What was Mrs. E. G. White's counsel and practice with reference to the use of the various versions of the Bible? Was she influenced by others in the use, or in the discontinuance of the use of various versions?
Ellen G. White occasionally used the Revised Version rendering and the marginal reading of texts in nearly all her books published after 1885, the year of the appearance of the English Revised Version.
In The Great Controversy, published in 1888, seven texts from the newly issued revision were employed, and she also used the marginal rendering of eight other texts. The proportion of Revised Version and marginal rendering of texts is very small when we consider that there are more than 850 scriptures quoted in Great Controversy, or a little better than an average of one scripture text to a page; whereas there is approximately one Revised Version rendering and one marginal rendering for each one hundred pages.
In 1901 the American Revised Version came from the press, and from that time forward we find that Mrs. White occasionally employed both the English Revised and the American Revised versions.
In 1911, when Great Controversy was reset, Mrs. White retained six of the seven texts previously quoted from the English Revised Version. For the other text she substituted the American Revised rendering. The eight marginal renderings were used as in the earlier edition.
In the publication of Ministry of Healing (1905) Mrs. White employed eight texts from the English Revised Version, fifty-five from the American Revised Version, two from Leeser, and four from Noyes, in addition to seven marginal renderings.
Other volumes in -which Revised Version texts frequently appear are: Patriarchs and Prophets (1890); Steps to Christ (1892); Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing (1896) ; Desire of Ages (1898) ; Education (1903) ; and Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8 (1904).
The E. G. White books using but few Revised Version or marginal renderings are: Christ's Object Lessons (Iwo) ; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7 (1902); Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9 (19o9); Acts of the Apostles (1911) ; Counsels to Teachers ( 1913 ) Gospel Workers (1915); and Prophets and Kings (1916).
We therefore find scriptures of revised rendering in all five of the Conflict of the Ages series. As might be expected, those volumes which enter into an exposition of Bible truth dealing with points of doctrine or the teachings of Christ, contain more texts quoted from the revised versions than do volumes of counsel to the church and those presenting largely historical description.
As to Mrs. White's attitude toward the 1885 revision and the American Revised Version, and as to her own use of these in preaching and writing, her son, W. C. White, who was closely associated with her in her public ministry and in the preparation and publication of her books, wrote in 1931:
"I do not know of anything in the E. G. White writings, nor can I remember of anything in Sister White's conversations, that would intimate that she felt that' there was any evil in the use of the Revised Version.
"Before the revised version was published, there leaked out from the committee, statements regarding changes which they intended to make. Some of these I brought to mother's attention, and she gave me very surprising information regarding these scriptures. This led me to believe that the revision, when it came to hand, would be a matter of great service to us.
"When the first revision was published, I purchased a good copy and gave it to mother. She referred to it occasionally, but never used it in her preaching. Later on as manuscripts were prepared for her new books and for revised editions of books already in print, Sister White's attention was called from time to time by myself and Sister Marian Davis, to the fact that she was using texts which were much more clearly translated in the Revised. Version. Sister White studied each one carefully, and in some cases she instructed us to use the Revised Version. In other cases she instructed us to adhere to the Authorized Version.
"When Testimonies for the Church, Volume Eight, was printed and it seemed desirable to make some lengthy quotations from the Psalms, it was pointed out to Sister White that the Revised Version of these Psalms was preferable, and that by using the form of blank verse the passages were more readable. Sister White gave the matter deliberate consideration and instructed us to use the Revised Version. When you study these passages you will find that in a number of places where the Revised Version is largely used, the Authorized Version is used where translation seems to be better.
"We cannot find in Sister White's writings, nor do I find in my memory, any condemnation of the American Revised Version of the Holy Scriptures. Sister White's reasons for not using the A.R.V. in the pulpit are as follows:
"There are many persons in the congregation who remember the words of the texts we might use as they are presented in the authorized version, and to read from the revised version would introduce perplexinc, questions in their minds as to why the wording of the text had been changed by the revisers and as to whr it was being used by the speaker. She did not advise me in a positive way not to use the A.R.V., but she intimated to me quite clearly that it would be better not to do so as the use of the different wording brought perplexity to the older members of the congregation."—E. G. White Document File No. 579.
The fact that Mrs. White consistently quoted from various versions of the Scriptures from the time they were available to the close of her ministry, indicates clearly that she saw an advantage to using these versions where their rendering better expressed the thought. Any intimation that she was influenced in the use, or in the discontinuence of the use, of the various versions by leaders of the church is entirely without, foundation. While some have intimated that there may be a hidden danger in quoting from the two well-known revised versions, it would seem logical that were this so, Mrs. White would not have herself drawn from these versions, nor would she have been silent in regard to their use.
In connection with this question, it might be well to present again to readers of THE MINISTRY a few statements penned by Mrs. White in regard to the authorship and translation of the scriptures. With one exception, these were all written after she had begun to make use of the revised version.
"This Holy Book has withstood the assaults of Satan, who has united with evil men to make everything of divine character shrouded in clouds and darkness. But the Lord has preserved this Holy Book by His own miraculous power in its present shape,— a chart or guide-book to the human family to show them the way to heaven."—E. G. White MS. 16, 1888. (Published in Testimony of Jesus, p. rt.)
"I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible, yet when copiei of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition. But I saw that the word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion linking into and explaining another. True seekers for truth need not err ; for not only is the word of God plain and simple in declaring the way of life, but the Holy Spirit is given as a guide in understanding the way of life therein revealed."—Early Writings, pp. 220, 221. (1858.)
"Some look to us gravely and say, 'Don't you think there might have been some mistake in the copyist or in the translators?' This is all probable, and the mind that is so narrow that it will hesitate and stumble over this possibility or probability, would be just as ready to stumble over the mysteries of the inspired Word, because their feeble minds cannot see through the purposes of God. Yes, they would just as easily stumble over plain facts that the common mind will accept, and discern the Divine, and to which God's utterance is plain and beautiful, full of marrow and fatness. All the mistakes will not cause trouble to one soul, or cause any feet to stumble, that would not manufacture difficulties from the plainest revealed truth."—E. G. White MS. 16, 1888. (Published in Testimony of Jesus, pp. 52, 53.)
God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was intrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, none the less, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth."--The Great Controversy, Author's Introduction, pp. VI and VII, ('888.)
"I take the Bible just as it is, as the inspired Word. I believe its utterances in an entire Bible. Men arise who think they find something to criticize in God's word. They lay it bare before others as evidence of superior wisdom. These men are, many of them, smart men, learned men, they have eloquence and talent, the whole life work is to unsettle minds in regard to the inspiration of the Scriptures. They influence many to see as they do. And the same work is passed on from one to another just as Satan designed it should be until we may see the full meaning of the words of Christ 'When the Son of man cometh shall He find faith on the earth?' "—E. G. White MS. 16, 1888. (Published in Testimony of Jesus, pp. 13, 14.)
ARTHUR L. WHITE, [Secretary Ellen G. White Publications.]
