Blogging through and answering the questions from G. I. Williamson’s The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes for personal review and comprehension.
WCF. I. Of the Holy Scriptures – 7.
1. What does “perspicuity” of Scriptures mean?
Perspicuity is used to describe the clarity of what Scripture teaches: Scripture is easily understood and lucid.
2. What is the Roman Catholic doctrine on this same point?
Roman Catholics do not agree with Protestants on this point. They believe “We can know the true meaning [of Scripture] . . . from the Catholic Church which has been authorized by Jesus Christ to explain His doctrines” (Baltimore Catechism, Q. 1328). Thus, they are saying that Scripture is not lucid, since they insist Scripture needs the interpretive imagination of the Roman Catholic Church.
3. Contrast Roman Catholic and Reformed views of the creed.
For the former, creeds are the lucid interpretations provided by the Church of the unclear Scriptures. For the latter, the “authority of creeds is determined by Scripture, not determinative of Scripture” (13). The Reformed view is that the creeds are always subordinate to Scripture.
4. Does the doctrine of perspicuity of Scripture teach that there is nothing difficult to understand in Scripture? What is the difference between this admission and the Roman Catholic teaching?
No. The doctrine of perspicuity of Scripture does not teach there is nothing difficult to understand in Scripture. There are many profound things taught in Scripture, e.g., Doctrine of Election, Doctrine of Trinity. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2). These profound things are hard to understand because of the nature of their content, but they can be understood.
5. What must the humblest as well as the most learned Christian do to understand the Scriptures? Do you think that those who complain of Scripture being too hard to understand have ever really done this?
All must study the Scriptures in order to understand the Scriptures. This is a diligent work. It is not something that is accomplished with “spasmodic spurts of effort” (13). If you read Scripture diligently and cumulatively, then you cannot say it is too hard to understand.
6. How does Scripture itself indicate that God regards his Word as clear enough for all to understand?
God tells us to search and study and read the Scriptures, and God’ s Word is addressed to all men.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 “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. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Acts 17:11 “These 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.”
John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
7. What would you believe are “the ordinary means” which must be duly used?
Study the Bible in a systematic fashion with aids (pastoral help, the creeds, Bible commentaries, Christian devotional writings, etc.).