[Glossary] Saving Understanding versus Ordinary Understanding of the Bible

1. (Clark 1965, 21): "Especially with regard to a saving understanding of Scripture, we need the illumination of the Spirit of God. One of the reasons is that a saving understanding goes beyond an ordinary understanding. The worst infidel can easily understand that the Bible means to say that David was King of Israel and that Christ was Messiah. But in order that this information may be saving information, a man must accept it as the Word of God."

"When Saul of Tarsus was persecuting the Church, he understood perfectly well that Christ claimed to be Messiah. But this understanding of the meaning of the words did not save him. It caused him to persecute. Then one day the Spirit of God illumined his mind. We too need such illumination."

A saving understanding of the Bible presupposes an ordinary understanding but goes beyond it.

A saving understanding of the Bible means accepting the Bible as the Word of God and that what it claims are true.

A saving understanding of the Bible requires the illumination of the Holy Spirit.


Reference:

Clark, Gordon H. 1965. What Do Presbyterians Believe? The Westminster Confession: Yesterday and Today. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company.

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