Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true…
Summary: Paul starts his list of things to think about with “whatever is true.” That sounds simple, until we realize that everyone has a different idea of what “truth” is.
Paul wants us to think about things that are “true.”
Do you find that odd?
Have you ever before had anyone tell you that you need to think about things that are “true?”
Let’s ponder what Paul is asking for a moment.
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines “true” as “being in accordance with the actual state of affairs.” I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a rather lame excuse for a definition. The second one is a bit better. It says that “true” means “conformable to an essential reality.”
Hmmm …
Well, instead of something better, let’s look at the Greek word Paul used, “alēthḗs.” Strong’s Greek Lexicon defines the word as meaning something true, and then adds, “true (as not concealing):—true, truly, truth.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon adds a similar comparative note: “literally, not hidden, unconcealed.”*
I like the way these texts couch the term; in essence, they are saying that truth is what you can see.
So if that is true, why is it so difficult for people to agree on what is “truth?”
The answer to that question resides inside each one of us.
There is a conceptual model of the psyche that two psychologists developed in the mid-1950s. Their names were Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham. The interesting thing about this model is that it assumes everyone has a “blind spot,” a place where we keep things that are part of our thinking that we screen out and pretend are not there.
It should come as no surprise that Jesus was way ahead of these individuals two thousand years earlier. The way Jesus framed the concept was to point out we like to worry about the “speck” in our brother’s eye while we ignore the “plank” in our own (Matthew 7:3-5).
Either way, humans have developed the ability to ignore the truth and focus on what we want to be true or a partial truth. Sometimes, we even believe that a lie is truth. (It isn’t hard to do!)
When we come to Jesus and acknowledge him as Lord, we are given something the rest of the world does not have. Jesus forgives us if we confess and repent (1 John 1:9). He also sends us his Holy Spirit to teach us the truth (John 14:26).
These are the things Paul wants us to think about.
Application: Read God’s Word. Listen to his Holy Spirit. Discern truth.
Food for Thought: How do we make sense of the fact that people claim their view is “true” while others disagree?
*”G227 – alēthēs – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (niv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 27 Nov, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g227/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
How do we make sense of the fact that people claim their view is “true” while others disagree?
A man once told me, opinions are like feet, everybody has a couple. Have fun with those who agree, evaluate those which disagree and let Jesus Christ respond by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are each a product of our environment, experiences, the conditions we have been raised in, exposed to, and schooled in all vary. Our opinions, beliefs have been learned over time, and in some areas we may agree while in others we may have major disagreement.
As believers we at some point come to know we have not been left on earth to engage with conflict, but to do so in the love of Christ, as we listen and correctly, effectively express Gods truths to all He brings into our sphere of influence. We need to live knowing God beings these opportunities to us and is the power gently speaking truth through us, as He convicts the receive or truth.
Galatians 6:1, Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.
John 16:8,And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
James 3:17, But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Thank you, Ron!
I appreciate the way you have illustrated your point. We all come to Christ from different directions. No two people follow exactly the same path. If we repent and turn back to God, Jesus accepts us where we are and then leads us toward the center — Father, God.