Alan Fowler on the question "What is Truth?"

from Twenty Essays in a Search for Truth

[Other quotations from Alan Fowler are listed here.]

To a Bible believer the question "What is Truth?" has a very simple answer contained in Psalm 119:160

the entirety of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous judgements endures for ever. (Psalm 119:160 NKJV)

To a Christian in particular, the answer is simple, namely the words of Jesus himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). However, these simple definitions of truth conceal a major problem, namely that among those who believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God are many who come to different conclusions regarding the meaning of certain passages of Scripture.

We are therefore confronted with the question: to what extent should Bible students agree to differ? In many cases the differences of interpretation are due to misunderstandings and can be solved by examining the words of Scripture more carefully, especially the context in which they are spoken. Notwithstanding, there are many instances where Scripture is ambiguous and with the best intentions it is not always possible to get agreement on the meaning of specific passages. Major differences in interpretation often stem from failure to agree whether a passage is describing an historical event or is a story with a deeper spiritual meaning. A good example of this problem is found in Genesis chapter 2.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. (Gen 2:18-22)

If we interpret this scenario as a literal history of events in Eden, then we have to ask ourselves whether it is likely that God would have encouraged Adam to find a mate from the animal kingdom. We see therefore that this passage opens the way to an interpretation of Scripture which is evident from the very earliest teachings. Incidents which appear to be historical may in fact be symbolical, or stories with a profound meaning. The essential meaning of this story is the fundamental need for a man and wife to be indivisible.

In suggesting that the account of the creation of Eve is not historical, some will say that I am "rocking the boat". I accept this criticism and I believe that rocking the boat is what we need in order to test the soundness of the vessel to weather the storms of criticism which are constantly buffeting the Scriptures.