Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Statements by Adventist Leaders

One of the earliest subjects on which James White wrote was that of her visions. But in the same connection he made emphatically clear that the Bible is supreme. Here are his words in 1847: EGWC 87.4

“The Bible is a perfect, and complete revelation. It is our only rule of faith and practice. But this is no reason, why God may not show the past, present, and future fulfilment of his word, in these last days, by dreams and visions; according to Peter’s testimony. True visions are given to lead us to God, and his written word; but those that are given for a new rule of faith and practice, separate from the Bible, cannot be from God, and should be rejected.”—JAMES WHITE, A Word to the “Little Flock,” p. 13. EGWC 87.5

This statement made by James White in 1847 is quoted by him in an 1855 editorial in which he discusses at length the primacy of the Bible. (See The Review and Herald, October 16, 1855, p. 61.) EGWC 88.1

Take another pronouncement made many years later by a president of the General Conference, George I. Butler: EGWC 88.2

“The majority of our people believe these visions to be a genuine manifestation of spiritual gifts, and as such to be entitled to respect. We do not hold them to be superior to the Bible, or in one sense equal to it. The Scriptures are our rule to test everything by, the visions as well as all other things. That rule, therefore, is of the highest authority; the standard is higher than the thing tested by it. If the Bible should show the visions were not in harmony with it, the Bible would stand and the visions would be given up. This shows plainly that we hold the Bible the highest, our enemies to the contrary, notwithstanding.”—Review and Herald Supplement, Aug. 14, 1883 p. 12. EGWC 88.3

These are typical of the statements made by spokesmen for the Seventh-day Adventist Church through all the years as to the relationship of her writings to the Bible. EGWC 88.4