A Clear and Present Word: The Clarity of Scripture

New Studies in Biblical Theology #21

by Mark D. Thompson

By almost any measure, a bold and confident use of the Bible is a hallmark of Christianity. Underlying such use are a number of assumptions about the origin, nature and form of the biblical literature, concerning its authority, diversity and message. However, a lack of confidence in the clarity or perspicuity of Scripture is apparent in Western Christianity. Despite recent, sophisticated analyses, the doctrine is ignored or derided by many. While there is a contemporary feel to these responses, the debate itself is not new. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Mark Thompson surveys past and present objections to the clarity of Scripture; expounds the living God as the Guarantor of his accessible, written Word; engages with the hermeneutical challenges and restates the doctrine for today. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Scripture, Biblical Studies, Church, History, Academic

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2016

About the author

Mark D. Thompson (DPhil, University of Oxford) is the principal of Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia, and head of the department of theology, philosophy, and ethics.

Reviews

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entry in the New Studies in Biblical Theology (NSBT) series by Mark D. Thompson dives into an oft-overlooked aspect of biblical theology – the clarity of Scripture. Since this clarity, which is often called the perspicuity of Scripture, faces such widespread negligence, or even disdain, Mr. Thompson tells us why we can confidently assume clarity and use the Bible in our lives.

The first chapter is a detailed look at how rogue scholarship has victimized the concept of biblical clarity. Their attempt to render the acceptance of clarity as absurd is turned by the author as he takes their arguments and objections one by one.

The second chapter sees God as the communicator. Though some claim human words by definition obscure the clarity of what God reveals, we see that the opposite is true. The clarity of Scripture springs from the character of God. In other words, because the Almighty God has chosen to communicate, what he chooses to communicate must be clear.

The third chapter wrestles with the fact that Scripture sometimes explains that it is hard to understand. For example, such a statement is made about parables in the Gospels. This book shows us how those two ideas do not have to be mutually exclusive. We can, in fact, have a Bible that presents both the clarity that God intended while upholding his inscrutability.

Chapter 4 is on what the author calls “engaging the hermeneutical challenge”. He explains how hermeneutics have taken a life of their own, and in the scholarly world at least has created more doubt than belief in the Word. It is true that the Bible that the author argues possesses clarity also has a wide variety of conclusions by its readers. His discussion of this fact is quite helpful.

The final chapter is Mr. Thompson’s attempt to tie everything he has stated together to both restate the clarity of Scripture and give it an understandable definition. The title of the book is the hint you need to forecast what he concludes.

This book succeeds in fulfilling the aims of this series. It finds the sweet spot and expounds with scholarly, logical, and conservative aplomb. It’s a winner!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Tim Maddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was refreshing to come across 'A Clear and Present Word' as I had been struggling to find a book that sets out a strong and robust argument for the doctrine of the perspicuity (or clarity) of scripture - effectively, this means that the meaning of Scripture is accessible, particularly for understanding God and the gospel – ie, the means by which one can be saved, to anyone who comes to it by faith.

Distilled down, Mark's argument for the doctrine goes something like this:

1. God wants to reveal himself to bring salvation to people
2. Nothing can stop God from achieving his purposes
3. Scripture is how God has revealed himself to people today
Therefore, Scripture must be clear enough to be understood

Mark uses a range of scriptural passages to support this argument. He also helpfully summarises the early Reformation debates on this doctrine between Luther, Erasmus and others.

There were a few issues I felt Mark could have raised or responded to in greater detail. One is that his argument presupposes that scripture is the only source of God's self-revelation we have today (effectively Sola Scriptura). While its fine to make this assumption for the sake of the book, it should be made explicit as not everyone (including many who oppose the doctrine) would make the same assumption. I also felt Mark glossed over one of the more compelling real-life arguments against the doctrine - that is, that among those who subscribe to the doctrine of the Clarity of Scripture, there are material differences in scriptural interpretations of core Christian tenets, despite the claim that the meaning of scripture is, at least to some degree, clear.

Additionally, the definition of the 'Clarity of Scripture' didn't seem to stay the same throughout the book (at least from my perspective). Setting out upfront clearly the doctrine he is arguing for would have been constructive. And relatedly, the book seems to make the assumption in places that the alternative to scriptural perspicuity is complete scriptural ambiguity. I would have thought there is another alternative somewhere in the middle.

Notwithstanding these constructive points, Mark introduces some persuasive arguments in favour of the doctrine in question and the book is well worth a read for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of this theological issue.

