Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Bible Notes: Truth
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
Hebrew: Psalm 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Hallelujah.
Psalm 117 is a benediction of only two verses. The second verse uses the divine attributes in Ex. 34:6 “The LORD, The LORD God …abundant in goodness and truth” but it creates separate statements about each attribute.
Truth in Hebrew is emet (eh-met) which has the qualities of faithfulness, firmness, and reliability, that which is established. Transcendent but also manifest in the world, the Biblical emet is conceptually akin to law and principle which are changeless and timeless structures of daily life. KJV translated Hebrew khesed as merciful kindness in Ps. 117:2, but in Ex. 34:6 it is goodness, and in 34:7 it is “keeping mercy unto thousands.”
The entire phrase “his merciful kindness is great” is more of a cameo than its Hebrew original because the English adjective great represents the Hebrew verb gabar (gah-bar) to be strong, mighty, great, excellent, to prevail. To achieve a parallel verb, an English translation must shift to the practical reassurance that God in his goodness rules, for example His merciful kindness prevails over us.
Greek: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Here translated virtue, Greek arête (ar-et’-ay) is a highly important concept in pre-Christian Greece. It was used of Homer’s heroes to denote excellence of any kind, goodness, and especially the qualities of valor and prowess in an adventure. Greek tragedy and myth also used arête to designate rank or nobility among men and gods. In prose it referred to excellence in any art, or the perfection of an animal or thing. It became a point of discussion for the good life in the ethical philosophy of Plato and Aristotle where it referred to moral goodness and virtuous character, or to merit in deeds. When this broadly prestigious term was employed in Christian scriptures it was used not only of human excellence, but figured especially in I and II Peter to describe God’s goodness, redemptive acts, power and hence praise.I Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Thus the nature of God could be reflected in man’s excellence.II Peter 1:3-5 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.