Now more than ever we in our Holy Order must be concerned about
what is the truth. Untruth is quickly believed and it is up to us to make sure
we are on the right path. Versions of this proverb have been attributed to Alexander Pope,
Mark Twain, Charles Spurgeon, Fisher Ames, Thomas Jefferson and Winston
Churchill. Then of course, someone called it a Chinese Proverb. But let’s take
a look at the truth.
Truth
Chapter and verse! Chapter and verse!
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This
idiom infers that the person being addressed has not given enough specific, provable
information about his or her assessment of a particular matter in the statements
made and much more specific proof is needed to be convincing. It is derived by
quotations from the Bible made by priests, ministers or teachers to support
a sermon, written statement or lecture. The Bible has long been regarded
in Christian circles as the absolute authority, thus, this analogy. By
the mid-to-late 19th century it was becoming customary to demand chapter and
verse for proof in biblical arguments. The Evangelical Repository and United
Presbyterian Review, February, 1868, gives us a good example of this in the
first article, titled ‘Church Union’ by the Rev. D.F. Bonner:
“And no man has a right to say I shall sing any thing without giving a ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ If he cannot give the chapter and verse for the exclusive use
of the Psalms, I tell him I am a Protestant.” Show me “the chapter and verse” directing women to eat of the Lord’s supper?
Truth
Mark my words
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The word ‘mark,’ since the twelfth century, has been used by
writers and in conversation to mean ‘heed.’ The earliest example of “mark my
words” known is in Coverdale’s 1535
translation of the Bible, Isaiah 28:23:
“Take hede, and heare my voyce, pondre
and merck my wordes wel.”
This is also used as ‘mark my word,’
but in every case the speaker intended for the hearer to pay close attention,
because what he or she was saying was most definitely true, in the speaker’s
opinion, and usually a prediction of something certain to happen because of the
chain of events which had already transpired. The Bible is the holy Word of God, and
in these troubled times, we should all be closely heeding what it says. Dous Vult,
Sir Stan St. Clair, Kt. Lt., Priory of the Risen King,
Commandery of St.
Truth
Always has been, always will be
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Traditionally following, “Life is what you make
it”, this saying is often used in other contexts. It has been prefaced by lines
like, “it’s up to you,” “It’s all you,”
or “Meaning is important.” The earliest known example in print is fromThe Medical
Profession; its Position and Claims: A discourse delivered Sabbath evening,
December 28th, 1856, in the First Congregational Church, Middletown, Conn.,
occasioned by the death of David Harrison by Jeremiah Taylor published in
1857:
“…the largest
demand for those who devote themselves to the art of healing the
diseased; always has been, always
will be…”
Our God has always been and always will be. He is
the reason there is an eternity. From the beginning to the end, the Bible
speaks this truth. In Genesis 21:23, Abraham planted a tree at Beersheba and “called
on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.” (KJV)
The psalmist declared (Ps.
Truth
Agree to disagree
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This is an old common phrase meaning that all parties in a
conflict or dispute are willing to resolve their differences by tolerating the
opposing views while maintaining their own position. It first appeared in print
in 1770 in John Wesley’s sermon, On the
Death of Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, preached November 18, 1770, in which
he acknowledges their doctrinal differences:
“There
are many doctrines of a less essential nature … In these we may think and let
think; we may ‘agree to disagree.’ But, meantime, let us hold fast the
essentials”
Wesley enclosed the phrase in quotation marks indicating
that he was not the originator of it. Wesley’s brother, Charles, deemed to be
the founder of the Methodist Church, attributed the expression to Whitefield
himself, who had used it in a letter to “Mr. B.” twenty years earlier, dated
June 29, 1750:
“After
all, those who will live in peace must agree
to disagree in many things with their fellow-labourers, and not let little
things part or disunite them.”
But the gist of the saying came earlier; also first used by
a minister, John Piggott, in Sermon on Union
and Peace, preach’d to several Congregations, April 17, 1704:
“And now why should we not agree to differ, without either enmity
or scorn?”
There are still times when
Christians don’t look at issues exactly alike. But that doesn’t mean that we
should argue with one another.
Truth
All that glitters is not gold
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Most
of us have heard this all our lives, I suppose. We likely have a good idea what
it means, and a lot of us, who, like me, had to study Shakespeare in school,
know where it came from. The Merchant
of Venice is
the origin. The original was actually ‘glisters’ rather than glitters, but the
rest was intact as penned by Shakespeare in 1586. The reference reads:
“All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:”
This
has come to symbolize the constant struggle of humanity to seek for prosperity,
and in so doing, often ‘grab at straws’ which appear to be ways to ‘get rich
quick.’ Just because something looks good doesn’t mean that it is—usually it is
quite the opposite.
Truth
Kernel of truth
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This is an idiom used
for a singular element of truth within
a greater story, narrative, speech, or theory, usually used when most or all
other elements are either known to be fictitious or are questionable, at best. A kernel of wisdom also reflects this meaning. A kernel is a grain or seed of
grain, illustrating that the truth is small, but that if planted in minds may
grow and lead to additional valid truth or wisdom.
‘Kernel of truth’ has
been used metaphorically since at least the late 19th century, as
evidenced by several printed examples including this citation from National Religion with an Excursus on the
Higher Criticism by Samuel Smith, published in London in 1884:
“‘Life
is short,’ and as men become older they get tired of screening a mass of chaff
for one kernel of truth.”
God’s Word is all truth, As Christians
it is our obligation to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.” It is too easy for
false prophets to twist the truth and try to make us believe something
different than God intended. There are “kernels of truth” in these
false doctrines.
Faith
As honest as the day is long
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This is an interesting saying that I have heard practically all my life. Partly because my precious parents were very honest and expected nothing less of me. I heard them both use it about good people when I was growing up back in the 1950s and ‘60s. I have done research on words and phrases for many
years, because I was curious and wanted to know how they got started
The online forum, ‘Phrase Finder’ claims that this
cliché is likely of recent origin and according to James Rogers’ Dictionary of Clichés, 1985 is first
found in print in The Shark was a Boojum (1941).
But this is much older.
Truth
If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed
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Today this saying is being acted out more, it seems,
than ever. As Christians we know that lies started in the Garden of Eden when
Satan, disguised as a serpent, told the first one to Eve. The Bible tells is that Satan is the father of
liars. He enables his followers to make untruth sound like truth. There is
usually just enough truth in a lie to deceive people.