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Truthing in Love: Growing Up

The phrase "truthing in love" is one literal rendering of the Greek text in Ephesians 4:15. While many translations render this as "speaking the truth," the original language conveys a much broader and more dynamic concept that is essential to the identity and growth of the church. It is not merely a matter of verbal accuracy, but of maintaining and living out the reality of God's truth within the sphere of His love.


The Greek Meaning of Truthing: Alētheuontes

In the English Standard Version and others, Ephesians 4:15 is translated as "speaking the truth in love." However, the Greek word used is alētheuontes (ἀληθεύοντες).

"But truthing in love, we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ." — Ephesians 4:15 Interlinear

  • Grammar: This is a present active participle of the verb alētheuō.

  • Literal Definition: It means "to be true," "to deal truly," or "to maintain the truth."

Unlike the simple noun alētheia (ἀλήθεια), which refers to "truth" as a concept or content, this verb form alētheuontes implies action and a continuous state of being. It suggests that the believer is to be true in conduct, character, and speech. 

In context of Ephesian 4, truthing in love is what grows us up into Christ, into the mature adulthood which is a reflection of the image of Christ. So we grow up in the truth, "to be true in conduct, character, and speech" like Christ. This is at direct contrast to that which does not mature children, the "trickery of men" and "deceitful scheming" mentioned in verse (Ephesians 4:14). 

The specific conformation to the image of Christ, who is Truth, is a direct goal of the work of ministry; to grow up children to mature adulthood. While evangelism is a part, it is God's heart to bring lost sheep in, Jesus gives other gifts for the building up of the body into maturity. So when you hear people say it is all about spreading the gospel, or evangelism, or outreach, it is not the truth according to Paul, nor according to Jesus who gave commissions for discipleship, teaching, pastoring... see The Commissions According To The Gospels.

The idea of "truthing" fits with the concept of putting on the belt of truth in Ephesians 6:14, "therefore stand girding your waist in truth." The idea is to put truth all around you, let your character reflect it as a way of living, see "Truth All Around You"

The Necessity of the "In Love" Sphere

The apostle Paul immediately qualifies this action of truthing with love, en (ἐν) agapē (ἀγάπῃ), meaning "in love." Truth without love becomes the "letter that kills" (2 Corinthians 3:6), a harsh legalism characteristic of the religious approach under the Old Covenant. And of some churches, like Galatia, that has went away from Jesus walking in the flesh, in written code. Conversely, love without truth is merely sentimentalism that cannot produce spiritual maturity.

This balance of truth which increases faith and love are the specific mechanism for spiritual fruitfulness and fulfilling God's purpose, as described in Freedom from the Mosaic Law: "The correlation is straightforward: the Spirit-led life is antithetical (directly opposed) to life under Law."

The "Living Way of the Spirit is not a list of do's and don'ts (the letter), but a life lived by the Spirit where the truth of God's nature is expressed through the love of God's character. 

The Result: Maturity in Christ

The function of "truthing in love" is explicitly stated: that we "may grow up" (auxēsōmen) in all things into Him. It is the antidote to remaining spiritual children (nēpioi).

The article Doctrinal Deep Dive: Maturity in Christ highlights that this growth process—facilitated by truth and love—leads to the "bond of perfectness or maturity" or teleiotēs:

"It denotes the culmination of spiritual growth, the state of being fully developed in Christ."

Therefore, "truthing in love" is the continuous practice of the church. It is the refusal to compromise the reality of the New Covenant truth while simultaneously refusing to abandon the law of love that binds the body together.

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