A Wide Scope of Writing

The writings of Mrs. E. G. White cover a wide range of thought and experience. Nearly forty volumes through the years came from her facile pen. In some instances this matter was a duplication. Some later books contain compilations from her former publications. Her written works could perhaps be divided into two general classifications:TOJ 120.3

1. The Testimonies for the Church, and books dealing with various phases of church work and Christian experience.TOJ 121.1

2. Books dealing with the great controversy between truth and error, from the creation to the final consummation.TOJ 121.2

Of her method of preparing some of these books, especially the latter class, she herself said:TOJ 121.3

“Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the scenes of the long-continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to the writer of these pages. From time to time I have been permitted to behold the working, in different ages, of the great controversy between Christ, the Prince of life, the Author of our salvation, and Satan, the prince of evil, the author of sin, the first transgressor of God’s holy law....TOJ 121.4

“As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of His word, and the scenes of the past and future, I have been bidden to make known to others that which has thus been revealed,—to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially so to present it as to shed a light on the fast-approaching struggle of the future. In pursuance of this purpose, I have endeavored to select and group together events in the history of the church in such a manner as to trace the unfolding of the great testing truths that at different periods have been given to the world, that have excited the wrath of Satan, and the enmity of the world-loving church, and that have been maintained by the witness of those who ‘loved not their lives unto the death.’”—The Great Controversy, Introduction, v-xi.TOJ 121.5

The following list, with date of publication, comprises, according to our best knowledge, the principal books which came from her ever-busy pen. This list does not include, however, some compilations made from books which had already been published.TOJ 121.6

Not all the writings of Mrs. White are in this collection. Thousands of pages have been published in the Review and Herald, the Signs of the Times, and other denominational papers. Each of these thirty-eight volumes is a distinct publication. Each book represents much labor and earnest effort. A number of these books have been issued in other languages, and are published in various countries throughout the world.TOJ 123.1