Are The Scriptures Sufficiently Clear?

Tree of Life

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The Doctrine of Sola Scriptura is a complex doctrine which is made of many parts. So in order to defend and prove it we need to establish its basic parts. One important part is the clarity of Scripture.

The Westminster Confession of Faith says of the Bible...

“All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture of other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.” (WCF 1.7)

It's a nuanced statement that affirms:
  1. Not every passage of Scripture is equally clear in itself. Some passages are difficult to interpret.
  2. Not every passage of Scripture is equally clear to all people. Adults understand parts of Scripture that children don't. Married people understand parts of Scripture that single people don't. Educated people understand parts of Scripture that uneducated people don't. Poor people understand parts of Scripture that rich people don't. Etc...
  3. Yet the things that are necessary for salvation (things to be known, believed, and obeyed) are so clearly laid out in some place or another that anyone can gain a sufficient understanding of them. This includes clergy and laity, educated and uneducated, men and women, adults and children, etc... Of course the caveat is that people have to put some work into understanding the Bible. This is what is meant by the "due use of ordinary means."
The basic idea is that the Bible is sufficiently clear. The most important things in Scripture - things necessary to salvation - are able to be understood by all based on their own reading and study of Scripture.

This doctrine is called the clarity of Scripture. This doctrine is implied in many places in Scripture. Here are just a few:

Psalm 119:130 - The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 1:4 - to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Acts 17:11 - Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

1 John 2:27 - 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Other Scriptures could be cited. But in sum we see that the Bible is able to make the simple wise. The unlearned can read it and grow in knowledge of God. Also the common people of Israel were commanded to know God's word and teach it to their children. This implies that God's word is able to be understood. Furthermore, the Jews in Berea were counted noble because they searched the Scriptures for themselves to test the apostles' preaching.

This stands in contradiction to RCC and EO teaching. According to these traditions, the Scriptures are not sufficiently clear. In the Medieval era before the Reformation it was illegal in many places for private Christians to gather together to read the Bible. And the Bible was not translated into the common language because it was supposed that the Bible is not sufficiently clear - it is not able to be understood by the common people.

The RCC and EO teach that the people of God need ordained clergy in order to tell them what the Bible means - otherwise they are without hope. In their view, more authoritative words from God are needed (which come through the church) in order to clarify Scripture. All of this goes back to the root idea that the Bible alone is not sufficiently clear.

Thankfully Rome has shifted somewhat on its position since the Reformation and now encourages the private reading of Scripture. But Rome still stubbornly holds to the position that the Scriptures are not clear. To say that the Scriptures are not clear is, at the end of the day, to say that God's Word is unsuccessful. Successful communication is clear communication. But if God did not communicate clearly through his word, then his word is unsuccessful. Since this cannot be, we must accept that the Scriptures are sufficiently clear.
 
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Anto9us

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Psa 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psa 19:8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psa 19:9
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
 
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faroukfarouk

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The Doctrine of Sola Scriptura is a complex doctrine which is made of many parts. So in order to defend and prove it we need to establish its basic parts. One important part is the clarity of Scripture.

The Westminster Confession of Faith says of the Bible...

“All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture of other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.” (WCF 1.7)

It's a nuanced statement that affirms:
  1. Not every passage of Scripture is equally clear in itself. Some passages are difficult to interpret.
  2. Not every passage of Scripture is equally clear to all people. Adults understand parts of Scripture that children don't. Married people understand parts of Scripture that single people don't. Educated people understand parts of Scripture that uneducated people don't. Poor people understand parts of Scripture that rich people don't. Etc...
  3. Yet the things that are necessary for salvation (things to be known, believed, and obeyed) are so clearly laid out in some place or another that anyone can gain a sufficient understanding of them. This includes clergy and laity, educated and uneducated, men and women, adults and children, etc... Of course the caveat is that people have to put some work into understanding the Bible. This is what is meant by the "due use of ordinary means."
The basic idea is that the Bible is sufficiently clear. The most important things in Scripture - things necessary to salvation - are able to be understood by all based on their own reading and study of Scripture.

This doctrine is called the clarity of Scripture. This doctrine is implied in many places in Scripture. Here are just a few:

Psalm 119:130 - The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 1:4 - to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Acts 17:11 - Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

1 John 2:27 - 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Other Scriptures could be cited. But in sum we see that the Bible is able to make the simple wise. The unlearned can read it and grow in knowledge of God. Also the common people of Israel were commanded to know God's word and teach it to their children. This implies that God's word is able to be understood. Furthermore, the Jews in Berea were counted noble because they searched the Scriptures for themselves to test the apostles' preaching.