[Bob O'Bannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a long time I have been convinced that one of the main reasons for the differences among Christians regarding controversial ethical issues has to do with our understanding of the nature of Scripture, most particularly its clarity. Many people hide behind the alleged obscurity of Scripture to come up with all kinds of novel interpretations in order to keep up with the changing trends in our culture.


Thompson persuasively remakes the Reformers' case that Scripture is clear -- that is, that "God has something to say and he is very good at saying it." (p. 170). He doesn't ignore the very real problems inherent in Scripture's complexities, and he interacts extensively with contemporary skeptical scholarship, yet he does not back down from the basic claim that God desires to reveal himself, that language is his own creation, that he is perfectly able to communicate effectively, that in many places Scripture assumes it can be understood (including Jesus' own interpretation of the Old Testament), and most significantly, that "the clarity of Scripture is in essence a divine gift rather than a human achievement." (p. 164). That sounds like the very nature of the Gospel itself!


I loved how Thompson turned the tables on postmodern scholarship by pointing out that its skepticism about authorial intent is in itself the "ultimate power play" in that it dethrones God from being able to speak authoritatively in the biblical text. (p. 131, 133). Certainly our difficulty in understanding Scripture has more to do with our sinful rebellion against God's authority than it does with the nature of Scripture itself. "A message does not have to be obscure or ambiguous to be misunderstood." (p. 167).


This is an outstanding book that has renewed my confidence in the Scriptures, and is one to which I will return frequently in the future. Thompson might have a point when he says that the "contemporary malaise in much of Western Christian life and thought" could possibly be remedied by a "responsible reaffirmation of the clarity of Scripture." (p. 161).

[Joshua Pearsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book, addressing both critiques from figures like Robert Bellarmine & Erasmus, all the way to the modern post modern hyper skeptics. It expounds on tradition, Scripture itself, and hermeneutics. Acknowledging the genuine challenges we face, while still affirming the true and historic teaching of perspicuity, while acknowledging the extreme errors some have gone to with it.

1 - Oh sweet obscurity: the absurdity of claiming clarity today
2- The effective communicator: God as the guarantor of scriptural clarity
3 - It is not beyond you: The accessible word of the living God
4 - Engaging the hermeneutical challenge
5 - The sharp double-edged sword: Restating the clarity of Scripture today

[Mark Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarity in Scripture is sometimes hard-won, but it's available.

A confession of the clarity of Scripture is an aspect of faith in a generous God who is willing and able to make himself and his purposes known. God has something to say and he is very good at saying it. (170)

[Josh Peglow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Clear and Present Word is the 21st volume in the “New Studies in Biblical Theology” series which now extends to 45 volumes. This volume is dedicated to the doctrine of perspicuity (or the Bible’s clarity). From Eve’s wicked interlocutor in the garden to the present day, there has been a reechoing “Has God really said?”

In recent theological debates, it is clear that inerrancy is often the bibliological battleground. However, as this book endeavors to show, even if the accuracy of the words is granted, their power can just as easily be neutralized though obfuscation as through denial. Mr. Thompson (Principle of Moore Theological Seminary, Australia. Evangelical Anglican) labors to unfold the importance of Scripture’s clarity as well as to defend it.

Perspicuity has not seen the scholarly concentration of other doctrines of Bibliology and the book is a welcome resource for anyone who desires to better understand it. The series aims to relate important biblical/theological themes in a way that is both scholarly and accessible to the layperson. The author succeeds in presenting a book that can be beneficial both to the studious lay person as well as the pastor.

Chapter one takes up the question of whether Christians can even claim to have a clear word of God. After all, we live in the postmodern era when truth is considered at least obscure, and often unknowable. The chapter outlines the arguments against the clarity of the Bible, first from church history and then more recently the post-modern view of truth.

Thompson is careful not to over-generalize postmodern thought and does a good job of explaining the epistemological issues in play. From the empirical search for truth that characterized the Enlightenment, to the postmodern denial that such a process can even exist, there has been a major shift. Literary theory claims that meaning is determined not by authorial intent but by the reader himself or even the “interpretive community.” Unsurprisingly, the univocality (single meaning) of any given text is also on the chopping block, since each interpreter can assign a different meaning to the text.

Regarding theology itself, postmodern influences have made many hesitant to be dogmatic and to make authoritative claims. The author suggests this as the reason for the dearth of recent discussion of the Bible’s clarity. After introducing the most common rejections of perspicuity, Thompson sets out to respond to each in the following chapters.

