User:RobertC/Truth

Plan of project

I plan to study carefully the use of the terms truth and true in scripture. One reason is because I'm very interested in hermeneutics and I think this is a good term to consider in understanding the distance (and hence ways to bridge this distance) between scriptural use(s) of the term and other ways of understanding what truth is. I sort of imagine the project culminating in looking at D&C 93:28ff, which I think is a very provocative and challenging passage. Hopefully, getting a background context for use of the term truth will help me understand that passage.

(Part of my motivation for doing this is a conversation I've been having with TAL on the lds-phil listserv.)

I plan to read entries from Bible sources such as the TDNT, TWOT, and AB to understand the Hebrew and Greek contexts and biblical uses for these terms. I think these are very valuable resources, and I think creating pages with similar entries on this wiki would be interesting and helpful to many users—sort of an online, editable version of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, but one that focuses exclusively on scriptural use (perhaps like an annotated and more organized Topical Guide). I will probably survey a few Mormon sources (e.g. Mormon Doctrine, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and possibly others), but look mostly at the scriptures themselves to see how these terms are used, particularly in Mormon scripture since I think these other sources cover the Bible passages very well.

Here are some preliminary thoughts I'd like to consider more carefully.

• "The truth" not "a truth." D&C 49:2 describes in a condemnatory way those that "desire to know the truth in part." Although we have a tendency to think in terms of "true concepts," I worry that this notion of truth is anti-scriptural. "A truth" is not a phrase that occurs in scripture, although there are a few possible exceptions which I'll discuss more carefully below, including: truth as a knowledge of things (plural); "truths"; D&C 10:62, "true points [plural!] of my doctrine.

In the Old Testament

Most Hebrew words that are translated truth come from the root `aman which is most frequently translated "believe" or "faithful." The sense seems to be that something is true if it is reliable and dependable. Perhaps truth should be thought about in terms of that which endures. Someone is true who will make good on a promise---their word is thus reliable.

One interesting use of the term `emeth (a derivative of `aman which is actually the most common Hebrew word for truth) is that it seems importantly connected to the will of God. The TDNT mentions in particular:

• Ps 51:6, Ps 15:2: God desires a truthful heart.

• Ezek 18:8-9: Truth in social life is executed in accordance with the will of God.

• Hosea 4:1: No truth is equated with no knowledge of God.

The TDNT says that "in the last resort the rational element in the concept of `emeth is not the essential feature, and there are many passages in which it should not be emphasized" (Vol. 1, p 235). Consider:

• Ps 119:160

• Ps 19:9

• Dan 10:21

In the New Testament

I think the concept of truth (see aletheia), will be complicated b/c of Greek influence. I think this will make for an interesting study of comparison and contrast with the Book of Mormon since their culture was isolated from Greek influence (although Joseph Smith the translator was not...). I'm anxious to read the TDNT entry, I'm sure it'll be fascinating. Also, I think FARM's recent book on the apostacy will be a helpful resource in thinking about this.

[More coming.]

English etymology

Before approaching Mormon texts, I want to look up in Webster's 1828 and the OED and try to trace out some etymology for the word.

[More coming.]

In the Book of Mormon

There are 53 occurrences of truth in the Book of Mormon. I think most uses of the term are a bit vague in the sense that they don't help me understand what truth actually means, though the use of the word true seems more helfpul b/c we can look at what this adjective is modifying in order to get a better sense of the connotations for true and truth.

Small plates

There are 18 occurrences of truth in the small plates (1 Ne - Mosiah).

• 1 Ne 13:24-25

"And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God. Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God."

Some conjecturing: Already, I think we see truth used in a way that is not abstract or a detachable concept. That is, instead of simply describing God as true, or truth in terms that are isolated from God, "the truth" is something that is found in God. I think this makes sense (only) when we think about the Hebrew concept: "the truth which is in God" is the "the steadfastness which is in God--God is has integrity and will make good on his promises. God has integrity; he is not double-minded, and so what he says can peacefully coexist with what has been, what is, and what will be. "The truth" can be found in God (only in God?) and is referring to the fact that God's words are reliable.

• 1 Ne 14:26

And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.

Truth in relation to records is very common. This is one reason I think about truth in terms of God's word being reliable. I think these first two BOM occurrences of the word truth are very representative in the different ways the word is used, in relation to God and in relation to records. But I find this use particularly interesting b/c it seems more closely related to hermeneutics: how should we understand records as establishing truth? I think a common way to think about this is in terms of historical accuracy, but this seems a very weak and modern way to think about this. A better alternative is perhaps to think in terms of both records being referred to here as testifying of Jesus Christ, which brings us back to the notion of truth being in God, which I take as being the central message of scripture: the Father will make good on his promise to redeem us from the Fall by sending his Son to atone for sin. So the truth is God's faithfulness in keeping his loving promise to redeem us.

Other links and sources

• Terry Warner's article in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.