Truth as a Foundation

This article conducts a comparative study to analyze the meaning of truth in the biblical text of John 17:17, and the Simalungun philosophy of Habonaron Do Bona. This is done under the principle of reconciling the concept of truth within biblical foundations with local wisdom, which is then applied to shape a more contextual identity for GKPS (the Simalungun Protestant Christian Church). As a contextual church, GKPS strives to communicate the Christian faith within Simalungun culture. GKPS, as a church, also inevitably confronts acts of untruthfulness, such as corruption, theft, dishonesty, and similar issues. Therefore, this article seeks to address these challenges by reasserting the significance of truth within the GKPS context. Using contextual theology theory, comparative research, and qualitative methods, this article demonstrates that truth possesses a robust biblical foundation while remaining rooted in local culture. Through the intellectual contributions presented here, the truth can be taught and understood within the GKPS context by framing it as a biblical Christian teaching that is also deeply rooted in local cultural traditions.