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What is truth?

NOTE: If you would like to review some key definitions about truth, click the "Context" button to the right to take you to the bottom to see  subjective vs. objective truth, and absolute vs. relative truth.

Summary Point

Subpoints

Truth is what corresponds to reality.

Truth cannot be relative since that is self-refuting and illogical.

Spiritual truth is objective, since it is not determined by our personal preference.

  1. Truth is whatever corresponds to reality because this fits with the way the world works and must be utilized if someone tries to argue against it.

    • This definition fits with our experience of the world.

      • Suppose I say that I have $100.00 in my checking account at ABC bank. If I truly have this amount (corresponds to reality), then the statement is true; otherwise, it is false.

        • My belief about whether I have $100 is irrelevant and I would obviously never argue with the bank that according to ‘my truth’ I have more than $100.

    • The correspondence theory for truth is confirmed even when someone attempts to argue against it.

      • People who argue against the correspondence theory are saying that their truth corresponds to reality. So they affirm the correspondence theory, while trying to deny it.

  2. Truth cannot be relative, which is self-defeating and violates logic.

    • Relative truth is self-defeating – it fails to meet its own standard or definition.1

      • If someone says ‘truth is relative’, they are making an absolute statement, not a relative statement. This immediately contradicts what they are affirming.

        • In other words, they are not suggesting that this is merely their opinion of truth, they are saying this is the way things are in the world. But this makes an absolute claim, which contradicts relative truth.

    • Relative truth leads to logical contradictions.

      • What if two people have opposite beliefs about a statement? Can they both be right?

        • Person A: you are supposed to stop at the intersection (see picture).

        • Person B: you are NOT supposed to stop at the intersection (see picture).

        • They CANNOT both be right, assuming they are not quibbling about the what it means to stop. One is true, one is false.

      • The bottom line is relative truth violates a fundamental rule in logic known as the Law of Noncontradiction.

  3. Spiritual truth is objective, since it is not determined by our subjective opinion.

    • It is important to understand these terms:

      • Objective truth: something is true independent of a person's opinion. The truth is determined by the object. An example is an equation in math, where a person's opinion does not determine truth.

      • Subjective truth: something is true based on a person's subjective opinion. The truth is determined by the subject. An example is a person's favorite musical instrument.

    • Someone may argue for truth being relative by saying that sometimes truth is exclusively based on their opinion (e.g. my favorite ice cream is vanilla). This is still incorrect – it is still an absolute truth for that person. It is subjective truth (meaning the source of the truth is the subject), but it is NOT a relative truth since my opinion cannot change what they deemed tasty. 

Subjective Truth

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Truth depends on a person's opinion (the subject)

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Example: the best musical instrument

Objective Truth

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Truth is independent of a person's opinion. It is based on the object in question.

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Example: the correct answer to a math problem

Links to external resources on this topic:

Anchor 1

Context:

  • Perhaps this seems like an odd question. Doesn’t everyone know what truth is? Unfortunately, no. Some people claim that truth is absolute, while others say it is relative. When someone says truth is relative, what exactly do they mean?

  • Below provides a good summary of various definitions:

    • When it comes to the source of truth, it is valid that certain truth claims are either subjective or objective.

✔SUBJECTIVE TRUTH: Some things are true because they are dependent on a person’s mind (the subject).2,3 They are literally based on a person’s feeling, opinion or thinking. An example would be a person’s favorite movie.

✔OBJECTIVE TRUTH: Some things are true based on a thing (object) independent of a person’s mind, not based on human feeling, opinion or thinking.2 An example would mathematics. One plus one equals two, regardless of a person’s opinion

  • Now while truth can be based on either subjects (persons) or objects (not persons), truth is not relative, but rather absolute.

✖RELATIVE TRUTH: This is the concept that all truth is subjective, dependent on a person’s mind.2 In other words, a claim is true if someone accepts it. Consequently, each person can have their own truth.

✔ABSOLUTE TRUTH: This is the idea that truth is determined by reality, not a person accepting it.4 This notion allows for both objective and subjective truth: one plus one equals two, is absolute truth. Also, that Jason likes the movie Courageous is also an absolute truth.

  • Although the concept of ‘relative truth’ may be popular today because people don’t want to offend anyone, it is NOT a rational position. We cannot change truth based on our opinion. Truth is absolute, whether it is grounded in a person (subjective truth), such as ‘Jason like’s pizza’ or it is based on an external reality (objective truth), such as ‘1+1=2’. Neither a subjective truth or objective truth can be changed by someone else’s opinion. My wife cannot change the absolute truth that I like pizza or 1+1=2.

  • Relative truth would say that truth is based on someone’s perception or perspective.5 In other words, if it is your opinion that something is true, then it is true for you.

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  • Consequently, the only rational theory on truth is the ‘Correspondence Theory’, not simply what works for us (Pragmatic Theory):

    • A statement is true if it corresponds to reality.6 For example, if I say that I am 41 years old and that truly is the case, then it is ‘true’. Therefore, truth cannot be changed by someone’s belief or opinion. 

  • Jesus cared a lot about truth. He claimed to be ‘the’ truth, not ‘a’ truth.  He also said truth was the reason He came into the world.7 See a couple couple Bible verses below:

    • Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 CSB, emphasis added)

    • "You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice." (John 18:37 CSB, emphasis added)

Anchor 2

Sources (complete reference information provided on SOURCE PAGE):

  1. Geisler & Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, p.39.

  2. Greg Koukl of Stand-to-Reason, gives a great podcast clarifying these definitions of truth: https://www.str.org/w/what-is-truth?inheritRedirect=true

  3. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/subjective?s=t

  4. Moreland, Craig, Philosophical Foundations For A Christian Worldview, p.132

  5. Mittelburg, Choosing Your Faith, p.22.

  6. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, p.742.

  7. Cited by Dr. Del Tackett in the Video Series, The Truth Project

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