Clear, Accessible, and Final—The Scriptures Are Enough (Chapter 1, Paragraphs 7–10)

How clear is the Bible? How do we understand it when it’s difficult? Can we really trust it above all other voices? These questions are not new. In fact, the final four paragraphs of Chapter 1 in the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith address these concerns with pastoral wisdom, rooted in the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word.

Let’s begin with Paragraph 7, which acknowledges something we all experience: Not all parts of Scripture are equally clear. Peter himself said that some of Paul’s writings are “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). But the Confession immediately affirms this crucial truth: everything necessary for salvation—what we must know, believe, and obey to be right with God—is made clear somewhere in Scripture. The gospel message is not hidden. Whether you’re a seminary professor or a new believer with little education, the Bible can be understood when approached with humility and care. Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” In other words, God speaks so His people can understand.

This guards us from two errors. First, we reject the Roman Catholic claim that Scripture is too difficult for ordinary believers to interpret. Second, we guard against spiritual pride that suggests only the highly educated can know God's will. Instead, we affirm the beautiful doctrine of perspicuity—that Scripture is clear in its main message, especially concerning salvation. With prayer, patience, and the help of godly teachers, we can understand even the more difficult portions.

Paragraph 8 continues by affirming the reliability of the Bible in its original languages. God gave the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, and by His providence, He has preserved these texts through history. They are authentic and trustworthy. When disputes arise in the church, we must appeal to the original language texts—not to tradition, church councils, or popular opinion.

Yet not everyone can read Hebrew or Greek. The Confession recognizes this reality and affirms the vital importance of Bible translation. God’s people in every nation are not only allowed—but commanded—to read the Word (John 5:39). That means it must be translated into languages they understand. When Paul taught about speaking in tongues, he said that words must be clear to edify (1 Cor. 14:9). In the same way, Scripture must be communicated clearly to serve the church.

This means translations are not a secondary issue. Faithful, accurate translations bring the Word of God near to people so they can worship rightly and find hope. The Reformers were passionate about this truth. William Tyndale died to get the Bible into the hands of English speakers. Why? Because the Word of God belongs to the people of God.

Paragraph 9 gives us an essential principle of Bible interpretation: The Bible interprets itself. This is called the analogy of faith. If a passage is unclear, we look to other passages that are more plain. Scripture is not a contradictory mess—it is one unified message from God. The same Spirit who inspired Isaiah inspired Paul. The same God who revealed the Law through Moses proclaimed grace through Jesus Christ. So we do not force a meaning onto the text, nor do we build doctrines on one obscure verse. We let Scripture interpret Scripture.

For example, if we wonder what "justification by faith" means in James 2, we read it alongside Paul’s teachings in Romans 3–5. When Paul says, “the just shall live by faith,” we understand that James must be emphasizing the outward evidence of true faith, not contradicting Paul’s doctrine of grace. This principle protects us from heresy and guides us toward sound doctrine.

Finally, Paragraph 10 answers the most critical question: Who gets the final say? Is it tradition? Church leaders? Popular opinion? No—the supreme judge in all matters of doctrine and life is the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit. All ideas, sermons, writings, councils, and feelings must be tested by Scripture. As Isaiah 8:20 says, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.”

This paragraph affirms the final authority of Scripture. Even the best theologians and pastors must bow to the Bible. That means no pope, prophet, or preacher stands above God’s Word. It is the rule of our faith and the standard of our lives. Our confidence is not in shifting human opinion, but in the settled truth of God.

In these closing paragraphs, the Confession presents a Bible that is clear, accessible, preserved, and final. It invites us not to idolize our own intellect or preferences, but to humbly submit to the voice of God. May we open His Word daily, trust what it says, and live accordingly. Corby