A Word from Bob: “Truthers” and “Truthing”
Some people today misapply Ephesians 4:15, using it as a cannon to blast and destroy others. They seek to do this by highlighting the “truth” part of this verse. However, ironically, these “truthers” fail to understand the biblical meaning of “truthing.”
Biblically, what does “speaking the truth in love” mean? What does it look like?
Note: I’ve taken today’s post from my book, Equipping Biblical Counselors: A Guide to Discipling Believers in One-Another Ministry.
Speaking the Truth in Love: ἀληθεύω
Paul selects an unusual Greek word (ἀληθεύω) that we often mistranslate as “speaking the truth.” We should translate it as living the truth, or embodying the truth. We might even coin the phrase “truthing.”
Paul likely had in mind Psalm 15 where the Psalmist asks,
“Who may dwell in your sacred tent?” (Psalm 15:2).
He answers:
“The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart” (Psalm 15:2).
Who can serve in God’s sanctuary, the church? The one who embodies truth in righteous relationships.
“Truthing”
Paul uses the Greek word for “truthing” (ἀληθεύω) that means transparent, truthfulness, genuine, authentic, reliable, sincere. The word describes the person who ministers from a heart of integrity and Christlike, grace-oriented love. It pictures the person whose relational style is transparent and trustworthy. The word means to act according to and in alignment with the truth—and the greatest commandment in God’s Truth is to love God wholeheartedly and to love others sacrificially (Matthew 22:35-40).
The tense and context of the word indicates that the body of Christ should continually, actively, and collectively embody truth in love as it walks together in intimate, vulnerable connection. In one word, Paul combines content, character, and competence shared in community.
“Speaking the truth,” or “truthing” (ἀληθεύω) is about the character of the messenger. As we speak truth, is our life truthful—trustworthy, authentic, genuine—living out the gospel, modeling the gospel, modeling Christ’s self-giving love?
In Love: ἀγάπη
This genuine, Christlike person is to embody truth in love—in ἀγάπη. Mounce defines this as “the active love of God for his Son and his people, and the active love his people are to have for God, each other, and even enemies.” It is self-giving, sacrificial, other-centered concern, care, compassion, and grace-oriented love.
The context of the passage identifies what love (ἀγάπη) looks like in real life.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:29-32).
As we embody the truth in love, we are to speak/embody:
- Wholesome words that build up rather than tear down and poison.
- Helpful words.
- Words that build others up according to their need.
- Words that benefit the listener.
- A way of relating that does not grieve the Holy Spirit.
If my speaking/embodying the truth fails to evidence wholesome, helpful, building up, beneficial loving relationships that do not grieve the Spirt, then I am a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
As we embody the truth in love, we are to:
- Get rid of all bitterness.
- Get rid of all rage.
- Get rid of all brawling.
- Get rid of all slander.
- Get rid of every form or malice.
- Be kind to one another.
- Be compassionate to one another.
- Be forgiving one another as God forgives us in Christ.
If my speaking/embodying the truth communicates and conveys bitterness, rage, brawling, slander, and malice, and lacks kindness, compassion, and grace-based forgiveness, then I am a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
The Gospel Fully Applied
While the word ἀληθεύω means more than speaking, it does not mean less than speaking. While it means more than sheer factual content, it does not mean less than the gospel fully applied. Paul uses the identical word in Galatians 4:16. There he is speaking of preaching, teaching, and communicating the truth of the gospel of Christ’s grace (salvation) applied to daily growth in Christ (progressive sanctification).
Combine Galatians 4:16 with Ephesians 4:16, both in context, and we find an amazing description of gospel-centered biblical counseling—of the personal ministry of the Word. Speaking the truth involves:
Communicating gospel truth about grace-focused sanctification in a grace-conveying manner in word, thought, and action through one-another relationships that have integrity, genuineness, authenticity, transparency, and reliability, manifested in sacrificial, Christlike love to promote the unity and maturity of the body of Christ for the ultimate purpose of displaying the glory of Christ’s grace.
If my speaking/embodying Christ’s truth fails to evidence Christ’s gentle grace-love, then I am a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
