Hebrew vs Greek Thought (3 of 3)

Absolute Truth vs. Moral Diversity

In Scripture

Jesus was taken to Pilate (John 18:28-32). The Jews had accused him of being a malefactor (evil doer). The Jews did not specify what Jewish law Jesus was being accused of, nor did they accuse Jesus of breaking any government laws. Pilate then questions Jesus (John 18:33-38). Jesus speaks truth that challenges Pilate's thinking of relative truth and moral diversity.

v33 P: "Art thou the King of the Jews?"

v34 J: "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?"

(The belief that Jesus was King of the Jews was stated from someone. The relative implication is this: I have not said this of myself. Is this a belief that you conjured up in your mind? If so, it is truth to you. Is it a belief that someone else conjured up in their mind? If so, it is truth to them.)

v35 P: "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?"

(The relative implication is this: Pilate expresses that the moral truths of where Jesus comes from is what matters; as that is what he would be judged by. Pilot is asking, what have you done against the moral truths of your own nation, society, and culture you come from?)

v36 J: "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

(Jesus proclaims that he is not under the moral truth of the Jewish nation. The moral truths of his nation, society, and culture (the Kingdom of God) are not those of this world. If they were his people would fight for him.)

v37 P: "Art thou a king then?"

v37 J: "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

(The relative implication is: Jesus proceeds declares that there is and absolute truth and he is witness to it.)

v38 P: "What is truth?" "And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews"

v38 P: "I find in him no fault at all."

(The relative implication is: Pilate had believed that moral truth was relative to cultural groups and yet judgment could not be carried out because under who's cultural group a person belongs to was also relative to him.)

Worship in Spirit & in Truth

The Hebrew people had both a concrete and absolute understanding of faith and truth, which meant it was something worthy to lean on. The Hebraic mindset of a faithful believer understood that absolute truth was God, came from God, and could not be relied upon to come from anything else. Mixed with concrete thinking, truly trusting in God naturally resulted in clinging to him for the right path, as well as, an abundant life, physical, mental, and spiritual safety, and sustainability; thus they sought God to guide them and teach them in order to obtain the end goal, which was to live a prosperous life and to create a foundation for a prosperous life for their children.

Historical accounts in the scriptures show many of the Hebrew people succumbing to the strength of their concrete thinking, resulting in a distant heart towards God. Likewise, their absolute thinking resulted in a hardened heart and a stiff-neck toward change.

Gentiles had both an abstract and relative understanding of faith and truth. The persuadable minds of the gentiles paired with hope, forgiveness, salvation from wrath, a guaranteed eternal heavenly afterlife, and other gifts of grace given by a one true never changing God, made conversion to the true faith highly desirable. The eyewitnesses of the death, burial, and resurrection and the witnessing of the outpouring of the holy spirit, were proofs enough to persuade many gentiles to accept the God of the Hebrew people. The weakness of Greek thought became the strength of conversion and spiritual worship. Having the right heart towards God propelled the spread of the gospel and expansion of the church.

Historical accounts in the scripture reveals that many gentiles wrestled with their relative thoughts on matters of concrete worship, wavering of the mind, persuasion towards false doctrines, and the mixing in of pagan practices to name a few.

In conclusion, the gentiles understood the abstract understanding and right spirit of worship, but needed to apply the concrete and absolute truth of worship; whereas the Hebrew people understood well the concrete and absolute truth of worship but needed to apply the abstract understanding and spirit of worship.

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

John 4:23-24 KJV