The Clarity and Unity of God's Word

Statement of Doctrine: The Bible itself is the ultimate rule for understanding Scripture. So, if there’s ever a question about the true and complete meaning of a passage — because there’s only one correct interpretation, not many — we should look to other parts of the Bible that explain it more clearly. (Summarium Fidei Christianae Filipinas, Chapter 1 paragraph 9)

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We now consider a foundational truth about God's revelation to us – His Holy Word, the Bible. Our understanding of Scripture is paramount to our walk with Christ and our faithfulness to Him. The ninth paragraph of Chapter 1 of the Summarium Fidei Christianae Filipinas reminds us of a crucial principle: "The Bible itself is the ultimate rule for understanding Scripture. So, if there’s ever a question about the true and complete meaning of a passage — because there’s only one correct interpretation, not many — we should look to other parts of the Bible that explain it more clearly." This statement beautifully encapsulates our commitment to Sola Scriptura and the internal consistency of God's inspired Word.

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Key Text: 2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV): "knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

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Our key text from 2 Peter directly addresses the divine origin and unified nature of Scripture. Peter emphasizes that no prophecy of Scripture "comes from someone's own interpretation." This powerfully reinforces the Summarium's assertion that "there’s only one correct interpretation, not many." The Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers, is also the ultimate interpreter of His Word. Therefore, the Bible is not a collection of human opinions, but the very breath of God, coherent and consistent from beginning to end.

Since the Bible is God-breathed, it inherently possesses internal clarity and unity. It does not contradict itself. Therefore, when we encounter a difficult passage, our first and primary recourse is not to human speculation, tradition, or external sources, but to Scripture itself. The Summarium rightly guides us: "we should look to other parts of the Bible that explain it more clearly." This is what we call the "analogy of faith" or Scriptura sui interpres – Scripture interprets Scripture. Darker passages are illuminated by clearer ones.

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Applications for Our Lives:

• Trust in the Sufficiency and Clarity of Scripture: We must reject the notion that the Bible is so obscure that we need an external authority to tell us what it means. While we benefit greatly from godly teachers and sound confessions of faith, they are always subservient to the Word itself. Our confidence rests in the Holy Spirit's power to illuminate His Word to us, enabling us to understand the essential truths for salvation and godly living.

• Diligent and Prayerful Study: If Scripture interprets Scripture, then we are called to diligent study of the whole counsel of God. We cannot be selective in our reading, picking and choosing verses out of context. Instead, we must immerse ourselves in the entirety of the Bible, allowing its consistent message to shape our understanding. This requires patience, prayer, and a humble spirit, always asking the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

• Humble Interpretation and Avoiding eisegesis: The principle of "only one correct interpretation" calls us to humility. We do not impose our own ideas onto the text (eisegesis), but rather seek to draw out what the text actually says (exegesis). When faced with differing interpretations, our ultimate court of appeal is always the broader witness of Scripture, seeking what harmonizes with the overall thrust of God's revelation.

• Unity in Truth: This principle also fosters unity within the body of Christ. While there will be minor differences in application or understanding of less central doctrines, our shared commitment to the singular, God-given meaning of Scripture provides a firm foundation for genuine unity in the truth of the gospel.

Other Scripture References:

• Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Highlights the guiding and illuminating nature of Scripture.)

• Psalm 119:160: "The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever." (Emphasizes the comprehensive truthfulness and enduring nature of God's Word.)

• Isaiah 28:9-10: "Whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." (Though often used in different contexts, it beautifully illustrates the principle of building understanding through accumulation of truths, 'here a little, there a little,' consistent with Scripture interpreting Scripture.)

• Acts 17:11: "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (Commends the Bereans for testing teaching against Scripture, demonstrating the ultimate authority of the Bible.)

• 1 Corinthians 2:13: "And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." (Reinforces the Holy Spirit's role in enabling us to understand spiritual truths in Scripture.)

• Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Underscores the power and efficacy of God's Word.)

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Conclusion:

Let us embrace the profound truth that God's Word is its own best interpreter. Let us approach it with humility, diligence, and prayer, always seeking the single, Spirit-intended meaning of every passage. As serious Christians, our unwavering commitment to the absolute authority, clarity, and sufficiency of Scripture is not merely a doctrinal point, but a joyful privilege and a solid ground for our faith and practice. May we ever grow in our love and understanding of this divine revelation, allowing it to transform us more and more into the likeness of Christ. Amen.