Does the Correspondence theory of truth coincide with Scripture?
The short answer is yes. As Christian theologian and philosopher R. C. Sproul says, “Truth is reality as God sees it.”¹
Since God has all knowledge (omniscience), whatever God believes to be the case actually is the case. In other words, God’s
knowledge corresponds to reality. If someone buys a red car God knows this (what He believes to be the case is the case).
Therefore, the correspondence theory of truth seems to be an accurate way of describing the theory of truth that is
consistent with God and, thus, Scripture.

But Jesus did not know what truth is (John 18:38):
"’You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born,
and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate
asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him.’” John 18:37-38

This brief exchange between Jesus and Pilate is used to conclude that Jesus did not know what truth is. Since Jesus did not
answer Pilate’s question the conclusion is drawn that Jesus must have been stumped by the question. Since Jesus did not
know what truth is we are arrogant for claiming to know.

There are several problems with this rationale. First, the conclusion that Jesus did not understand truth is based on an argument
from silence. Jesus does not say, nor does He suggest, that truth is unknown to Him. Jesus simply did not reply. From the text it
appears that Pilate did not wait for an answer to his own question.

Second, it becomes evident that Jesus did in fact know what truth is. He uses the term on numerous occasions in the same
book (John 3:21; 4:23, 24; 5:33; 8:32, 40, 44, 45, 46; 14:6, 17; 15:26; 16:7, and more). Such instances show that Jesus did
understand what truth is.

But John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is truth:
Not exactly. This passage actually says, "’1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's
house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to
the place where I am going.’ 5 Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’
6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (NIV)

Let’s consider the context of this verse:
In verse 6, Jesus is claiming to be “the truth” and not “truth.” The difference is significant. The context shows what Jesus is
claiming about Himself. Jesus told His disciples that He is going to go be with the Father (vs. 2). He also said that they, the
disciples, know the way to the place where Jesus was going (vs. 4). But Thomas claims that they do not know where He is
going and, therefore, they do not know the way to get there (vs. 5). This is where Jesus tells them that He is, “the way and
the truth and the life.” (vs. 6, italics mine) He goes on to say that no one will be able to come to the Father except through Him,
Jesus (vs. 6). This makes it apparent that Jesus is talking specifically about salvation. In other words, Jesus is the way
regarding salvation. Jesus is the truth regarding salvation. Jesus is the life regarding salvation. Jesus is claiming to be “the
truth” regarding salvation but He is not claiming to be “truth” which would be equivalent to Jesus claiming to be all truth.

These two claims (“Jesus is the truth” vs. “Jesus is truth.”) are entirely different. The first claim (that Jesus is the truth) is found
in this passage and refers to salvation. However, Jesus rightly avoids claiming to be “truth.” If esus claimed to be “truth” (as in
“all truth”) then He would be identical to any true proposition. This is much different than merely saying that Jesus knows
every true proposition. He certainly does know every true proposition, at least now. But clearly He is not every true statement.
In fact, Jesus is not a statement. He is God incarnate (see John 1:1-14).

To illustrate, if Jesus is “truth” (meaning “all truth”) then He would have to be every true statement (actually be the statement
and not merely know the statement). For isntance, Jesus would have to be the statement “The United States and Canada are
allies.” However, two things are evident about this statement. First, it is true (it lines up with reality, the way things really are).
Second, Jesus is not this statement. We do not worship, pray to, nor seek salvation from the statement “The United States
and Canada are allies.” If Jesus and this statement were identical, then we would be in grave trouble.

It is necessary to distinguish between Jesus Christ being “the truth” about salvation (He is) and “all truth” (He is not). Once
this distinction is understood, the confusion is cleared up and Jesus stands as “the truth” regarding our salvation.

¹ R. C. Sproul, "What Is Truth?", adapted from "God and Truth" from Ligonier's "One Holy Passion" series (1993).