Theology Thursday: Can everyone understand scripture?

Welcome to Theology Thursday! Theology is the study of God, his relation to the world, and our relation to him. I hope these newsletters help enhance your faith and deepen your love for God and his people, the church.

Today's question:
Can everyone understand scripture? Is the Bible clear and sufficient?

Pastor Brady's thoughts:
It’s been a few months, but let’s pick up where we left off with another installment on the scripture to help us understand not just what the Bible says but what the Bible is.

So far, over the last few months, we’ve covered:
The authority of scripture, the canon of scripture, the inspiration of scripture, the translations of scripture, and the purpose of scripture.

Today, I want to help us think through the clarity and sufficiency of scripture. The Bible is a big, old, complex, complicated book. Can everyone understand it? Or is it just for scholars and academics, and the rest of us are at their mercy?

When we talk about the “clarity” of scripture, we’re talking about the extent to which it clearly articulates what it intends to. Is the Bible clear enough to get most of what it says?

When we talk about the “sufficiency” of scripture, we’re talking about the extent to which it adequately presents the story of God and God’s people. Is it sufficient for us to understand God, sin, and salvation?

The Bible does not claim to tell us everything we might want to know. Rather, it tells us everything we most need to know—specifically, who God is, what Jesus has done, and how we are to respond. This is the core of the clarity and sufficiency of God’s Word.

THE CLARITY OF SCRIPTURE
To say that scripture is clear doesn’t mean that every verse or passage is easy to understand. Peter himself acknowledged that some of Paul’s writings are “hard to understand” (2nd Peter 3:16). Much of it does require study and a decent grasp of the historical/literary/cultural context in order to figure out what the writers might be getting at.

An example I used in a recent sermon is of Paul in Ephesians 3:14, writing to the church in Ephesus and telling them “For this reason I kneel before the Father…”

The clear reading of scripture here is simple: Paul prayed. When we do some additional study about this passage, however, we learn that kneeling to pray was abnormal for God’s people in that time. Prayer usually happened standing up. So for Paul to mention specifically that he kneeled is an indication that he wanted the Ephesians to know he was praying fervently for them, with extra passion and desire for God’s presence in their church.

The “plain reading” of this text gives us enough clarity to understand the broader point. But, to understand it more deeply and thoroughly, it did require study. The same could be said for just about all of the 31,102 verses in the Bible.  

Most essentially, clarity means that the central message of the Bible—salvation through Christ Jesus—is understandable to anyone who will listen with humility and faith. Psalm 119:130 puts it this way: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

God, in his wisdom and mercy, did not give us a cryptic puzzle or a secret code to decipher. He gave us words, in human language, understandable by ordinary people. Jesus himself taught using stories and examples drawn from everyday life. When he quoted scripture, He often asked, “Have you not read…?”—expecting his listeners to grasp its meaning.

This is deeply encouraging. We don’t need advanced degrees to understand God’s plan of salvation. A child can comprehend it. An un-schooled  in a remote village, reading (or hearing!) the gospels in his own language, can come to saving faith. The clarity of scripture ensures that God’s message is not bound by intellect, culture, or class—it is clear enough for all who seek it.

THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE
The sufficiency of Scripture means that the Bible contains all the words of God that we need in order to truly know him, to trust in Jesus for salvation, and to live a life pleasing to him. We don’t need new revelations, hidden knowledge, or mystical experiences to be right with God. We don’t even need all of our questions about his word answered on this side of heaven. His word is sufficient for our eternal life.

As Paul wrote to Timothy (in 2nd Timothy 3:16-17), scripture is sufficient to make us “complete, equipped for every good work.” That is an extraordinary statement. God’s word is not just an ancient religious book. It is a living guide that teaches us how to become God’s people, trains us to live as God’s people, and corrects us when we fail as God’s people. It speaks with authority and meaning to the deepest needs of our souls.

And what is it that we most need to know?

Who God Is
The Bible reveals God as creator, holy and righteous, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. He is not distant or unknowable, but personal and compassionate. Through the scriptures, we meet the God who walks with his people, rescues from bondage, judges and forgives sin, and makes and keeps covenant promises. In Jesus, “the word became flesh” (John 1:14), and we see the fullness of God’s nature. In the Holy Spirit, believers have the very power of God at their disposal to keep the faith and bear faithful fruit.

Apart from scripture, we might imagine a god of our own making. But through scripture, God reveals himself as he truly is.

What Jesus Did
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points us to Jesus. You know how fond I am of proclaiming, “All roads of scripture lead to Christ!”  

His life, death, and resurrection are the centerpiece of God’s redemptive plan. The scriptures tell us he lived a sinless life, died in our place to satisfy God’s demand for his people to be holy, and rose again to conquer death. They explain the meaning of the cross and the power of the resurrection. Without the Bible, we would not know the true significance of Jesus. But in its pages, the gospel shines with unmistakable brilliance.

Jesus is the bridge-builder between us and God. The Bible is sufficient for showing us how to cross that bridge.

What We’re to Do in Response
The Bible not only tells us what God has done but also how we are to respond: with repentance, faith, love, and obedience. It calls us to trust in Christ alone for salvation and to live lives marked by humility, service, holiness, and hope. Scripture isn’t a how-to manual for all of life, but it also doesn’t leave us guessing how to live—it gives clear commands and wise counsel. It guides our thoughts, shapes our character, and fuels our mission.

Conclusion: A Word to Treasure
In a time when people are turning to influencers, mystics, or self-help gurus to find meaning, Christians must return again and again to the sufficient and clear word of God. The Bible is not just “helpful” or “inspiring.” It is the very voice of God, showing us exactly what he wants us to see.

So, can everyone understand scripture? Yes. Everyone can understand what they most need to understand from scripture, and what everyone most needs scripture to help them understand.

TO KNOW GOD AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN!
- Pastor Brady

Have a question for Theology Thursday? Send an email to office@minierchristian.org and we'll respond, or we'll include in a future Theology Thursday Buffet.