Truth is a person

As I’ve been reflecting on this week’s lectionary passage for Sunday, and upon last weeks passage and sermon, I’m still enthralled with the concept of truth in the scriptures. Today’s lectionary reading fed the fire as well. These are the two passages that stoked my imagination and just a couple of thoughts.

1 John 5
20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

[It’s interesting that the writer asserts the goal is understanding, not simply knowledge. Truth is not construed as a concept, but a person, “him who is true.”]

1 John 3
18Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20whenever our hearts condemn us;

[truth here is connected to an action, a via, a way of being, v.18. And that as persons we can know we are from the truth and can be reassured before him who is truth.]