Eternal Truths. Is there truth? Relative Truth Examples
Answer: In order to understand whether there is an absolute/universal truth, we need to start by defining truth. According to the dictionary, truth is defined as “correspondence to reality; statement proven or accepted as true. Some people argue that there is no true reality - only subjective views and judgments. Others argue that absolute reality or truth must exist.
Proponents of one point of view argue that there are no absolutes that define reality. They believe that everything is relative and thus no actual reality can exist. Because of this, there are ultimately no moral absolutes, no authority on which to base decisions about what is positive and what is negative, right or wrong. This view leads to "situational ethics" - the belief that "right" or "wrong" depends on the situation. In this case, what seems right at a certain moment or in a certain situation will be considered right. This kind of ethics leads to a mentality and a way of life in which what is pleasant or convenient is right, and this, in turn, has a destructive effect on society and individuals. This is postmodernism, which creates a society in which all values, beliefs, lifestyle and truth are absolutely equivalent.
Another view assumes that absolute reality or standards that determine what is fair and what is not, actually exist. Thus, depending on these absolute standards, actions can be defined as right or wrong. If there were no absolutes, no reality, chaos would reign. Take, for example, the law of attraction. If it wasn't absolute, you could take one step and be high in the air, and next time you wouldn't even be able to move. If 2+2 did not always equal four, it would have devastating consequences for civilization. The laws of science and physics would be meaningless, commercial activity would be impossible. What a mess that would be! Fortunately, two plus two always equals four. Absolute truth exists and can be found and understood.
The claim that there is no absolute truth is illogical. However, many people today support a cultural relativism that denies any type of absolute truth. People who claim that there is no absolute truth should be asked, "Are you absolutely sure about this?" By answering "yes", they will make an absolute statement that implies the existence of absolutes. That is, in fact, the statement about the absence of absolute truth is itself absolute truth.
In addition to the problem of internal contradiction, there are several other logical problems that must be solved in order to believe in the absence of absolute or universal truth. One is that people have limited knowledge and mental capacity and, accordingly, cannot make absolute negative statements. According to logic, a person cannot say: “There is no God” (although many say exactly that) - in order to assert this, he must have absolute knowledge of the entire Universe, from beginning to end. Since this is not possible, the most logical formulation would be: "Based on the limited knowledge that I have, I do not believe that God exists."
Another problem is that the rejection of absolute truth does not stand up to what our own conscience tells us, our experience, and what we observe in real world. If there is no absolute truth, then ultimately there is nothing right or wrong. Just because something is right for me doesn't mean it will be right for you as well. Although on the surface this type of relativism seems very attractive, giving each person the opportunity to set his own rules in life and do what he thinks is right. However, sooner or later one person's rules will conflict with another's rules. Imagine what happens if I decide that I can ignore traffic lights even if they are red? By doing this, I endanger the lives of many people. Or perhaps I will decide that I have the right to rob you, when you will find it completely unacceptable. If there is no absolute truth, absolute standards of what is right and wrong, and everything is relative, then we can never be sure of anything. People will do what they please - kill, rape, steal, cheat, cheat, and so on, and no one can say that this is wrong. There will be no government, no laws, no justice, because the majority of people will not have the right to elect and set standards for a minority. A world without standards would be the scariest place imaginable.
From a spiritual standpoint, this type of relativism leads to religious confusion, suggesting that there is no true religion and there is no correct way to establish an intimate relationship with God. That is why today there are often people who simultaneously believe in two diametrically opposed religions. People who don't believe in absolute truth, follow the universalism that teaches that all religions are equal and all lead to heaven. In addition, people who prefer this worldview will strongly oppose Christians who believe the Bible when it says that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” and that He is the highest manifestation of truth and the only way into heaven (John 14:6).
Tolerance has become a single key value of society, a single absolute truth, and, therefore, intolerance is a single evil. Any dogmatic belief - especially the belief in the existence of absolute truth - is regarded as intolerance, an absolute sin. Truth-deniers often say that it's good to believe what you want, as long as you don't try to force your beliefs on others. But this opinion is a belief about what is right and wrong, and its proponents most certainly make attempts to impose it on others, thereby violating the principles they uphold. They just don't want to be held accountable for their actions. If there is absolute truth, then there are absolute standards, and then we are responsible according to them. This responsibility is what people are actually trying to avoid by denying the existence of absolute truth.
The rejection of absolute truth and the universal cultural relativism that comes from it is logical for a society that follows the theory of evolution as an explanation for the origin of life. If evolution is true, then life has no meaning, we have no purpose, and there can be nothing absolutely right or wrong. A person has the right to live as he pleases, and is not obliged to answer to anyone for his actions. And yet, no matter how far sinful man is willing to go in denying the existence of God and His truth, he will still face His judgment someday. The Bible says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth with unrighteousness. For what can be known about God is clear to them, because God has shown them. For His invisible, His eternal power and Divinity, from the creation of the world through the consideration of creations are visible, so that they are unanswerable. But how, having known God, they did not glorify Him as God, and did not give thanks, but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened; Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:18-22).
