Ellen G. White Exalted the Scriptures

No clearer statement can be found from the pen of Ellen G. White concerning the relationship of her writings to the Scriptures than the words with which she closed her first book (Experiences and Views) in 1851:BHP 162.3

“I recommend to you, dear reader, the word of God as the rule of your faith and practise. By that word we are to be judged. God has, in that word, promised to give visions in the ‘LAST DAYS’; not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth.”A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, 64; reprinted in Early Writings, 78.BHP 163.1

All through her life she exalted the Word of God. Her last words to the General Conference in session were spoken in 1909 as she held the Bible extended on her hands: “I commend unto you this Book.” W. A. Spicer, Certainties of the Advent Movement, p. 202.BHP 163.2

Again and again she reiterated the truth of the supremacy of the Word of God:BHP 163.3

“I take the Bible just as it is, as the Inspired Word. I believe its utterances in an entire Bible. Men arise who think they find something to criticize in God’s word. They lay it bare before others as evidence of superior wisdom….BHP 163.4

“Brethren, let not a mind or hand be engaged in criticizing the Bible…. Men should let God take care of His own Book, His Living Oracles, as He has done for ages…. Brethren, cling to your Bible, as it reads, and stop your criticisms in regard to its validity, and obey the word, and not one of you will be lost….BHP 163.5

“Men of humble acquirements, possessing but limited capabilities and opportunities to become conversant in the Scriptures, find in the Living Oracles comfort, guidance, counsel, and the plan of salvation as clear as a sunbeam. No one need be lost for want of knowledge, unless he is willfully blind.BHP 163.6

“We thank God that the Bible is prepared for the poor man as well as for the learned man. It is fitted for all ages and all classes.” Manuscript 16, 1888, quoted in F. M. Wilcox, The Testimony of Jesus, pp. 13-15.BHP 163.7

“God committed the preparation of His divinely inspired word to finite man. This word arranged into books, the Old and New Testaments, is the guidebook to the inhabitants of a fallen world; bequeathed to them, that by studying and obeying the directions, not one soul would lose its way to heaven.” Ibid., p. 13.BHP 164.1

“The truth of God is found in His word. Those who feel that they must seek elsewhere for present truth need to be converted anew. They have wrong habits to mend, evil ways to be abandoned. They need to seek anew the truth as it is in Jesus, that their character building may be in harmony with the lessons of Christ. As they abandon their human ideas and take up their God-given duties, beholding Christ and becoming conformed to His likeness, they say: ‘Nearer, my God, to Thee; nearer to Thee.’” Testimonies for the Church 8:192.BHP 164.2

“Brother J would confuse the mind by seeking to make it appear that the light God has given through the Testimonies is an addition to the word of God, but in this he presents the matter in a false light. God has seen fit in this matter to bring the minds of His people to His word, to give them a clearer understanding of it.” Testimonies for the Church 4:246.BHP 164.3

“The word of God abounds in general principles for the formation of correct habits of living, and the testimonies, general and personal, have been calculated to call their attention more especially to these principles.” Testimonies for the Church 8:323.BHP 164.4

For further study on this phase of the topic, kindly read the following references: Fundamentals of Christian Education, 384; Gospel Workers, 249; The Desire of Ages, 392; Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 77; Testimonies for the Church 2:454, 455, 605-607; 665-667, 674; 402, 403; Introduction to The Great Controversy.BHP 164.5

From her own statements we may conclude that Ellen G. White believed—BHP 165.1

1. That the entire Bible is the Inspired Word of God.BHP 165.2

2. That men should “cling” to their Bibles.BHP 165.3

3. That men should believe and obey the Bible and “not one” of them would be lost.BHP 165.4

4. That in the Bible is found “comfort, guidance, counsel, and the plan of salvation as clear as a sunbeam.”BHP 165.5

5. That the Bible is fitted for the needs of all—rich and poor, learned and illiterate, “all ages and all classes.”BHP 165.6

6. That the “truth of God is found in His Word.”BHP 165.7

7. That no one need “seek elsewhere for present truth.”BHP 165.8

8. That the Bible contains all that a man needs for salvation.BHP 165.9

9. That the Bible sets forth the pattern for Christian living.BHP 165.10

10. That the Testimonies were given only because man has neglected his Bible, and that the Testimonies will direct him back to his Bible. They are not given as “an addition to the word of God,” or to take the place of that Word of God.BHP 165.11

These ten conclusions are all held by men of the past and men of the present who have been most diligent and serious students of the Spirit of prophecy. Now let me introduce one other thought: If all these conclusions are true, did Ellen G. White ever claim to have given Seventh-day Adventists their doctrinal teaching? their system of theology? Did she ever give us our prophetic interpretations? Did she claim that her writings would supplant all other writings that had to do with the Scriptures and prophetic interpretations? The answer to all these questions is No.BHP 166.1

The reason I think that you and I should know what she said, and how she related herself to our doctrines, is this: Too many people today are accusing us as Adventists of having a second Bible, or of setting the Bible aside and using only the red books, as her writings are sometimes called. That accusation probably comes from the fact that many of us, teachers and preachers, use the writings of the Spirit of prophecy in our Sabbath school teaching, in our Sabbath sermons, in much of our writings, because we love the way she expresses her thoughts and the beautiful language in which they are couched. Consequently, many people have taken the attitude that we are setting the Bible aside and using the writings of Ellen G. White in place of the Scriptures. This is not true. The denomination has never done it.BHP 166.2