EGW's writings--an inspired guide, per SDA General Conference

[tall73]

We read the Bible and apply the Acts 17:11 test - "they studied the scriptures daily to SEE IF those things were so that were spoken by the Apostle Paul" -- if an actual Apostle like Paul can be subjected to such a sola scritura model of testing his doctrine - then most certainly the teaching of prophets like Ellen White can be subjected to that same test.

We agree.

 

[tall73]

I have not heard of him. Can you tell me more about him?

If you have not heard of him, then it would probably just make sense to work off of the statements you have made. Sometimes if folks are familiar with Thompson's, or Bradford's discussion of inspiration it can save a bit of time, but it is not necessary.

I'm not sure I would even go so far as thought inspiration -- but let me explain. If God give a prophet thought #1, then #2, then #3 etc, and the prophet rights each of these down, 1, 2, 3, then that seems very much to me like dictation.

It might take different forms than just here is thought one two or three however,

For instance, John was instructed:

Revelation 1:19 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. (NKJV)

Here he sees information, then puts it down on paper. But the content of Revelation also makes clear he used numerous OT (and some would say extra-biblical) allusions as he did so.

Luke, the author of 1 and 2 Kings, etc. also reference using sources. For that matter, Ellen White discussed using sources in her introduction to Great Controversy.

And in some cases they may receive information in a dream. Or they may be relayed it through some other means, etc. But it is God relaying it, and it is not usually in dictated words, though it can sometimes be such as at Sinai.

Obviously, Jesus also spoke directly, and the Holy Spirit brought to mind all that He had said. Even in that John, Matthew, etc. arrange the material within their gospels.

The Bible clearly does show examples where God would tell a prophet very explicit instructions, including instructions to run away fast as soon as the message is delivered (I can't find the reference now, but it was right after one of the kings of Israel was anointed by a prophet I think). So God certainly could have spoken to White that way. But think also that when White had her first vision, she was very young, and many of the SDA doctrines that would later to come were foreign to her. So imagine then that she gets up and preaches of what God (or one of His angels) showed her in vision. Does that mean that she understands everything 100%? Might she not quite understand the framing of the topic etc?

We may return to this. I am short on time at the moment. But we agree a prophet will not always understand all the aspects of what they relay.