Can we really be certain about what the Bible says and what it means? While this question nags many, and the clarity of Scripture has been debated among scholars, Mark Thompson, in A Clear and Present Word, exquisitely defends the clarity of the Scripture. Chapter 1 addresses the objections to the perspicuity of Scripture, both traditional and contemporary. In Chapter 2, Thompson begins to outline his observations of theological methods, and focuses on God as an effective communicator as the guarantor of scriptural clarity. Chapter 3 highlights Jesus’ affirmation of the Old Testament –which confirms the doctrine of the clarity of the Scripture. Chapter 4 addresses the hermeneutical challenge. And Chapter 5 of the book contains the conclusion and the application of the doctrine for the times.
This book is part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series aiming to help thinking Christians in handling Scripture with wisdom and confidence. Thomson has succeeded in accomplishing this goal by evaluating, articulating, and defending the clarity of Scripture through his well-structured work.
Thompson is considered sensible to begin his arguments by outlining various objections -both traditional and contemporary- against the doctrine of perspicuity in the first chapter of the book. In relation to theology, Thompson points out that “some contemporary theologies have embraced postmodernism” (44), and some are remaining faithful to the Scripture. He closes this chapter with an appeal to turn from historical or literary exposition to theological exposition (47). Thompson moves on to the next chapter without any critiques of postmodernism itself. He seems more concerned with the impact of postmodernism on “the contemporary attempts to explain the Christian doctrine of Scripture in general and the clarity of Scripture in particular” (45). Thus, his focus is on what he calls “robust theological exposition” (47).
In his response to Barth’s concern about the sovereign freedom of God (74), Thompson principally practices what he preaches. He remains consistent with his argument that “to understand the God of the gospel we must pay attention to Jesus Christ, who he is and what he has done” (55). Thompson argues that “God spoke by the prophets and has now spoken by his Son.” Although he does not refer to any Scriptural verses, this argument comes from Hebrews 1:1-2. He further argues that Barth is in danger of being reductionist as he focuses on Christocentricity without reflecting on Jesus’ own approach to the Old Testament. He disputes Barth’s objection about the limitation of human language using the doctrine he has laid out in Chapter 2, saying; “If, as I have attempted to show, human language is a divine gift (not something commandeered by God despite its weakness and unsuitability, but initiated by God as a means of fellowship that remains effectual even on this side of the fall and the Tower of Babel), then the assumption that the Bible’s genuine humanity must entail a capacity for error… is a dangerous miscalculation” (76). The reason of the suspicion on the genuine humanity of the biblical text as a threat for God’s sovereignty and freedom is not very clear. To support this argument, Thompson references Wolterstorff who says; “If it is indeed a limitation on God’s freedom that God would commission a human being to speak ‘in the name of’ God, then perhaps we have to take seriously the possibility that God is willing on occasion to limit God’s freedom in that way…” (76-77).
Thompson’s knowledge of the historical side of this topic is another strength of this book. The final chapter is not just a retelling of church history, as Thompson is able to point out that the arguments between Erasmus and Luther were basically arguments on perspicuity rather than human will.
A Clear and Present Word is a useful book. Thompson did an excellent job of highlighting and defending the clarity of Scripture throughout the book. This should help Christians to become more confident in their ability to read and understand God’s Word, and the Truth it contains. God wishes to make Himself known, and as a result, has revealed Himself through Scripture, using human language, in a way that we can understand.
