Postmodernism: A Biblical Apologetics Refutation of Relativism and the Rejection of Absolute Truth

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Postmodernism is a philosophical and cultural movement that emerged primarily in the mid-twentieth century, gaining traction in academic, literary, and social spheres. It is characterized by skepticism toward absolute truth, objective morality, meta-narratives, and rational certainty. Postmodernism argues that truth is subjective, constructed by cultural, linguistic, and personal frameworks, and thus cannot be universally known. From a biblical apologetics standpoint, postmodernism is not merely a misguided ideology but a direct challenge to the authority of Scripture, the existence of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. This article presents a rigorous analysis and refutation of postmodernism in light of the inspired, inerrant Word of God, using the Historical-Grammatical method and rejecting the epistemological and moral relativism at the heart of this worldview.

Defining Postmodernism and Its Key Tenets

Postmodernism does not lend itself to a precise, unified definition because its very essence rejects fixed definitions and boundaries. However, certain core characteristics define the movement:

Relativism – Truth is seen as relative to individuals or cultures.
Skepticism of Meta-narratives – Grand explanations for existence, including biblical theology, are viewed with suspicion.
Linguistic Constructivism – Language is considered a subjective tool that constructs, rather than describes, reality.
Subjective Morality – Right and wrong are viewed as social constructs without universal foundation.
Deconstruction – Texts and ideas are dismantled to expose internal contradictions, rendering meaning unstable.

These ideas stand in opposition to the foundational claims of Christianity: that God has spoken, that His Word is objectively true, and that Jesus Christ is the exclusive means of salvation.

The Bible’s Clear Affirmation of Objective Truth

Scripture presents truth as objective, absolute, and grounded in the character of Jehovah Himself. Jesus declared in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Truth is not determined by human perception or culture but is revealed by the God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Image symbolizing Postmodernism, capturing its complexity, pluralism, and visual contradictions.

In Psalm 119:160, the psalmist affirms, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Truth is enduring, not fluctuating based on personal or cultural opinion.

Jesus made exclusive truth claims that refute postmodern relativism: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Such a statement is either true or false—it cannot be both, nor can it be true for some and false for others.

Postmodernism and Its Assault on the Authority of Scripture

Postmodernism undermines the authority of the Bible by denying that any text can convey fixed meaning. It treats the inspired Scriptures not as revelation but as one voice among many cultural narratives. The postmodern method of deconstruction seeks to reinterpret biblical texts, claiming that meaning is always fluid and never final.

Yet the Bible explicitly teaches that Scripture is not open to private or subjective interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20-21 declares:
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Postmodern skepticism rejects the clarity (perspicuity) of Scripture, but Jesus and the apostles repeatedly appealed to the Scriptures as understandable and binding (Matthew 22:29; Acts 17:2-3).

The Law of Non-Contradiction and the Collapse of Relativism

At the philosophical level, postmodernism is self-refuting. The statement “There is no absolute truth” is itself an absolute truth claim. If all truth is relative, then the claim that “truth is relative” must also be relative and not universally binding.

This contradiction is addressed by the law of non-contradiction, a fundamental principle of rational thought: two contradictory propositions cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense. The Bible uses this principle repeatedly. In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah challenged the Israelites: “If Jehovah is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” Both cannot be God. This is a biblical application of the law of non-contradiction.

Jesus’ resurrection either occurred or it did not. Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Christianity hinges on historical and theological truths—not subjective impressions.

Postmodern Ethics Versus Biblical Morality

Postmodernism rejects universal moral standards, reducing ethics to personal or communal preferences. This leads to moral chaos, where no act can be judged objectively right or wrong. The biblical worldview, by contrast, roots morality in the character and commands of Jehovah.

Isaiah 5:20 pronounces judgment on moral relativism: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” Such reversal of moral categories is the hallmark of postmodern ethics.

Romans 1:21-32 describes the descent of those who “exchanged the truth about God for a lie.” The result is a reprobate mind, incapable of moral clarity or discernment. Postmodernism replicates this very pattern, celebrating moral inversion and condemning biblical righteousness as oppressive.

Postmodernism and the Rejection of Accountability

The denial of truth and morality in postmodernism serves a larger purpose: the rejection of divine accountability. Romans 3:18 says of the wicked, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Postmodern thinkers cast off moral restraint by denying the existence of a transcendent moral Judge.

Yet Hebrews 9:27 affirms, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Postmodernism cannot alter the reality of divine judgment by denying it. The unbelief of man does not nullify the truth of God (Romans 3:3-4).

The Gospel and the Necessity of Exclusive Truth

The gospel itself is rooted in objective truth. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are historical events with eternal implications. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 records:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins… that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Salvation is not a matter of personal interpretation or individual spiritual experience. It is rooted in the truth of the gospel, the historical work of Christ, and the revelation of God’s Word. Any claim to salvation apart from that gospel is false.

Acts 4:12 declares: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Postmodern pluralism cannot stand against such exclusive truth.

Responding to Postmodernism with the Inspired Word

The Christian apologist must respond to postmodernism not by accommodating its errors, but by proclaiming the unchanging truth of Scripture. 2 Corinthians 10:5 calls believers to:
“Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The Word of God is not a cultural construct but the breathed-out truth of Jehovah (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the sword of the Spirit, capable of exposing error and bringing conviction (Hebrews 4:12).

We are not called to compromise biblical truth to win the approval of a relativistic culture. Instead, we are to stand firm, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:14: “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth.”

Conclusion: Postmodernism Stands Condemned by the Word of God

Postmodernism is not a harmless intellectual trend; it is a calculated rebellion against the truth of God’s Word. Its relativism, moral subjectivism, and rejection of authoritative Scripture make it incompatible with the Christian faith.

The inspired Scriptures declare that truth is absolute, that God is the source of all knowledge, and that salvation is found exclusively through Jesus Christ. Postmodernism collapses under its own contradictions and is exposed by the unshakable authority of the Bible.

As Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That truth is found not in shifting philosophies but in the unchanging Word of God.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).