Is there any evidence for the existence of absolute truth? First, evidence of the existence of absolute truth manifests itself in our minds. Our conscience tells us that the world must be built "a certain way," that certain things are right and others are wrong. It helps us understand that there is something wrong with suffering, hunger, rape, pain and evil. It makes us realize that there is love, nobility, compassion and peace that we should strive for. This applies to all people who have lived at all times, regardless of their culture. The role of human consciousness is spoken of in Romans 2:14-16: “For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what is lawful, then, having no law, they are their own law: they show that the work of the law is written in them in hearts, to which their conscience testifies and their thoughts, now accusing, now justifying one another, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secret deeds of men through Jesus Christ.
The second proof of the existence of absolute truth is found in science. Science is the pursuit of knowledge, it is the exploration of what we know and the attempt to know more. Therefore, all scientific research must necessarily be based on the conviction that in the world around us there is objective reality. What could be explored without absolutes? How would one know that the conclusions drawn are correct? In fact, the laws of science must be based on the existence of absolute truth.
The third proof of the existence of absolute truth is religion. All the religions of the world strive to convey the meaning and definition of life. They are born from the fact that humanity is striving for something more than just existence. Through religion people seek God, hope for the future, forgiveness of sins, peace and answers to our deepest questions. Religion is truly proof that humanity is not just an advanced animal species. This testifies to a higher purpose, as well as to the existence of a purposeful creator who put the desire to know him into the human mind. And if the creator really exists, then he is the standard for absolute truth, and this truth is based on his authority.
Fortunately, we have such a Creator, and He has revealed His truth through His Word, the Bible. If we want to know the truth, the only way to do it is through a personal relationship with the One Who is the Truth - Jesus Christ. “Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The fact that absolute truth exists indicates to us that there is a Lord God who created heaven and earth and revealed Himself to us so that we can know Him personally through His Son Jesus Christ. This is the absolute truth.
Many people, regardless of their origin, education, religious affiliation and occupation, evaluate certain judgments according to the degree of their correspondence to the truth. And, it would seem, they get a completely harmonious picture of the world. But, as soon as they begin to wonder what the truth is, everyone, as a rule, begins to get stuck in the wilds of concepts and wallow in disputes. Suddenly it turns out that there are many truths, and some may even contradict each other. And it becomes completely incomprehensible what truth is in general and on whose side it is. Let's try to figure this out.
Truth is the correspondence of any judgment to reality. Any statement or thought is either true or false initially, regardless of the person's knowledge on this matter. Different epochs put forward their
So, during the Middle Ages, it was determined by the degree of correspondence Christian teaching, and under the domination of materialists - the world. At the moment, the scope of the answer to the question, what is truth, has become much wider. It began to be divided into groups, new concepts were introduced.
is an objective reproduction of reality. It exists outside our consciousness. That is, for example, the statement "the sun is shining" will be the absolute truth, since it really shines, this fact does not depend on human perception. It would seem that everything is clear. But some scientists argue that absolute truth does not exist in principle. This judgment is based on the fact that a person cognizes the whole world around him through perception, but it is subjective and cannot be a true reflection of reality. But whether there is an absolute truth is a separate question. Now what is important is that it is intended for the convenience of its assessment and classification. One of the main non-contradictions says that two mutually negating propositions cannot be both true or false at the same time.
That is, one of them will necessarily be true, and the other - not. This law can be used to test the "absoluteness" of truth. If a judgment cannot coexist with its opposite, then it is absolute.
True, but incomplete or one-sided judgment about the subject. For example, the statement "women wear dresses." It is true, some of them do wear dresses. But the opposite can also be said with the same success. "Women don't wear dresses" would also be true. After all, there are some ladies who do not wear them. In this case, both statements cannot be considered absolute.
The very introduction of the term "relative truth" has become a recognition of humanity's incompleteness of knowledge about the world and the limitations of its judgments. This is also due to the weakening of the authority of religious teachings and the emergence of many philosophers who deny the very possibility of an objective perception of reality. "Nothing is true, and everything is permitted" - a judgment that most clearly illustrates the direction of critical thought.
Obviously, the concept of truth is still imperfect. It continues its formation in connection with the change of philosophical directions. Therefore, we can say with confidence that the question of what is truth will worry more than one generation.
Eternal Truths
eternal truth- a term meaning the irrefutability of truths in the process of development of knowledge. In this respect, Eternal Truth is analogous to Absolute Truth.
In the process of cognition, a person deals mainly with relative truths, containing only parts (aspects) of absolute truths. Metaphysics and dogmatism, considering truth independent of condition, overestimate the role of the absolute moment in truth. Such a reassessment is the epistemological basis for raising truths to the rank of eternal, irrefutable.
Religion, as an expression of extreme dogmatism, regards all its postulates as irrefutable "Eternal Truths".
the absolute is knowledge. there is nothing eternal and infinite everything is constantly changing in this essence.
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Descartes Rene- Founder Descartes modern philosophy Alfred N. Whitehead wrote that the history of modern philosophy is the history of the development of Cartesianism in two aspects: idealistic and mechanistic, res cogitans (thinking) and res extensa (... ...
