July 19, 2026

How detailed does a statement need to be in order to be considered true? If I say I am wearing a shirt is that true? Do I need to specify the cut and fabric and colour? Most would say no of course simply stating that you’re wearing a shirt is enough. I would suggest that if truth is that which corresponds to reality. Then so long as a statement accurately describes the real world that is enough. This of course excludes lies by omission. If I am trying to eat healthy and I say “I had some milk and fruit,” but leave out that it was milk and fruit in the form of ice cream while that does correspond to reality it is purposefully intended to deceive. 

A favourite game of some philosophers is to question truth claims on the basis of accuracy. For instance if you say the sky is blue they may question you by pointing out that the sky really isn’t blue but rather you are seeing a reflection off of the atmosphere and if you go into space you’ll find that in fact it’s mostly black. Based on this they will go on to suggest that you really can’t claim that the sky is blue. 

This same principle when applied to Bible study is deeply manipulative, and unhelpful. Consider for example the statement “The church met on the first day of the week.” I would suggest that this is a true but not exhaustive statement. Someone may object; asking is that the only time they met? Did every member meet? Are you reckoning days based on Jewish or Roman custom? These questions are not completely inappropriate and may have relevance in certain discussions but none negate the truthfulness of the original claim. 

The detail required depends on what I am trying to do. I don’t need to know the exact speed and what forces will be generated by the impact of a vehicle to know that I shouldn’t step out in front of it. I will need that data and more if I am the engineer responsible for designing the crumple zones on a specific car. 

As Christians we are accountable to God to obey basic truths that he has revealed. Paul argued that God’s will is accessible and knowable Rom 1:20; 10:8 such that we can understand and respond. There may be more nuance to a subject that we have yet to learn or there may be a deeper understanding to be gained by examining related texts. These things don’t mean that we can know and do Gods will. They do call us to dedicated study and even more to dedicated surrender to Jesus.

To summarize, truth is simply that which corresponds to reality. This may be simply ascertained and expressed or it may be more exhaustively described. The level of detail does not determine truthfulness rather accuracy does. May God bless us in our effort to know his will in simplicity and in exactitude. 

~ Kevin Cleary