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Scripture is comprehensible enough Certainly there are many concepts within Scripture that are not clear even to the most able exegete. Perspicuity of Scripture does not deny this. Perspicuity, however, is based on a view of God that sees him as the one who reveals, not the one who hides. "Comprehensible enough" means that the teachings of Scripture are presented in straightforward language that can be understood in the normal way that one hears and understands language. The psalmist calls God's Word a lamp and a light because of its power to illumine the paths of life.10 Similarly, the proverbs of Solomon light the way to life: "For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life . . . ."11 Moses, speaking for God, declares that the written Word "is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. . . . No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it."12 In the New Testament, Paul writes to the Corinthians: "My letters have been straight-forward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can't understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, even if you don't fully understand us now."13 In these words there is encouragement: Paul's words—Scripture to us—are clear enough that they can be understood. If not now, then later. He repeats this same idea in Philippians. After comparing his own zealous religious past with the new goals he had in Christ, he counsels his readers: "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained."14 Even Peter indicated that some things in Paul's letters weren't easy to understand.15 However, the fact that Peter recognized Paul's ideas were being distorted by others witnesses to their comprehensibility. Otherwise he could not have discerned that the meaning was being twisted. So that, with the aid of the Holy Spirit Even persons without faith can understand the sentences of Scripture, assuming that a good translation is being used.16 This is true, regardless of whether one is reading or listening to Scripture.17 Without faith, however, the message itself may sound discordant because the spiritual concepts of Scripture are out of tune with the worldview of unbelievers. The Bible is written in human language, but it is a divine message delivered by the Holy Spirit.18 The one who has been given life by the Spirit is led by the Spirit and is enabled to understand the spiritual message that only sounds like foolishness to the one who does not know God. Whether the message of a passage is simple or more profound, understanding is indeed a possibility to the one who has the Spirit. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.19 Perspicuity requires the Spirit's activity, not just his presence. In the context of the above passage from 1 Corinthians 2, not everyone had received understanding because not all were allowing the Spirit to work freely. Paul addressed the Corinthian Christians as carnal believers, as mere infants that couldn't be fed solid food because their spiritual digestive systems had not developed enough to be able to handle it.20 They had been given the Spirit, as attested by the spiritual gifts distributed among them,21 but were hindered in their understanding because of their divisive attitudes and worldly behavior. Nevertheless, because the Spirit was theirs, the potential

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