Today we continue our walk through the Westminster Confession of Faith. Over the last month or so we have looked at the first section of the Confession which is focused on the Scriptures. In our most recent short post on the Confession, we highlighted that Scripture does not need adding to either with the traditions of men or ‘inward illumination’. We also discussed the concept of the sufficiency of Scripture and identified some important implications of these doctrines. Today we look at the perspicuity (or clarity) of Scripture.
VII. 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 or 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.
The first thing that the framers of the confession note is that all things in Scripture are not equally easy to understand. Peter himself points out that Paul’s writings contain some difficult concepts (2 Peter 3:16). The book of Revelation seems to defy its own name, with Christians who have a high view of Scripture disagreeing as to its interpretation. It’s important to make a distinction at this point. God is a good communicator – the best in fact, since language comes from Him. So God speaks clearly in His Word, but that does not mean that no doctrines contained in Scripture are not difficult. Scripture teaches the concept of the trinity clearly, but this is not an easy thing to understand. Williamson in his book on the Confession puts it this way, ‘The clearest possible expression of Einstein’s theory of relativity does not make it “simple.” ‘Added to this is the complication that we are fallen, and there are even ‘ignorant and unstable men’ who twist and distort what God has said in his Word.
Secondly, we are informed that the things pertaining to our salvation – what we must know, believe and do, are so clearly expressed in Scripture, that even unlearned people who appropriately use ‘ordinary means’ can gain sufficient understanding. How we are saved is abundantly clear from Scripture. An ordinary layperson can determine this from Scripture. We do not need a special class of Christian to teach these things to us. This doesn’t mean that gifted teachers are unhelpful, but that the Scriptures, when read carefully, thoroughly and regularly, are sufficiently clear that ordinary men can read them and with the Spirit’s enabling understand the way of salvation and be saved.
One important phrase in this statement is “in a due use of the ordinary means“. There is a call for us here to be diligent in the reading and studying of and meditation on the Scriptures. I have been encouraged to continue my efforts in reading through the breadth of God’s Word with my family in our evening and morning Bible times rather than just sticking to the well-worn paths in Scripture.