From the CBMW website:
Is the Bible clear? It certainly claims to be. By God's grace, it is the Word of God that helps simple people like me become wise: "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple (italics mine, Psalm 19:7). The Bible must be understandable because it imparts understanding to simple people (Psalm 119:30). Further, God's words are assumed to be accessible in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 where all parents are commanded to teach them to children and discuss them throughout the daily activities of life. Therefore, seminary can be helpful, but is not required to understand the Bible.
From the NIV Translators’ Preface to the Comparative Study Bible:
There is a sense in which the work of translation is never wholly finished. This applies to all great literature and uniquely so to the Bible...As in other ancient documents, the precise meaning of the biblical text is sometimes uncertain. This is more often the case with the Hebrew and Aramaic texts than with the Greek text. Although archaeological and linguistic discoveries in this century aid in understanding difficult passages, some uncertainties remain....Like all translations of the Bible, made as they are by imperfect man, this one undoubtedly falls short of its goals. Yet we are grateful to God for the extent to which he has enabled us to realize these goals and for the strength he has given us and our colleagues to complete our task.
The Bible does not claim to be clear, and none of the examples cited above prove so. The message unto salvation and a transformed life is certainly clear, and the basic nature and status of both God and man are clearly presented. But much of the remaining Scripture is less clear. I believe that these things are of lesser importance, and not necessary for salvation nor crucial for right living. Paul does say that all Scripture is God-breathed and good for teaching, reproof, etc. (2 Tim 3:16-17), yet I don't believe we can infer from this that it is all completely accessible to everyone.
And if it's not, then we need scholars and seminary-trained pastors and the like to attempt to explain these passages to the rest of us (which they do). And if that's true, then it's not all "simple" enough to be understood by even the simple.
(Further note: You might say that I'm focusing on the "empty" portion of this not-completely-full "glass," whereas David Wayne at Jollyblogger looks at the portion that's "full." :-) )
