DAY 8 3/8/17- SOLA
SCRIPTURA- THE CLARITY OF SCRIPTURE
“Understanding your word brings light to the minds of ordinary people” (Psalm 119:130 CEV).
“It seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:3,4)
Cannot we make the scriptures mean whatever we want them to mean? Is the scripture so unclear that we cannot make sense of it? Do we not need the church (or scholars or experts) to interpret scripture for us?
The clarity of scripture is an important part of the Sola Scriptura teaching. While there are always people who call what is red “blue”; or call what is straight “circular;” such interpretations should be seen as misinterpretations by a common idea of truth. But just as the common man could misinterpret scripture, so could a priest or a scholar. The scripture is not meant to be concealed in some obscure hidden way like a secret message meant to be unlocked. The scripture is the Word of God speaking to us, showing us. It is like a map to God, a compass to Him. It is a lamp to our feet. It is the light that is meant to be shone in order to reveal God and His will for us. Calvin especially sought to see the plain and simple grammatical meaning of scripture. While Calvin certainly paid attention to scholarly works of his day that illuminated context, he did not concentrate on this but on the clear meaning. In our day there is a feeling among many that only the scholars can understand and interpret scripture. But no scholar can understand it fully. For almost a century, scholars have been encouraged by stipends, grants, and book royalties to think creatively. Such creativity adds to the variety but takes away from the simplicity of scripture, and thereby the assurance of a standard interpretation. The scriptures are deep enough for the best trained scholar, but shallow enough for a child to understand parts truly and clearly. While some will disagree that two and two equals four, and many are hyper critical, that should not take away from the basic meaning of the inspired scripture, or the limits of honesty and integrity in interpretation. Wayne Grudem says, The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God's help and being willing to follow it. In other words: faith, belief, a willingness to listen and follow are a basis for the Holy Spirit's making the scriptures clear and real to us.
Scripture was meant to be put in the language of the people (the vulgar language) so the people can understand it. It was not meant to be hidden in Latin and Greek. Scripture was written originally to a people who could understand it, and we should be able to understand it too. One of the most important things Luther
did
was translate the Bible into German. The Geneva Bible was one of the first
English translations, influenced by Calvin and Knox.
Sermons, for the Reformed, were not meant to be classical Greek oratorical exercises. Sermons were meant to clearly explain the scripture- as it was said of Ezra, “Making the meaning clear” (Neh. 8:8). The allegorical style, even used by Augustine, that saw a hidden meaning in every word, was downplayed. Sermons were in the language of the people for the people to understand and apply to their lives.
“Understanding your word brings light to the minds of ordinary people” (Psalm 119:130 CEV).
“It seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:3,4)
Cannot we make the scriptures mean whatever we want them to mean? Is the scripture so unclear that we cannot make sense of it? Do we not need the church (or scholars or experts) to interpret scripture for us?
The clarity of scripture is an important part of the Sola Scriptura teaching. While there are always people who call what is red “blue”; or call what is straight “circular;” such interpretations should be seen as misinterpretations by a common idea of truth. But just as the common man could misinterpret scripture, so could a priest or a scholar. The scripture is not meant to be concealed in some obscure hidden way like a secret message meant to be unlocked. The scripture is the Word of God speaking to us, showing us. It is like a map to God, a compass to Him. It is a lamp to our feet. It is the light that is meant to be shone in order to reveal God and His will for us. Calvin especially sought to see the plain and simple grammatical meaning of scripture. While Calvin certainly paid attention to scholarly works of his day that illuminated context, he did not concentrate on this but on the clear meaning. In our day there is a feeling among many that only the scholars can understand and interpret scripture. But no scholar can understand it fully. For almost a century, scholars have been encouraged by stipends, grants, and book royalties to think creatively. Such creativity adds to the variety but takes away from the simplicity of scripture, and thereby the assurance of a standard interpretation. The scriptures are deep enough for the best trained scholar, but shallow enough for a child to understand parts truly and clearly. While some will disagree that two and two equals four, and many are hyper critical, that should not take away from the basic meaning of the inspired scripture, or the limits of honesty and integrity in interpretation. Wayne Grudem says, The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God's help and being willing to follow it. In other words: faith, belief, a willingness to listen and follow are a basis for the Holy Spirit's making the scriptures clear and real to us.
Scripture was meant to be put in the language of the people (the vulgar language) so the people can understand it. It was not meant to be hidden in Latin and Greek. Scripture was written originally to a people who could understand it, and we should be able to understand it too. One of the most important things Luther
Sermons, for the Reformed, were not meant to be classical Greek oratorical exercises. Sermons were meant to clearly explain the scripture- as it was said of Ezra, “Making the meaning clear” (Neh. 8:8). The allegorical style, even used by Augustine, that saw a hidden meaning in every word, was downplayed. Sermons were in the language of the people for the people to understand and apply to their lives.
Prayer: Lord, give
me the ability to see thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow Thee
more nearly day by day by listening to the clear message of your Word in
scripture.
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