Chapter two highlights the importance of the source of the Scriptures, namely God Himself. We speak correctly when we speak of “God’s Word” since it is a product of His communication to man. The theologian who seeks to explicate God’s word must recognize first that it comes from a loving God whose will it is to communicate to mankind. Thompson outlines five priors that guide the interpreter: 1) Christian Theology, at its most basic, is talk about God, 2) Christian theology is essentially and unavoidably Trinitarian, 3) Christian theology is talk about God made possible by God’s prior decision to be known, 4) Christian theology can only claim truth and authority in so far as it conforms to God’s self-revelation, 5) Christian theology is talk about God that takes place in the presence of God and in the eyes of the world. Christian readers will be encouraged at the author’s reverence for God here. Before entering the academic foray, Thompson points the reader to the goodness and perfection of God as the fundamental starting point of any biblical consideration.

Chapter three begins the response to the arguments against perspicuity that were outlined in chapter one. Thompson begins by showing that Christ Himself often quoted from the OT and held His listeners accountable for not obeying it. The point is obvious. If Christ could hold His hearers accountable for disobeying the OT, then they must have been able to understand it. This is especially instructive when Jesus appeals to the OT to help His disciples understand His ministry and coming passion. The Old Testament is not just a repository of proof texts but is God’s communication that man can and must turn to in order to understand His will.

The chapter then expands the argument to the apostles who also appealed to the OT in a way that indicated that the Scriptures are not obscure. Thompson raises an interesting point here: It was not just the Jews whom the apostles called to account through the OT. The Gentiles as well were expected to understand the Old Testament and respond accordingly.

The clarity of Scripture is such that its meaning can be understood not just by those to whom the law and the prophets were given, but even by those who were virtual strangers to its message. This argument was among the most powerful of the book. God communicated His word so that it could be understood by all men no matter their particular culture, history, or even belief system.

The remainder of chapter three is dedicated to the “classic texts” for perspicuity from the OT. Among these are times in Israel’s history in which she was reunited to the message of Scripture and immediately understood and responded.

Also, in this section the author interacts with various Roman Catholic apologists who built arguments against the doctrine. This is only done in a summary way, however, as chapter five takes up that subject in more depth.

There is a discussion of clarity and illumination here that readers may find useful. Against RC scholars (Bellarmino, among others), Thompson shows that clarity must be distinguished from illumination. Clarity does not mean absolute understanding and even Peter admitted that some of Paul’s writings were difficult. When we say the Scriptures are clear we mean that they can be understood while still acknowledging that minds darkened by sin may not always see that clarity. This is one reason that the Lord gave the church pastors/teachers. Hearing the Scriptures exposited is one of the great blessings of the local church.

One possible quibble that some readers may have with Thompson is his use of the Christological hermeneutic (CH). Hermeneutics is of course a major part of the book, and the author’s reference to the CH is less an argument for it than from it. In one section he references the Ethiopian eunuch’s failure to understand the Scriptures. This is an important passage since it is one that is used by Rome to question perspicuity. Thompson appeals to the gospel as the necessary interpretive grid by which to interpret the Bible. This reviewer found this unconvincing, since the eunuch was reading a passage in Isaiah that pertained directly to the gospel. This can hardly support the idea of the Christological hermeneutic in places where the gospel is not directly in view. For many who advocate for the CH, this may be the point of disagreement: there is no such thing as a passage where the gospel is not in view. Advocates of the Grammatical-Historical-Literal (or normal) hermeneutic, of course, recognize that all of history is moving towards the exaltation of Christ to the glory of God the Father. Nevertheless, this does not necessarily make the gospel an interpretive tool.

Chapter four continues the theme of hermeneutics by relating how it has been understood historically and in the present. Since it is a discipline of discovery by man, it is anthropologically focused. For many, this would negate Thompson’s earlier appeal to God’s communicative act as presuppositional. Simply put, for the modern literary critic, to speak of the clarity of the Scriptures from a theological perspective is a category error. Thompson summarizes the roots of this perspective in the thought of Bertrand Russel and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Epistemology (the study of how things are learned) comes into play as well, with figures like Descartes and Kant placing more interpretive authority in the reader and less in the text. Here Thompson is careful to acknowledge that, although the Bible is the Word of God, we nevertheless recognize that it comes to us in a certain form and as a historical record of true events. The gospels, for instance, are not just a teaching about Jesus but an accurate account of who He is and what He did. Genre is to be considered when approaching the Bible just as any other text.

