Many people have wondered what the official possition of Ellen G. White's writings are within the framework of Seventh Day Adventist theology. We can answer that question by using Ellen G. White's own words and passages in the Bible.
All true protestant Christians believe in the inerrancy of the 66 cannonized books of Christian Scripture. The Roman Catholic view of Scripture is much different. The Roman Catholic Church places verbal expression from their church authorities and their traditions above the written words of Holy Scripture. Thus they are able to make their faith express any theology that they wish and can change their beliefs on a whim. There is truly no "absolute" truth for the Roman Catholic.
Protestants are not stupid. We too believe that Truth is progressive. This is not to say that there or no "absolute" truths. Some scientists would say that the law of gravity is an absolute. Be that as it may, we must believe in what the Scriptures themselves state. In other words, God says what He means, and means what He says! Let's take a brief look;
2 Tim. 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
2 Samuel 23:2 "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue."
Jeremiah 1:9 "Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."
Deut. 4:2 "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."
2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
These are just some of the Bible's own claims regarding it's reliability. As Seventh Day Adventist Christians we teach and believe that all doctrine must be tested by the 66 Books of the Biblical Cannon! If doctrine does not agree with the teachings of Scripture then it is false doctrine!
In her book, "The Great Controversy", early Adventist Christian author, Ellen G. White wrote a whole chapter titled; "The Scriptures a Safeguard". Here are some of her statements found in that chapter;
"To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20. The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness." [GC, p.593]
"The multitudes do not want Bible truth, because it interferes with the desires of the sinful, world-loving heart; and Satan supplies the deceptions which they love." [GC,p.595]
"The spirit which actuated those priests and rulers [fallen apostate Christendom] is still manifested by many who make a high profession of piety. They refuse to examine the testimony of the Scriptures concerning special truths for this time. They point to their numbers, wealth, and popularity, and look with contempt upon the advocates of truth as few, poor, and unpopular, having a faith that separates them from the world." [CG,p.596]
"A lack of moral courage to step aside from the beaten track of the world leads many to follow in the steps of learned men; and by their reluctance to investigate for themselves, they are becoming hopelessly fastened in the chains of error. They see that the truth for this time is plainly brought to view in the Bible; and they feel the power of the Holy Spirit attending its proclamation; yet they allow the opposition of the clergy to turn them from the light. Though reason and conscience are convinced, these deluded souls dare not think differently from the minister; and their individual judgment, their eternal interests, are sacrificed to the unbelief, the pride and prejudice, of another." [GC,p.597]
And one more statement of great importance......
"It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinions for ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God." [GC,p.598]
So we see that the early Advent Christians relied completely on the Bible for their source of Truth. This being said, the New Testament Scripture speaks about the "spirit" or "Gift of Prophecy". How are we to understand this gift within the understanding of "Sola Scriptura", the Bible alone is our source of Truth?
Here is how, the Bible proclaims that "spiritual gifts" are given to edify, uplift, support, and encourage the Christian Church. These gifts do not supercede the inerrant authority of Scripture, in fact, these gifts back up the claims of Scripture! The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament, commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ. After He established His church on the earth and ascended to Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to equip His church with power and spiritual gifts.
It should always be remembered that the purpose of all the gifts are to edify the church, and their distribution within the body is completely dependent upon the discretion of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:11). As Seventh Day Adventist Christians we believe that one of the gifts that the "remnant church" of God will have manifested [last day church] is the gift of prophecy. What do we base this on? The last book of the Bible states;
Rev. 12:17: "And the dragon [the Devil] was wroth [angry] with the woman [church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Rev. 19:10 "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit [gift] of prophecy."
We interprete the term "spirit of prophecy" to mean the "gift of prophecy". You can see a list of all the gift's given by the "same spirit" in 1st Corinthians 12:7-11. So God's "end time" church will have the gift of prophecy operative in it as given by the Holy Spirit.
These two verses in the book of Revelation point out that two identifying marks of the last-day Christian Church will be that it "keeps the commandments of God" and has the "gift of prophecy". The Seventh Day Adventist Church meets these requirements.
Now, how does the church understand the rightful position of sister Ellen G. White's gift within the church? Here are some of Ellen's own understandings of her writings and gift;
"The Spirit was not given--nor can it ever be bestowed--to supersede the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested" (GC vii).
Did some of Ellen G. White's writings contain her opinions? Yes! She admitted that when writing about "common" things, giving basic personal advice on matters regarding daily activites or sharing personal thoughts that sometimes..."Such words, such information, are not given under the special inspiration of the Spirit of God." [SM1,p.39] So she was not infallible nor did she ever claim to be!
She wrote: "Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light" (Review and Herald, January 20, 1903). She believed that although her writings are a "lesser light," they are light, and that the source of this light is God.
She also admitted that sometimes she could have used better words to make a point. "Although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own." (EGW, Selected Messages, 3 bks. (Washington: RHPA, 19585880), bk. l, p. 37) We also must keep in mind that language expression in English has changed since the 1800's.
I would agree with the following position regarding Ellen G. White's writings which was published by the "Biblical Research Institute" of the Official Seventh Day Adventist Church. [ Exhibit One. From The Adventist Review, December 23, 1982.Also appeared in Ministry, February 1983.]
AFFIRMATIONS
We believe that Scripture is the divinely revealed word of God and is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the canon of Scripture is composed only of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.
We believe that Scripture is the foundation of faith and the final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice.
We believe that Scripture is the Word of God in human language.
We believe that Scripture teaches that the gift of prophecy will be manifest in the Christian church after New Testament times.
We believe that the ministry and writings of Ellen White were a manifestation of the gift of prophecy.
We believe that Ellen White was inspired by the Holy Spirit and that her writings, the product of that inspiration, are applicable and authoritative, especially to Seventh-day Adventists.
We believe that the purposes of the Ellen White writings include guidance in understanding the teaching of Scripture and application of these teachings, with prophetic urgency, to the spiritual and moral life.
We believe that the acceptance of the prophetic gift of Ellen White is important to the nurture and unity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
We believe that Ellen White's use of literary sources and assistants finds parallels in some of the writings of the Bible.
DENIALS
We do not believe that the quality or degree of inspiration in the writings of Ellen White is different from that of Scripture.
We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are an addition to the canon of Sacred Scripture.
We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White function as the foundation and final authority of Christian faith as does Scripture.
We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White may be used as the basis of doctrine.
We do not believe that the study of the writings of Ellen White may be used to replace the study of Scripture.
We do not believe that Scripture can be understood only through the writings of Ellen White.
We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White exhaust the meaning of Scripture.
We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are essential for the proclamation of the truths of Scripture to society at large.
We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are the product of mere Christian piety.
We do not believe that Ellen White's use of literary sources and assistants negates the inspiration of her writings.
We conclude, therefore, that a correct understanding of the inspiration and authority of the writings of Ellen White will avoid two extremes: (1) regarding these writings as functioning on a canonical level identical with Scripture, or (2) considering them as ordinary Christian literature.
And to this I hold, Eric W. King. To me the writings of Ellen G. White are "inspired commentary".
Written by, Eric W. King [December 22,2007]
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