Degrees of Inspiration?
We now offer three arguments against the view of degrees of inspiration (or degrees of revelation):IRWHW 73.10
a. From empirical observation: The scriptural record does not differentiate between the canonical and noncanonical prophets as to the source of their messages, or the “chain of command” employed in communicating the messages from the Godhead to the prophet. There is no difference in the method of communication; no difference with regard to the physical phenomena associated with a prophet in vision; no difference in the kinds of messages communicated—encouragement, counsel, admonition, reproof, rebuke; no difference in the kinds of “imperfections” in the “earthen vessels“: no difference in the responses the messages elicited—some hearers heeded and were blessed, others disregarded and paid the consequences. Admittedly this is arguing from silence; but is it unreasonable to hold that the burden of proof must rest squarely upon the person who would seek to establish different degrees of inspiration?IRWHW 73.11
b. From logic: To raise the question of degrees of inspiration (or of revelation) immediately creates the necessity of determining just who will do the classifying. Such an arbiter must of necessity be raised not merely to the level of the prophet, but must be raised to a level above that of the prophet, since he sits in judgment, decreeing that one part of the prophet’s writings is more inspired than another.IRWHW 73.12
This problem is further compounded because no man can raise himself even to the level of a prophet—much less a position above a prophet. Paul clearly declares that the Holy Spirit divides the spiritual gifts “severally” to every man “according to his own will” (1 Corinthians 12:11; Hebrews 2:4). “No man taketh this honour unto himself“: the most any human, on his own, can do is to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31). Surely no mere human should presumptuously place himself over the prophets to determine such a question as this!IRWHW 74.1
c. From faith: I accept Ellen White as an inspired prophet of the Lord, and she once declared that there was no such thing as degrees of inspiration. And that, if there were no other argument, would be sufficient to settle the question for me.IRWHW 74.2
No less a person than the president of the General Conference, George I. Butler, once discoursed on the subject of inspiration and revelation. In his ten articles, which were published from January 8 through June 3 of 1884 in the Review and Herald, Butler posited the idea that there were “differences in degrees” of inspiration. IRWHW 74.3
Ellen White remained silent for five years. Was she, charitably, hoping that he would discover his own blunder and correct it, thus sparing himself (and her) the embarrassment of a public rebuke?IRWHW 74.4
We do not know; however, in 1889 she wrote a rather trenchant response:IRWHW 74.5
Both in the [Battle Creek] Tabernacle and in the college the subject of inspiration has been taught, and finite men have taken it upon themselves to say that some things in the Scriptures were inspired and some were not. I was shown that the Lord did not inspire the articles on inspiration published in the Review, neither did He approve their endorsement before our youth in the college [there]. When men venture to criticize the Word of God, they venture on sacred, holy ground, and had better fear and tremble and hide their wisdom as foolishness. God sets no man to pronounce judgment on His Word, selecting some things as inspired and discrediting others as uninspired. The testimonies have been treated in the same way; but God is not in this. IRWHW 74.6