III. Not absolute but conditioned and sufficient perspicuity for canonical teaching
III. We therefore do not assert an absolute and every-way perspicuity of the Scriptures handed down to us, but a conditioned and sufficient one for discharging the canonical and didactic office for those who read and search them decently.
This is shown from John 5:39 and Psalm 19:12. For here are all things needful, clear, and straight — all necessary, clear, manifest, and right — Chrysostom witnessing (volume 3 on 2 Thessalonians); not needing explanation but only hearing — Justin Martyr witnessing (Dialogue with Trypho). Yet diligent scrutiny and meditation are needed so that they become perspicuous to the reader, according to Cyril of Alexandria (Against Julian book 9): "Nothing is hard for those who dwell in the Scriptures as they ought." And Clement of Alexandria (Stromata book 7): one must examine the Scriptures accurately, not read them casually. And Epiphanius (Against heresies): all things are clear in the divine Scripture for those who wish to approach the divine word with pious reasoning.
Latin
III. Non igitur absolutam & omnimodam perspicuitatem scripturarum, ad nos relatarum, asserimus, sed conditionatam & sufficientem ad canonicum & didacticum officium praestandum iis, qui eas decenter legunt & scrutantur. Hoc demonstratur ex Joh. 5.39. & psal. 19.12. Εἰσὶν γὰρ ἐνταῦθα πάντα ἀναγκαῖα, σαφῆ, εὐθέα — omnia necessaria, clara, manifesta & recta, teste Chrysostomo tom. 3. in 2. ad Thess. οὐ μόνον ἀσαφείας, neque indiga explicationis, sed duntaxat auditionis, teste Justino Martyre dialogo cum Tryphone: tamen diligenti scrutinio & meditatione opus est, ut lectori perspicua evadant, juxta Cyrillum Alexandrinum lib. 9. contra Julianum: Nihil, dicentem, est difficile iis, qui in scripturis versantur, ut decet. Et Clementem Alexand. l.7. Strom. Δεῖ τὰς γραφὰς ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάζειν, οὐ παρέργως ἀναγινώσκειν — oportet scripturas accurate perscrutari, non obiter legere. Et Epiphanium haeres.: πάντα σαφῆ ἐν τῇ θείᾳ γραφῇ τοῖς βουλομένοις εὐσεβεῖ λογισμῷ προσέρχεσθαι τῷ θείῳ λόγῳ — omnia clara in divina scriptura volentibus pio ratiocinio accedere divino sermoni.