Post by Josh on Jun 28, 2009 19:49:57 GMT -8
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king.
In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this
I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" Pilate asked.
John 18:37b-38a (NIV)
Aletheia= Truth
pronounced: al-ay'-thi-a,
the Koine Greek word for truth:
-objectively
-what is true in any matter under consideration
-truly, in truth, according to truth
-of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
-what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, -moral and religious truth in the greatest latitude
-the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
-the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians
-subjectively
-truth as a personal excellence
-that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit
Bibliography Information
Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Aletheia". "The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon". www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=225&version=kjv
Greek lexicon based on Thayer's and Smith's Bible Dictionary plus others; this is keyed to the large Kittel and the "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament." These files are public domain.
Aletheia: Truth's Many Faces
Aletheia (Al-ay'-thi-a): True, truly, truth, verity
In thinking more about this name after our selection, I thought of some things I hadn’t before. Please take some time and read through the verses below (if not now, print it out for later).
What I found was that whereas I might first think of Truth as something Objective, like a Truth claim, or a good apologetic argument, it is equally clear in Scripture how the concept of Truth is very closely tied into love. Many of these verses show that Truth in Scripture isn’t just Propositional, but it is Relational. Truth brings freedom, enables love, guides us, proclaims grace, combats favoritism, brings occasion to rejoice, and provides a firm foundation: all of these are very personal effects. And, I think, elements we embody and want to embody in greater measure.
Aletheia is also a beautiful sounding name- sort of has a regal, queenly, quality to it for me. And that fits the image of the Church as the Bride of Christ.
Also, 'Truly' (the alternate variant meaning above) carries with it a charge to us: to interact with each other and with the world at large truly-- in a genuine manner. I like that as well.
I know there is some concern about accessability with a Greek name. There will be some who are attracted by a foreign word, others who might just say “huh?”. But I think we can use the opportunity of “huh?” to explain ourselves in a fuller way. “Christian Fellowship” can always be used to help explain as well.
Josh
Aletheia in Scripture
John 1:14,17
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 8:32
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 16:13
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 18:37
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Acts 10:34
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
Acts 26:25
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.
1 Corinthians 13:6
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Ephesians 4:15
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
1 Timothy 3:15
15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
1 John 3:18-20
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
2 John 4
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this
I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" Pilate asked.
John 18:37b-38a (NIV)
Aletheia= Truth
pronounced: al-ay'-thi-a,
the Koine Greek word for truth:
-objectively
-what is true in any matter under consideration
-truly, in truth, according to truth
-of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
-what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, -moral and religious truth in the greatest latitude
-the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
-the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians
-subjectively
-truth as a personal excellence
-that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit
Bibliography Information
Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Aletheia". "The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon". www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=225&version=kjv
Greek lexicon based on Thayer's and Smith's Bible Dictionary plus others; this is keyed to the large Kittel and the "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament." These files are public domain.
Aletheia: Truth's Many Faces
Aletheia (Al-ay'-thi-a): True, truly, truth, verity
In thinking more about this name after our selection, I thought of some things I hadn’t before. Please take some time and read through the verses below (if not now, print it out for later).
What I found was that whereas I might first think of Truth as something Objective, like a Truth claim, or a good apologetic argument, it is equally clear in Scripture how the concept of Truth is very closely tied into love. Many of these verses show that Truth in Scripture isn’t just Propositional, but it is Relational. Truth brings freedom, enables love, guides us, proclaims grace, combats favoritism, brings occasion to rejoice, and provides a firm foundation: all of these are very personal effects. And, I think, elements we embody and want to embody in greater measure.
Aletheia is also a beautiful sounding name- sort of has a regal, queenly, quality to it for me. And that fits the image of the Church as the Bride of Christ.
Also, 'Truly' (the alternate variant meaning above) carries with it a charge to us: to interact with each other and with the world at large truly-- in a genuine manner. I like that as well.
I know there is some concern about accessability with a Greek name. There will be some who are attracted by a foreign word, others who might just say “huh?”. But I think we can use the opportunity of “huh?” to explain ourselves in a fuller way. “Christian Fellowship” can always be used to help explain as well.
Josh
Aletheia in Scripture
John 1:14,17
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 8:32
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 16:13
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 18:37
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Acts 10:34
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
Acts 26:25
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.
1 Corinthians 13:6
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Ephesians 4:15
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
1 Timothy 3:15
15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
1 John 3:18-20
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
2 John 4
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.