Everyone who will devote their time to the study of the Scripture can understand it. The Scripture is clear. But does this mean that the Scripture is simple? The clarity of Scripture is what we are going to talk about on this blog.

Highlights:

  1. The Bible is a plain Book, according to Charles Hodge.
  2. The Principle of the Clarity of Scripture does not mean that Bible teachers are never necessary.
  3. Scripture is clear in its essential matters.
  4. The Holy Spirit must illumine the readers’ minds to understand the significance of the Scripture.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a believer or not; you can understand it, and you can interpret it. You don’t need to be critically educated or a preacher or an exhorter. The Scripture is clear enough to anyone who will devote their time to read it. In a more technical term, the principle is called the Perspicuity of the Scripture. The simplest definition of Perspicuity of Scripture is:

The Bible is a plain book ~ Charles Hodge

The Scripture is sufficiently intelligible to inform the reader of the essential message of the Christian faith. The Bible is not a mystical book. Despite some difficult passages, it is likewise sufficient to disciple the believer. The Old Testament instruction will prove this principle.

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:7

Moses will not command the people of Israel to teach the Scripture to their children if he believes that the Scripture is complicated enough for them to learn and understand. I know you might have some questions in your mind regarding this subject matter. My hope and prayer are that you will find some answers on this blog. To understand clarity, let us first begin by defining what it does not mean.

It does not mean that the teaching of Scripture is everywhere, equally simple.

The Bible is clear but not necessarily simple. Peter made it very clear in the book of 2 Peter.

His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

2Peter 3:16

His letters, talking about Paul’s letter, contain some things which are hard or complicated. But of course, nowhere had he said it is impossible to understand. Which some people distort. As I have mentioned earlier, there are scriptures which are indeed difficult to understand; that is the reason when you talk about the clarity of the Scripture; it does not mean that:

It does not mean that interpretation, explanation, and exposition by a Bible teacher are never necessary.

Difficult passages are the reason that we accompany our Bible reading with commentaries from Biblical scholars. Complex Scripture is one of the reasons why we listen to theologians. One familiar story in the Bible goes something like this:

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:31

The story is about the Utopian Eunuch, who encounters difficult passages in the Bible. Therefore he requires some explanation for those who diligently study the Word. But not all scriptures are difficult to understand. So what does perspicuity means?

Scripture is clear in its essential matters.

Every important & vital matter about our life is evident in the Scripture. It is impossible to misinterpret this. Now, I will give you a short exercise. Could you interpret this verse?

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God

Rom 3:23

Now let me give you my interpretation. Nobody reached the standard of God. Everyone, I mean everyone sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Did you have a different understanding? I don’t think so. This verse and all other essential matters in Scripture are clear.

Even an unbeliever can understand the teachings of Scripture on an external level

When I haven’t accepted Jesus yet as my Lord and Savior, I already encountered a lot of people who will share tracks, the yellow pamphlet with illustrations about sin. And I remember Romans 3:23 will always be followed by Romans 6:23.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 6:23

This verse is as clear as crystal. I don’t need a preacher or a Bible scholar to interpret this for me. Everyone sinned, including me, and the punishment of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. At that time, I don’t know the underlying principle behind eternal life in Christ Jesus, but it is apparent that it is a gift that God is willing to give me. It is evident that even as an unbeliever at that time, I can understand the Scripture on an external level.

The Scripture is clear enough to be understood by common people.

Bible writers addressed the Scripture to ordinary people, not religious experts. Different introduction in the Bible would prove that. You see, you don’t need to be an expert when reading the Gospels. You don’t need to attend a Bible School to discover that they intend to teach that Jesus was born of a virgin.

He lived a sinless life, performed mighty miracles, and died on the cross as a ransom for many. He rose from the dead on the third day after death. These things are understandable, lying on the very face of the Gospels.

The Holy Spirit must illumine the mind of the reader or hearer of Scripture if he is to understand the significance of Scripture.

The work of the Spirit is not to tell you how to interpret the difficult part of the Bible. It is your job to determine it by a disciplined study of the text. The Spirit inspired these writings, and he does not short-circuit them by whispering in your ear what they mean. However, the Holy Spirit will enable you to understand the significance of Scripture.

CONCLUSION

God has made His message understandable to humanity. The principle of clarity of Scripture states that Scripture’s underlying message is clear enough for everyone who will read it. The Bible is a book to be understood by the masses. It does not contain secret or hidden messages from God. We find the clarity of Scripture taught in the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament letters. Therefore, no one has any excuse.

The doctrine of clarity does not mean we can know and understand everything. It does not mean that we do not need human teachers, or that study is not hard work. The clarity of Scriptures implies that anyone who diligently studies the Word can understand it. Because at the end of the day, the Bible is a plain book. And with the Holy Spirit’s help, any believer can apply the instructions written in this book called the Bible.

CREDITS/NOTES:
  1. Taken from the preaching Wordview – Clarity
  2. Credit to Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.
  3. How the Spirit Helps Us Understand
  4. What Is the Clarity of Scripture?
  5. All verses are based on the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stated.