The perspicuity—the clarity and sufficiency—along with the issues of necessity and authority of Scriptures, is a fundamental doctrinal claim of reformed and evangelical faith. The thrust of this claim is that only if Scripture is both clear and sufficient can we hope to please God. Without either only uncertainty and anxiety will ensue in all things regarding our relationship with Him.
In asserting this tenet, it is important to understand what it asserts and what it does not. First, it does not imply:
A. that we do not need to apply ourselves in the reflection and serious study of the Word of God. One often hears preachers from charismatic circles who take pride in asserting that they have not sit down to prepare their sermons because "the Holy Spirit illuminates me when I preach." This is a reflection, not of true spirituality or empowerment, but laziness and presumption.
B. that exhaustive understanding of Scripture is possible for anyone. Even the apostle Peter has to admit that Paul's "letters contain some things that are hard to understand" (2 Pet 3:16).
C. that every passage of Scriptures is as clear as any other.
D. that the Bible contains clear answers to all the questions we ask about the Christian faith and life. The key-word is "sufficient," not exhaustive. Thus, the assertion by some preachers that the Bible has "the answer to all your questions" is, at best, hopeful but also patently false.
E. that professional Bible teachers, who devote their entire life to elucidating the meaning of Scriptures, is not necessary; that anyone can teach the Bible as clearly as anyone else; they only need to be illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Those who counsel would-be preachers and teachers that a sound and solid theological education is un-necessary does the church as disfavour; a case, perhaps not of the blind leading the blind, but certainly, the short-sighted leading the short-sighted.
Positively, the clarity of Scriptures asserts the following:
A. in all things that are essential for salvation and living a life of faithfulness to God, Scriptures is not only sufficient but also self-interpreting, i.e., its meaning can be clearly understood when it is allowed to speak within its proper context.
B. in all things necessary for salvation and living a life of faithfulness to God, the Bible is accessible to all.
C. any failure to understand Scriptures is due to the lack of spiritual discipline and discernment of the individual reader, and not because of any fault of Scriptures.
Negatively it does not mean:
A. that every word that have been spoken of by the prophets of the OT, recorded by the inspired historians or penned by the inspired poets and sages of the Old Testament, or taught by Christ or the apostles, have been preserved for us.
B. that Scriptures have answers to all the questions it may occur to us to ask.
Positively, it does mean:
A. that Scriptures, on its own, is sufficient to guide us to faith and life of faithfulness to God, without the need to be supplemented by the traditions of the church (ala Roman Catholicism) or by pseudo-spiritual claims by so-called charismatic prophets in the local churches.
B. that we have no right to waive or to subordinated them to some other authority.
Further Reading & Resources:
Wayne Grudem, "The Perspicuity of Scripture," Themelios 34.3 (Nov 2009): 288-308. Pdf
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