2 Timothy 4: 4 Commentary

TRUTH AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER
What About Fiction, Myths, Fables and the Believer?

What is truth? The American Heritage Dictionary tell us that the truth is conformity to fact or actuality; that which is proven to be or accepted as true; fidelity to an original or a standard; reality and actuality.

Please consider what Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur learned about the Truth.

“That light, like the head-lights of a car,
threw a steady beam far down the road, and showed
what lay ahead with an inescapable distinctness.
Hardness lay ahead. The child in the family,
whether Hindu or Christian, has natural shelters
provided. No love of ours [for the children in our
care] could make up for these. So we were forced
to be more than ordinarily careful about the
foundations of character. And we wanted those
foundations to be laid in truth. One day, about
that time, a guest who afterwards became a beloved
fellow-worker, gathered the children together and
told them a fairy story, and then we discovered
(I had hardly realised it before [that time])
that I had instinctively left those tales, and had
begun with the far more magical true fairy stories
that were strewn about everywhere [in our walk with
Jesus and in His Word] just waiting to be told.

“And we saw no reason to change. It was good,
when the amazed child asked, “Mé thãn ã?” (Is it
true indeed?), to be able to answer “Mé thãn!”
(True indeed), and those true fairy tales were so
wonderful and so beautiful that I do not think our
little lovables lost anything of the silvery glamour
that should make the first years of childhood like
moonlit water to look back upon, or the golden
sparkle either, that is sunlight on that same
water.” [Amy Carmichael, Gold Cord, p. 67]

“Their Redeemer would not waste the children
[that He brought into our care]. If only they
had the sovereign quality of truth, somehow the
way would open. So we tried to bring them up
to be truthful and faithful, ready for any sort
of hard work, not slackers. And though, when
we could not answer the frequent, ‘And what are
you going to do with them?’ with a clear-cut
plan, and must have appeared unpractical and
foolish, we were not cast down. ‘You know,
Lord; You have not shown us yet, but You
know,’ we used to say to Him, and found it
comforting. ‘Only teach us how to train them in
honesty and thoroughness, in detachment from the
spirit of the world and in a pure indifference
to all its tinsel allurements. Give us some to
help us who will understand about the gold and
silver and precious stones. Let us not be
disappointed of our hope.’ And He answered
with a word of strong consolation; for He
Himself knew what he would do.” [Gold Cord, p.
93, Amy Carmichael, Christian Literature
Crusade.]

“Looking back, I think of our apparent
ingratitude to the friends who were so good as to
try to help us [by sending us teacher applicants],
as quite the most painful part of the matter: we
seemed to be so deplorably fastidious that we
could only wonder they went on being friends with
us, as indeed they did. But it was as though
something in the place acted as touchstone and
declared what was, as apart from what seemed to
be in these whom we would so gladly have used,
because we needed them so much. In each case
truth was the rock upon which they foundered. If
our children were to grow up truthful they must
be taught by those who had a regard for truth;
and not just a casual regard, [rather] a
DELICATE regard. On this point we were
adamant.” [Amy Carmichael, Gold Cord, p.66]

Do we find a similar teaching in the Word?
***Eph 4:10 He who went down is the same as he who went up–up beyond the highest Heaven, that he might fill all things with his presence. 11 And he it is who gave to the Church Apostles, Prophets, Missionaries, Pastors, and Teachers, 12 To fit his People for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the Body of the Christ. 13 And this shall continue, until we all attain to that unity which is given by faith and by a fuller knowledge of the Son of God; until we reach the ideal man–the full standard of the perfection of the Christ. 14 Then we shall no longer be like infants, tossed backward and forward, blown about by every breath of human teaching, through the trickery and the craftiness of men, towards the snares of error; 15 But HOLDING THE TRUTH IN A SPIRIT OF LOVE, we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head–Christ himself.

Did you get that? It is by HOLDING THE TRUTH in a spirit of Love that “we shall no longer be like infants, tossed backward and forward, blown about by every breath of human teaching, through the trickery and the craftiness of men, towards the snares of error.”
It is by HOLDING THE TRUTH that “we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head–Christ himself.” That makes HOLDING THE TRUTH critically essential to our life and daily living in Christ.

