The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession: Of the Holy Scriptures (1.7, 8) ________________________________________
Letter from the Pastor 12/9/2025
Introduction
As a Pastor, I feel an incredible responsibility not just to explain the Bible to others, but to help them understand the Bible for themselves. Years ago I had coffee with a prospective church member who was as Christian, yet he confessed to me, “Jonathan, I’m biblically illiterate.” And he was. At that time, he did not know Adam from Absalom.
Over the next 3 years I watched as he not only attended worship every week in my church, but he also read the Bible constantly on his own time. When he passed away a year ago, I thumbed through his copy of the Scriptures. The margins were full of handwritten notes. Underlines and highlights filled the pages. While I’m sure my preaching helped him, he had taught himself the Bible. I share that story because, for many new Christians, the Bible is a big intimidating book. They don’t know what they will find when they open it, and they aren’t sure they’ll even be able to understand it. Let me assure you: the Bible is for you. God has given his Word to you, and he has authored it so that you can read it and understand.
The 1689 Second London Confession of Faith (1.7, 8)
Paragraph 7
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;12 yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
Paragraph 8
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read, and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
The Clarity of the Scriptures
Paragraph seven of the Confession concerns the clarity of the Scriptures. Another word theologians like to use is perspicuity. The Reformer, Martin Luther, argued that ever believer serves as his own priest before the Lord. Instead of needing an expert in the clergy to tell him what the Bible means, ever believer should read the Bible for himself. This is made possible because God has ensured the clarity of his Word. Psalm 19:7 says, “the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” God’s desire is that his Word would enlighten and make wise even the simplest of people.
We can understand the Bible because it’s written. Words have meaning. Genre and grammar and context control and contain meaning. Thank God that we get to read a text instead of look at a picture to discern his will for our life.
You can read the Bible and learn that God is holy, man is sinful, Jesus Christ is the Savior, and that you are to believe in him for salvation. Beyond that, the Bible clearly teaches the doctrines of God, the Trinity, the divinity of the Son, justification by faith alone, the goodness of God’s law and a host of other doctrines.
The Confession admits that not all Scripture is equally clear. All things in Scripture are not plain in themselves. The Scriptures themselves also admit that some parts are harder to understand. Speaking of the letters of the Apostle Paul, Peter writes that “There are some things in them that are hard to understand.” (2 Peter 3:16) I’m thankful that even Peter found certain passages confusing at times.
Anyone who has ever tried reading Ezekiel or Genesis six have likely scratched their heads and wondered what was going on. Or perhaps you’ve read 1 Corinthians 15:29 and wondered what Paul meant when he preached against the “baptism for the dead”. Nonetheless, everything we need to be saved is clearly taught and explained in the Bible. You don’t need a seminary degree to understand the Bible. I’ve often said I would trust a layperson in my church who reads their Bible every day to accurately interpret the Bible, over most popular preachers online.
The Transmission of the Scriptures
Paragraph eight begins by addressing the transmission of the Scriptures. In other words, it answers the question of how the Scriptures came to us. They were written in the original languages of primarily Hebrew and Greek but were then providentially kept pure in all ages as copies were made. I can’t spend too much time here, but there is a tremendous wealth of material on the transmission of the Scripture both online and in print. Suffice it to say, the Bible is the best attested document of antiquity, and it isn’t even close. If the field of textural criticism interests you, look into the work of Wesley Huff, Daniel Wallace, and Michael Kruger.
The Scriptures were copied far and wide. We are able to trace the spread of those copies with incredible accuracy. We have noted where there have been variations in copies (which are honestly minimal and virtually insubstantial) and can be fully confidence that our modern Bibles contain the words God desires for us to have.
The Translation of the Scriptures
Lastly, paragraph eight covers the translation of the Bible into other languages. Because God purposes to save men and women from every nation, he also intends for his Word to be translated into their languages. There is no prohibition in the Bible against translating its words into English, German, or Hindu. When we read our English copies of the Bible, we are the recipients of a tremendous blessing. Other Christians have taken incredible care and time to translate the Word of God for us, and we ought to treasure it as such.
In Christ,
Pastor Jonathan