also uses a definite article to essentially say, “I am not ‘a’ way, ‘a’ truth…” but rather “I am ‘the’ way , ‘the’ truth…” Thus as a result Jesus does not allow Christians to associate truth to a person’s culture, conditioning, and their own epistemological views of reality. Rather, the idea of truth is taken out of the sphere of time and space and located in the person of Christ; a savior that was sent to us by the Father. Therefore, truth is not only something that is theocentric but more specifically is Christo-centric; it is revealed by God to us in Christ..
Because truth is attached to the person of Christ, this idea of truth is not only derived and defined by Christ, but the idea of truth stands or falls on the person of Christ. Either, 1) Christ lived on this earth, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried and rose again or 2) This is completely bogus thus diminishing Christ and the source of truth. If all of this did happen then the idea and notion of Christ being truth warrants our attention. If this isn’t trustworthy then we must return the idea of truth back to the sphere of time and space.[1]
Let’s move on to the idea of epistemology. A person’s epistemological system is formed and shaped by the narrative, teaching, interpretive methodology, content and person of Christ. What is unique about Christianity is that salvation is not only extra nos but the idea of truth is also. Thus, truth is not something that is derived from subjective experiences, nor is a product of modern pragmatism and fluctuating relative truth. The very idea of a truth that is extra nos is that it is objective in its nature, for the revelation of Christ is framed in time, space and history.
The unfortunate reality for many Christians today is that the idea of truth is not extra nos in Christ but has been relocated to an inter nos perspective. Thus, when truth is relocated to the subjective self: objectivity becomes prevalent, the Biblical meta-narrative is infected with nihilistic ideology and the old man warps truth. This all yields superficial, inconsistent and indefinable truth that springs forth from subjectivism.
How do we know what we know? Where do we derive what we know? What formulates our answers? Christ.
[1] At this point a proper study of Christology would be essential. Books such as: Evidence that Demands a Verdict, The Case for the Christ, etc… would be most beneficial for establishing the validity of Jesus Christ and the resurrection. It seems to me that truth in Christianity is connected to Christ. If Christ stands, then truth stands and vice versa.
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