Notes on the Need to Know Principle

The following is an answer Google Gemini gave per the Sufficiency and Clarity of Scripture.

~ You've hit on a very insightful parallel! The "need to know" principle in the military is indeed a helpful analogy for understanding John Frame's view on the clarity (perspicuity) and sufficiency of Scripture.

Here's why your analogy works and how Frame would apply it:

The "Need to Know" Principle in the Military:

In the military, information is compartmentalized. A private doesn't need to know the grand strategic plan of a campaign; they need to know their specific orders, their role, and the information relevant to their immediate task. Their superiors are deliberately not telling them everything, not because the information isn't available or important, but because it's not necessary for that private's specific duties, and might even be a security risk if widely disseminated.

How John Frame Applies this to Sufficiency and Clarity:

Frame's general and particular sufficiency/clarity effectively mirror this "need to know" idea:

• General Sufficiency/Clarity (at any given point in history):

  • The "Private's Orders": At any specific point in redemptive history (e.g., Abraham's time, Moses' time), God provided enough revelation (sufficiency) and made it clear enough (clarity) for His people to know what they needed to know to live in obedience and trust Him.
  • No Unnecessary Information: God didn't give Abraham all the details of the New Covenant or Christ's work, because Abraham didn't need that specific information for his immediate calling. The revelation he received was sufficient and clear for his context. If something wasn't clear or revealed, it was because it wasn't yet necessary for God's purposes for His people at that time.

• Particular Sufficiency/Clarity (the complete Bible today):

  • The "Full Operational Plan" (for the Church Age): With the completion of the canon (Old and New Testaments), we now have all the revelation God intends for us until Christ's return (particular sufficiency).
  • What We "Need to Know" is Clear: And crucially, the essential truths within this complete revelation – salvation, God's character, moral living, the nature of the church – are presented with sufficient clarity (particular clarity).
  • Difficult Passages: Not Always "Need to Know" (for everyone): This is where your analogy resonates strongly with Frame. If a passage is difficult or seems unclear, Frame would emphasize that:
    1. The core message is still clear. The difficulty of a specific verse doesn't negate the overall clarity of the gospel or essential doctrine.
    2. Not everything is equally clear for everyone at every moment. Just as a private doesn't need to know classified intelligence, not every believer needs to fully grasp every intricate detail of biblical prophecy or theological nuance.
    3. The purpose of the text matters. If a passage is complex, it might be that its full implications are meant for deeper study by theologians or for future understanding as redemptive history unfolds (though the canon is closed, our understanding can deepen).
    4. Mystery Remains: Frame acknowledges that God is ultimately incomprehensible. Therefore, there will always be mysteries in Scripture that we, as finite beings, cannot fully penetrate. If something remains unclear, it might be because we simply don't need to know it in a comprehensive sense, or because God, in His wisdom, has chosen not to reveal it in perfect clarity to us at this time. It doesn't mean the Bible is insufficient or unclear in its primary purpose.

In summary: Frame's view is that if God intends for you to know something for salvation or obedience, He has revealed it, and revealed it clearly enough for you to understand it. If a specific detail or passage seems obscure, it doesn't undermine the Bible's overall sufficiency or clarity, but rather points to the fact that either:

* It's a "higher-level" piece of information not essential for basic faith and life, or

* It's a mystery that reflects God's incomprehensibility, and we are not meant to know every single thing exhaustively in this life.

So, yes, you're on the right track. Frame's approach suggests a divinely ordained "need to know" principle at play in how God has given and clarified His Word.