The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is not understandable. Notice the following:

"Secondly, the Bible is not a clear and intelligible guide to all. There are many passages in the Bible which are difficult and obscure, not only to the ordinary person, but to the highly trained scholar as well. St. Peter himself tells us that in the Epistles of St. Paul there are 'certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and the unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, to their own destruction' (2 Peter 3:16)." (The Faith of Millions, pp. 152-153)

"We must, therefore, conclude that the Scriptures alone cannot be a sufficient guide and rule of faith... because they are not of themselves clear and intelligible even in matters of highest importance ... " (The Faith of Our Fathers, p. 73).

The passage (2 Peter 3:16) quoted above by the Catholic writer does not state that the Scriptures are not clear and intelligible to all. Peter simply said that Paul's writings contained certain things "hard" (not impossible) to be understood. He said that the unlearned and unstable wrest (twist, distort) these, as they do the other Scriptures (the Old Testament) to their own destruction. In other words, their misuse (twisting, distorting, misapplying) of the Scriptures would cause their eternal destruction.

Peter went on to say in the next verses, "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:17-18) Thus, Peter admonished Christians to grow in knowledge lest they, too, like the unlearned and unstable, wrest or distort difficult passages to their own destruction. This instruction from the beloved apostle is far removed from the Catholic claim.

There is much misunderstanding of the Bible when people try to make it harmonize with Catholic teaching, for in many instances Catholic teaching is contrary to the Bible. For example, the Catholic Church considers pouring water on a person to be baptism, but the Bible teaches immersion, a burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:38-39). Thus, in such matters, instead of rejecting the false teachings of the Catholic Church, many conclude that the Bible is not a clear and intelligible book. Many so-called Protestants do likewise. When comparing their human traditions with the Bible, instead of abandoning their man-made doctrines, they say, "The Bible is a mysterious and difficult book."

The inspired writers declared that the things they wrote were understandable (1 Corinthians 1:13; Ephesians 3:3-5). The many passages that compel us to read, study, search, and grow in knowledge imply that the Scriptures are understandable. The fact that God commanded these things shows that He, Himself, considers His Word understandable. God made the mind of man, and He is fully capable of addressing man in words he can understand. In the last day, God will judge all men by the Scriptures (Revelation 20:12). Will He judge us by a standard that cannot be understood?