- (late Latin ex(s)istentia, from Latin ex(s)isto I exist) philos. a category that expresses one of the fundamental properties of being. In many teachings, S. is synonymous with being. For the first time, the term "S." appeared in scholastic philosophy in pairs ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia
DECARTS- [French. Descartes; Latin Cartesius; Cartesius] Rene (03/31/1596, Lae (modern Descartes, dep. Indre and Loire, France) 02/11/1650, Stockholm), French. philosopher, physicist and mathematician, one of the founders of the new European. philosophy and experimentally ... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia
JUSTIN- Rev. Justin (Popovich). Photo. 60s 20th century Rev. Justin (Popovich). Photo. 60s 20th century [Serb., Justin] (New, Cheliysky) (Popovich Blagoe; 03/25/1894, Vranje 04/07/1979, Chelie monastery near the town of Valevo), st. (commemorated June 1), archim., Serb ... Orthodox Encyclopedia
EVIL- [Greek. ἡ κακία, τὸ κακόν, πονηρός, τὸ αἰσχρόν, τὸ φαῦλον; lat. malum], characteristic of the fallen world, associated with the ability of rational beings, gifted with free will, to evade God; ontological and moral category, opposite ... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia
EXISTENTIALISM- (from lat. Existentia existence) philosophical trend in Russian thoughts that arose within the so-called. spiritual renaissance of the 1st quarter of the 20th century. or new religious consciousness. Its most prominent representatives Berdyaev and L. Shestov, who expressed ... ... Russian Philosophy: Dictionary
Existentialism- (from lat. existentia existence) philosophical trend in Russian. thoughts that arose within the so-called. spiritual renaissance of the 1st quarter of the 20th century. or "new religious consciousness". Its most prominent representatives Berdyaev and L. Shestov, who expressed ... ... Russian Philosophy. Encyclopedia
- (Cohen) Hermann (1842 1918) German philosopher, founder and most prominent representative of the Marburg school of neo-Kantianism. Major works: 'Kant's Theory of Experience' (1885), 'Kant's Justification of Ethics' (1877), 'Kant's Justification of Aesthetics' (1889), 'Logic… ... History of Philosophy: Encyclopedia
Leibniz Gottfried Wilhelm- The Life and Works of Leibniz Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was born in 1646 in Leipzig to a family of Slavic roots (their original name was Lubenitz). Gifted with an outstanding mind, extraordinary abilities and diligence, the young man ... ... Western philosophy from origins to the present day
- (Descartes) Rene (Latinized name Cartesius; Renatus Cartesius) (1596 1650) fr. philosopher and scientist, one of the founders of the philosophy and science of modern times. Main philosophical and methodological works: "Discourse on the method" (1637), "Reflections on the first ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia
Books
- Eternal Truths, Gordyshevsky S.M. Unusual fables, born from proverbs, like a butterfly from a chrysalis-cocoon, unexpectedly reveal new facets of a thousand-year-old folk wisdom that has accumulated moral rules that people need today ...
- Eternal Truths. Poems, Efetov Konstantin Alexandrovich. AT new book Konstantin Efetov included quatrains and couplets created as a result of rethinking the wise sayings of the Turkic peoples: Azerbaijanis, Crimean Karaites, Crimean Tatars, ...
Part 2
"Whatthere is true?"
Center of the lenticular galaxy Centaurus A
The Sombrero Galaxy in the black hole of huge mass in the center
Mass birth of new stars
Spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices
Greek word a le tei a, translated as “truth,” comes from a word that means “not hidden,” so often truth means revealing what was previously hidden.
There are many theories about truth. Some are convinced that truth does not exist at all, others are looking for it in philosophies, others believe that it exists, but is not comprehensible to a person ... What do you think?
The Bible says that there is Absolute Truth. And this is the truth about everything. And the understanding of the truth is given by the Creator and is available to every person if he sincerely desires to know it and persistently seeks it. And this is logical, because only the one who created everything can know the absolute truth.
One person commented on the search for truth: "What sometimes seems to us a paradox, only seems to be so - and all this is our temporary idea, due to our imperfection in knowing the Absolute Truth. The truth is simple, but people cannot reach this simplicity, getting confused in labyrinths of objective and subjective complexities.
FACE TO FACE stood two completely different person. One is a politician, cynical, ambitious, rich, ready to do anything for his career. The other is a teacher who has neglected wealth and fame, ready to sacrifice himself for the lives of other people. Needless to say, these two people did not share each other's views. On one point in particular, their opinions differed absolutely—on the question of truth.
These people were Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ. Jesus stood before Pilate like a condemned criminal. For what? Jesus explained that the reason for his arrest—no doubt the very reason he came to earth and carried out his ministry—was one thing: the truth. “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world,” he said, “to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37).
In response, Pilate asked the noteworthy question: "What is truth?" (John 18:38) Did he really want an answer? Probably not. Most likely, the Roman ruler asked this question simply out of cynical disbelief, as if saying: “Truth? What's this? It just doesn't exist!" However, even now, people who supposedly seek the truth, in fact, do not want to hear answers to their questions. Pilate's skeptical view of the truth is also characteristic of our day. Many people believe that truth is relative, in other words, what is true for one person is not true for another at all, and both of them may be "right." This belief is so widespread that there is even a separate name for it - "relativism".
Whyneed search truth?
MANY religious organizations, for example, claim to have the truth and zealously offer it to others. But collectively they offer an overwhelming abundance of "truths." Is this another proof that all truths are relative, that there are no absolute truths? No.
