The Ellen G. White Writings

E. G. White Appraisal of History Presented by the Prophetic Writers

A few quotations suffice to remind us of Mrs. White’s evaluation of history as presented by the Bible prophets: EGWW 36.1

The Bible is a history that tells us of the creation of the world, and opens to us past centuries. Without it we should have been left to conjecture and fable in regard to the occurrences of the remote past.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 421. EGWW 36.2

The Bible is the most instructive and comprehensive history that has ever been given to the world. Its sacred pages contain the only authentic account of the creation. Here we behold the power that “stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth.” Here we have a truthful history of the human race, one that is unmarred by human prejudice or human pride.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 84, 85. EGWW 36.3

The divine mind and hand have preserved through the ages the record of creation in its purity. It is the word of God alone that gives to us an authentic account of the creation of our world.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 13. EGWW 36.4

We are dependent on the Bible for a knowledge of the early history of our world, of the creation of man, and of his fall. Remove the word of God, and what can we expect than to be left to fables and conjectures, and to that enfeebling of the intellect which is the sure result of entertaining error. We need the authentic history of the origin of the earth, of the fall of the covering cherub, and of the introduction of sin into our world. Without the Bible, we should be bewildered by false theories. The mind would be subjected to the tyranny of superstition and falsehood. But having in our possession an authentic history of the beginning of our world, we need not hamper ourselves with human conjectures and unreliable theories.—Medical Ministry, 89. EGWW 36.5

Ellen White saw the Bible as an inspired reliable history. Concerning its first records she states: EGWW 36.6

The preparation of the written word began in the time of Moses.... This work continued ... from Moses, the historian of creation and the law, to John, the recorder of the most sublime truths of the gospel.—The Great Controversy, v. EGWW 36.7

Concerning the history of the life of our Lord as recorded by the apostles, she declared: EGWW 37.1

The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to exalt the Lord alone, and guided the pens of the sacred historians.—Gospel Workers, 286. EGWW 37.2

Of the record of the lives and work of the apostles, she refers to it as “history, written under the direction of the Holy Spirit” (The Acts of the Apostles, 593). EGWW 37.3