This stands in contradiction to RCC and EO teaching. According to these traditions, the Scriptures are not sufficiently clear. In the Medieval era before the Reformation it was illegal in many places for private Christians to gather together to read the Bible. And the Bible was not translated into the common language because it was supposed that the Bible is not sufficiently clear - it is not able to be understood by the common people.

The RCC and EO teach that the people of God need ordained clergy in order to tell them what the Bible means - otherwise they are without hope. In their view, more authoritative words from God are needed (which come through the church) in order to clarify Scripture. All of this goes back to the root idea that the Bible alone is not sufficiently clear.

Thankfully Rome has shifted somewhat on its position since the Reformation and now encourages the private reading of Scripture. But Rome still stubbornly holds to the position that the Scriptures are not clear. To say that the Scriptures are not clear is, at the end of the day, to say that God's Word is unsuccessful. Successful communication is clear communication. But if God did not communicate clearly through his word, then his word is unsuccessful. Since this cannot be, we must accept that the Scriptures are sufficiently clear.
The Holy Spirit also guides the Lord's people 'into all truth' (John 16.13).
 
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Tree of Life

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The Holy Spirit also guides the Lord's people 'into all truth' (John 16.13).

I agree. I think that this coheres well with the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture. The Westminster divine also acknowledged our need of the Holy Spirit to savingly understand Scripture.
 
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W2L

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Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
 
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Tree of Life

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Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

This passage would also imply that the Bible is understandable. Blessed is the man who meditates on it!
 
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Anto9us

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Tree, I try to describe the clarity of the Bible in the Bible's own words, avoiding terms such as plenary, inerrantcy, even Sola Scriptura. I can't really improve on Psalm 19.

I am actually Wesleyan Quadrilateral, in which Scripture is primary, but supported by Reason, Tradition and Experience. It's just a view espoused by theologian Albert Outler in the 60's -- what he thought Wesley WOULD HAVE SAID -- in any case, it is what many Methodists (and Nazarenes) are guided by.

God sent forth His word - it did not return void
 
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Tree of Life

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Tree, I try to describe the clarity of the Bible in the Bible's own words, avoiding terms such as plenary, inerrantcy, even Sola Scriptura. I can't really improve on Psalm 19.

I am actually Wesleyan Quadrilateral, in which Scripture is primary, but supported by Reason, Tradition and Experience. It's just a view espoused by theologian Albert Outler in the 60's -- what he thought Wesley WOULD HAVE SAID -- in any case, it is what many Methodists (and Nazarenes) are guided by.

God sent forth His word - it did not return void

Sola Scriptura does not deny the need for reason, tradition, and experience. Sola Scriptura, as I defend it, simply affirms that the Bible alone is the Word of God and only infallible rule of faith and practice. Reason, tradition, and experience are all useful and they help us understand Scripture. But only the Bible is infallible.
 
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W2L

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Sola Scriptura does not deny the need for reason, tradition, and experience. Sola Scriptura, as I defend it, simply affirms that the Bible alone is the Word of God and only infallible rule of faith and practice. Reason, tradition, and experience are all useful and they help us understand Scripture. But only the Bible is infallible.
What can we learn from tradition?
 
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The Doctrine of Sola Scriptura is a complex doctrine which is made of many parts. So in order to defend and prove it we need to establish its basic parts. One important part is the clarity of Scripture.

The Westminster Confession of Faith says of the Bible...

“All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture of other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.” (WCF 1.7)

It's a nuanced statement that affirms:
  1. Not every passage of Scripture is equally clear in itself. Some passages are difficult to interpret.
  2. Not every passage of Scripture is equally clear to all people. Adults understand parts of Scripture that children don't. Married people understand parts of Scripture that single people don't. Educated people understand parts of Scripture that uneducated people don't. Poor people understand parts of Scripture that rich people don't. Etc...
  3. Yet the things that are necessary for salvation (things to be known, believed, and obeyed) are so clearly laid out in some place or another that anyone can gain a sufficient understanding of them. This includes clergy and laity, educated and uneducated, men and women, adults and children, etc... Of course the caveat is that people have to put some work into understanding the Bible. This is what is meant by the "due use of ordinary means."
The basic idea is that the Bible is sufficiently clear. The most important things in Scripture - things necessary to salvation - are able to be understood by all based on their own reading and study of Scripture.

This doctrine is called the clarity of Scripture. This doctrine is implied in many places in Scripture. Here are just a few:

Psalm 119:130 - The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 1:4 - to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Acts 17:11 - Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

1 John 2:27 - 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Other Scriptures could be cited. But in sum we see that the Bible is able to make the simple wise. The unlearned can read it and grow in knowledge of God. Also the common people of Israel were commanded to know God's word and teach it to their children. This implies that God's word is able to be understood. Furthermore, the Jews in Berea were counted noble because they searched the Scriptures for themselves to test the apostles' preaching.

