Counsels on Christian Worldview

Counsel #3 — Editing

Picture: Counsel #3 — Editing CCW 169.1

Can a prophet edit their writings? While God’s revelation to a prophet is infallible and, therefore, unalterable, the prophet’s use of language is human. By working through faulty humans, God’s perfection is, in a sense, mingled with the imperfection of humanity. So, for example, the Bible contains grammatical errors. Doesn’t God know perfect grammar? Of course, but people don’t always get grammar right, and prophets were people. Ellen White also had to find the best language to express ideas that God had communicated to her. Often, this meant editing her work. Still, the principles and overall ideas remained intact.^[272] CCW 169.2

“Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And besides, there were added to them many similar words.” Jeremiah 36:32 NKJV CCW 169.3

“When I learned that Great Controversy must be reset, I determined that we would have everything closely examined, to see if the truths it contained were stated in the very best manner…. As a result of the thorough examination by our most-experienced workers, some changing in the wording has been proposed. These changes I have carefully examined and approved.” Ellen White in Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 25, Letter 56, 1911, pars. 5, 6 CCW 169.4

Reflect: How does the mingling of divine perfection with human imperfection manifest in a prophet’s writings? CCW 169.5