John 18:38

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John chapter 18, verse 38 of the Gospel of John, is often referred to as "jesting Pilate" or "Truth? What is truth?". In it, Pontius Pilate questions Jesus' claim that he is "witness to the truth" (John 18:37). He then proclaims to the masses that he does not consider Jesus guilty of any crime.

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Greek King James Bible Contemporary English Version
λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· Τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια; καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν πάλιν ἐξῆλθε πρὸς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἐγὼ οὐδεμίαν αἰτίαν εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?"

Pilate went back out and said, "I don't find this man guilty of anything!

[edit] Analysis and commentary

P52, an ancient papyrus inscribed with John 18:37-38
P52, an ancient papyrus inscribed with John 18:37-38

This verse establishes the legal and moral innocence of Jesus before his crucifixion. The innocence of Jesus is important in the Gospel of John, as the author demonstrates Jesus to be a sacrifice.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus' death is portrayed as a parallel to the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. According to the author, Jesus is crucified on the Day of Preparation before the night of Passover. This makes his death analogous with the death of the lamb. The bleeding of Jesus when his side is stabbed (John 19:34) can be seen as a parallel to the smearing of blood on the door before the first Passover. (This stands in contrast to the other Gospels, which depict the Last Supper as the Passover meal and in which Jesus dies on the day after Passover.)

Note that Jesus, although he does not respond to Pilates question (perhaps because Pilate "went out again" before giving him a chance to) believes he knows the answer. During his prayer in Gethsemane, Jesus tells God, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17)

[edit] Allusions

This verse has been widely quoted and alluded to in culture and literature, particularly in that of philosophical nature. While Pilate's question -- whether intended philosophically or jestfully -- is by no means the first incident of someone questioning the nature of truth, it has been drawn upon many times as a significant occurrence thereof.

Francis Bacon uses this musing to open his essay "Of Truth", saying that Pilate "would not stay for an answer". He uses this to introduce his theme of truth as an affirmation of faith.

In The Antichrist, Friedrich Nietzsche calls upon Pilate's quip. He uses it, however, as evidence of Pilate's character, saying that he is "a solitary figure worthy of honor" and that the question "What is truth" is "the only saying that has any value" in the New Testament.

In the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, Pilate's philosophical question is compounded upon. He questions Jesus' conviction by asking him, "What is truth? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths; are mine the same as yours?"

Jesting Pilate an Intellectual Holiday is the title of a book by Aldous Huxley.

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