W. W. Prescott and the 1911 Edition of The Great Controversy

13. Page 56

In the second paragraph I find this statement: WWPGC 8.10

“About the close of the eighth century, papists put forth the claim that in the first ages of the church the bishops of Rome possessed the same spiritual power which they now assumed. To establish this claim, some means must be employed to give it a show of authority; and this was readily suggested by the father of lies. Ancient writings were forged by monks. Decrees of councils before unheard of were discovered,” et cetera. WWPGC 8.11

The only thing in the history of the papacy to which this can possibly refer would be the forging of the pseudo-Isidorian decretals; but these were not brought forward until the middle of the ninth century; and Pope Nicholas I who filled the pontifical chair from 858 to 867, was the first pope to make use of these forged writings in order to establish the authority of the papacy. Of course it does not say in this paragraph that these writings were forged in the eighth century, but to one acquainted with the facts the matter does not seem to be clearly handled. WWPGC 8.12

Response: Criticism rejected. No change made. WWPGC 8.13