WCF 1.7

Westminster Confession of Faith

1.7. Of the Holy Scripture

All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: 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 the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

Proof texts

2 Pet. 3:16 — [16] as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Psalm 119:105, 130 — [105] Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. [130] The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

For discussion

The Assembly cited 2 Pet. 3:16 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WLC Q5 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WLC Q1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WLC Q5 · WLC Q1 · WLC Q2 · WLC Q3 · WLC Q4 · WSC Q1 · WSC Q2 · WSC Q3 · BC 1.1 · BC 1.2 · HC Q1 · HC Q2 · BC 1.3 · BC 1.4 · BC 1.5 · BC 1.6 · BC 1.7 · 1689 1.1 · SD 1.1 · IAR 1.1 · SC60 6.4 · SHC 1.1 · SHC 1.2

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): This section affirms that the Scriptures are in such a sense 'perspicuous that all that is necessary for man to know, in order to his salvation or for his practical guidance in duty, may be learned therefrom, and that they are designed for the personal use and are adapted to the instruction of the unlearned as well as the learned. Protestants admit that many of the truths revealed in the Scriptures in their own nature transcend human understanding, and that many prophecies remain intentionally obscure until explained by their fulfilment in the developments of history. Nevertheless, Protestants affirm and Romanists deny {a) that every essential article of faith and rule of practice may be clearly learned from Scripture; and (6)…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): These sections relate to the perfection and perspicuity of the Scriptures. 1, In regard to the ])erfection, or sufficiency, of the Scriptures, it is acknowledged that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, in regard to which no express injunctions are given in Scripture, and which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word. The Apostolic rule in such cases is, — " Let all things be done decently and in order," — 1 Cor. xiv. 40 ; but this general iide does not authorise the introduction into the Church of rites and ceremonies of human invention, in order to set…