|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Commentary on "Interpreting the Prophetic Writings"
Day 1: Sabbath afternoon, March 7, 2009
This lesson opens by setting forth the focus for the week, how to interpret the writings of Ellen White. The lesson affirms that White manifested the gift of prophecy and that her inspiration is on the same level as the Old and New Testament prophets. White and her writings are referred to as “the Spirit of Prophecy”. Although the lesson states that White’s authority is secondary to the authority of the Bible, the assertion is made that we must apply the same principles of interpretation to her writings that we do to Scripture.
Problems
Building on previous weeks, this lesson assumes that White’s prophecies were legitimately inspired by the Holy Spirit and were therefore of the same quality as the prophecies recorded by any biblical writer. As demonstrated in previous weeks’ commentaries, this assumption is faulty on a number of counts. The extensive problems with this assumption will not be restated here, but the reader is encouraged to review all of the previous weeks’ commentaries (especially “Testing the Prophets”, January 31 – February 6).
If Ellen White’s prophecies were not truly of God and do not pass the biblical plumb line for truth, then the assertion that we must apply the same principles of interpretation to her writings as we do to the Bible is irrelevant. Such an assertion has no meaning if, as has previously been demonstrated, White’s writings frequently contradict or change the meaning of Scripture. If White fails the test of a true prophet there is no basis at all upon which we can claim that her writings were inspired by the Holy Spirit, are of the same quality as biblical writings, or should be approached in the same way we approach the study of scripture.
Most notably, this lesson sets forth an illogical and self-contradicting premise. One cannot claim that a prophet’s inspiration is on the exact same level as the writers of the Old and New Testament and at the same time attempt to maintain the appearance of a hierarchy in authority. To say that White and her writings constitute “the Spirit of Prophecy” and that her inspiration is on the same level as the Bible, but her authority is not, is a distinction without a difference. If White’s writings are God’s word to us, just as the writings of the biblical authors are, then there can be no real distinction in authority. God’s word is either authoritative or it is not. We cannot claim that some of the writings inspired by God are more authoritative then others, but still on the same level of inspiration, and maintain intellectual consistency.
Summary
- There is no legitimate reason to assume that the inspiration of Ellen White’s writings is on the same level as the Bible.
- The discussion of applying principles for biblical interpretation to White’s writings is irrelevant if White and her writings are not consistent with Scripture.
- It is contradictory to claim that White’s inspiration, but not her authority, is on the same level as the Old and New Testament prophets.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 6, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 11
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 11
Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 11
Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings