(Hebrews 1:1–12 as a foundation)
Hebrews begins with a profound claim: God communicates. Not randomly, not vaguely, but purposefully and relationally. To understand how God communicates, we first need to ask a deeper question:
1. What Is Truth?
Truth is not merely correct information or factual accuracy. In Scripture, truth is:
- That which is faithful and trustworthy
- That which corresponds to reality as God intends it
- That which leads toward life, justice, love, and wholeness
Biblically, truth is not just something we know—it is something we live.
Jesus himself redefines truth when he says:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
So, truth is ultimately personal and relational, revealed most fully in God’s character and actions.
2. God Communicates Truth Through Scripture
“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1)
Scripture is the written witness of God’s interaction with humanity over time.
Through Scripture, God communicates truth by:
- Story (creation, exodus, exile, resurrection)
- Law (justice, care for the vulnerable)
- Poetry and prayer (Psalms, wisdom literature)
- Prophetic critique (calling out injustice and false worship)
- Gospel witness (the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus)
Important:
Scripture does not give us simple answers to every question, but it gives us:
- A moral compass
- A vision of God’s character
- A story we are invited to inhabit
Truth in Scripture is not static—it invites interpretation, humility, and ongoing engagement.
3. God Communicates Truth Through Tradition
Tradition is the living memory of the faith community.
This includes:
- Creeds and confessions
- Worship practices and sacraments
- Teachings of the early church
- The accumulated wisdom of generations
Tradition reminds us that:
- We do not read Scripture alone
- Truth is discerned in community
- The Spirit has been at work long before us
Tradition does not replace Scripture—but it guides and grounds our reading of it, helping us avoid purely private or self-serving interpretations.
4. God Communicates Truth Through Experience
God also speaks through lived experience:
- Suffering and healing
- Love and loss
- Community and loneliness
- Joy, injustice, and longing
The Bible itself is full of people who learned truth through experience:
- Israel learned freedom through slavery and exodus
- The disciples learned love through failure and forgiveness
- The early church learned inclusion through conflict and growth
Experience tests and deepens truth. It asks:
- Does this belief lead to compassion or cruelty?
- Does it produce life or harm?
- Does it reflect the love we see in Christ?
Truth that cannot survive real life is incomplete truth.
5. God Communicates Truth Through Reason
Reason is God’s gift that allows us to:
- Think critically
- Discern wisely
- Ask honest questions
- Weigh consequences
Reason helps us:
- Interpret Scripture responsibly
- Engage science, history, and culture
- Recognize complexity and nuance
- Resist manipulation, fear, and false authority
Faith is not the absence of reason—it is reason illuminated by trust in God.
Hebrews itself models reasoned argument, carefully interpreting Scripture and history to help believers understand Christ.
6. Christ as the Unifying Truth
Hebrews makes a decisive claim:
“In these last days God has spoken to us by a Son.” (Hebrews 1:2)
Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason all find their coherence in Jesus.
If a claim:
- Contradicts Christ’s love
- Promotes fear or domination
- Dehumanizes others
- Ignores mercy and justice
…it fails the test of truth, no matter how religious it sounds.
7. Why This Matters Today
In a world flooded with information, opinions, propaganda, and fear-based messaging, Hebrews reminds us:
- Truth is not loudest voice—it is faithful voice
- Truth is not power—it is love rightly lived
- Truth is not abstract—it is embodied in Christ
God still speaks—but requires discernment, humility, and listening hearts.
A Closing Reflection
Truth is not something we possess.
It is something we walk toward.
God communicates truth:
- Through Scripture, to shape our vision
- Through Tradition, to anchor our faith
- Through Experience, to refine our understanding
- Through Reason, to guide our discernment
And above all, through Jesus, who shows us that truth is not just spoken—it is lived in love.
The Curious Pilgrims 