If you’ve ever been placed under oath in a court of law, you probably had to raise your right hand while placing your left hand on a Bible, and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth. The practice of placing people under oath during Legal proceedings goes back to 13th century England.
But where did those poignant phrases contained in the Oath we use come from?
“…He swears to TELL THE TRUTH, but reveals nothing.” (PROVERBS 29:24)
“But the woman (with a 12 year issue of blood), fearing & trembling, knowing what had happened to her (healing from Jesus) came and fell down before him & told Him THE WHOLE TRUTH.” (MARK 5:33)
“So the king said to him (Prophet Micaiah) ‘How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH in the name of the Lord?” (i KINGS 22:16)
Just as many renowned idioms & sayings come from the pages of your Bible - so does the Court room oath!
Jesus said to Pontius Pilate: “I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to THE TRUTH. Everyone who is of THE TRUTH hears My voice.” (JOHN 18:37) Pilate responded: ‘WHAT is TRUTH?
That’s a question that men have been trying to ascertain for millenium! Most dictionaries define TRUTH similarly: as CONFORMITY with FACT or REALITY. Parmenides, the famous Greek philosopher, wrote a book entitled ‘On Nature’ in which he gives 2 views of REALITY: The way of Aletheia (Truth) - only that which is and never changes; and Doxa (opinion) that which people perceive is reality.
The GOD of the Bible is the defintion of “that which always is (DT.33:27) and never changes (MAL.3:6) - and that is why HE is referred to as a GOD of TRUTH (DT.32:4). Something that is inherently true - is always true - and that’s why we read in “the Scripture of Truth” (DANIEL 10:21) that “HIS TRUTH ENDURES to all generations.” (PSALM 100:5)
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil is in the category of Doxa - Mankind giving their opinion about what constitutes TRUTH - instead of deferring to GOD & REALITY. The record of the Human Race is on display in the pages of History: “They are not valiant for THE TRUTH on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil & they do not know ME says THE LORD.” (JEREMIAH 9:3)
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write: “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH…” (ROMANS 1:18)
Your Bible warns: “The TRUTHFUL lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (PROVERBS 12:19)
That’s why it’s so important to be on the side of TRUTH instead of Human Tradition, whether Religious or Philosophical. The Original Christians took the side of TRUTH - how about you?