101 Questions on the Sanctuary and on Ellen White

47. Ellen White’s Relationship to the Bible

Ford declares, “Never did Ellen G. White claim to be a medium of truth that superseded Scripture.” “Ellen G. White is not our authority. That position only Scripture can hold” (Ford, pages 604, 623). What was Ellen White’s understanding of her relationship to the Bible? QSEW 38.8

It may be that a few over-zealous, misinformed individuals do, in practice, place Ellen White above the Scriptures. However, this is certainly not the official position of the church, nor does it correctly represent Ellen White’s own view of the absolute primacy of the Bible. As a “lesser light” she invariably referred her readers to the Scriptures, the “greater light” (Evangelism, 257). Typical of her many statements on the preeminence of the Bible are the following: QSEW 39.1

“The Word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.”—The Great Controversy, vii. QSEW 39.2

“God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority-not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith”—Ibid., Page 595. QSEW 39.3

“The Bible, and the Bible alone, is to be our creed, the sole bond of union; all who bow to this Holy Word will be in harmony. Our own views and ideas must not control our efforts. Man is fallible, but God’s Word is infallible. Instead of wrangling with one another, let men exalt the Lord. Let us meet all opposition as did our Master, saying, ‘It is written.’ Let us lift up the banner on which is inscribed, The Bible our rule of faith and discipline.” Selected Messages 1:416. QSEW 39.4

Of her writings compared with the Bible she declared: QSEW 39.5

“The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God’s Word is the unerring standard. The testimonies are not to take the place of the Word. Never do we want any soul to bring in the testimonies ahead of the Bible.”—Evangelism, 256. QSEW 39.6

However, a recognition of the final authority of the Scriptures in matters of faith and religion does not thereby deny authority to those prophets God has used who were not Scripture writers. Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist were God’s acknowledged spokesmen though they did not contribute to the canon. QSEW 39.7

When Nathan pronounced Heaven’s judgments on David (2 Samuel 12), David accepted the verdict, believing fully that Nathan’s message was of divine origin. The existence of the Pentateuch as a doctrinal standard in no way diminished Nathan’s authority as a living prophet, even though his writings were not canonical. (See 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29.) QSEW 39.8

So today, the existence of the sacred canon does not exclude other inspired authorities. To say that the Bible is our authority, but Ellen White is not, is a false dichotomy. We can have both—the Bible in its sphere, and Ellen White in hers. Uriah Smith used an illustration which has helped many on this point. He wrote: QSEW 40.1

“Suppose we are about to start upon a voyage. The owner of the vessel gives us a book of directions, telling us that it contains instructions sufficient for our whole journey, and that if we will heed them, we shall reach in safety our port of destination. QSEW 40.2

“Setting sail we open our book to learn its contents. We find that its author lays down general principles to govern us in our voyage, and instructs us as far as practicable, touching the various contingencies that may arise, till the end. But he also tells us that the latter part of our journey will be especially perilous. That the features of the coast are ever changing by reason of quick sands and tempests; ‘but for this part of the journey,’ says he, ‘I have provided you a pilot, who will meet you, and give you such directions as the surrounding circumstances and dangers may require; and to him you must give heed.’ QSEW 40.3

“With these directions we reach the perilous time specified, and the pilot, according to promise, appears. But some of the crew, as he offers his services, rise up against him. ‘We have the original book of directions,’ say they, ‘and that is enough for us. We stand upon that, and that alone; we want nothing of you.’ Who now heed that original book of directions? Those who reject the pilot, or those who receive him, as that book instructs them? Judge you. QSEW 40.4

“But some may meet us at this point like this: ‘Then you would have us take Sister White as our pilot, would you?’ It is to forestall any efforts in this direction, that this sentence is penned. We say no such thing. What we do say is distinctly this: That the gifts of the Spirit are given for our pilot through these perilous times, and wherever and in whomsoever we find genuine manifestations of these, we are bound to respect them, nor can we do otherwise without in so far rejecting the Word of God, which directs us to receive them.”—The Review and Herald, January 13, 1863. (See Joel 2:28-32; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28; Ephesians 4:11-13.) QSEW 40.5