Is the Bible ambiguous?

Before we answer the question of whether there are things in the Bible that are ambiguous, let’s establish what the Bible is.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). As God’s Word, the Bible is truth (John 17:17) and is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). We can trust what the Bible says and believes what it claims. Yes, there are some things in the Bible that are ambiguous. But, as the Bible is God’s Word, the ambiguity is purposeful.

It’s important to note that the Bible is exceedingly clear on matters essential for salvation. For example, the Bible is clear in its teaching that salvation comes by faith in Christ, not by our good works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Similarly, the Bible unambiguously teaches that Jesus is God (1 John 1:1; Colossians 2:9) and that He has existed from eternity past (1 John 1:1–3). The Bible also gives clarity on important matters such as the nature of God, the sinfulness of mankind, our responsibility to God, and more.

The word ambiguous means “having more than one meaning” or “open to multiple interpretations.” If a statement is ambiguous, it could be understood in different ways. With that definition, there are some things in the Bible that are ambiguous because of a lack of detail. For example, who were the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:1–4? How often does Jesus expect His followers to observe communion? First Corinthians 11:26 only says, “Whenever.”

So, yes, there are some things in the Bible that are ambiguous. Even the apostle Peter acknowledged there are “some things hard to understand” in Scripture (2 Peter 3:16). The writer of Hebrews distinguishes between “milk” and “solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). Paul speaks of “the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Importantly, the ambiguous passages of the Bible are never about matters essential for salvation. Believing the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 were fallen angels has no bearing on someone’s salvation. Neither will God grant or withhold salvation based on how often a person took communion. Our salvation, as the Bible unambiguously declares, is solely a gift from God in response to faith in Christ.

For whatever reason, God has allowed some things in His Word to be ambiguous. We must trust that He has a good reason for not making those matters clearer. He has given us a wealth of information, and the majority of it is crystal clear. When we run into a section that is more ambiguous than we’d like, we must study more and, ultimately, surrender to God’s wisdom and sovereignty.

When discussing ambiguous matters with others, it’s important to conduct oneself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27). Christians should approach such conversations in a loving, respectful way, remembering there are various interpretations possible. Name-calling, belittling comments, and gossip have no place in our dialogue. When discussing ambiguous matters with non-believers, Christians should acknowledge the ambiguity and encourage them to study the matter themselves and thus engage God’s Word directly.

Ultimately, everything we do should be for the glory of God. First Corinthians 16:14 says, “Let all that you do be done in love,” and 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (emphasis added).