OBSCURE BIBLE?
“The testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7b
An apologetic for Romanism is the claim that recognition of the Bible as the sole infallible authority leads only to chaotic division. Supposedly this bolsters Rome’s claim that only an infallible Papacy can preserve Christian unity.
Similarly, Rome denies the perspicuity of Scripture, which is the concept that the main message of Scripture is sufficiently clear; anyone can understand those core truths essential for salvation. Perspicuity doesn’t mean there aren’t difficult passages (2 Pet. 3:16), or that there cannot be differences among Christians concerning non-salvific matters. It does mean that central affirmations concerning God, Christ, salvation, etc., are fully understandable unto even the humblest believer with the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(1 Cor. 2:10, Eph.1:17-18, 1 John 2:20-27).
The clarity of Scripture was the key impetus behind Luther and Tyndale’s vernacular translations. When a Romanist told Tyndale that men would be better off without God’s Laws than the Pope’s, Tyndale replied that his aspirations in translating were to have every plowboy in England know more of the Scripture than the Romanist did!
Are men really incapable of understanding basic Gospel passages? Rom 3:23, 5:8, 6:23? Eph. 2:8-9? John 3:16? The Scripture itself assumes that it is understandable and communicable….
· We are commanded to relate it unto our children (Deut. 6:6-7)…
· To share the whole counsel of the Word with everyone (Acts 20:27)…
· Paul tried to scripturally convince the Thessalonians (Acts 17:2)…
· Scripture makes wise the simple (Ps. 19:7)…
· It is near and accessible; we are thus accountable (Dt. 30:11–14).
· Repeatedly, Jesus expresses His amazement at human ignorance (“Have you not READ…?”). Reading cures our ignorance!
· Epistles are written to CHURCHES—not pastors or leaders…
· Note the exhortations unto public reading (1Tim. 4:13)…
God can communicate!
Terry L. Reese