What is True?
The question of “What is true?” has echoed throughout human history, inviting philosophical debate, scientific exploration, and spiritual contemplation. The Bible, however, presents an answer that is both unique and definitive. It identifies itself as Wisdom Literature — a distinct category of knowledge that invites us into a specific understanding of truth and reality. In its earliest narratives, especially the story of Eden and the lives of Adam’s twin sons, Cain and Abel, the Bible sets forth two fundamentally different systems of wisdom that shape how humanity perceives, understands, and interacts with the world.
These two systems of wisdom — Cain’s and Abel’s — offer radically different approaches to truth. Cain’s wisdom, driven by external validation and attainment, represents a subjective, comparison-based understanding of life, while Abel’s wisdom, rooted in inherent spiritual nature, embodies objective truth that flows from the essence of one’s being. The Bible suggests that all of humanity operates according to one of these two wisdoms, each leading to different expressions of life, identity, and ultimately, truth.
Wisdom Literature and the Two Systems of Wisdom
Biblical Literature identifies itself as Wisdom Literature because it provides a lens through which we can see and understand life, not only in practical terms but as a fundamental revelation of divine truth. According to the Bible, wisdom is not merely knowledge or intellect; it is a spiritual perspective that aligns one’s mind, actions, and identity with the true nature of existence. Wisdom is about seeing and understanding life as it truly is, unmarred by personal bias or external influence.
The narrative of Eden introduces us to these two systems of wisdom through the characters of Cain and Abel, the twin sons of Adam and Eve. Their lives represent two distinct perceptions and approaches to life. Cain’s wisdom relies on external comparison and validation — he derives his sense of self and purpose through his achievements, possessions, and relationship to others. Abel’s wisdom, by contrast, comes from within; it is a perception that is grounded in the inherent composition of his spirit. Abel lives and gives from his own spiritual nature, untethered from the need for external definition or validation.
Cain’s Wisdom: The Path of External Comparison
The wisdom of Cain is the wisdom that much of humanity operates by instinctively. It is a wisdom of comparison and external attainment. Cain perceives himself and the world around him through the lens of external standards, comparing himself to others and using external achievements as markers of his value. His identity and sense of worth come not from an understanding of his inherent nature but from the things he can accumulate, accomplish, or control.
This wisdom, often referred to in Biblical Literature as “earthly” or “devilish” wisdom, is ultimately a deception, rooted in a flawed perception of truth. It is a subjective interpretation of reality because it depends on what a person chooses to compare themselves to, rather than on any objective standard. For instance, one might define themselves as “successful” based on how much wealth they have compared to their neighbours, or “beautiful” based on the current cultural trends, rather than on an intrinsic understanding of beauty or success.
Cain’s wisdom is inherently unstable and unreliable because it is always relative, constantly shifting according to external conditions. This subjective perception cannot lead to truth because it is never rooted in objective reality. It is in reference to this type of wisdom that the Bible proclaims, “All men are liars” (Psalm 116:11). This is not an accusation against humanity’s morality but an insight into the fact that, as long as people define themselves and others based on external comparisons, they will never perceive or speak the truth. Truth cannot exist in a system where perception is based on relative and ever-changing standards.
Abel’s Wisdom: The Path of Inherent Composition
In stark contrast, Abel’s wisdom is based on an objective understanding that comes from his inherent spiritual composition. Abel’s identity, actions, and offerings are grounded in his understanding of who he is at the core. He does not seek validation or value from external sources; instead, he lives and gives from the abundance of his own spiritual nature. This wisdom is described as the “Wisdom of God” or “Spiritual Wisdom” in Biblical terms. It is called “being Spiritually Minded” or “having the Mind of Christ,” an understanding that perceives reality based on the intrinsic nature of all things, rather than external factors.
Abel’s wisdom is an objective perception because it is not swayed by comparison or external conditions. It is rooted in self-determination and the predetermined nature of one’s spirit. This wisdom is not concerned with how one measures up against others; instead, it seeks to express the unique, inherent value within one’s spiritual nature. It is this perspective that the Bible refers to when it says, “My thoughts are higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Abel’s wisdom aligns with the divine perspective, perceiving things as they truly are, as they were created to be, rather than as they appear through the lens of external judgment or comparison.
The New Testament calls this wisdom “putting on Christ” (Romans 13:14), as it represents a complete transformation from an externally driven perception to one that is centered in the truth of one’s divine nature. When believers are encouraged to “put on Christ,” they are being invited to transition from Cain’s wisdom to Abel’s, from a life of comparison and attainment to one of spiritual abundance and self-existence.
The Process of Mind Renewal: From Cain’s Wisdom to Abel’s Wisdom
The process of mind renewal, as outlined in the Bible, is fundamentally about transitioning from Cain’s wisdom to Abel’s. This transformation is not merely about adopting new beliefs or behaviours but about a total shift in perception, from a carnal, comparison-based perspective to a spiritual, truth-centered understanding. The Bible calls this transformation “putting on the new self” (Ephesians 4:24), an invitation to see oneself and others not through the lens of external validation but through the inherent value of one’s spiritual nature.
The concept of circumcision in Biblical Literature symbolises this transformation. The Circumcised Community, which began with Israel and extends to all followers of Christ, was a community set apart from Cain’s wisdom. To be circumcised meant to be separated from the wisdom of comparison and attainment and to embrace Abel’s wisdom, the wisdom of self-existence and spiritual integrity. Those who remain uncircumcised, Biblically speaking, are those who continue to live according to Cain’s wisdom, defining themselves and others by external standards rather than spiritual truth.
The Tragic Foundation of Western Civilization: Built on Cain’s Wisdom
Western civilization, unfortunately, is built upon the wisdom of Cain. The values and ideals that underpin Western society — competition, comparison, and external achievement — are deeply rooted in a perspective that defines people and things by their external markers. From education systems that rank students by grades to industries that define success by profit margins, the entire structure of Western society is oriented around the carnal mind.
This reliance on Cain’s wisdom means that much of what is taught and valued in Western culture is, according to the Bible, fundamentally untrue. The knowledge that we acquire, the standards by which we judge success, and even the definitions of love, beauty, and goodness are often distorted by a wisdom that is, at its core, a lie. Only by renewing our minds and adopting Abel’s wisdom — the wisdom of Christ — can we come to perceive and understand truth as it truly is.
The Search for Truth: Returning to the Wisdom of Christ
The journey to discover “What is true?” requires us to confront the wisdom we live by. If we operate by Cain’s wisdom, truth will remain elusive, hidden behind layers of comparison, competition, and external validation. True wisdom, however, is found in the Mind of Christ, the perspective that sees life, people, and reality through the lens of spiritual integrity and self-existence.
To live by Abel’s wisdom is to step into a life of true freedom and identity, one that is grounded in the unchanging reality of our spiritual nature rather than the shifting sands of external standards. This wisdom calls us out of the deception of Cain’s perspective, urging us to “put on Christ” and perceive life as God intended — with clarity, integrity, and unshakable truth.
In the end, the answer to “What is true?” lies not in what we can achieve or how we measure up but in who we are at our core. It is in returning to the wisdom of Christ, to the truth of our spiritual nature, that we find a wisdom that brings life, peace, and the fullness of truth itself. This is the wisdom that the Bible invites us to embrace — a wisdom that transcends the falsehoods of the world and reveals the eternal reality of who we were created to be.
