Words and instructions

Ellen White was clear that though the thoughts came from God, the words were her own: “I would state that although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation.” ^{25EGW, “Questions and Answers,” Review and Herald, October 8, 1867, 260.} The words of the angel were usually explanatory to help her understand what she was shown.UEGW 40.5

After receiving a pictorial representation of how there is order in heaven, she wrote: “Said the angel, ‘Walk carefully before Him, for He is high and lifted up, and the train of His glory fills the temple.’ I saw that everything in heaven was in perfect order. Said the angel, ‘Look ye; Christ is the head; move in order, move in order. Have a meaning to everything.’ “ ^{26EGW, Manuscript 11, 1850.} These visions gave immediate help to the church as they struggled to understand God’s will regarding organization. These initial communications of the divine message sometimes seemed unpolished and formative.UEGW 40.6

Later Ellen White would write general counsel based on specific visions or a thematic grouping of numerous divine communications. She wrote to a man who misunderstood inspiration as being verbal:UEGW 40.7

In your letter, you speak of your early training to have implicit faith in the testimonies, and say, “I was led to conclude and most firmly believe that every word that you ever spoke in public or private, that every letter you wrote under any and all circumstances, was as inspired as the Ten Commandments.” My brother, you have studied my writings diligently, and you have never found that I have made any such claims, neither will you find that the pioneers in our cause have made such claims. ^{27This letter, written from California, on June 14, 1906, was subsequently published in the Review and Herald, August 30, 1906, 8.}UEGW 40.8

Though the words were usually Ellen White’s own, she sometimes received assistance in choosing the right words. The following is one way this would happen.UEGW 41.1

In the night season I am speaking and writing clear words of admonition. I waken so burdened in soul that I am again driven to take up my pen. In various ways matters are opened up before my mind, and I dare not rest, or keep quiet. ^{28EGW, Letter 59, 1895; italics in the original.}UEGW 41.2

Another way in which she would receive guidance with the actual words, though it seems to be the exception rather than the rule, was that Ellen White would write and later read what she had written as if for the first time.UEGW 41.3

In the night I am aroused from my sleep, and I write in my diary many things that appear as new to me when read as to any who hear them. If I did not see the matter in my own handwriting, I should not think my pen had traced it. ^{29EGW, Letter 118, 1898.}UEGW 41.4

When she and her assistants later gathered her writings and prepared a book for general readership, she would write more comprehensively and usually did not quote the words of the angel or make reference to her various visions. Instead, she shared the principles within the context of the salvation theme. As she prepared the material, it was message or thought based. At times God would help her with the actual words to convey the thought. “Most precious, simple, elevating truth is in these precious volumes. When writing these precious books, if I hesitated, the very word I wanted to express the idea was given me.” ^{30EGW, Letter 265, 1907.} “There are those who say, ‘Someone manipulates her writings.’ I acknowledge the charge. It is One who is mighty in counsel, One who presents before me the condition of things.” ^{31EGW, Letter 52, 1906.} Thus, God used all aspects of her human resources to ensure that she conveyed the message He intended in a trustworthy manner.UEGW 41.5

Although inspiration sometimes influenced the specific words she spoke or wrote, usually she drew from her own expression based on her understanding of what she was shown. She was aided in her understanding and expression by other sources such as her reading, study, and various human interactions that helped her to round out both her understanding and that of the reader. Her reading of various materials and what she heard from others enhanced her understanding of what God had revealed to her and thus improved her presentation. For more information on this, see chapter 11, “Ellen White and Sources.”UEGW 41.6

Although Ellen White understood inspiration as bringing together the human and the divine, she did not therefore conclude that all of her human experiences and communications were under the direction of inspiration. Her everyday life and family relationships were much like any other person’s.UEGW 42.1

There are times when common things must be stated, common thoughts must occupy the mind, common letters must be written and information given that has passed from one to another of the workers. Such words, such information, are not given under the special inspiration of the Spirit of God. ^{32EGW, Manuscript 107, 1909.}UEGW 42.2

It is important for the reader to be aware of Ellen White’s distinction be-tween the sacred and common as it related to her writings and experience.UEGW 42.3

Too often those who read the Bible or Ellen White’s writings have tried to define revelation and inspiration in narrow terms that lead to confusion and sometimes a loss of faith in the divine communication. It is best to let the Bible and Ellen White’s writings define how inspiration worked rather than constructing an artificial framework that is incomplete.UEGW 42.4

Both the Bible and Ellen White in her writings present a consistent picture of an incarnational view of inspiration where the working of the Holy Spirit impacts the entire person and experience of the prophet. Often this was done through divinely selected representations with commentary. This was for the purpose of making the divine message clear to the messengers and to provide ways for them to convey the message to the intended recipients. The prophets conveyed the divine message or the divine thoughts using their own words, though when necessary, God assisted the prophets in the choice of their words. The message produced is the product of God working though the human instrument; the divine and human components cannot be separated. Though the human “vessel of clay” with its weakness and limitations remains, through the Holy Spirit, God ensures that His word is communicated and the message is trustworthy. As outlined in the next chapter, this communication was not separated from Scripture, but always pointed people to the Bible as the foundation for Christian faith and practice.UEGW 42.5