Perspicuity is a word used in theology in reference to the Scriptures, the inspired word of God.[i] It means “clarity,” and yet it is unclear to many Christians just what it means (at least in reference to the Scriptures). We might explain it this way, “The Bible speaks with clarity in its central message.” That explanation leaves room to recognize there are some things hard to understand in the Bible. The Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith, once the most common Baptist confession of faith in the New World,[ii] in chapter 1, paragraph 7 explains the perspicuity of the Scriptures:
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 ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them. (2 Peter 3:16; Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:130)
This same confession, in paragraph 8, speaks of the
providential preservation of the Scriptures, “inspired by God [are] by his
singular care and providence kept pure in all ages…” It is enlightening, encouraging,
and edifying to compare the intersecting of these two beliefs as taught in the
Scriptures. Notice the following examples where they are necessarily involved,
foundational to understanding what is written.
At the ending of the 40 years of wandering (Deuteronomy 1:3),
Moses reminded the Israelites of the law. Among the admonitions, he specified, “If
there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign
or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake
unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and
let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet,
or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know
whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him,
and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and
cleave unto him.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-4)
Moses’s admonition to the Israelites indicates:
- The Israelites have the law of God, his commandments, his word
- The law teaches the truth about God and false gods
- The law teaches this truth in a way they can understand its teaching
Jesus told the Jews at Jerusalem, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)
The Lord’s instruction to these Jews assumes:
- These Jews have the Scriptures
- The Scriptures teach and testify of the Messiah
- The Scriptures teach in a way they can understand its teaching
To Timothy, Paul wrote, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
Paul’s exhortation to Timothy expects:
- Timothy has the Scriptures
- The Scriptures contain the teaching unto salvation
- The Scriptures teach in a way Timothy can understand its teaching
The Jews in the synagogue of Berea, “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
Luke’s record of the synagogue of Berea involves that:
- These Jews have the Scriptures
- The Scriptures teach the truth of the Messiah
- The Scriptures teach that truth in a way they can understand its teaching
Paul warned the churches of Galatia, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)
Paul’s warning to the Galatians presumes:
- The Galatians have an infallible rule by which to judge apostles or angels[iii]
- This infallible rule teaches the gospel
- This infallible rule (the Scriptures) teaches in a way they can understand its teachings
“We the people” have the command, right, responsibility, and ability to search the Scriptures to learn the truth of God. We do it not in a vacuum, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, comparing Scripture to Scripture, and in context of our congregations.[iv]
We must have the Scriptures to know its perspicuity. We must have the Scriptures in order to obey the command, exercise our right, fulfill our responsibility, and apply our ability. All of these duties assume the simple fact that the Scriptures have been preserved intact – to each person or group in the above examples, and to us today who study to show ourselves approved unto God.
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
[i] Perspicuity, noun. Clearness or lucidity, as of a statement. Dictionary.com
[ii] The Philadelphia Confession of Faith of 1742 was a reissuing of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith by the Philadelphia Baptist Association, with two additional articles (chapters). The London Confession, in turn, related to the Savoy and Westminster Confessions.
[iii] This also presumes that the Christians of the Galatian churches had the right by the Scriptures to judge the teachings of apostles or angels, according to the infallible rule of faith and practice.
[iv] That is, not as Lone Ranger Christians. However, there is no ruling human authority who is the final authority, or sole arbiter of truth. It is the Spirit of God teaching and guiding the people of God to believe the words of God. God is his own interpreter. He speaks to us by and through his word. The testimony of the Spirit in the heart of the believer authenticates the word. The believer accepts God (and his word) as true.
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