The Clarity of Scripture: What Perspicuity Does and Does Not Mean
Is the message of the Bible clear? Can you understand what it says?
If the answer is yes (and it is), then why do you need pastors and teachers to assist your understanding? If the Scripture communicates in a clear and comprehensible way, then why do sincere believers understand the Bible differently?
These questions pertain to a doctrine called “the perspicuity of Scripture.”
The Meaning of Perspicuity
To some, the meaning of perspicuity is obscure. This uncertainty is ironic because the word itself portrays the opposite condition, namely freedom from obscurity. It depicts something that is clear and recognizable, not hidden.
Properly understood, perspicuity describes all sixty-six books of the Bible because we believe that Scripture reveals what God wants us to know. We also believe that it does so in a way we can understand.
The perspicuity (or clarity) of Scripture permits any person to understand the words, statements, and message of the Bible. Such accessibility to divine revelation is possible because God has given us his words in the form of human language. As such, the Bible is neither cryptic nor elusive (Deut 30:14; Rom 10:8).
This quality counteracts the notion that we must rely on an elite class of people to interpret the Bible for us. Neither the Catholic church, the Watchtower Society, some Jewish rabbis, some prestigious scholars, nor any other exclusive group of people fill this role.
Some Evidence for Perspicuity
When Moses spoke to the nation of Israel, he spoke directly to the people, not to the priests alone (Deut 6:4, et al.). This phenomenon recurs throughout the Old Testament (OT). The public ministry of Jesus continued this tradition in the Gospels and the men whom he trained did the same in Acts, speaking directly to the people.
The writers of the New Testament (NT) letters frequently addressed their message to entire congregations, not to pastors alone (i.e., Col 1:2; Phil 1:1; 1 Pet 1:1; Rev 2-3, et al.). This approach corresponds with the practice of public Scripture reading, which presupposed that people would understand what they heard (Neh 8:8; 1 Tim 4:13).
Perhaps most fascinating of all is that both the OT and NT assume that even children can understand the Bible (Deut 6:6; Eph 6:1-3; 2 Tim 3:14-15).
Some Spiritual Dynamics of Perspicuity
Despite these observations, perspicuity does not guarantee that we will always recognize and appreciate the significance of everything Scripture tells us.
For this reason, the Holy Spirit provides conviction to nonbelievers, divinely persuading them to believe the truth of the gospel (John 16:8). He then provides believers with illumination. This divine function enables them to recognize the significance of what Scripture teaches and to welcome its truth into their lives (1 Cor 2:11, 15; 1 John 2:20).
Even so, perspicuity and illumination do not guarantee that every believer will always understand the Bible accurately and respond to it properly. None of us reach correct interpretations and make appropriate applications every time. In fact, we often disagree with the interpretations of other believers.
Some Objections to Perspicuity
Those who wish to discredit the perspicuity of Scripture may highlight this inconsistency, just as the Catholic Church criticized doctrinal disagreements between the Reformers.
In response, such critics may wish to relegate the interpretation of Scripture to religious or academic elites. This proposal fails to recognize, however, that no such persons are infallible.
On numerous occasions, Christ corrected wrong interpretations made by Jewish rabbis (Matt 12:3, 5; Luke 11:42, John 3:10; 8:39-44, etc.). What’s more, James, a devout pastor in Jerusalem, affirmed that even the best Bible teachers say wrong things sometimes (Jam 3:1-2).
Those who wish to discredit the perspicuity of Scripture may also suggest that Scripture is entirely unclear and therefore useless. Such a perspective is misleading and carries no more weight than a high-school student claiming that calculus is no good because he cannot understand it after a few half-hearted attempts. He fails to recognize that the fault may be with him.
Individual Challenges to Perspicuity
Ultimately, we do not fail to understand Scripture because it is unclear or because we are deprived of the ability to do so. We fail due to personal shortcomings that obscure our view. These shortcomings include the following and more:
- General indifference (e.g., Luke 24:25)
- Sinful tendencies (e.g., 1 Cor 2:14)
- Personal biases (e.g., Luke 7:5)
- Cultural misconceptions (e.g., Acts 15:5)
- Engrained traditions (e.g., Mark 7:13)
- An incomplete perspective (e.g., Acts 18:26)
- A lazy approach (e.g., Tit 1:10-14)
- Basic illiteracy (e.g., 2 Pet 3:16b)
Having recognized these potential weaknesses on our part, we must also recognize that perspicuity does more than create an opportunity to understand what God has said, and illumination does more than empower believers to benefit from this opportunity.
A Believer’s Responsibility Towards Perspicuity
These realities confer upon every believer the responsibility to know what God has said, to interpret his words accurately, and to respond accordingly (Psa 119:56; Rom 15:4; 1 Cor 10:11; Rev 1:3). This obligation should motivate us to overcome the shortcomings listed above.
Therefore, we should take a humble yet hopeful approach to the Bible. We should read and study what it says in a God-dependent way, asking him to guide us into proper understanding (Psa 119:18). We should also pray this way for one another (Eph 1:17-18).
