Inspired Hermeneutic (How to Study Inspired Writings According to Inspired Writings)
if you read enough you will really find seemingly contradictory statements. it is like having a right hand and a left hand, opposite of each other.
however, if you just read just some more, ideally everything, seeing the whole picture, the seeming contradiction will be resolved. yes, even w/o all the theological *gesis stuff.
and most amazingly, the process of resolving seeming contradictions in EGW writings is the same process of resolving seeming contradictions in the Bible.
if you google for "biblical contradictions" you will find a lot of pages dedicated to that. a lot. most of them from atheists. does that mean they are correct? no, that just means they don't understand. not understanding calculus doesn't mean calculus is wrong. hehe. nobody claims to understand everything.
so the process of resolving seeming contradictions is:
0) obey. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" John 7:17. disobedience make our deceitful heart deny/defend against truth.
"One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God's word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. As understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness." {GC 599.2}
1) read everything ("all scripture" 2 Tim 3:16) diligence (Prov 31:5 "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want."; Proverbs 21:5 wisdom says, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.")
2) remember the writers/penmen are human and can commit mistakes / inaccuracies (numerical or referential) (Romans 3:23, "all have sinned")
3) figures of speech (Matthew 13:11 "why do you speak in parables?")
4) lack of space/time to write everything (Heb 11:32 "time would fail me to tell")
5) need to ask for spiritual wisdom to understand / interpret (Mat 7:17 "ask and it shall be given"; Daniel 9:23 when daniel prayed, an the explanation was sent)
6) most-recent-instruction (Deu 1:42 israel doesn't attack when God says, but attacks when God says not to)
7) weigh the benefit (Luke 14:28 "count the cost"). if we believe this, what is the benefit? if that, what is the benefit?
8) quality of reference (Isa 8:20 "according to this word") also "compare scripture with scripture"
"Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support." {GC 595.1}
9) the more you study, the more you understand (Psalm 119:99 "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation")
10) distinguish between scripture and comment/policy (Mat 16:6 "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."; Isa 8:20 "according to this word")
11) God wants us to know the truth (Acts 14:17 "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness")
12) Word of God is perfect, not like comments & science (Psalm 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect"; Psalm 18:30 "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried"; Psalm 93:5 "Thy testimonies are very sure"; Psalm 111:7 "all his commandments are sure")
13) more references, better (2 Corinthians 13:1 " In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."; Deut 19:15 "at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.") “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Pet 1:20
14) know / research as much as you can about the opposite side of the argument (Numbers 13:17 "Moses sent them to spy out the land")"He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him." Prov 18:17
15) obey and God will reveal more.
"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much" Luke 16:10
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48
Psalm 25:9 – "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."
John 7:17 – "If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority."
Matthew 5:6 – "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
James 1:5-6 – "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting..."
Psalm 25:9 – "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."
"Had you followed the light which He has given you, then He would cause more light to shine upon you; but while you neglect the counsels, warnings, and reproofs that have been given, how can you expect God to give you more light and blessings to neglect and despise? God is not as man; He will not be trifled with." {5T 664.2}
17) lift Christ. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." [John 12:32].
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39
"The prophecies are to be studied, and the life of Christ compared with the writings of the prophets" [SpTEd 231.2, FE 382.2].
"A daily study of the Scriptures has a sanctifying, uplifting influence upon the mind" [CT 138.3, RH, January 30, 1913 par. 8].
22) the wise appreciate correction, "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee" [Proverbs 9:8].
"The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed. These men are false teachers. It was to such a class that Jesus declared, "Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God." [Mark 12:24.] 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙡 𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙. Christ has given the promise, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." [John 7:17.] If men would but take the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad, and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error. {4SP 416.3}
"Unaccustomed to accept God's Word exactly as it reads, or to allow it to be its own interpreter, they [the priests and instructors of the people] read it in the light of their maxims and traditions. So long had they neglected to study and contemplate the Bible, that its pages were to them a mystery. They turned with aversion from the truth of God to the traditions of men" [3MR 431.1].
