Third, the more obscure and more rare things are to be explained from the clearer and more frequent things.
Third, the more obscure and more rare things are to be explained from the clearer and more frequent things.
§ 533. (III) The more obscure and more rare things are to be explained from the clearer and more frequent things. This rule follows from the previous one. Because there is no article of faith that is not set forth in some passage of Scripture with clear and perspicuous words, from which passage all the others that treat that subject receive their light, therefore one must take the interpretation of the more obscure passages from the clearer ones. Augustine, De doctr. Christ., bk. 2, c. 9: “To illuminate the more obscure sayings, let examples be taken from the more obvious ones, and let testimonies for the definite statements remove doubt about the uncertain ones.” To this rule belong the rules for the comparison of passages of Scripture.