TRUE — but in the sense of GENUINE rather than truthful; the real thing as against the copy or the shadow. ⚠ John uses it nine times and the pattern is consistent: the true light (1:9), the true worshippers (4:23), the true bread from heaven (6:32), the true vine (15:1). 'The true vine' is therefore not a claim about honesty; it is a claim against every earlier vine — and Israel is a vine in Psalm 80, Isaiah 5, Jeremiah 2 and Hosea 10, disappointing in all four. Distinguish from alēthēs, true as opposed to false. → first discussed at John 15:1