101 Questions on the Sanctuary and on Ellen White

59. Mistakes of a Doctrinal Nature

According to Ford, “Ellen White changed several doctrinal positions” such as the time to begin the Sabbath, the eating of pork, systematic benevolence versus tithing, the meaning of the shut door, the law in Galatians, etc. (Ford, pages 12, 619, 622, 629.) Is this true? QSEW 53.2

Ellen White’s understanding of some Scriptures did change as a result of Bible study and as she received increased light from the Lord. Several of Ford’s examples are valid, but others are not. The Bible writers themselves were wrong at times in their theology and had to be corrected. Peter erroneously interpreted such texts as Nehemiah 13:1-3 and Hosea 2:23 until the Lord straightened him out (Acts 10). The apostles all misunderstood Zechariah 13:7 and Isaiah 53:7, 8, even when Christ tried to explain His coming crucifixion to them (Mark 9:31, 32). They grew in their comprehension of the Bible just as others did (Luke 24:25, 26; John 20:8, 9; Acts 1:6). QSEW 53.3

The same was true of Ellen White. At times she did not understand certain Bible teachings until these were presented to her in vision. Note the examples given in the next few paragraphs. QSEW 54.1