30) "Do not, then, continually dwell upon . . . one point, concentrating all the energies of the mind upon it, constantly urging it upon the attention of others, but take another subject, and carefully examine that. Thus mystery after mystery will be unfolded to your comprehension. Two valuable victories will be gained by this course. You have not only secured useful knowledge, but the exercise of the mind has increased mental strength and power. The key found to unlock one mystery may develop also other precious gems of knowledge heretofore undiscovered. . . . {LHU 281.3}"
31) "We must be careful lest we misinterpret the Scriptures. The plain teachings of the Word of God are not to be so spiritualized that the reality is lost sight of. Do not overstrain the meaning of sentences in the Bible in an effort to bring forth something odd in order to please the fancy. Take the Scriptures as they read. Avoid idle speculation."--Manuscript 30, Oct. 29, 1904, "Redeem the Time." {UL 316.6}
32) "The Bible must not be interpreted to suit the ideas of men, however long they may have held these ideas to be true. We are not to accept the opinion of commentators as the voice of God; they were erring mortals like ourselves. God has given reasoning powers to us as well as to them. We should make the Bible its own expositor." {TM 106.2}
33) It is proper and right to read the Bible; but your duty does not end there; for you are to search its pages for yourselves. The knowledge of God is not to be gained without mental effort, without prayer for wisdom in order that you may separate from the pure grain of truth the chaff with which men and Satan have misrepresented the doctrines of truth. Satan and his confederacy of human agents have endeavored to mix the chaff of error with the wheat of truth. We should diligently seek for the hidden treasure, and seek wisdom from heaven in order to separate human inventions from the divine commands. The Holy Spirit will aid the seeker for great and precious truths which relate to the plan of redemption. I would impress upon all the fact that a casual reading of the Scriptures is not enough. We must search, and this means the doing of all the word implies. As the miner eagerly explores the earth to discover its veins of gold, so you are to explore the word of God for the hidden treasure that Satan has so long sought to hide from man. The Lord says, "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching." John 7:17 (R. V.) {FE 307.2}
34) "I was attending a meeting, and a large congregation were present. In my dream you were presenting the subject of faith and the i̲m̲p̲u̲t̲e̲d̲ ̲r̲i̲g̲h̲t̲e̲o̲u̲s̲n̲e̲s̲s̲ of Christ by faith. You repeated several times that w̲o̲r̲k̲s̲ ̲a̲m̲o̲u̲n̲t̲e̲d̲ ̲t̲o̲ ̲n̲o̲t̲h̲i̲n̲g̲,̲ ̲t̲h̲a̲t̲ ̲t̲h̲e̲r̲e̲ ̲w̲e̲r̲e̲ ̲n̲o̲ ̲c̲o̲n̲d̲i̲t̲i̲o̲n̲s̲. The matter was presented in that light that I knew m̲i̲n̲d̲s̲ would be c̲o̲n̲f̲u̲s̲e̲d̲ and would not receive the correct impression in reference to faith and works, and I decided to write to you. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲. There are conditions to our receiving justification and sanctification, and the righteousness of Christ. I know your meaning, but you leave a wrong impression upon many minds. 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀. God saves us under a law, that we must ask if we would receive, seek if we would find, and knock if we would have the door opened unto us." {Faith and Works, p 111.1}
35) "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour." Jeremiah 23:30. Give credit / references / citations.
37) contradictions trap example: 'salvation was finished completed at the cross' vs 'on second coming'.
| """When Christ expired on the cross, crying with a loud voice, "It is finished," His work was completed.""" {ST, August 16, 1899 par. 1} | "Christ's second coming, to complete the great work of redemption" <FLB 348.2 | Hvn 13.1 | OFC 315.2 | Mar 13.2> |
38) contradictions trap example: Jesus was omniscient when living on earth vs 'nobody knows except the Father' (Mt 24:36).
| "Jesus therefore, knowing all things" (Jn 18:4) | Matthew 11:27 “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” |
still looking for contradictions? search for "according"ness (isa 8:20) instead, like the bereans, "they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (acts 17:11).
39) contradictions trap example: Jesus has human fallen nature (veiled, lay down, clothed divinity w/ humanity vs divine nature (divinity flashed, "knowing all things", "knowing the beginning to the end", "i am")
| <7ABC 444.6>: "Laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown, Christ clothed His divinity with humanity, that human beings might be raised from their degradation and placed on vantage-ground." <17MR 29.1>: "He [Christ] laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might stand among the human family as one of them." <2SAT 126.2>: "He took humanity upon Him, but He did not leave His divinity; He clothed His divinity with humanity. He took humanity upon Himself in order to carry humanity through that commandment-keeping people to give the testimony to the whole universe of heaven." <TDG 357.2>: "The Lord Jesus took upon Him the form of sinful man, clothing His divinity with humanity. But He was holy, even as God is holy." <RH, June 15, 1905 par. 12>: "Laying aside his royal robe and kingly crown, Christ clothed his divinity with humanity, that He might stand among the human family as one of them." <ST, January 5, 1915 par. 6>: "Christ was God, but He did not appear as God. He veiled the tokens of divinity, which had commanded the homage of angels and called forth the adoration of the universe of God." <ST, October 17, 1900 par. 8>: "He laid aside His royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might clothe humanity with His garment of righteousness." <UL 307.6>: "He came to this world, not to attend horse races, not to attend the theater, but He came meek and lowly, and He invites us to learn of Him, the King of glory. By doing this we shall obtain the moral power He left the courts of heaven to bestow upon us." <BEcho, September 3, 1900 par. 8>: "Christ saw that Satan's power was exercised upon the human family, and that he claimed the whole race as his own. The Saviour pledged His word to give His life in man's behalf. He laid aside His royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might clothe humanity with His garment of righteousness." <RH, July 16, 1908 par. 2>: "Our Saviour laid aside his royal robe and kingly crown, and left the glories of heaven to come to this world. He clothed his divinity with humanity. He designed that the fallen humanity might touch his humanity, and receive from him power to be partakers of the divine nature." <ST, December 17, 1902 par. 5>: "Being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." | <1 Timothy 3:16>: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." This verse clearly identifies Jesus as God manifest in the flesh, affirming His divinity. <Revelation 1:1>: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;" — this indicates Jesus as a divine being, the one to whom God gave revelation. <YI, May 27, 1897 par. 6>: "Christ humbled himself. In him the infinite and the finite met in a close and mysterious union. Deity was veiled with humanity. The Creator stooped to the created. God was manifest in the flesh." This affirms Jesus as divine, with the fullness of deity dwelling in Him. <7ABC 452.6>: "Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the level of those He wished to save. In Him was no guile or sinfulness; He was ever pure and undefiled; yet He took upon Him our sinful nature." This affirms His divinity while in humanity. <5BC 1130.8>: "Jesus was the Commander of heaven, one equal with God, and yet He condescended to lay aside His kingly crown, His royal robe, and clothed His divinity with humanity." This explicitly states Jesus as divine and equal with God. <ST, January 5, 1915 par. 5>: "The Redeemer of the world clothed his divinity with humanity, that he might reach humanity; for, in order to bring to the world salvation, it was necessary that humanity and divinity should be united." This affirms Jesus as divine, with divinity being the source of salvation.