Further, the importance of the canon cannot be neglected as the 66 volumes speak together. Thompson included in this chapter a handful of helpful considerations when discussing clarity. One that stood out was the fact that the believer reads the word in his own ecclesiastical context. He approaches the word with certain presuppositions drawn from his understanding of the word and influenced by his own church. This is to be distinguished from the postmodern idea of context in which meaning is determined by who is reading it. On the contrary, the Christian recognizes that he carries certain priors into his study of the Bible and that they must be sacrificed if the objective word of God contradicts them. Thompson concludes the chapter by demonstrating that the “death of the author” idea—which supplants authorial intent, replacing it with interpretive subjectivity— is nothing more than a rebellion against the loving, communicating God. God has spoken clearly and we must “take up and read” with the heart of disciples.

The final chapter will likely be interesting to those with a penchant for church history. The doctrine of perspicuity was a major element of the Reformation. When Erasmus finally decided to throw his hat into the ring in the battle against the monk from Germany, the reformation took a dramatic turn. While not often recognized, the two poles of Erasmus’ and Luther’s arguments were as much about perspicuity as the human will. Unsurprisingly, Luther asserted perspicuity while Erasmus denied it and thus sought to maintain the interpretive monopoly of the Roman church.

Erasmus marshalled a handful of arguments against Scripture’s clarity from the Scriptures themselves, the transcendence of God, and the weakness of the human mind. Luther’s excellent response served to distinguish the protestant understanding. The places where the Scriptures admit obscurity are matters of interpretation, not clarity of language; God’s transcendence is in not in question, since it was He who chose to reveal Himself and He cannot fail; and lastly the issue of the human mind.

Luther spoke of the external clarity of the Bible (it is written in clear human language) and internal clarity (the Scriptures are made clear and transformative through the ministry of the Holy Spirit). It was this latter idea that Erasmus did not reckon with in his view of the fallen human mind. God is able both to communicate clearly and to aid the fallen mind to understand what has been communicated. Thompson next takes the reader into an extension of this debate in the writings of the Catholic apologist Bellarmino and his eventual respondent William Whitaker. Space does not permit an account of that exchange, but it is well worth the reader’s attention.

The last few pages are a concise summary of Thompson’s main arguments and the history of the debate. In terms of general observation, there were a few places where Thompson seemed unnecessarily wordy. At times I wished he had spent more time on certain topics, such as the impact of higher criticism and pluralism on biblical hermeneutics. Perhaps that is the strength of this book, however. Thompson avoids departures and stays focused on his message. The author did an excellent job of highlighting a neglected and important doctrine in a way which exalts God. The volume is recommended for anyone wishing to better understand why we must never doubt that God has given us a clear word.

Review originally posted here:
https://sharperiron.org/article/revie...

[Xavier Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, concise defence of the perspicuity of Scripture, which Thompson defines as

that quality of the biblical text that, as God’s communicative act, ensures its meaning is accessible to all who come to it in faith. To confess the clarity of Scripture is to adopt the same attitude as Jesus demonstrated in his own use of the Old Testament. It is to align ourselves with the confidence of the apostolic writers, who appealed to the Old Testament as intelligible and decisive even when addressing predominantly Gentile audiences. It is to be bold, even brazen, as we follow the example of Augustine and ‘take and read’. The practice of reading in the light of this confession will be serious and attentive. It will not be content with superficiality or with a uniform literalism that flattens the variety of genre and literary feature found throughout this text. It will take seriously the text we have (not pining for some ideal text beyond our reach) and expects that these very words have the power to cut deep and to heal profoundly even today. In short, a confession of the clarity of Scripture is an aspect of faith in a generous God who is willing and able to make himself and his purposes known. God has something to say and he is very good at saying it."

The above is an excellent summary of Thompson's thesis and the flow of the book. Thompson begins at the doctrine of God and the nature and character of this God that purports to speak through His Word (/Son) and through Scripture. Thompson then argues that Scripture is not beyond comprehension, pointing to how Jesus and His apostles handled and appealed to the Hebrew Scriptures, Scripture's description of itself (eg. not being "too hard" and/or "far off" (Deut 30:11), and being described as light in the Psalms (eg. Ps 119:105, 130)), and God's guarantees concerning the efficacy of His word (eg. Is 55:10-11). In the process of handling Scriptural material, he also tackles parts of Scripture that acknowledge that Scripture is, at times, hard to understand, and for the need for teaching, reading in community, etc. He then dedicates a chapter towards hermeneutical theory (which, if I'm to be honest, I found the hardest to get through in a book that otherwise read smooth as butter), and ends off by discussing the importance of the doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture (eg. it's implications on the character and/or ability of God as communicator (especially if the converse is true and Scripture is hopelessly incomprehensible), and what it means for the Christian engaging in ethical discussions).