On one hand, we should refuse to rely on the teaching and interpretation of others. Consider how Jesus rebuked people for misunderstanding the teaching of Scripture (Matt 11:16-19, cf. 11:7-15; 13:14-15). He did not exonerate them on the grounds that rabbis had misled them, though lead teachers do receive greater scrutiny (cf. Jam 3:1); what’s more, false teachers (like many first-century Jewish scribes) received stronger and more repeated excoriation from Christ for their wrong interpretations. Even so, he considered proper interpretation to be the responsibility of the people themselves.
On the other hand, as we insist on personal responsibility, we should abstain from the rugged individualism of our age (Rom 12:3; 1 Pet 4:10). Just as total reliance on the interpretation of others leads to needless ignorance, so independent study alone leads to ignorance as well (2 Pet 3:16).
No matter how much we pray for understanding and no matter how rigorously we study by ourselves, we will still be wrong about something along the way. For this reason, we should study the Bible in tandem with the resources God has given us.
A Comprehensive, Integrated Approach to Perspicuity
These resources include the teaching ministry of your church. Just as trained men accompanied the public reading of Scripture with careful explanations (Neh 8:7-8), so well-trained, hard-working pastors offer tremendous insight to the church (1 Tim 4:13; 5:17; 2 Tim 2:15).
God gives such men to churches for this reason (Eph 4:11-15, cf. Acts 13:1; 2 Tim 2:24-26; 4:2). He also gives teaching abilities to other believers (both men and women alike, i.e., Acts 18:26), while still other believers may also enhance your understanding in other ways (Rom 12:4; Eph 4:16; Heb 5:12).
God blesses believers with a Christian community, both local and at large, that invigorates our understanding of the Bible. This is one way that we enjoy fellowship together as saints and children of God.
As such, the church (both pastors and non-pastors) serves neither as an authority that dictates proper interpretation nor as an organization that undermines personal responsibility.
In addition to the teaching ministry of your church, you may also benefit from other valuable Bible study resources, which include the following:
- Trustworthy translations of the Bible into your language
- Standard Greek and Hebrew Bible dictionaries
- Reputable Bible commentaries
Some may question the use of commentaries, claiming that the perspicuity of Scripture and the illumination of the Holy Spirit is all they need. This claim is more arrogant than responsible and fails to recognize that multiple well-studied counselors are helpful, not harmful (Prov 11:14; 24:6).
Using resources does not imply that Scripture is unclear, nor does it abdicate your responsibility to understand the Bible for yourself. Instead, this integrated approach enables you to better overcome your engrained shortcomings and thereby enhance your ability to recognize what Scripture clearly says.
Believers should respond to godly teachers (whether in person, in print, or by some other venue) with glad and receptive hearts, but they should not do so blindly. They should respond by studying the Bible for themselves to affirm what they have heard (Acts 17:11). This is an honorable approach.
Perspicuity Is Not Always “Easy”
This comprehensive approach does more than recognize a person’s individual shortcomings and seek to overcome them. It also accepts that some passages and concepts in Scripture are more difficult to grasp than others. That Scripture is understandable does not mean that it is always easy to understand.
To be sure, some Scripture is so immediately clear that simple-minded nonbelievers may understand the gospel (2 Tim 3:15). Yet even this level of understanding may require some guidance from another godly person.
To the Ethiopian dignitary, Philip said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man answer, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30-31).
Other Scripture, however, is especially “hard to understand,” even for mature and experienced believers. That’s how the apostle Peter described some of the Scripture that Paul had written (2 Pet 3:16a). Without some biblical teaching from outside sources, we may easily distort what Scripture says in such cases (2 Pet 3:16b).
The difficulty of certain passages and doctrines of Scripture does not mean that they are impossible to understand. Instead, they require especially prayerful and rigorous study – study which should include the assistance of godly, well-trained teachers in the church.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we believe that Scripture reveals clearly what God wants us to know and that it does so in a way that we can understand. Furthermore, he assists us – through illumination – in recognizing and accepting what we learn.
To interpret Scripture clearly, we must overcome certain weaknesses of our own. We do this through praying humbly, studying diligently, and listening carefully to the well-trained perspectives of godly people in the church, both locally and at large, in person and in print.
By this means, we may benefit from the clarity of Scripture and fulfill our personal responsibility before God to know him, to live as he desires, and to share our understanding with others.
Resources for Further Reading
- Feinberg, John S. Light in a Dark Place: The Doctrine of Scripture. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018. (esp. chapters 15-16)
- Grudem, Wayne. “The Perspicuity of Scripture.” Themelios 34 (2009): 288–309.
- Pettegrew, Larry D. “The Perspicuity of Scripture.” The Master's Seminary Journal 15 (2004): 209–25.
- Thompson, Mark D. A Clear and Present Word: The Clarity of Scripture. New Studies in Biblical Theology 21. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
Used by permission from FrontLine magazine. To subscribe to FrontLine, click here.
