The Third Edition

Between 1871 and 1881, testimonies 17 to 30 were published, first as separate pamphlets, and later bound together, but with the pamphlet pagination retained. In 1882 testimony 31 appeared, but once more the publishers found it impossible to supply the demand for complete sets of the testimonies either as pamphlets or bound books. In 1883 it was decided to reprint Nos. 1-30. Before the printing was undertaken, however, there were some decisions of major importance that had to be made. In some of the testimonies, written under unfavorable circumstances, there were grammatical imperfections that had not been corrected before they were printed. Mrs. White and her associates felt that these corrections should be made before the messages were printed again.APAY 322.3

Such importance was attached to the question that it was brought to the General Conference session of 1883 for consideration and an expression of the attitude of the leaders of the work. The actions of the session as published in the The Review and Herald, November 27, 1883, contain the following:APAY 322.4

“32. Whereas, Some of the bound volumes of the Testimonies to the Church are out of print, so that full sets cannot be obtained at the Office; and—APAY 323.1

“Whereas, There is a constant and urgent call for the reprinting of these volumes; therefore—APAY 323.2

“Resolved, That we recommend their republication in such a form as to make four volumes of seven or eight hundred pages each.APAY 323.3

“33. Whereas, Many of these testimonies were written under the most unfavorable circumstances, the writer being too heavily pressed with anxiety and labor to devote critical thought to the grammatical perfection of the writings, and they were printed in such haste as to allow these imperfections to pass uncorrected; and—APAY 323.4

“Whereas, We believe the light given by God to His servants is by the enlightenment of the mind, thus imparting the thoughts, and not (except in rare cases) the very words in which the ideas should be expressed; therefore—APAY 323.5

“Resolved, That in the republication of these volumes such verbal changes be made as to remove the above-named imperfections, as far as possible, without in any measure changing the thought; and, further—APAY 323.6

“34. Resolved, That this body appoint a committee of five to take charge of the republication of these volumes according to the above preambles and resolutions.”APAY 323.7

This was simply a recognition of the principle already noticed, that neither the Bible writers nor Ellen White received their messages by dictation. Mrs. White was constantly striving to prepare her books to present in a clear and appealing manner the things that had been revealed to her. If the correction of minor grammatical errors would make the books more attractive and if they would better represent the high and holy nature of the thoughts presented, should not those corrections be made when they in no wise altered the sense of the message? Some might be turned away from the message as a whole because some portion of the truth was not presented in the best manner possible.APAY 323.8

In 1885 the new edition of the testimonies was ready for distribution. The needed corrections had been approved by Mrs. White, larger pages and clearer type were used, and the thirty testimonies appeared in four volumes—volumes 1-4 of the present nine-volume set of Testimonies for the Church. In the “Preface to Third Edition,” this explanatory note was included, indicating two additional types of minor changes that were made:APAY 324.1

“In the Testimonies as first printed, blanks or initials were generally used for the names of the persons addressed. For these are now substituted the letters of the alphabet, beginning with A in each number.APAY 324.2

“In the earlier visions the words ‘I saw’ were very frequently inserted. As the writer considers this repetition needless, and as they constitute no part of the record of what was seen, they are sometimes omitted. Some grammatical and rhetorical changes also have been made for the sake of strength and clearness. In making these changes great care has been taken to preserve every idea, and in no case have either words or sentences been omitted unless as above indicated, to avoid unnecessary repetition.” Testimonies for the Church 1:iii, iv, 3d ed., 1885.APAY 324.3

Volumes of the Testimonies continued to be issued Until thirty-seven numbered pamphlets and books had come from the press by 1909. These thirty-seven make up the set of nine volumes bound separately or in four books.APAY 324.4

In these books is found the fulfillment of the commission quoted earlier: “Your testimony ... is to come down to the minutiae of life, keeping the feeble faith from dying, and pressing home upon believers the necessity of shining as lights in the world.’”Testimonies for the Church 2:608. Through them the church has learned God’s way of applying the great principles of Christian living as outlined and illustrated in the Bible. Here are brought to focus on the twentieth century rays of light lost sight of through ages past. In these books is “a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.” Colporteur Ministry, 125.APAY 324.5

Not only in the books known as the Testimonies is the light visible, but each of the Ellen White books gives an insight into the Scriptures equaled by the writings of no other author. They never take the place of Bible study by giving all the explanation needed—God did not intend that they should serve as crutches. They do not eliminate the need for the prompting of the mind by the Spirit of God, for it is the Spirit who gives perception through any revelation. Chapter 19 of this book pictures the relation of these writings to the Bible. The diligent student who accepts the Bible as his rule of faith and practice can find Ellen White’s writings of inestimable service in leading him to a better understanding of Scripture. They will also help him apply its teachings to his present problems as he prepares for the second advent of Jesus Christ.APAY 325.1