What Is Truth?

This is the question that Pilate, likely sarcastically, asked Jesus as he left him to claim to the Jewish crowd that he found no reason to charge him with any crime. I think it is a question we’re still asking.

In a society immersed in social media and distrusting most of what is reported by mainstream media, truth is defined basically by what we already believe. I am often amazed by the “truths” proclaimed that are diametrically opposed to one another. For instance, one claims the truth is found in Elon Musk’s claim of vast fraud in the agencies of the federal government; the other insists those claims are lies, or at least misleading, and the truth is there may be waste, but no fraud. Both say their claims are true.

If we believe the government can’t be trusted, then our tendency will be to believe as true anything that confirms our suspicions. If we believe MAGA Republicans are a threat to democracy, then we will tend to believe any reporting that confirms these suspicions. Of course, the danger of this is it can blind us to the actual truth.

There have always been politicians and other leaders more than willing to tell us what we want to hear if it will gain our support and adoration. The problem comes when we embrace anything that sounds true to us and then tell others. This is the way lies are spread and believed.

So, to come back to Pilate’s question, what is truth? In Jesus’ discourse with Pilate (John 18:33-38), truth, he said, is found solely in him. People who are truth-lovers will listen to him because, as he said elsewhere (John 14:6), he is the truth. He embodies truth through what he says and the way he lives. If we want to know the truth and not be deceived by lies, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). If someone is continually disparaging others, we must be wary of what they say because Jesus didn’t do this. If someone is enamored with power and money, we need to be cautious of them as purveyors of truth because they do not reflect the character of Jesus.

And we need to evaluate carefully what we believe. Is it consistent with the teachings of Jesus? If not, then we need the courage to admit it and renounce whatever is out of line with the teachings and life of our Lord. If we are honest, courage in this area is lacking. We often hold to certain beliefs and seek reinforcement of them without truly submitting them to the lordship of Jesus. We may have a certain affinity to a set of beliefs, but that crosses into idolatry if we are more committed to those than to following Jesus wherever he leads.

In the search for the answer to Pilate’s question, we first need to compare what we believe to what Jesus taught and lived out. There we will find what is true and what is not.

© Jim Musser 2025 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.