In his book The Art of Thinking, Professor V.R. Ruggiero marvels that even the most intelligent people sometimes say that truth is relative. He reasons: “If everyone has their own truth, then one person's idea can never be better than another person's idea. All of them must be equal. And if all ideas are equal, what is the point of researching anything? Why dig into the ground looking for answers to archeological questions? Why study the causes of tension in the Middle East? Why look for a cure for cancer? Why explore the galaxy? These activities only make sense when some answers are better than others, when the truth is something separate from and unaffected by personal aspects.
In fact, there is not a single person who in reality believed that there was no truth. When it comes to such physical realities as medicine, mathematics, or the laws of physics, even the most unshakable relativist is convinced of the truth of some things. Who among us would dare to fly an airplane if we did not believe that the laws of aerodynamics are absolute truths? Demonstrable truths exist, they surround us, and we trust them with our lives.
Pricerelativism
The fallacies of relativism are especially evident in the realm of morality, because it is here that such thinking has done the most harm. The Encyclopedia Americana notes: “Many people express serious doubts about whether knowledge, or generally accepted truth, is comprehensible to people ... Nevertheless, it is obvious that if the associated ideals of truth and knowledge are rejected as utopian or harmful, human society is in decline."
Maybe you notice such a decline. For example, few people today accept as true the Bible's teachings on morality, which unequivocally condemn sexual immorality. Situational ethics - "decide for yourself what is right for you' is the prevailing opinion of our day. Would anyone dare to say that the social decline is caused by not this relativistic view? Widespread epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases, broken families and the problem of teenage pregnancy speak for themselves.
Whatsuch true?
But let's leave the muddy waters of relativism and take a quick look at what the Bible describes as the pure waters of truth (John 4:14; Revelation 22:17). In the Bible, "truth" is not at all the abstract, vague concept that philosophers argue about.
A man named Jesus Christ who lived many centuries ago and changed the history of mankind said this: “Know the truth and it will set you free” (John 8:32). This man was Christ, who claimed to be the son of God. Do you think if it were not so, he would have said these words? (The existence of Christ has long been proven by historical facts and archaeological finds. Even the countdown goes before the birth of Christ and after the birth of Christ).
When Jesus said that the purpose of his life was to bear witness to the truth, he was referring to something that faithful Jews have treasured for centuries. In their Holy Scriptures Jews have long read about "truth" as something concrete, not theoretical. The word "truth" in the Bible translates the Hebrew word 'emet, which means something unshakable, solid and, most importantly, reliable.
The Jews had good reason to view the truth in this way. They called their God "the God of truth" (Psalm 30:6). They called him that because God did everything he said. When he promised something, he kept his word. When he gave prophecies, they came true. When he pronounced the final sentences, they were carried out. All these events were witnessed by millions of Israelis. The divinely inspired writers of the Bible recorded these events as undeniable historical facts. Unlike other sacred books, the Bible is not based on myths and legends. It rests firmly on demonstrable facts—historical, archaeological, scientific, and sociological realities. We can see all this for ourselves, having become acquainted with the works of ancient and modern historians, the latest archaeological finds and scientific discoveries.
The very study of truth can have a devastating effect on a person's beliefs. The Encyclopedia Americana says, "Truth is often unpleasant because it refutes a prejudice or a myth." When we see the falsity of our beliefs being revealed, it leads to disappointment, especially if these beliefs were taught to us by religious leaders whom we trusted. Some might compare this to what happens when a trusted parent suddenly turns out to be a criminal.
To reject truth as relative or non-existent is to forfeit the most exciting and satisfying search life has to offer. To find truth is to find hope; to know and love the truth is to know and love the Creator; to live in harmony with the truth means to live with the meaning of life and peace of mind.
Changeswhether someday true?
SUCH a question was raised in his book The Art of Thinking by V. R. Ruggiero. His answer: no. Ruggiero elaborates: "Sometimes it may seem that it is changing, but on closer inspection it turns out that this is not the case."
“Consider,” says Ruggiero, “the authorship of the first book of the Bible, Genesis. For centuries, Christians and Jews believed that this book was written by one person. But over time, this view was challenged and eventually supplanted by the belief that perhaps five people wrote Genesis. Then, in 1981, the results of a five-year linguistic analysis were published, according to which the probability that the book was written by one person, as it was thought from the very beginning, is 82 percent.
Has the truth about the authorship of Genesis changed? No. Only our belief has changed. Truth does not change because of our knowledge or our ignorance."
Let's see what the book is, which is also called the Word of God and which claims to contain the truth. After all, if this book is really a message from God to man, then it would be logical to look for absolute truth in this book. After all, only the one who created the universe, the planet Earth and everything living on it, can give an accurate, exhaustive answer to the question "What is Truth." You may be surprised how different this book is from any other book on earth, how unique, simple and at the same time it contains the depths of unsurpassed wisdom.
So what is the Bible?
To be continued.
Many biblical expressions eventually lose their original meaning, are distorted. So, citing the well-known expression from the Gospel: “Man does not live by bread alone”, they always omit its second half - “but with every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”, and hardly with intent - most likely out of ignorance.Now, thank God, it is not difficult to get acquainted with the Bible, books are published in which references to it are given without a derogatory and ironic connotation. But ignorance of the Book of Books by modern Russians will not be overcome soon: more than seventy years of policy of state atheism has borne fruit. Until now, for many it is a revelation that the source of a significant part of common popular expressions is the Bible.
