The Righteous Will Live by the Truth: A Kierkegaardian Proposal for a Trinitarian Epistemology

Abstract

This article contends that truth is trinitarian and that theology ought to treat epistemology existentially. To demonstrate this, a brief historical study is conducted on the development of the concept of truth and how different approaches revolve around the definitions of truth as ἀλήθεια, veritas, and תֶ מֱא .Even though these words translate the same in English, historically each one discloses different angles of truth. By emphasizing one of the definitions in detriment of others, it is argued that truth has been fragmented in distinct concepts apparently opposed. While ἀλήθεια emphasizes the Greek concept of truth, veritas highlights the Latin, and תֶ מֱא the Hebrew. The concepts are representatively demonstrated in the thoughts of Plato, Tertullian, Augustine, Descartes, Kant, and Kierkegaard. Accordingly, this article argues for the need to develop an epistemology that is not trichotomic with the concepts of truth dissociated in different spheres of knowledge, but rather, as an inseparable single trinitarian truth. It is argued that there is a need to recover the meaning of truth from the Hebrew תֶ מֱא ,as an important concept that exposes truth as trinitarian, merging the concepts of ἀλήθεια and veritas under human existential reality. The study proposes that the epistemology of the Christian philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, is helpful for this understanding, especially concerning his concept of appropriation of truth. To exemplify the argument, Abraham’s test of sacrificing Isaac is analyzed. The trinitarian orientation of truth as proposed in this article provides a theological posture, framing truth as incarnational where “the righteous will live by the truth” (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). Finally, this article also presents some implications for contemporary theology and the church, proposing that trinitarian epistemology is a theological antidote to current relativism. It also encourages the church to approach truth with a more comprehensive attitude, recognizing that every truth is God’s truth. Moreover, it invites the church to inoculate the anti-intellectualist mood present in some evangelical circles, approaching truth doxologically.