Perspicuity means, “that Scripture is clear enough for the simplest person, deep enough for highly qualified readers, clear in its essential matters... understandable through ordinary means.”1
The Scripture must be transparent or understandable to be the source of saving faith and to be profitable to equip saints.
The Scripture must be transparent enough that ordinary people and children can understand it. Scriptural transparency does not mean that all of the Bible is equally clear or understandable. Some passages are more explicit than others. Even Peter acknowledged that some of Paul's writings were difficult to understand.
Any difficulties one may have in understanding the Bible is due to their finiteness or sinfulness. The Bible cannot be blamed for one’s lack of understanding. Never once did Jesus say that the Scriptures were not clear or understandable. In fact, when the religious leaders tried to make the Scriptures less than transparent or understandable, Jesus accused them of either not reading the Scriptures or just not knowing the Scripture.
ENDOTES:
1. Larray D. Pettegrew, “The Perspicuity of Scripture,” The Master's Seminary Journal, Volume 15, Number 2 (Fall 2004), 209.
The Scripture must be transparent or understandable to be the source of saving faith and to be profitable to equip saints.
- and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 3:15
- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Scripture must be transparent enough that ordinary people and children can understand it. Scriptural transparency does not mean that all of the Bible is equally clear or understandable. Some passages are more explicit than others. Even Peter acknowledged that some of Paul's writings were difficult to understand.
- as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. - 2 Peter 3:16
Any difficulties one may have in understanding the Bible is due to their finiteness or sinfulness. The Bible cannot be blamed for one’s lack of understanding. Never once did Jesus say that the Scriptures were not clear or understandable. In fact, when the religious leaders tried to make the Scriptures less than transparent or understandable, Jesus accused them of either not reading the Scriptures or just not knowing the Scripture.
- Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures...? - Matthew 21:42
- But Jesus answered and said to them, You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. - Matthew 22:29
ENDOTES:
1. Larray D. Pettegrew, “The Perspicuity of Scripture,” The Master's Seminary Journal, Volume 15, Number 2 (Fall 2004), 209.
RSS Feed