The author of this book, a longtime friend of our editors, Valery Grigorievich Melnikov, has collected about two hundred of the most famous biblical winged expressions, in the hope that the explanations given will help to find out their true meaning.
in the sweat of your face(hard work). “In the sweat of your face you will eat bread” (Gen. 3:19) – God said to Adam, who was being expelled from paradise.
Babel(in a figurative sense - turmoil, a complete mess). In Church Slavonic, "pandemonium" is the construction of a pillar, a tower. The book of Genesis tells about the attempt of people to build a tower to heaven in the city of Babylon in order to realize their ambitious plans and immortalize themselves in the eyes of their descendants. God punished the proud people and, having confused their languages so that they no longer understood each other, scattered them throughout the earth (Gen. 11, 1-9).
Valaam's donkey. The donkey of the soothsayer Balaam spoke human language, protesting against beatings (Num. 22, 21-33). The expression is used in an ironic sense in relation to an unexpectedly speaking, usually silent person.
Belshazzar's feast(carefree pastime in anticipation of an approaching disaster). The book of Daniel (chapter 5) tells how during the feast of the Chaldean king Belshazzar, prophetic words about his imminent death were inscribed on the wall with a mysterious hand. That very night Belshazzar was killed.
Back to square one(return to the beginning of a life stage). “And the wind returns to its circles” (Ecc. 1, 6) (in Church Slavonic - “to its circles”).
Those in power.“Let every soul be subject to the highest authorities, for there is no authority except from God” (Rom. 13:1). In this expression, the apostle Paul speaks of the principle of the civil life of a Christian. In Church Slavonic to the highest authorities - those in power. It is used in an ironic sense in relation to the authorities.
The power of darkness(triumph of evil). “Every day I was with you in the temple, and you did not raise your hands against Me, but now is your time and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53) - the words of Jesus Christ, addressed to those who came to take Him into custody.
To contribute(to make a contribution). A mite is a small copper coin. According to Jesus, the widow's two mites placed on the temple altar were worth much more than rich donations, because. she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4).
At the forefront(main, priority). “The stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner” (Ps. 117:22). It is quoted many times in the New Testament (Mt. 21:42; Mk. 12:10; Lk. 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7).
The return of the prodigal son. The prodigal son (repentant apostate). From the parable of the prodigal son, which tells how one of the sons, having claimed his share of the inheritance, left his father's house and began to lead a dissolute life, until he squandered all the inheritance and began to endure poverty and humiliation. Returning with repentance to his father, he was gladly forgiven by him (Lk. 15, 11-32).
Wolf in sheep's clothing(a hypocrite who covers his malice with imaginary piety). “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Doctor, heal yourself. Church Slavonic text of the expression: “Doctor! heal thyself” (Luke 4:23). Here Jesus Christ brings the well-known ancient world proverb meaning: before giving advice to others, pay attention to yourself.
Time to scatter stones, time to collect stones(everything has its time).
“There is a time for everything, and a time for every thing under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; ...a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones; ... a time for war, and a time for peace” (Ecc. 3:1-8). The second part of the expression (time to collect stones) is used in the meaning: the time of creation.
Drink the cup to the bottom(endure the test to the end). “Rise up, rise up, rise up, Jerusalem, you who drank the cup of His wrath from the hand of the Lord, drank the cup of intoxication to the bottom, drained it” (Is. 51, 17).
Every creature in pairs. From the story of global flood- about the inhabitants of Noah's ark (Gen. 6, 19-20; 7, 1-8). Used in an ironic sense in relation to a motley company.
Voice in the wilderness. An expression from the Old Testament (Isaiah 40:3). Quoted in the New Testament (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; John 1:23) in relation to John the Baptist. Used in the meaning: a desperate call.
Gog and Magog(something terrible, ferocious). Gog is the fierce king of the kingdom of Magog (Ezek. 38–39; Rev. 20:7).
Golgotha is the place where Christ was crucified.“And, carrying His cross, He went out to a place called the Skull, in Hebrew Golgotha; there they crucified him” (John 19:17-18). Used as a symbol of suffering. In the same meaning, the expression " way of the cross- the path of Christ to Calvary.
Dove of peace. From the story of the Flood. The dove, released by Noah from the ark, brought him an olive leaf, as evidence that the flood was over, dry land appeared, God's wrath was replaced by mercy (Gen. 8, 11). Since then, a dove with an olive (olive) branch has become a symbol of reconciliation.
Sins of youth.“The sins of my youth... do not remember... Lord!” (Ps. 24:7).
May this cup pass me by.“My Father! if possible, let this cup pass from me; however, not as I will, but as You” (Matthew 26:39). From the prayer of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of the Crucifixion.
House built on sand(something shaky, fragile). “And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand; and the rain came down, and the rivers flooded, and the winds blew, and fell upon that house; and he fell, and his fall was great” (Matthew 7:26-27).
antediluvian times, as well as: antediluvian technique, antediluvian judgments etc. Used in the sense: very ancient, existing almost before the Flood (Genesis 6-8).
