A Biblical Worldview, Part 1: Epistemology — Knowing the Truth in a World of Confusion
(Building on the foundational post, “A Biblical Worldview: Seeing Life Through the Lens of Truth”)
Every day, we are flooded with competing ideas about truth. From news headlines to social media debates, from classrooms to conversations, everyone seems to have their own version of reality. “Your truth,” “my truth,” and “live your truth” have become common phrases in our culture. Yet for followers of Jesus Christ, truth is not a matter of preference or perspective—it is a Person.
What Is Epistemology?
Epistemology is the study of knowledge—how we know what we know, and how we determine what is true. A Biblical worldview begins here, with the conviction that truth exists and that God is the source of it. Without that foundation, all understanding becomes unstable, like building a house on shifting sand.
Jesus declared,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
— John 14:6 (NASB)
Truth, therefore, is not just an abstract concept or a collection of facts. Truth is embodied in Christ Himself. To know Him is to know what is real, what is right, and what endures.
The Source of All Truth
The Bible consistently presents God as the fountain of knowledge and wisdom:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
— Proverbs 9:10 (NASB)
Human reasoning, experience, and observation are valuable gifts, but they are not ultimate. Apart from God’s revelation, our understanding is limited and easily deceived. Sin clouds our perception, distorting how we see the world and even ourselves.
That is why Scripture is essential. It is God’s revealed truth, the lens through which all other knowledge must be tested:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB)
If we want to know what is true—about God, humanity, morality, or the world—we begin by submitting our minds to His Word. It is both reliable and sufficient, revealing what we could never discover on our own.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
Even with the Scriptures in hand, we need divine help to truly understand them. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide His followers into all truth:
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
— John 16:13 (NASB)
This means that knowing the truth is not merely an academic exercise—it is a spiritual relationship. The same God who inspired Scripture now illuminates it for believers. He opens our eyes, renews our minds, and shapes our hearts so that we can think, feel, and live in alignment with His truth.
The Battle for Truth
From the Garden of Eden onward, every generation has faced a battle over what is true. The serpent’s first words to Eve were, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). That question still echoes through every temptation, philosophy, and ideology that challenges God’s authority.
Modern culture often denies the very concept of absolute truth, claiming that each person determines their own reality. Yet when truth becomes subjective, morality collapses, justice is corrupted, and meaning evaporates. Jesus described this condition clearly:
“Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”
— John 18:37 (NASB)
Pilate’s cynical response—“What is truth?”—revealed the same confusion that pervades our world today. When people reject God’s voice, they are left adrift in uncertainty.
But those who listen to Christ find solid ground. The truth of God is not only knowable—it is liberating:
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
— John 8:32 (NASB)
Truth That Transforms
A Biblical approach to knowledge doesn’t end with intellectual assent. It transforms life. Jesus said,
“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
— Matthew 7:24 (NASB)
To know the truth is to live it. Biblical truth reshapes our values, relationships, priorities, and decisions. It moves from our heads to our hearts, and from our hearts to our hands.
When we know that God’s Word is true, we can stand firm even when culture shifts. We can speak truth with compassion, discern deception with clarity, and live with peace in a world of chaos.
Truth in a Relativistic Age
It can be tempting to soften the edges of truth to fit in with the world’s values. But Scripture warns that a diluted gospel loses its power. Paul urged believers,
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
— Colossians 2:8 (NASB)
We are not called to be arrogant or dismissive, but we must be discerning. A Biblical worldview doesn’t fear truth from any source—it simply recognizes that all truth, wherever found, ultimately points back to God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Living in the Light of Truth
To live by faith is to walk in the light of what God has revealed, even when the world around us prefers darkness. John wrote,
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
— 1 John 1:6–7 (NASB)
Living in truth means walking in integrity. It means letting God’s Word be the standard by which we measure everything—our choices, our emotions, our worldview, and even our doubts.
Conclusion: Anchored in God’s Truth
Epistemology asks, “How do we know what is true?” The Biblical answer is simple yet profound: we know the truth because God has spoken, and He has revealed Himself through His Word and through His Son.
When our understanding is grounded in that reality, we can navigate life’s uncertainties with confidence. The winds of culture may blow, but our foundation remains unshakable.
May we, like the psalmist, say with full conviction:
“The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting.”
— Psalm 119:160 (NASB)
Truth is not merely something to know; it is Someone to trust. And when we build our lives on Him, we will never be moved.