Was EGW inspired the same as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?

[NightEternal]

Nice.

Yeah, we sure are.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

...or was her she inspired like Elijah, Samuel or John the Baptist? Or is all inspired writings the same?

(This question comes from a friend of mine who said that the writers of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John just wrote more of a historical record...)

NO

 

[Ptilinopus]

Okay, so if Paul had 2 other writings as Ptilinopus points out, what do we make of them? Are they inspired writings? Do we hold them as scripture. Why or why not?

Think about other people who were farther removed from the early church. Martin Luther for instance; Did God inspire his writing of the 95 thesis? What about the other reformers who slowly began to understand more truth, were they inspired?
...
I guess the big question I am asking is this: Can someone be inspired but not have the whole truth such as the reformers?

And does being inspired mean you are infallible?

With a closer walk with Jesus a greater measure of the Holy Spirit is given. There can be different measures of the Holy Spirit, right? Didn't Elisha recieve a double portion of the Spirit Elijah had?

Great (and rather thought-provoking) questions, Loveaboveall. I'm still grappling with some of these too. It seems to me that there is a lot of confusion in the church (as in Christendom generally) about the role of the Holy Spirit generally, and inspiration in particular. Some thoughts which may kick off another ball...

First, Paul's other writings (Laodiceans, and 1½ Corinthians). I personally think they were inspired - which doesn't mean they should be part of Scripture. God inspires prophets with messages - verbal or oral - or in some cases (see Ezekiel and Hosea) - to be acted out! Some were in Scripture - for all time. Some were for a given time and place.

I believe God called Martin Luther, and led him in a great work of initial reform. Inspired? At some times, yes, I think so - personal opinion. Always? Not when he taught tradition without going to God's Word.

Can a person be inspired without having the whole truth? OK - first, does anyone have the whole truth? Even EGW never claimed that! And when God first called her in vision, at age 17, she did not yet know the Sabbath, or the concept of healthful living, or a number of other truths that were later rediscovered. As for infallibility, Peter was used by God as a prophet. Was he infallible? Paul didn't think so - for Peter compromised when faced with the ultra-conservatives of his own day, and withdrew from eating with the gentile believers, and Paul had to rebuke him! Infallibility is a chancy concept! EGW never claimed it.

So when should a person recognised as inspired, be taken as having a message from God? The tests of a prophet (inspiration) apply. And when a prophet/inspired person claims that the message is from God, ("I was shown...", "Thus saith the Lord", "The angel said...") we should take it seriously, and check it according to God's Word... Since the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, and God does not change (the same yesterday, today and forever), what the Holy Spirit inspired in the past will accord with what He inspires today. And if the inspiration checks out, I believe we ignore it (or try to discredit it) at our peril.

One cannot be a little bit inspired - like pregnancy, one is, or one isn't. But equally, like pregnancy, one isn't inspired all the time! Once the baby is delivered, pregnancy ceases (till next time). Once the inspired message has been delivered, inspiration may cease (till next time)...

Concerning different measures of the Holy Spirit - was Elisha's request for double inspiration?! This is where I see confusion as to the role of the Holy Spirit - Who has many other roles beside inspiration. Aside from personal help (leading into truth, convicting of sin, bringing to repentance etc), a key role of the Holy Spirit is to provide power and wisdom for witnessing, for spreading the Word of God. Elisha felt unqualified to carry out the work God gave him - and Elijah had left some pretty big shoes to fill! He asked then, for a double portion of the Spirit in order to be empowered to fulfil the responsibility God laid on Him.

This was Solomon's concern at the beginning of His reign too - when he asked for wisdom. And the Holy Spirit when poured out at Pentecost, was not especially inspiration (though some surely had that gift) - it was to empower the believers to spread the good news of salvation. Jesus had promised them power - and He made that promise good.

 

[reddogs]

Great (and rather thought-provoking) questions, Loveaboveall. I'm still grappling with some of these too. It seems to me that there is a lot of confusion in the church (as in Christendom generally) about the role of the Holy Spirit generally, and inspiration in particular. Some thoughts which may kick off another ball...

First, Paul's other writings (Laodiceans, and 1½ Corinthians). I personally think they were inspired - which doesn't mean they should be part of Scripture. God inspires prophets with messages - verbal or oral - or in some cases (see Ezekiel and Hosea) - to be acted out! Some were in Scripture - for all time. Some were for a given time and place.

I believe God called Martin Luther, and led him in a great work of initial reform. Inspired? At some times, yes, I think so - personal opinion. Always? Not when he taught tradition without going to God's Word.

Can a person be inspired without having the whole truth? OK - first, does anyone have the whole truth? Even EGW never claimed that! And when God first called her in vision, at age 17, she did not yet know the Sabbath, or the concept of healthful living, or a number of other truths that were later rediscovered. As for infallibility, Peter was used by God as a prophet. Was he infallible? Paul didn't think so - for Peter compromised when faced with the ultra-conservatives of his own day, and withdrew from eating with the gentile believers, and Paul had to rebuke him! Infallibility is a chancy concept! EGW never claimed it.

So when should a person recognised as inspired, be taken as having a message from God? The tests of a prophet (inspiration) apply. And when a prophet/inspired person claims that the message is from God, ("I was shown...", "Thus saith the Lord", "The angel said...") we should take it seriously, and check it according to God's Word... Since the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, and God does not change (the same yesterday, today and forever), what the Holy Spirit inspired in the past will accord with what He inspires today. And if the inspiration checks out, I believe we ignore it (or try to discredit it) at our peril.

One cannot be a little bit inspired - like pregnancy, one is, or one isn't. But equally, like pregnancy, one isn't inspired all the time! Once the baby is delivered, pregnancy ceases (till next time). Once the inspired message has been delivered, inspiration may cease (till next time)...

Concerning different measures of the Holy Spirit - was Elisha's request for double inspiration?! This is where I see confusion as to the role of the Holy Spirit - Who has many other roles beside inspiration. Aside from personal help (leading into truth, convicting of sin, bringing to repentance etc), a key role of the Holy Spirit is to provide power and wisdom for witnessing, for spreading the Word of God. Elisha felt unqualified to carry out the work God gave him - and Elijah had left some pretty big shoes to fill! He asked then, for a double portion of the Spirit in order to be empowered to fulfil the responsibility God laid on Him.

This was Solomon's concern at the beginning of His reign too - when he asked for wisdom. And the Holy Spirit when poured out at Pentecost, was not especially inspiration (though some surely had that gift) - it was to empower the believers to spread the good news of salvation. Jesus had promised them power - and He made that promise good.

The Holy Spirit is clear what it gives to man/woman and Christ himself laid out it's role, it is the human side that has the confusion or be unsure on it. The Spirit of Prophecy is the testimony of Jesus and has a role of preparing us for His coming, thus the specific end time or last days prophecies.

 

[higgs2]

Closed for review.