Evolution of SDA Fundamental Beliefs (1872–2005)

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Evolution of SDA Fundamental Beliefs (1872–2005)

In 1872 Adventist pioneers published 25 “Fundamental Principles” as a concise summary of their faithm.egwwritings.orgm.egwwritings.org. These covered core doctrines – e.g. “There is one God, a personal, spiritual being…”m.egwwritings.org – and prophetic teachings (e.g. investigative judgment, millennium, new earth)m.egwwritings.org. The 25th statement (–XXV–) promised that “a new heavens and earth shall spring… [to be] the eternal inheritance of the saints”m.egwwritings.org. These 1872 beliefs explicitly named issues like “the papacy” changing God’s law (changing the Sabbath)m.egwwritings.org and warned against any false “temporal millennium” doctrine. Importantly, the 1872 document was offered only as a synopsis of common Adventist convictions, not a binding creed.

1931: 22 Fundamental Beliefs

By 1931 the church yearbook contained a revised list of 22 Fundamental Beliefs, summarizing SDA doctrine more broadlym.egwwritings.orgm.egwwritings.org. These statements opened with Scripture and Trinity (e.g. “Godhead…the Eternal Father…[and] the Lord Jesus Christ… and the Holy Spirit”m.egwwritings.org) and concluded with the new earth promise (“God will make all things new…”m.egwwritings.org). In style they read like distinct dogmas rather than numbered points. Compared to 1872, several changes stand out:

• Shift from sectarian polemics: The 1931 list omits specific anti‐Roman-Catholic language found in 1872. For example, 1872 explicitly identified “the papacy” as the power that “misled…Christendom in regard to the fourth commandment” (the Sabbath)m.egwwritings.org. By 1931 this direct polemic was gone; the Sabbath truth (Belief 7) is stated without naming papal oppositionm.egwwritings.org. Likewise, 1872’s rejection of an earthly millennium (“a fable” in principle VIII) is absent in 1931.

• Explicit Trinity doctrine: The 1872 principles affirm “one God” without using the word “Trinity,” whereas the 1931 beliefs explicitly define the Godhead as three coeternal Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)m.egwwritings.org. Belief 2 of 1931 reads: “That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father… Jesus Christ… and the Holy Spirit”m.egwwritings.org, making the concept central.

• Expanded Christian living and stewardship: The 1931 list adds concrete Christian conduct and stewardship points. Belief 17 counsels believers to live godly lives (modest dress, abstaining from alcohol, etc.)m.egwwritings.org – a practical instruction not enumerated in 1872. Belief 18 teaches tithes and offerings as an acknowledgement of God’s ownership, and Belief 19 affirms the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12) for building the churchm.egwwritings.org. (The 1872 list, by contrast, focused almost entirely on doctrinal and prophetic issues, not on institutional stewardship or specific lifestyle rules.)

• Doctrinal refinement: Some 1872 teachings were merged or rephrased. For example, the 1872 emphasis on “justification and obedience” under Christ’s grace (XV) and on prophecy as revelation (VI–VII) were absorbed into broader salvation doctrines. The 1931 beliefs center salvation on Christ’s sacrifice and the new birthm.egwwritings.org, and include the great doctrines of resurrection, judgment and the millennium much as in 1872 (e.g. Beliefs 11–12 on resurrection and final destruction, Beliefs 21–22 on the millennium and new earthm.egwwritings.orgm.egwwritings.org).

Overall, 1931 codified 22 articles that encompassed the key Adventist teachings of Scripture, Christ, salvation, law, Sabbath, death, resurrection, judgment, and the church. This was presented as a summary (for “public inquiry”) rather than a binding creedm.egwwritings.org.

1980: 27 Fundamental Beliefs

In 1980 the General Conference formally adopted a revised set of 27 Fundamental Beliefs. This was the first time the church codified its doctrines as an official statement (commonly called the “1980 Fundamentals”). Delegates overwhelmingly approved the new list on April 25, 1980research.avondale.edu.au. The 27 beliefs were organized into thematic blocks (God, man, salvation, church, Christian life, restoration) and became the basis for the book Seventh-day Adventists Believe: A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines.

Key changes for 1980 included:

• Expanded doctrinal headings: The 27-item list broke some combined beliefs into separate points. For example, what 1931 had as one Trinity statement became multiple beliefs on “God the Father,” “God the Son,” and “God the Holy Spirit.” (Similarly, the act of Christ and the experience of salvation are treated as distinct beliefs.) This reflects a more systematic theological presentation.

• Added topics: The 27 beliefs explicitly cover topics not itemized in 1931, such as (for example) the nature of man, the great controversy theme, unity of the body of Christ, marriage and the family, and Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. (Many of these were implied in earlier statements but now have their own headings.)

• Bible-only creed: The preamble to 1980 affirms “the Bible as our only creed,” echoing historic Adventist reluctance to use creeds. Nonetheless, the adopted 27 statements describe the church’s official position on Scripture, God, Christ, salvation, the church mission, and last-day eventsresearch.avondale.edu.au.

The 1980 adoption of 27 beliefs simply formalized existing consensus positions; it did not fundamentally change historic Adventist doctrine. As one historian notes, “On 25 April 1980, the ‘27 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’ was accepted by vote”research.avondale.edu.au, and only minor wording changes have followed.

2005: 28 Fundamental Beliefs

At the 2005 General Conference session in St. Louis, delegates voted to insert a new 11th belief, “Growing in Christ,” in response to global needs (particularly in developing regions)en.wikipedia.org. This brought the total to 28 Fundamental Beliefs. The new statement emphasizes the believer’s ongoing spiritual growth and victory in Christ over evil powers. As Adventist News reports:

“This new statement … explicitly addresses Christian growth in order to exclude eastern transcendental meditation… [and] proclaims freedom through Christ from demonic powers”research.avondale.edu.au.

The 11th belief reads (in essence) that by Christ’s death we are freed from evil and empowered to grow in His character. With this addition, all 28 beliefs together cover the full scope of Adventist theology. As an official account summarizes: “An additional belief (number 11) was added in 2005, yielding the current total of 28.”en.wikipedia.org.

In summary: SDA fundamental statements evolved from a 25-point 1872 pamphlet to a 22-point 1931 summary, then to a formal 27-point creed in 1980, and finally to 28 points in 2005. Major shifts included removing 19th-century polemic, explicitly affirming the Trinity, and gradually adding doctrines on church order and Christian living. Each change is documented in church publications of the timem.egwwritings.orgm.egwwritings.orgresearch.avondale.edu.auen.wikipedia.org.

Sources: The 1872 and 1931 lists are preserved in Adventist archivesm.egwwritings.orgm.egwwritings.orgm.egwwritings.org. Historical summaries confirm the timeline of 25→22→27→28 beliefsresearch.avondale.edu.auen.wikipedia.org. These sources trace how the church’s official statements have been edited and expanded over time.