Reaping where he did not sow(uses the fruits of someone else's labor). “You reap where you did not sow, and you gather where you did not scatter” (Matthew 25:24). “You take what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow” (Luke 19:21).
lost sheep (a person who has gone astray). From the Gospel parable about the joy of the owner, who found and returned to the flock one lost sheep (Matt. 18, 12-13; Luke 15, 4-7).
The Forbidden fruit. From the story of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the fruits of which God forbade Adam and Eve to pluck (Gen. 2:16-17).
Bury talent in the ground(not to allow the abilities inherent in a person to develop). From the gospel parable of a slave who buried a talent (a measure of the weight of silver) in the ground, instead of using it for business and making a profit (Matt. 25, 14-30). The word "talent" subsequently became synonymous with outstanding abilities.
Promised land(good place). The land promised by God to the Jewish people (ancient Palestine) upon deliverance from Egyptian slavery. “And I go to deliver him out of the hand of the Egyptians and bring him out of this land and bring him into a good and spacious land” (Ex. 3, 8). Promised (promised) this land is called by the apostle Paul (Heb. 11, 9).
Serpent tempter. Satan, in the form of a serpent, tempted Eve to eat the fruits from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:1-13), for which she, along with Adam, whom she treated to these fruits, was expelled from paradise.
Golden Taurus(wealth, power of money). From the biblical story about the worship of the Jews during their wanderings in the wilderness, instead of God, a calf made of gold (Ex. 32, 1-4).
The wickedness of the day(an actual problem of the present time). “Enough for every day of your care” (Matt. 6:34). In Church Slavonic: "His wickedness prevails for days."
Sign of the times(a typical social phenomenon for this time, clarifying its trends). "Hypocrites! you know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot tell the signs of the times?” (Matt. 16:3) - rebuke of Jesus Christ to the Pharisees and Sadducees, who asked Him to show a sign from heaven.
Massacre of the innocents(punishment of the defenseless). When King Herod learned that Christ was born in Bethlehem, he ordered that all babies under the age of two be killed (Matt. 2:16). The son of Herod, Herod Antipas, was also a cruel man - on his orders, John the Baptist was beheaded. The name Herod, as a symbol of cruelty, has become a household name, as well as others biblical names: Goliath is a giant, Judas is a traitor, Cain is a fratricide.
Seek and find. Translated from Church Slavonic means “seek and you shall find” (Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9).
stumbling block(obstacle in the way). “And He will be ... a stumbling block, and a rock of offense” (Isaiah 8:14). Quote from old testament. Often quoted in the New Testament (Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Pet. 2:7).
The stones will cry(extreme degree of indignation). “And some Pharisees from among the people said to Him: Teacher! rebuke your disciples. But He answered and said to them: I tell you that if they keep silent, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:39-40).
Leave no stone unturned(destroy to the ground). “There will be no stone left on stone here; everything will be destroyed” (Matt. 24:2) – the prophetic words of Jesus about the impending destruction of Jerusalem, which took place 70 years after the Crucifixion of Christ.
Caesar - Caesar's, God - God's(to each his own). "Give therefore what is Caesar's to Caesar, and God's God”- the answer of Jesus Christ to the Pharisees to the question of whether it is necessary to give tribute to Caesar (Matt. 22, 21).
Sealed book(something inaccessible). “And I saw in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne a book… sealed with seven seals. ... And no one could, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, open this book, nor look into it ”(Rev. 5, 1-3).
Scapegoat(a being responsible for others). An animal on which the sins committed by all the Israeli people were symbolically laid, after which the goat was expelled (released) into the wilderness. (Lev. 16:21-22).
Colossus with feet of clay(something grandiose in appearance, but having easy vulnerabilities). From the biblical story about the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, in which he saw a huge metal idol (colossus) on clay feet, collapsed from the impact of a stone (Dan. 2, 31-35).
root of evil(source of evil). “As if the root of evil was found in me” (Job 19:28). “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).
Whoever is not with me is against me. Those who are not with us are against us.“He who is not with Me is against Me; and whoever does not gather with Me, he squanders” (Matt. 12:30). With these words, Jesus Christ emphasizes that there are only two kingdoms in the spiritual world: good and evil, God and Satan. There is no third. folk wisdom says in this regard: "I lagged behind God - I stuck to Satan." Unfortunately, the frequent repetition of this expression by those in power has distorted its original meaning.
Whoever comes with a sword will die by the sword.“For all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).
Foundation stone(something important, fundamental). “I lay for the foundation in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a cornerstone, a precious one, firmly established” (Isaiah 28:16).
Who does not work shall not eat.“If anyone does not want to work, do not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10).
Lies to the rescue(lie for the benefit of the deceived). A distorted concept of the Church Slavonic text: “The horse lies for salvation, but in the multitude of its strength it will not be saved” (Ps. 32, 17), which means: “The horse is unreliable for salvation, it will not save great strength own."
Manna from heaven(unexpected help). Food sent by God from heaven to the people of Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness (Ex. 16:14-16; Ex. 16:31).
Methuselah age(longevity). Methuselah (Methuselah) is one of the first biblical patriarchs who lived for 969 years (Genesis 5:27).
Abomination of desolation(extreme ruin, dirt). “And on the wing of the sanctuary shall be the abomination of desolation” (Dan. 9:27). “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place...then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mt. 24:15-16).
throw beads(wasting words in front of people who are not willing or able to appreciate their meaning). “Do not give anything holy to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet” (Matthew 7:6). In Church Slavonic, pearls are beads.
