EGW & 'Apocrypha

[Gregory Matthews]

EGW and the Apocrypha:  The following article is stunning is some aspects.   NOTE:  Beginning on July 30 a video class on this topic will  begin.  A link to information on that class is contained in the following article.

https://atoday.org/is-the-apocrypha-inspired-an-enlightening-letter-from-ellen-whites-son/

[Theophilus]

I found this on the EGW Estate website:

 

"Miscellaneous Statements

The Apocrypha

In a document titled "A copy of E. G. White's vision which she had at Oswego, New York," January 11, 1850, an unusual statement appears concerning the Apocrypha, also known as "the hidden book":

"I then saw the Word of God, pure and unadulterated, and that we must answer for the way we received the truth proclaimed from that Word. I saw that it had been a hammer to break the flinty heart in pieces, and a fire to consume the dross and tin, that the heart might be pure and holy. I saw that the Apocrypha was the hidden book, and that the wise of these last days should understand it. I saw that the Bible was the standard Book, that will judge us at the last day. I saw that heaven would be cheap enough, and that nothing was too dear to sacrifice for Jesus, and that we must give all to enter the kingdom" (Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, p. 34).

If what we have is a correct copy of what she wrote, the meaning and significance of this statement is unclear. At no subsequent time did Ellen White make reference to the Apocrypha, call upon Adventists to study it, or urge its reading. Nor did she include this statement in any of her publications. Whatever one makes of the statement, it should be observed that the Apocrypha is not described as inspired, but is contrasted with the Scriptures which are called the "standard Book, that will judge us at the last day."

Extra-Biblical Descriptions

The question is whether later inspired writers may include added details about persons and events described in the Bible. Additions in terms of details, from one privileged to view in vision scenes of Biblical history, is no more surprising than the fact that one finds details mentioned by one Gospel writer that are omitted by another describing the same event. Paul identifies the Egyptian magicians by name (2 Tim. 3:8), whereas in the book of Exodus they are nameless. Jude describes a prophecy of Enoch (Jude 14, 15) that is nowhere recorded in Genesis. Similar insights by Ellen White complement the Biblical record, which remains the unique, authoritative, revelation of God's will."

 

there is some wild stuff in the Book of Enoch--Nephilim being the sons of God talked about instead of Sons of Seth.

 

Having spent quite some time reading AT, I honestly believe it is a rag and the purpose of it is to turn away folk from the Bible.

[Gregory Matthews]

Theophilus, the purpose of Club Adventist is to be a place where people of differing understandings can engage in civil, even if frank, discussions of issues.  Your comment that the magazine Adventist Today is a rag that desires to turn people away from the Bible is hardly civil.  By saying such, you open yourself up to people saying that same about you.  If someone were to do that, I would take immediate action.  I ask that you refrain, in the future, from making such comments.

Your quote from the With Estate contributed to the discussion.  However, I believe that it was an old quote.  In more modern times, additional comments made by EGW have been discovered that were not generally known at the time that the White Estate quote was made.  

It is appropriate to engage in in-depth discussions of what EGW has said on a subject.  It is proper to better understand what she wrote as well as what the Bible teaches on a subject.  If people differ as to what the Bible teaches and/or what EGW taught, it does not mean that they reject either her of the Bible.

[Gustave]

There is now no doubt that Ellen White believed those Books in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles that ended going missing in Protestant Bibles in her day - were part of the Bible and those who advocated for those Books being removed were doing the work of Lucifer. 

[Gregory Matthews]

In the Adventist Today article I cited; Matthew Korpman cites a 37-paage peer reviewed article on this subject.  That article can be read at:   https://hcommons.org/deposits/objects/hc:33492/datastreams/CONTENT/content

[Gustave]

Here is a video of some of the points Pastor Matthews is referencing that can be found in the article he posted. I agree with Pastor Matthews here and don't believe that SDA's should be frightened of this coming to light - it simply is what it is.