|
40) contradictions trap example: "be ye perfect" (mt 5:48) vs "no one is perfect" (16 egw refs)
| "be ye perfect" (mt 5:48) | "no one is perfect" (16 egw refs) |
41) contradictions trap example: "saved by grace... not of works" (eph 2:8) vs 'obedience condition for salvation' (mt 19:17)
| "saved by grace... not of works" (eph 2:8) | “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (mt 19:16) "if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." (Mt 19:17) |
42) contradictions trap example: 'incarnation a mystery' vs 'not a mystery'/revelation
Bible: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." <1 Timothy 3:16> Ellen G. White: "The incarnation of Christ is the mystery of all mysteries" <6BC 1082.6 | FLB 48.2 | HP 41.5 | OFC 66.1>. "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16." <UL 260.1 | FLB 48.1 | OFC 65.6 | CT 262.2> "The incarnation of Christ is a mystery. The union of divinity with humanity is a mystery indeed, hidden with God, "even the mystery which hath been hid from ages."" <ST, March 25, 1897 par. 8 | 6BC 1082.4> "In contemplating the incarnation of Christ in humanity, we stand baffled before an unfathomable mystery, that the human mind cannot comprehend. The more we reflect upon it, the more amazing does it appear." <5BC 1130.5 | TA 154.1> "The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ in human flesh is a mystery, "even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations." It is the great and profound mystery of Godliness." <7ABC 449.1 | 5BC 1130.6> "Christ, at an infinite cost, by a painful process, mysterious to angels as well as to men, assumed humanity." <7BC 915.3> "The entrance of sin into the world, the incarnation of Christ, regeneration, the resurrection, and many other subjects presented in the Bible, are mysteries too deep for the human mind to explain or even to fully comprehend." <5T 699.3> "It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet be without sin. The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery." <13MR 19.1> | Bible: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words," <Ephesians 3:3> Ellen G. White: "It was kept in eternal silence by Jehovah, and was first revealed in Eden, by the prophecy that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and that he should bruise his heel. To present to the world this mystery...was the part that Christ was to act in the work he entered upon when he came to this earth." <ST, March 25, 1897 par. 8 | 6BC 1082.4> "And this wonderful mystery, the incarnation of Christ and the atonement that He made, must be declared to every son and daughter of Adam." <FLB 46.8> "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God." <2T 609.3 | RH, May 30, 1871 par. 3> "The Lord rejoiced that the plan of salvation was so plain that a child in its simplicity could understand it, while those who were not spiritual and humble and willing to learn, who were puffed up in their own self-conceit, could not see the beauty of the gospel, because it is spiritually discerned." <16MR 231.2> "That which is revealed, is for us and for our children...We are to keep our feet on the rock, Christ Jesus, as God revealed in humanity." <13MR 19.1> |
44) "Often human logic has nearly quenched the light that God would have shine forth in clear rays to convince men that the Lord of nature is worthy of all praise and glory, because He is the Creator of all things."{Ev 193.1}
45) "But God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible." {1SM 21.1}
46) "The great danger with our people has been that of depending upon men, and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men, and accept the decisions they make, and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to his people, if these leading brethren do not accept them." {GW92 126.4}
47) "Dwell not on the negative points of questions that arise, but gather to your minds 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 truths, and fasten them there by much study and earnest prayer and heart-consecration."{RH, April 23, 1908 par. 7}
48) "Many are deceived. Speak the truth in tones and words of love. Let Christ be exalted. Keep to the 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 of truth. Never leave the straight path God has marked out, for the purpose of giving someone a thrust. That thrust may do much harm and no good. It may quench conviction in many minds. Let the truth tell the story of the inconsistency of those in error." {RC 240.4}
49) "Dwell on the 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 Truths.--Dwell not on the negative points of questions that arise, but gather to your minds 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 truths, and fasten them there by much study and earnest prayer and heart consecration. Keep your lamps trimmed and burning; and let bright rays shine forth, that men, beholding your good works, may be led to glorify your Father which is in heaven." {Ev 202.1}
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