They don't know what they are doing.“Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk. 23:34) - the words of Jesus Christ at the crucifixion, sounding in Church Slavonic like this: "Father, let them go, they do not know what they are doing."
Not of this world.“You are of this world, I am not of this world” (John 8:23) – from the conversation of Jesus Christ with the Jews, as well as “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36) – Christ’s answer to Pontius Pilate on the question is whether He is the King of the Jews. The expression is used in relation to people detached from the realities of life, eccentrics.
Do not make yourself an idol. An expression from the second commandment of God, which forbids worship false gods, idols (Ex. 20:4; Deut. 5:8).
Judge not lest ye be judged. Quote from the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:1).
Not by bread alone.“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3). Quoted by Jesus Christ during His forty-day fast in the wilderness in response to the temptation of Satan (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4). It is used in relation to spiritual food.
Despite the faces. “Do not distinguish persons in judgment, listen to both the small and the great” (Deut. 1, 17). “Have faith in Jesus Christ our Lord of glory, regardless of persons” (James 2:1).
Burning bush(symbol of the eternal, imperishable). A burning but unburned thorn bush, in the flame of which the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses (Ex. 3, 2).
Carry your cross(dutifully endure the hardships of his fate). Jesus Himself carried the cross on which He was to be crucified (John 19:17), and only when He was exhausted did the Roman soldiers force a certain Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23, 26).
There is no prophet in his own country.“No prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:24). “There is no prophet without honor, except in his own country” (Mt. 13:57; Mk. 6:4).
Don't give up one iota(don't give up in the slightest). “Not one iota or not one tittle will pass from the law until everything is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18), i.e. even the slightest deviation from the law is unacceptable until all the predestinations are fulfilled. By iota here is meant the sign of the Hebrew alphabet - iodine, similar in shape to an apostrophe.
Doubt nothing. Doubting nothing.“But let him ask in faith, not in the least doubting” (Ik. 1, 6). In Church Slavonic: “Yes, he asks by faith without hesitation.” The expression is used in an ironic sense: without too much hesitation.
Poor in spirit.“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). One of the nine beatitudes in the Gospels. Poor in spirit - humble, devoid of pride, completely trusting God; in the words of John Chrysostom - "humble-wise". At present, the expression is used in a completely different sense: limited people, devoid of spiritual interests.
An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.“Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he did damage to a person’s body, so it must be done to him ”(Lev. 24, 20; Ex. 21, 24; Deut. 19, 21) - an Old Testament law regulating the degree of responsibility for a crime, the meaning of which: to another, a punishment greater than the deed cannot be established, and the responsibility for this was borne by a specific culprit. This law was very importance, because limited the blood feud common in ancient times, when for the crime of a person of one kind in relation to a representative of another kind, they took revenge on the whole family, and revenge (as a rule, regardless of the degree of guilt) was death. This law was intended for judges, not for an individual, so it is completely wrong. modern interpretation"an eye for an eye" as a call for revenge.
From the evil one(extra, unnecessary, done to the detriment). “But let your word be: yes, yes; no no; but what is more than this is from the evil one” (Matt. 5:37) – the words of Jesus Christ, which forbid swearing by heaven, earth, by the head of the one who swears.
Separate the tares from the wheat(to separate truth from falsehood, bad from good). From the gospel parable about how the enemy sowed tares (malicious weeds) among the wheat. The owner of the field, fearing that when picking the tares, the fragile wheat could be damaged, he decided to wait for it to ripen and then pick the weeds and burn them (Matt. 13, 24-30; 36-43).
Shake the dust from your feet(break forever with something, renounce with indignation). “But if anyone does not receive you and does not listen to your words, then when you leave that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet” (Mt. 10:14; Mk. 6:11; Lk. 9:5; Acts. 13, 51). This quotation is based on the ancient Jewish custom of shaking road dust from one's feet when returning to Palestine from travels to pagan countries, where even road dust was considered unclean.
Throw the stone first.“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8, 7) - the words of Jesus Christ in response to the temptations of the scribes and Pharisees, who brought to Him a woman caught in adultery, the meaning of which: a person has no moral right to condemn another, if he himself is a sinner.
Forge swords into plowshares(call for disarmament). “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles; the people will not raise the sword against the people, and they will no longer learn to fight ”(Is. 2, 4). Oralo is a plow.
Eat honey and locusts(Strictly observe fasting, almost starve). John the Baptist, living in the desert, led an ascetic life and ate wild honey and locusts (Mark 1:6).
flesh of flesh(kindness). “And the man said: Behold, this is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” - words about Eve, created by God from Adam's rib (Gen. 2, 23).
In letter and spirit.“He gave us the ability to be ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit, because the letter kills, but the spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3, 6). It is used in the meaning: to relate to something not only according to external formal features (by letter), but also according to the internal content and meaning (in spirit). Sometimes the expression "dead letter" is used in the meaning of "formality, opposite to essence, meaning".
Sprinkle ashes on your head(a sign of extreme despair and grief). The ancient custom of the Jews, as a sign of grief, sprinkle ashes or earth on their heads. “And they lifted up their voice and wept; and each one tore his outer garment, and threw dust over their heads towards heaven” (Job 2:12); "... tore his clothes and put on himself ... ashes" (Esther 4:1).
