Ellen White’s Writings and the Bible

Perhaps the most fundamental issue regarding the claims of Ellen G. White is the relationship of her writings to the Bible: Did she believe her writings were equal to Scripture? Do Seventh-day Adventists believe Mrs. White’s writings have the same authority as the Bible? Are there degrees of inspiration?

Critics of Ellen White and Seventh-day Adventism make it a point to emphasize the phrase in  Fundamental Belief #18, which states that the writings of Ellen White are a “continuing and authoritative source of truth” to the SDA church. In doing so, they attempt to present Mrs. White’s writings as a threat to the final authority of the Bible.

The official White Estate site states concerning this issue:

Seventh-day Adventists believe that “the writings of Ellen White are not a substitute for Scripture. They cannot be placed on the same level. The Holy Scriptures stand alone, the unique standard by which her and all other writings must be judged and to which they must be subject” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . , p. 227). Ellen White herself claimed that “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).

For all  those interested in this vital topic, the following documents are essential reading:

“Ellen G. White’s Understanding of How Her Writings Relate to Scripture,” consists of two important passages from Mrs. White on the subject.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Understanding of Ellen G. White’s Authority,” consists of two statements from official church sources. This is an extremely important document because it communicates clearly and precisely where the SDA church stands on its understanding of the relationship of Ellen White’s writings to Scripture.

For an extemely important study on the issue of the prophetic gift and its relation to Scripture, see Frank Holbrook’s article, “The Biblical Basis for a Modern Prophet.”

Are Ellen White’s 100,000 pages more important than the Bible’s 1200 pages?

Ellen White and Sola Scriptura by Merlin  D. Burt, director of the Center for Adventist Research at Andrews University, is a paper presented at the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Presbyterian Church USA Conversation on August 23, 2007. This paper is a very helpful study on the relationship of Ellen White to the Bible. For Christians of various theological persuasions wondering where Adventists really stand on this issue, “Ellen White and Sola Scriptura” is the one to read. It represents mainstream Adventist theology and is a far cry from what detractors of Ellen White say. It is part of the SDA Biblical Research Institute’s “Conversations with Other Christians” series.

Other documents on this issue are forthcoming.