Seeking Bible Authority (Part 1)

Can We Know Anything with Absolute Certainty?
Jonathan B. Jones II
March 19, 2007
Is is possible to know anything for sure? When it comes to the issue of faith and religion can we know anything with absolute certainty? Is there such a thing as religious absolute truth regardless of circumstance?

Absolute Truth?

Recent statistics indicate that some 80% of Americans no longer believe in absolute truth. In a Barna Research survey only 13% of Americans age 36 and younger believe truth is absolute. Believing that moral behavior is dependant upon situation and circumstance, many are confused no longer knowing what to believe. Like a ship lost in a stormy sea without compass or anchor, many are adrift on a ocean of uncertainty--about everything. This is extremely unsettling especially in matters related to faith and religion.

Three Possibilities About Truth

Things that are possible for us to know may be divided under three categories: everything, nothing, or something (Renfro 17).

1. It seems to go without saying that we cannot know everything. Only God is all-knowing (Psalm 147:5), and man is limited in his understanding (Romans 11:33).
   
2. Can we know nothing? To make the statement, "I know man cannot know anything" actually denies this position showing it to be false.


3. The only remaining possibility is that we can know some things. It is easy to see this is the case from everyday life experience. Most of us do not know exactly everything about how a cell phone works. But the fact that we know how to use a cell phone shows it to be false that we don't know anything about the technology. We know some things about the matter.

Are Spiritual Truths Within Our Grasp?

Regarding moral and religious truth, Jesus stated that it is possible for us to grasp an absolute knowledge of some spiritual matters--"...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). We are dependant upon God making knowledge of spiritual truths known to us. The things that God has not revealed are things that we cannot know and speculation proves useless, but there are some things about spiritual truths that God has made known to mankind (see Deuteronomy 29:29).

Levels of Understanding Spiritual Truth

There are different levels of understanding spiritual truths:

1. Simple Truths. Some spiritual truths are simple and are easily understood with minimal effort. The Bible describes this level of spiritual understanding as "the milk" of truth (Hebrews 5:13). This level of spiritual truth can usually be grasped with a simple reading of the Bible. The "first principles" of the message of salvation is easily understood (1 Cor. 15:1-4ff).


2. Complex Truths. Other spiritual truths are more complex and require careful study. The Bible refers to this level of understanding as "the meat" of truth (Hebrews 5:14). One must not be satisfied with the "elementary principles" of spiritual truth, but must move forward in careful study of the greater context of a simple statement of Scripture (Hebrews 6:1-3ff).


3. Deep Truths. Still other spiritual truths are even more complicated and demand diligent and precise study of Scripture. These are the "deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10ff). Like all spiritual truths, deep truths are only accessible by the Spirit's revelation in God's written word. To understand deep spiritual truths, one must study the original languages of the Bible, the background of Biblical texts, and engage in proper principles of Biblical exegesis.


4. Secret Truths. There are some truths within the spiritual realm that are secret and belong only to God because he has not revealed these things to mankind. God warns us not to attempt to probe secret things he has not made known (Deut. 29:29). God revealed certain truths to the Apostles (like John) that were to be forever kept secret (Rev. 10:4). During the second century there were some (the Gnostics) who claimed to have access to God's secret truths. The inspired writers of the New Testament rebuked those who claimed to have access to secret knowledge that God had actually never revealed to them (1 Tim. 6:20-21).

Although we live in an age of skepticism where everything is questioned, there are some things that we can know with absolute certainty. The spiritual truths God has revealed are things that are "forever settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89). Jesus promised that we can most certainly know spiritual truth. Spiritual truth is found within the words of the Bible (John 17:17). But these truths are things that we must diligent study and meditate upon (2 Tim. 2:15). Absolute truth is most certainly attainable and can be known with absolute certainty. We most certainly can know what is morally and religiously right and wrong by a careful discerning of the matter through the lens of God's truth (Hebrews 5:14).