Rest from the works of the righteous(rest after difficult and useful deeds). From the biblical account of the creation of the world: “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, for in it he rested from all his works, which God created and created” (Gen. 2, 3).
The transformation of Saul into Paul(abrupt change of beliefs). Saul was an ardent persecutor of the first Christians, but after Jesus Christ appeared to him one day, he became one of the main preachers and founders of Christianity - the Apostle Paul (Acts 9, 1-22).
Sticking tongue to throat(to lose the power of speech from surprise, from indignation). “My tongue clings to my throat” (Ps. 21:16).
Byword(on everyone's lips, the subject of a common conversation). “And you will be ... a parable and a laughingstock among all peoples” (Deut. 28, 37). In Church Slavonic "among all peoples" - "in all the tongues."
Sell for Lentil Chowder(give up something important for a small gain). Esau, the eldest of the sons biblical patriarch Isaac, being hungry and tired, sold younger brother Jacob his birthright for lentil stew. (Gen. 25:29-34).
Guiding star – star of bethlehem, showing the way to the eastern wise men (magi), who went to bow to the born Christ (Matt. 2, 9). Used in the meaning: that which directs someone's life, activity.
holy of holies(secret, secret, inaccessible to the uninitiated) - part of the tabernacle (camping Jewish temple), fenced off by a curtain, which only the high priests could enter once a year. “And there shall be a curtain to separate the sanctuary from the Holy of Holies” (Ex. 26:33).
Grinding of teeth.“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12) - Jesus' words about the horrors of hell. In a figurative sense, it is used as impotent rage.
Servant of two masters(a person who tries in vain to please many at the same time). “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be zealous for one and despise the other” (Luke 16:13).
Serve mammon(to care too much about wealth, material wealth). “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Mammon - wealth or earthly goods.
Deadly sin. The Apostle John speaks of sin unto death and sin not unto death (1 John 5:16-17). A sin unto death (mortal sin) is a sin that cannot be expiated.
Sodom and Gomorrah(licentiousness, as well as extreme confusion). From the biblical story about the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which God punished for the loose morals of their inhabitants (Gen. 19, 24-25).
Salt of the earth.“You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) are the words of Jesus Christ in relation to believers, meaning: the best, useful for society part of the people, whose duty it is to keep their spiritual purity. In ancient times, salt was considered a symbol of purity.
Vanity. This refers to the smallness of human troubles and deeds before God and Eternity. “Vanity of vanities, said the Ecclesiastes, vanity of vanities, all is vanity!” (Ecc. 1, 2).
This mystery is great. Church Slavonic text of an expression from the Epistle to the Ephesians (ch. 5, verse 32). Used in relation to something inaccessible, carefully hidden; often in an ironic sense.
crown of thorns(hard test). Before the crucifixion, the soldiers put a crown of thorns on Christ's head (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2).
thirty pieces of silver(symbol of betrayal). For thirty pieces of silver, Judas delivered Christ to the chief priests (Matt. 26:15). Srebrennik is an ancient Jewish coin worthy of four Greek drachmas.
Trumpet of Jericho(excessively loud voice). From the story of the siege of the city of Jericho by the Jews, when the walls of the city collapsed from the sound of sacred trumpets and from the cry of the besiegers (Josh. 6).
Darkness pitch(symbol of hell). “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). In Church Slavonic, "outer darkness" - "outer darkness."
Wash your hands(avoid liability). “Pilate, seeing that nothing helps ... took water and washed his hands before the people, and said: I am innocent of the blood of this Just One” (Matt. 27, 24). The Roman procurator Pontius Pilate performed the ritual washing of hands, customary among the Jews, as a sign of non-participation in the murder being committed (Deut. 21, 6-9).
Pharisaism(hypocrisy). The Pharisees are a religious and political party in ancient Judea, whose representatives were supporters of the ostentatious strict execution of the ritual aspects of the Jewish religion. Jesus, denouncing religious hypocrisy, often called them hypocrites: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites" (Matthew 23:13; 23:14; 23:15; Luke 11:44).
fig leaf(insufficient, superficial justification for something, as well as a hypocritical cover for something shameful). Adam and Eve, who knew shame after the fall (eating forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil), girded themselves with the leaves of a fig tree (fig tree) (Gen. 3, 7). Sculptors often used a fig leaf when depicting a naked body.
doubting Thomas(doubting person). The Apostle Thomas did not immediately believe in the resurrection of Christ: “Unless I see on His hands the wounds from the nails, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand in His side, I will not believe” (John 20, 25). Subsequent apostolic ministry and death for the sake of faith Christ apostle Foma redeemed his momentary doubt.
Daily bread(necessary food). “Give us our daily bread this day” (Matt. 6:11; Luke 11:3) - from the Lord's Prayer.
Abyss of heaven(now a joke expression about heavy rain). From the biblical story of the global flood: “All the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened; and it rained on the earth for forty days and forty nights” (Genesis 7:11). In Church Slavonic "windows" - "abyss".
Keep it like the apple of an eye(keep as the most precious). “Keep me as the apple of your eye” (Ps. 16:8). “He kept him like the apple of his eye” (Deut. 32:10).
Published according to the original edition (Novosibirsk )
