Understanding Ellen White

Chapter Four - The Authority of Ellen White’s Writings

Alberto R. Timm

Seventh-day Adventists believe that Ellen White’s prophetic writings are “a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.” ¹ But some individuals have proposed alternative views, trying either to diminish or to increase the “authoritative” nature and function of her writings. The diminishing trend includes those who deny completely her prophetic authority, ² as well as those who lower it to the level of formative authority, ³ “pastoral admonition,” and “spiritual insight.” ⁴ On the other side are those who even attribute canonical status to her writings. ⁵ UEGW 55.1

As logical as some of those views may seem to be, they raise basic questions: If Ellen White’s prophetic authority was limited only to the “formative” period of the church, could her writings still be considered relevant for us today? If her authority is only of a “pastoral” nature, in what sense does it differ from the authority of pastors or teachers in general? If, on the other hand, she is supposed to have “canonical” status, how does this harmonize with her own principle of uplifting “the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms,” and “the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice”? ⁶ UEGW 55.2