Lutheran Theology

3. Clarity and Understandability of Holy Scripture

The clarity and understandability of the Holy Scripture can be understood in two ways. First, the external clarity of the Biblical text and the second one is internal clarity of the subject matter of the Holy Scripture gained through the Holy Spirit.
The fundamental clarity of the Holy Scripture is plain reading by any normal intelligent mind and externally understands it. But the internal clarity or understandability is the clarity of subject matter of the Holy Scripture through the Holy Spirit or in another word the spiritual understanding. Because the Scriptures are basically clear, the reader of the Bible will be able to understand what the words themselves say, except in some passages where the language or grammar is difficult to the reader. But understanding what the words say is not always the same as spiritually understanding the truth which God speaks in the Bible.
According to the Lutheran confession, understanding the Scripture in its deeper sense means to believe their Christological message, and this is possible only by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. By nature no one has an ability to fear God and have true faith in Him (AC II, 1). Natural man has no spiritual capability to understand spiritual matters. Natural man lacks both the ability to understand the terrible of his fallen condition and capacity to understand his justification in Jesus Christ. Therefore, without the Holy Spirit, natural man cannot really understand the message of the scriptures, even though he can read its words (FC SD II, 9, 12).
Only the operation and power of the Holy Spirit illuminates and converts hearts so that men believe this word and give their agreement to it.
He opens the intellect and the heart to understand the scriptures and to heed the word, as we read in Luke 24:45, “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” Likewise, “Lydia heard us; the Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14). (FC SD II, 26).
One of God’s most important gifts to the baptized is the gift of Biblical interpretation. By God’s grace we have been given the power to interpret the scriptures and to know Christ, which is impossible without the Holy Spirit (LC IV, 49). Hence, with the illumination of the Holy Spirit man understands and believes the divine message of Holy Scripture.
What has been stated above under this chapter is all about how Lutherans confess and teach concerning the clarity and understandability of the Holy Scripture. The Bible byconcerning understandable. But the only shortage concerning understandability is our inability in terms of language and grammar. What we should explicitly know about the clarity of the Bible is that our problem of understanding cannot and must not decide on a single word of the Holy Scripture.
Now my personal view about the clarity and understandability of the Holy Scripture is not different from that of the confessional Lutheran because we share similar value about the Bible.

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2.9K viewsAug 3, 2019 at 17:30

3. Clarity and Understandability of Holy Scripture

The clarity and understandability of the Holy Scripture can be understood in two ways. First, the external clarity of the Biblical text and the second one is internal clarity of the subject matter of the Holy Scripture gained through the Holy Spirit.
The fundamental clarity of the Holy Scripture is plain reading by any normal intelligent mind and externally understands it. But the internal clarity or understandability is the clarity of subject matter of the Holy Scripture through the Holy Spirit or in another word the spiritual understanding. Because the Scriptures are basically clear, the reader of the Bible will be able to understand what the words themselves say, except in some passages where the language or grammar is difficult to the reader. But understanding what the words say is not always the same as spiritually understanding the truth which God speaks in the Bible.
According to the Lutheran confession, understanding the Scripture in its deeper sense means to believe their Christological message, and this is possible only by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. By nature no one has an ability to fear God and have true faith in Him (AC II, 1). Natural man has no spiritual capability to understand spiritual matters. Natural man lacks both the ability to understand the terrible of his fallen condition and capacity to understand his justification in Jesus Christ. Therefore, without the Holy Spirit, natural man cannot really understand the message of the scriptures, even though he can read its words (FC SD II, 9, 12).
Only the operation and power of the Holy Spirit illuminates and converts hearts so that men believe this word and give their agreement to it.
He opens the intellect and the heart to understand the scriptures and to heed the word, as we read in Luke 24:45, “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” Likewise, “Lydia heard us; the Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14). (FC SD II, 26).
One of God’s most important gifts to the baptized is the gift of Biblical interpretation. By God’s grace we have been given the power to interpret the scriptures and to know Christ, which is impossible without the Holy Spirit (LC IV, 49). Hence, with the illumination of the Holy Spirit man understands and believes the divine message of Holy Scripture.
What has been stated above under this chapter is all about how Lutherans confess and teach concerning the clarity and understandability of the Holy Scripture. The Bible byconcerning understandable. But the only shortage concerning understandability is our inability in terms of language and grammar. What we should explicitly know about the clarity of the Bible is that our problem of understanding cannot and must not decide on a single word of the Holy Scripture.
Now my personal view about the clarity and understandability of the Holy Scripture is not different from that of the confessional Lutheran because we share similar value about the Bible.

BY Lutheran Theology