This stands in contradiction to RCC and EO teaching. According to these traditions, the Scriptures are not sufficiently clear. In the Medieval era before the Reformation it was illegal in many places for private Christians to gather together to read the Bible. And the Bible was not translated into the common language because it was supposed that the Bible is not sufficiently clear - it is not able to be understood by the common people.

The RCC and EO teach that the people of God need ordained clergy in order to tell them what the Bible means - otherwise they are without hope. In their view, more authoritative words from God are needed (which come through the church) in order to clarify Scripture. All of this goes back to the root idea that the Bible alone is not sufficiently clear.

Thankfully Rome has shifted somewhat on its position since the Reformation and now encourages the private reading of Scripture. But Rome still stubbornly holds to the position that the Scriptures are not clear. To say that the Scriptures are not clear is, at the end of the day, to say that God's Word is unsuccessful. Successful communication is clear communication. But if God did not communicate clearly through his word, then his word is unsuccessful. Since this cannot be, we must accept that the Scriptures are sufficiently clear.

Thank you brother for this, I will copy and save this for personal and home use. We all need reminders and refreshing, praise God for the work He has done in and through you, for His glory!
 
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Tree of Life

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What can we learn from tradition?

We can learn how Christians have typically interpreted Scripture. We are not alone in our interpretation of Scripture. The Holy Spirit has been guiding Christians for 2000 years in interpreting passages. So when we see a massive amount of agreement among Christians throughout the ages concerning an interpretation of a text, it should encourage us that we are on the right track.

Of course, tradition is not infallible. Some traditional interpretations are wrong. But it is very helpful.

Also we learn how to guard against heresies. There's nothing new under the sun. There are no new heresies. So when we learn about tradition we're also learning about how the church in past ages fought against heresies which are bound to crop up again in different forms. This is why the historical formulations of the Trinity and the Hypostatic Union are so valuable.
 
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Anto9us

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"Reason, tradition, and experience are all useful and they help us understand Scripture. But only the Bible is infallible."

This is very true, Tree of Life, we can use -- but not LEAN ON -- our own understanding (reason).

Tradition can be negative too -- experiences can be deceiving at times --

Psa 19:2

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Psa 19:3

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.


Rom 1:19

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:


The natural revelation affirms the verbal revelation; we do not need ordained clergy to tell us the truth; the HAGION PNEUMA both inspired it and reveals it to those who read it.
 
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Tree of Life

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"Reason, tradition, and experience are all useful and they help us understand Scripture. But only the Bible is infallible."

This is very true, Tree of Life, we can use -- but not LEAN ON -- our own understanding (reason).

Tradition can be negative too -- experiences can be deceiving at times --

Psa 19:2

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Psa 19:3

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.


Rom 1:19

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:


The natural revelation affirms the verbal revelation; we do not need ordained clergy to tell us the truth; the HAGION PNEUMA both inspired it and reveals it to those who read it.

You sound like a Sola Scriptura believer to me!
 
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W2L

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We can learn how Christians have typically interpreted Scripture. We are not alone in our interpretation of Scripture. The Holy Spirit has been guiding Christians for 2000 years in interpreting passages. So when we see a massive amount of agreement among Christians throughout the ages concerning an interpretation of a text, it should encourage us that we are on the right track.

Of course, tradition is not infallible. Some traditional interpretations are wrong. But it is very helpful.

Also we learn how to guard against heresies. There's nothing new under the sun. There are no new heresies. So when we learn about tradition we're also learning about how the church in past ages fought against heresies which are bound to crop up again in different forms. This is why the historical formulations of the Trinity and the Hypostatic Union are so valuable.
tradition causes division
 
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Tree of Life

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tradition causes division

Perhaps an undue love of tradition could cause division. But I don’t see how tradition as such automatically causes division. This is like saying “guns kill people”. No. People use guns to kill people.
 
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Anto9us

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Yeah...

we'll have to WATCH THAT, W2L -- else we might wind up in sects of RCC, Orthodox, Protestant - etc

that TRADITION is a tricky one
but you have to admit --
the SCOPE OF ONE'S SCRIPTURE is determined by their tradition !!

too many books
too few books
in that old Bible

depending on ye tradition
 
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W2L

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Perhaps an undue love of tradition could cause division. But I don’t see how tradition as such automatically causes division. This is like saying “guns kill people”. No. People use guns to kill people.
Observe all the heated debates between people on GT and elsewhere.
 
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