We all pretty know what a lie is and what deception is, but what about that which is fiction? The American Heritage Dictionary tell us that a fiction is an “imaginative creation or a pretense that does not represent actuality but has been invented”; the “act of inventing such a creation or pretense”; a “literary work whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact” . . . including novels and short stories.”

In Scripture there is no question as to the importance of the Truth and speaking the Truth. We find many statements that indicate that our God is Truth, we are to be a people of Truth, and we are commanded to speak the Truth. No where in the Word are told to be a people of fictions and no where in the Word are we commanded to use or speak fictions.
***Ex 18:21 But do thou provide among all the people able men, such as fear God, men of >>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>TRUTH>>07723 to show us that even when the fiction or falsehood is free of deceit and deception, it still is sin, falling short of His TRUTH.
***Ps 12:2 They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour: with flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak.
***Ps 41:6 And if one come to see me, he speaketh falsehood; his heart gathereth wickedness to itself: he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
***Ps 144:8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
***Isa 59:4 none calleth for justice, none pleadeth in truthfulness. They trust in vanity, and speak falsehood; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
>>>07723 shav’ ; n m
1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood
1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity
1b) emptiness of speech, lying
1c) worthlessness (of conduct)

The New Testament makes a clear distinction
between what is true and what isn’t true. i.e. that which is fiction or false. We find many statements that indicate that our God is Truth, we are to be a people of Truth, and we are commanded to speak the Truth. Jesus never used a fiction to teach His Truth. All His parables were based on real people, real places and real events known to Him who knows all men of all time. No where in the Word are told to be a people of fictions and no where in the Word are we commanded to use or speak fictions. Consider Jesus’ example.

***Mat 13:3* And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went out to sow:
***Mt 13:31 Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is like . . . .
***Mt 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a householder . . . .
***Lu 12:16 And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The land of a certain rich man . . . .
***Lu 13:6 And he spoke this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree . . . . .
***Lu 15:11 ¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons . . . .
***Lu18: 1 ¶ And he spoke also a parable . . . 2 saying, There was a judge in a city, . . . 3 and there was a widow . . . . 9 ¶ And he spoke also to some . . . this parable: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; . . .
***Lu 19:11 ¶ . . . He added and spake a parable, . . . . 12 He said therefore, A certain high-born man went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and return.
***Lu 20:9 And he began to speak to the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen,

We see that turning to fictions, fables, inventions and/or falsehoods involves turning away our ears from the TRUTH.
***2Ti 4:4 and they will turn away their ear from the TRUTH, and will have turned aside to fables.
***Tit 1:14 not turning their minds to Jewish fables and commandments of men turning away from the TRUTH
>>>3454 muthos; n m
a narrative, story; a fiction, a fable; an invention, a falsehood

We see that deliberately speaking falsehoods is the
opposite of deliberately speaking the TRUTH.
***Ro 9:1 I say the TRUTH in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
***1Ti 2:7 to which *I* have been appointed a herald and apostle, (I speak the TRUTH, I do not lie,) a teacher of the nations in faith and TRUTH.
***Jas 3:14 but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the TRUTH.
***1Jo 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practise the TRUTH.
>>>5574 pseudomai; v
1) to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods
2) to deceive one by a lie, to lie to

***1Jo 2:4 He that says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the TRUTH is not in him;
>>>5583 pseustes; n m
1) a liar; a false and faithless man

We see that speaking conscious and intentional falsehoods is the work of the Devil and the ungodly, which work the children of Light are told to cast away
***Joh 8:44 Ye are of the devil, as your father, and ye desire to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks falsehood, he speaks of what is his own; for he is a liar and its father:
***Ro 1:25 who changed the TRUTH of God into falsehood, and honoured and served the creature more than him who had created it, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
***Eph 4:25 Wherefore, having put off falsehood, speak TRUTH every one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another.
***1Jo 2:21 I have not written to you because ye do not know the TRUTH, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the TRUTH.
Re 21:27 And nothing common, nor that maketh an abomination and a lie, shall at all enter into it; but those only who [are] written in the book of life of the Lamb.
Re 22:15 Without [are] the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loves and makes a lie.
>>>5579 pseudos ;n n
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be
3a) of perverse, impious, deceitful
precepts

So by >>>5579 pseudos we see the sin of a lie, of conscious and intentional falsehood, of whatever is not what it seems to be; of perverse, impious, deceitful precepts.
But the Word goes even beyond that by using
>>>4160 poieo to show us that it is sin for us to make, be the authors of, make ready, prepare, produce, be the authors of conscious and intentional falsehoods, carry out, celebrate, make ready, and/or perform conscious and intentional falsehoods
***Re 21:27 And nothing common, nor that maketh an abomination and a lie, shall at all enter into it; but those only who [are] written in the book of life of the Lamb.

