What is hermeneutics anyway? One definition is “the science and art of deriving meaning.” It is a core consideration in any study of theology, or of prophetic writers. Yet when one seeks to apply hermeneutical principles—interpretation—to the writings of the Bible or Adventism’s prophet, Ellen White, the response sometimes comes: “Hermeneutics? So who needs it?”HIPSA 1.8

Increasingly the question is raised within Adventist circles, “How do you interpret a ‘horse-and-buggy’—era prophet in an age of space shuttles and cyclotrons?” It is a good question; it deserves a good answer.HIPSA 1.9

Of course, if one defines relevance as inversely proportional to the distance in time, then the Bible would become even more irrelevant, for the New Testament was written nearly two millennia ago.HIPSA 1.10

But how are we to understand the writings of a prophetess who lived only 15 years into our 20th century? Life was very different then. The first Hollywood feature motion picture did not flash upon the screens of theaters until 1915, the year of Ellen White’s death. The first commercial radio station did not begin to broadcast until five years later. And the first commercial television station did not come on line until 1939.HIPSA 1.11

Can Ellen White really speak meaningfully to our time? The answer, as in the case of the biblical prophets, is an emphatic though qualified, “Yes.” As with Moses, Jeremiah Daniel, and Paul, so with Ellen: it is often necessary to apply generally accepted principles of hermeneutics—interpretation—in order to determine what the prophet means rather than simply what the prophet says.HIPSA 1.12

Not all Seventh-day Adventists would agree. Many feel sincere concern (if not fear), that “liberals” will exploit this device in order to “water down” (if not totally nullify) the Word of God by cleverly “spiritualizing away” the obvious point and intent of inspired statements.HIPSA 1.13

Nor are such concerns unfounded. In the days of Jesus the religious teachers did just that with their “Corban” doctrine which in effect totally nullified the fifth precept of the Decalogue. Jesus declared: “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect” (Matthew 15:6). Indeed, “explaining” must never be allowed to degenerate into “explaining away.”HIPSA 2.1

However, those who insist that we need no rules of hermeneutics must contend with an unintended irony: the “no-hermeneutics” position is, itself, a hermeneutical position! This might be called the “Plain-English” or “Mary” hermeneutic (after the counsel of the mother of Christ at the Cana wedding feast, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it”—John 2:5).HIPSA 2.2

A woman once wrote to the White Estate about Ellen White’s statements on the eating of cheese. In response, I believe I first recounted the various statements and strictures made by the prophet. I then gave some contextual background regarding the times in which the prophet had written—lack of pasteurization, generally filthy conditions in dairies of the day, etcetera. ^{1Endnotes See Otto L. Bettmann, The Good Old Days—They Were Terrible. (New York: Random House, 1974), John 2:8, “Health,” pp. 135-154. Today, objections to cheese may be raised because of the high incidence of leukemia among cows, high saturated far and sodium content of cheese, and the potential for allergic reactions.-Letter, Milton G. Crane, M.D., to Roger W. Coon, November 30. 1987. Dr. Crane is research professor emeritus. Loma Linda University, and presently director of medical research, Weimar Institute, Weimar, California. He has written two helpful monographs concerning the use of cheese: “The Role of Cholesterol and Excess Far in Disease” (c. 1984) and “Does’ Every Body’ Need Milk?” (c. 1985).}HIPSA 2.3

The recipient shared my reply with a lady physician who rebuked me strongly. She wrote:HIPSA 2.4

I have always wondered why it is so hard for us to read English. To me, when Sr. White wrote in Ministry of Healing, “Cheese... is wholly unfit for food,” I accepted it, and we never used the aged yellow cheese.

When I asked Doctor...[another female physician] about cheese, she said, “If God took all the trouble to send an angel from heaven down to tell Sr. White that cheese was wholly unfit for food, I am going to believe it.” I thought that was a good answer....

I only hope you do not go against the writings of Sr. White and “White-wash” an unclean thing. It has been unconditionally condemned for food.

I resisted the temptation to respond to these physicians (both of whom are often seen on the platforms of their respective churches) with a parallel reply:HIPSA 2.5

If God took all the trouble to send an angel to tell the Apostle Paul “Let the women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak” [1 Corinthians 14:34, NAS], ^{2Scripture quotes credited to NASB are taken from The New American Standard Bible.© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.} I am going to believe that, too. And shouldn’t you?

Well, is cheese—all cheese—“unconditionally condemned for food”? ^{3See Roger W. Coon, “Ellen G. White’s Counsels Concerning the Eating of Cheese,’ unpublished manuscript, Ellen G. White Estate, 1988.} Are women never to speak publicly in a church building? This is what God’s prophets have seemed to say. But is that what the prophets really meant?HIPSA 2.6

Hermeneutics, rightly employed, could, I believe, come to our rescue in both situations. The goal of hermeneutics is “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV). Hermeneutics seeks to achieve balance, and to avoid distortion.HIPSA 2.7

The earliest preaching (as we think of preaching today) took place in the postexilic synagogues of Palestine. It involved hermeneutics: “They read in the book in the law of God distinctly [margin: “with an interpretation”], and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8). The New International Version says: “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” ^{4From Holy Bible: Neu’ International Version. Copyright © 1978 by the New York International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.}HIPSA 2.8

Instructional Objectives

Chapter 1—The Need for Hermeneutics