All of this in a span of less than 200 pages, a great read and resource. Highly recommended for anyone thinking about this topic.

[Jeff Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I the only person who smiled when they saw this book title, thinking of the phrase as well as the title of a Tom Clancy novel and its theatrical adaptation? I haven't read the book or seen the film (might when I think of it), but I think I can say for certain there's no connection.

In "A Clear and Present Word: The Clarity of Scripture" Mark Thompson presents a doctrine that I never had heard of before by name but have held to and agree with the author concerning its importance. The clarity of Scripture means that, in spite of figurative language and differing interpretations, a born-again believer can understand what Scripture means, as opposed to being dependent on an authority telling you what it means and expecting you to accept them as the final word.

This book is part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology by Intervarsity Press. I have heard "Biblical Theology" to refer to both studying what each book/human author teaches regarding a specific doctrine and to looking at the overarching story-line of God's Redemption from Genesis to Revelation. (In either case, it's in contrast to Systematic Theology, where you focus on the doctrine and how it appears in Scripture.) The books in this series takes the former approach.

However, I can argue if this fits the pattern. The first chapter looks at objections to the concept of Biblical clarity, both historic (particularly the Catholic/Protestant divide at the Reformation) and contemporary (via the Post-modern movement). Chapter 2 looks at God communicating with man. If you skip a chapter, chapter 4 takes a needed look at the field of hermeneutics (Biblical interpretation), while the fifth and final chapter looks at two Reformation era debates (Luther vs. Erasmus, Bellarmino vs. Whitaker) before dealing with the current application of this. Biblical Theology is primarily evident in the third chapter, particularly focusing on Jesus' and the Apostles' view of the clarity of Scripture in the old Testament.

These books in this series tend to be academic, and I'll confess I find myself skimming through some of the volumes. Not this one. This was worth the careful plodding. The result is that my views have been confirmed about the clarity of Scripture, and I highly recommend it.

[Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to start reading some of the volumes in this series for a long time now. Thompson's book is the first that I've finally made the time to read, and it did not disappoint. His case for the clarity of Scripture is brilliantly argued and filled me with a greater confidence in my own reading of Scripture -- a confidence, as Thompson argues, that is grounded in God's power and grace rather than in my own interpretive abilities.

Confession: the four stars rather than five is due only to my own ignorance of many of the concepts and terminology involved in current postmodern and literary discussions; thus, his treatment of those topics at times went a bit over my head.

[Joshua Loftin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me with less clarity (no pun intended) and more questions. I wish Thompson expounded more upon his definition of the Clarity of Scripture and its implication in interpretation.

If he argues the Clarity of Scripture is not “a property of the text itself,” then how does that affect the doctrine’s place in interpretation and overall in theological methodology.

Although, I did appreciate his survey of the conversation surrounding the doctrine in the Reformation Era and throughout church history.

[David West · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very helpful book about a very important doctrine. I struggled some with one of the five chapters - Engaging The Hermeneutical Challenge - and will need to re-read that section. The other chapters were very good. The history of the challenges to this doctrine as well as modern-day issues were discussed. The book's last sentence summed up the athor's argument, "God has something to say and he is very good at saying it."

[Bledar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that is a must-read on the clarity of Scripture. Having screened through several "clarity" sections in systematic theologies, this book offers more background on why those books make the arguments they make. They are trying to answer the objections to the issue.

[Samuel Bierig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy bien

[Jacob Villa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staggeringly convincing, refreshingly clear (as any book on perspicuity should be), and surprisingly devotional.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars going on five. Super helpful exposition of a very pressing doctrine.

[Douglas Fyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark has managed to pull off a book that is thoroughly clear and thoughtfully argued, yet at the same time is of a very high standard and engages with others of today and the past. This comes in part from the book's original form as the Moore College Lectures (2005), but their expansion to book chapters makes for a truly engaging read. Eminently quotable and a good starting point for discussions on the clarity of Scripture.

[Ben Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are no surprises in this book. Written by a scholar whose dissertation was on Martin Luther's view of the Scriptures and published in a series edited by the renowned Reformed theologian D.A. Carson, this book presents exactly what you would expect: a well-articulated, scholarly account of the Protestant (esp. Reformed) doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture. Operating from primarily a theological orientation (as opposed to a philosophical or hermeneutical framework), Thompson lays out a definition of perspicuity and proceeds to defend it against numerous common criticisms.