The Word uses >>>5368 phileo to show us that it is sin to love, approve of, like, sanction, treat affectionately or kindly, welcome, befriend, be fond of a lie, of a conscious and intentional falsehood, of whatever is not what it seems to be; of perverse, impious, deceitful precepts
***Re 22:15 Without [are] the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loves and makes a lie.

***Re 19:20 he Beast was captured, and with him was taken the false Prophet, who performed the marvels before the eyes of the Beast, with which he deceived (5656) those who had received the brand of the Beast and those who worshiped his image. Alive, they were thrown, both of them, into the fiery lake ‘of burning sulphur.’
***Re 20:10 the devil that deceived (5723) them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur, . . .
>>>4105 planao; v
1) to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way
1a) to go astray, wander, roam about
2) metaph.
2a) to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive
2b) to be led into error
2c) to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin
2d) to sever or fall away from the truth
2d1) of heretics
2e) to be led away into error and sin

***Re 14:5 and in their mouths was no lie found; [for] they are blameless.
1388 dolos; n m
1) craft, deceit, guile

The Old Testament makes a clear distinction between what is true and what is not true. To show that falsehoods and fictions and deceptions are sin the Spirit used >>>08267 to indicate a lie, deception, falsehood, deceit, fraud, wrong, falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets).

***Ex 23:7 Thou shalt keep far from the cause of falsehood; and the innocent and righteous slay not; for I will not justify the wicked.
Job 36:4 For truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.
Ps 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood:
Ps 119:29 Remove from me the way of falsehood, and graciously grant me thy law.
Ps 119:118 Thou hast set at nought all them that wander from thy statutes; for their deceit is falsehood.
Ps 119:163 I hate and abhor falsehood; thy law do I love.
Pr 20:17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Jer 7:8 Behold, ye confide in words of falsehood that cannot profit.
Jer 13:25 This shall be thy lot, thy measured portion from me, saith Jehovah; because thou hast forgotten me, and confided in falsehood.
Jer 14:14 And Jehovah said unto me, The prophets prophesy falsehood in my name;
Jer 29:23 because they have committed infamy in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken words of falsehood in my name, which I had not commanded them: and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.
Ho 7:1 When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they practise falsehood; and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers assaileth without.
Mic 2:11 If a man walking in wind and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink, he shall be the prophet of this people.
Hab 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it? the molten image, and the teacher of falsehood, that the maker of his work dependeth thereon, to make dumb idols?
>>>08267 sheqer ; n m
1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood
1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)
1b) deceit, fraud, wrong
1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)
1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)
1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely
1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)
1e) lie, falsehood (in general)
1e1) false tongue
1f) in vain

***Job 31:5 If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,
>>>04820 mirmah ; n f
1) deceit, treachery

Isa 59:13 in transgressing and lying against Jehovah, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
>>>03584 kachash; v
1) to deceive, lie, fail, grow lean, be disappointing, be untrue, be
insufficient, be found liars, belie, deny, dissemble, deal falsely
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to deceive, deny falsely
1c2) to act deceptively
1c3) to cringe
1c4) to disappoint, fail

Pr 6:19 a false witness that uttereth lies
03577 kazab; n m
1) a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing

Pr 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie : but a false witness uttereth lies (8762).
>>>03576 kazab; v
1) to lie, tell a lie, be a liar, be found a liar, be in vain, fail
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to lie, tell a lie, tell a lie with, deceive
1c2) to disappoint, fail

Ho 7:3 They make the king glad with their wickedness , and the princes with their lies .
>>>03585 kachash {kakh’-ash}; n m
1) lying, deception

Job 11:3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace ?
>>>0907 bad ; n m: empty talk, idle talk, liar, lie

Psa 101:7a He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house:
>>>07423 r@miyah ; n f: laxness, slackness, slackening, deceit, treachery

‘Only teach us how to train them in
honesty and thoroughness, in detachment from the
spirit of the world and in a pure indifference
to all its tinsel allurements. Give us some to
help us who will understand about the gold and
silver and precious stones. Let us not be
disappointed of our hope.’ [Gold Cord, p.
93, Amy Carmichael, Christian Literature
Crusade.]

