{"id":2640,"date":"2020-12-14T03:06:29","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T09:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/?p=2640"},"modified":"2021-07-26T21:20:20","modified_gmt":"2021-07-27T02:20:20","slug":"the-revelation-of-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/the-revelation-of-light\/","title":{"rendered":"The Revelation of Light…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"In the Gospel of John it is recorded that Yeshua said, \u201cI am the way, the truth, and the life\u201d (i.e., \u1fbd\u0395\u03b3\u1f7d \u03b5\u1f30\u03bc\u03b9 \u1f21 \u1f41\u03b4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f21 \u1f00\u03bb\u1f75\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f21 \u03b6\u03c9\u1f75; John 14:6). The Greek word translated \u201ctruth\u201d in this verse is aletheia<\/em> (\u1f00\u03bb\u1f75\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1), a compound word formed from an alpha prefix (\u03b1-) meaning \u201cnot,\u201d and lethei<\/em> (\u03bb\u1f75\u03b8\u03b7), meaning \u201cforgetfulness.\u201d (In Greek mythology, the \u201cwaters of Lethe\u201d induced a state of oblivion or forgetfulness.) Truth is therefore a kind of \u201cremembering\u201d something forgotten, or a recollecting of what is essentially real. Etymologically, the word aletheia<\/em> suggests that truth is also \u201cunforgettable\u201d (i.e., not lethei<\/em>), that is, it has its own inherent and irresistible \u201cwitness\u201d to reality. In that sense light is a metaphor for truth: \u201cThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it\u201d (John 1:5). People may lie to themselves, but ultimately truth has the final word.<\/p>\n

Greek scholars note that the word lethei<\/em> is derived from the verb lanthano<\/em> (\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u1f71\u03bd\u03c9), which means \u201cto be hidden,\u201d so the general idea is that a-letheia (i.e., truth) is non-concealment, non-hiddenness, or (put positively) revelation or disclosure. Thus the word of Yeshua – His message, logos (\u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2), revelation, and presence – is both \u201cunforgettable\u201d and irrepressible. Yeshua is the Unforgettable One that has been manifest as the Word of God (\u05d3\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd). He is the Light of the world (\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd) and the one who gives us the \u201clight of life\u201d (John 8:12). Though God\u2019s message can be suppressed by evil and darkened thinking, the truth is regarded as self-evident and full of intuitive validation (see Rom. 1:18-21).<\/p>\n

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The Hebrew word for truth (i.e., emet<\/em>: \u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b6\u05ea) comes from a verb (aman<\/em>) that means to \u201csupport\u201d or \u201cmake firm.\u201d There are a number of derived nouns that connote the sense of reliability or assurance (e.g., pillars of support). The noun emunah<\/em> (i.e, \u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4, \u201cfaithfulness\u201d or \u201ctrustworthiness\u201d) comes from this root, as does the word for the \u201cfaithful ones\u201d (\u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd) who are \u201cestablished\u201d in God\u2019s way (Psalm 12:1). A play on words regarding truth occurs in the prophet Isaiah: \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd \u05dc\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \/ im lo ta\u2019aminu, ki lo tei\u2019amenu<\/em>: \u201cIf you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all\u201d (Isa. 7:9; see Faith Establishes the Sign<\/a>). Without trust in the LORD, there is no stability… Truth is something trustworthy, reliable, firm, or sure. In colloquial English, for example, this idea is conveyed when we say, \u201cHe\u2019s a true friend…\u201d, indicating that the loyalty and love of the person is certain. The familiar word \u201camen\u201d likewise comes from this root. Speaking the truth (dibbur emet<\/em>) is considered foundational to moral life: \u201cSpeak the truth (\u05d3\u05bc\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b6\u05ea) to one another; render true and perfect justice in your gates\u201d (Zech. 8:16). Yeshua repeatedly said, \u201cAmen, Amen I say to you….\u201d throughout his teaching ministry to stress the reliability and certainty of God\u2019s truth (Matt. 5:18, 26, etc.). Indeed, Yeshua is called \u201cthe Amen, the faithful and true witness\u201d (Rev. 3:14).<\/p>\n

The relationship between the Hebrew and the Greek ideas seems to be that the revelation of God – the aletheia<\/em> – is reliable and strong. The source for all truth in the universe is found in the Person and character of the God of Israel, blessed be He… The self-disclosure of the LORD is both unforgettable – both in the factual and moral sense – as well as entirely trustworthy. Aletheia implies that truth is something that should never be forgotten, and therefore we are regularly admonished not to \u201cforget\u201d the LORD (Deut. 8:11, Psalm 103:2), to \u201cremember\u201d his covenants, to \u201ckeep\u201d his ways, to \u201cguard\u201d His precepts, and so on.<\/p>\n

During this Chanukah Season<\/a> — and always — may the LORD God of Israel help us walk in the unforgettable and irrepressible radiance of His glory. May God help us shine with good works that glorify God\u2019s Name (Matt. 5:16). “For God, who said, \u2018Let light shine out of darkness\u2019 (\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05be\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8), has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Yeshua the Messiah\u201d (2 Cor. 4:6).<\/p>\n

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Hebrew Lesson:<\/strong>
\nIsaiah 9:2 Hebrew Reading:<\/p>\n

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