I was quite pleasantly surprised by this text. Here are a few things that made it worth the read:

(1) The book is refreshingly "self-aware" - neither more nor less than what it claims to be. It is not exhaustive, but it does not avoid challenges. It is intelligent and well-argued but not belittling. It is confident but not pretentious. It is not the only word in the discussion - just a good one.

(2) The first chapter lays out the challenges to perspicuity without arguing against them; to present the arguments in their force without disputation reflects a fearless willingness to engage the issues rather than a fearful defensiveness littered with fallacies and illogical, desperate claims.

(3) It is well-argued. While I doubt that it will be highly persuasive to anyone who is not already in agreement, it does present a defense that will help those who share the position understand it. It might also prevent some who doubt from leaving. It also pulls from several important sources and theologians, and it frequently references primary literature rather than just secondary sources.

(4) It offers a "new" return to the old. By placing God's character and theology at the center of the debate, this text attempts to move the conversation in a new (old) direction. Props are given for not simply restating what has already been said (and is being said) but offering something different.

(5) Last but not least, It is nuanced. Despite its brevity, it touches on a wide number of issues and it resist simplicity. This is a crucial part of the text because it prevents overstating the doctrine and serves as a corrective to the excessive (and even abusive) use of this doctrine to justify the church's handling of Scripture. Simultaneously, it protects the doctrine from those who would create a straw-man in order to criticize it more easily.

I have only two criticism:

(1) As mentioned above, it would not convince many who do not already accept the position. The argument relies on presuppositions found in Scripture (and Protestant interpretations of it), so for those who already disagree, there will be little new to persuade them. In its reliance on Scripture and God's character as revealed in Scripture, it is also a very circular argument. However, this is largely unavoidable (most especially regarding this issue), so this complaint should not be overstated.

(2) Thompson operates primarily from a theological framework (which he acknowledges explicitly and argues is a corrective to the current academic approach to the doctrine). To some extent, I agree. However, I felt that his handling of hermeneutical challenges and human weakness in interpretation were a bit light. (though this likely represents my own qualms with the doctrine).

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year I am devoting a large portion of my study to the doctrine of Scripture. I believe the clarity of Scripture will be an important doctrine in the coming years. Thompson does a great job introducing the topic. He touches on literary theory and how that has undermined the clarity of Scripture as well as the classic attacks on the clarity of Scripture from Roman Catholics. He explains what the clarity of Scripture means and what it does not mean. He rehearses the common reasons men doubt the clarity of Scripture, such God being too mysterious, multiple interpretations, and man's sinfulness. He also links the doctrine of Scripture up with the doctrine of God. What does it do to God's character if we say he gave us a word that we cannot understand? Finally, he does a nice job arguing clarity from the NT use of the OT. There is an assumption in the NT that the reader/listener can read the passage in question and understand what is being . Add all of this to a nice bibliography and this was exactly what I was looking for as an introduction to this aspect of the doctrine of Scripture.

My Rating System
1 Star-Terrible book and dangerous. Burn it in the streets.

2 Stars-Really bad book, would not recommend, probably has some dangerous ideas in it or could just be so poorly written/researched that it is not worth reading. Few books I read are 1 or 2 stars because I am careful about what I read.

3 Stars-Either I disagree with it at too many points to recommend it or it is just not a good book on the subject or for the genre. Would not read it again, reference it, or recommend it. But it is not necessarily dangerous except as a time waster.

4 Stars-Solid book on the subject or for the genre. This does not mean I agree with everything in it. I would recommend this book to others and would probably read it again or reference it. Most books fall in this category because I try not to read books I don’t think will be good. There is a quite a variety here. 3.6 is pretty far from 4.5.

5 Stars-Excellent book. Classic in the genre or top of the line for the subject. I might also put a book in here that impacted me personally at the time I read it. I would highly recommend this book, even if I do not agree with all that it says.

[Chuck Bonadies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the perspicuity (clarity) of Scripture. Of special interest to me is Thompson's discussion on Erasmus versus Luther. This section gives the historical context behind some of the modern debate. May I also recommend a follow up article on the clarity of Scripture by Wayne Grudem: http://bit.ly/fbJ613.

CB

[Peter Mead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important subject – the often neglected sibling of Authority. An important subject and a decent book worth a read, let me give you the final two lines: “A confession of the clarity of Scripture is an aspect of faith in a generous God who is willing and able to make himself and his purposes known. God has something to say and he is very good at saying it.”