“But it was as though something in the place [we ministered and called Dohnavur] acted as touchstone and declared what was, as apart from what seemed to be in these whom we would so gladly have used,
because we needed them so much. In each case
truth was the rock upon which they foundered. If
our children were to grow up truthful they must
be taught by those who had a regard for truth;
and not just a casual regard, [rather] a DELICATE regard. On this point we were adamant.” [Amy Carmichael, Gold Cord, p.66]

“That light, like the head-lights of a car,
threw a steady beam far down the road, and showed
what lay ahead with an unescapable distinctness.
Hardness lay ahead. The child in the family,
whether Hindu or Christian, has natural shelters
provided. No love of ours [for the children in our
care] could make up for these. So we were forced
to be more than ordinarily careful about the
foundations of character. And we wanted those
foundations to be laid in truth. One day, about
that time, a guest who afterwards became a beloved
fellow-worker, gathered the children together and
told them a fairy story, and then we discovered
(I had hardly realised it before [that time])
that I had instinctively left those tales, and had
begun with the far more magical true fairy stories
that were strewn about everywhere [in our walk with
Jesus and in His Word] just waiting to be told.

“And we saw no reason to change. It was good,
when the amazed child asked, “Mé thãn ã?” (Is it
true indeed?), to be able to answer “Mé thãn!”
(True indeed), and those true fairy tales were so
wonderful and so beautiful that I do not think our
little lovables lost anything of the silvery glamour
that should make the first years of childhood like
moonlit water to look back upon, or the golden
sparkle either, that is sunlight on that same
water.” [Amy Carmichael, Gold Cord, p. 67]

Please consider the following evidence, and then decide.

GREEK LEXICONS: BOTH STRONG’S AND THAYER’S GREEK
LEXICONS: muyov muthos {moo’-thos}; n m
1) a speech, word, saying
2) a narrative, story
2a) a true narrative
2b) a fiction, a fable
2b1) an invention, a falsehood

That shows us how that word was used and what it
can mean.

In the context of the Bible what does it mean?
***2Ti 4:3 For the time shall be when they will not bear
SOUND TEACHING; but according to their own lusts will
heap up to themselves teachers, having an itching ear;
4 and they will turn away their ear from the TRUTH,
and will have turned aside to FICTIONS/FABLES .
***Tit 1:13 This testimony is TRUE; for which cause rebuke them severely, that they may be SOUND in the faith, 14 not turning their minds to Jewish FICTIONS/FABLES and commandments of men turning away from the TRUTH.

So we see that the first part of the Lexicon’s definition —-
1) a speech, word, saying
2) a narrative, story
2a) a true narrative
—-does not apply, since the Word clearly places
FICTIONS/FABLES on one side of the spectrum and the
TRUTH on the other side of the spectrum of speech, words, sayings, narratives and stories. That leaves us with—-

GREEK LEXICONS: BOTH STRONG’S AND THAYER’S:
muyov muthos {moo’-thos}; n m
2) a narrative, story
2a) a fiction, a fable
1) an invention, a falsehood

In other words, we find Truth on one end of
literature’s spectrum, and at the opposite end
of literature’s spectrum we find narratives or
stories that are fictions and/or fables that
were invented by a human and are falsehoods.

What do such words mean?

FEIGN: 1a: to give a false appearance of:
induce as a false impression . . . PRETEND

~ FICTION ~:”1a: Something INVENTED by the imagination
or feigned [PRETENDED]; specifically: an INVENTED
story ;
1b: FICTITIOUS literature (as novels or short STORIES)

2: an assumption of a possibility as a fact irrespec-
tive of the question of its truth
3: the action of feigning [PRETENDING] or creating
with the imagination.
=Merriam-Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary

#

By Ron Tyler (wrote 3 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/4/2010 13:53 pm