Following Those Who Speak Truth Without Idolizing Them
The concept of following those who speak truth without idolizing them is rooted in biblical principles and further developed in theological traditions. The Apostle Paul, for instance, emphasized his role as a truth-teller, stating, "I am speaking the truth, I am not lying" (1 Timothy 2:7). He also distinguished his ministry from those who "peddle the word of God for profit," asserting that he spoke "with sincerity, as men sent from God" (2 Corinthians 2:17). This highlights the importance of discerning genuine truth-tellers from those with ulterior motives.
Paul also demonstrated a conscious effort to avoid being idolized. He stated, "For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me" (2 Corinthians 12:6, NASB; also 2 Corinthians 12:6, LEB). This passage suggests a deliberate humility and a desire to direct attention away from himself and toward the message of truth.
Patristic writers also addressed the nature of truth and those who convey it. Peter, in one account, likened those who speak the word of truth to "the rays of the sun," which enlighten souls and cannot be concealed, yet are not so much seen themselves as they "afford sight to all" [1]. This analogy suggests that the focus should be on the truth itself, rather than solely on the individual who articulates it. Lactantius, another early Christian writer, emphasized that "the truth has been revealed by God, and wisdom has been sent from heaven," urging believers to practice what God commands [5]. Augustine similarly noted that "the knowledge of the truth is of itself sufficient both to detect and to subvert all errors" [4].
Rabbinic tradition also underscores the sanctity of truth. Rabbi Elazar taught that "anyone who amends the truth in his speech, it is as though he worships idols" [3]. This strong statement equates the distortion of truth with idolatry, emphasizing the profound importance of speaking truthfully.
The challenge lies in recognizing and valuing the truth spoken by individuals while avoiding the elevation of those individuals to an unwarranted status. As Clement of Alexandria noted, after abandoning idols, people will hear the Scripture, "Unless your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" [2]. This implies a need for a deeper understanding of truth that goes beyond superficial adherence or admiration of human figures. The focus remains on the truth itself, which is ultimately divine in origin [5].
Sources
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. IV. -- THE QUESTION STATED.: Then Peter began to say: "Those who speak the word of truth, and who enlighten the souls of men, seem to me to be like the rays of the sun, which, when once they have come forth and appeared to the world, can no longer be concealed or hidden, while they are not so much seen by men, as they afford sight to all. There fore it was well said by One to the heralds of the truth, 'Ye are the light of the world, and a city set upon a hill cannot be hid; neither do men light a candle and put it t”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — CHAP. XVIII.--THE USE OF PHILOSOPHY TO THE GNOSTIC. (part 2): copy accurately even the likenesses of the organs; since, were it so, one might model the sun, as it is seen, and take the likeness of the rainbow in colours. After abandoning idols, then, they will hear the Scripture, "Unless your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees "[2] (who justified themselves in the way of abstinence from what was evil),--so as, along with such, perfection as they evinced, and "the loving of your neighbou”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 92a.19: And Rabbi Elazar says: With regard to anyone who amends the truth in his speech, it is as though he worships idols. As, it is written here, in the verse where Jacob sought to resist taking his father’s blessing from Esau: “And I shall seem to him a deceiver [ metate’a ]” (Genesis 27:12), and it is written there with regard to idol worship: “They are vanity, the work of deception [ tatuim ]” (Jeremiah 10:15).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — Chap. II--8. Wherefore, seeing that you do not consider a man illiterate and stupid merely on the ground of ignorance of these things, but only if he be ignorant of the truth itself, and that, consequ (part 5): i of preventing the assailant of the truth from i being at liberty to fix his eye solely on the work of controverting your tenets, while carefully hiding his own from view. For the knowledge of the truth is of itself sufficient both to detect and 'to subvert all errors, even those which may not have been heard before, if only they are brou”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — CHAP. XVIII.--OF SOME COMMANDS OF GOD, AND OF PATIENCE. (part 1): But let us leave the philosophers, who either know nothing at all, and hold forth this very ignorance as the greatest knowledge; or who, inasmuch as they think they know that of which they are ignorant, are absurdly and arrogantly foolish. Let us therefore (that we may return to our purpose), to whom alone the truth has been revealed by God, and wisdom has been sent from heaven, practise those things which God who enlightens us commands: let us sustain and endur”