The Bible Only and Ellen White

Q: What is sola scriptura, and how does Ellen White fit in?

A: Many might wonder, after more than 500 years, whether the classic Protestant stand on sola scriptura, or “the Bible and the Bible only,” is still relevant. In fact, many Christians no longer believe in the principle of sola scriptura—that the Bible should be our only authority for faith and practice. What about the discoveries of science regarding evolution, and psychology’s contention that gender is relative?

There’s no question that we have made remarkable advances in science and many other areas of knowledge. Some even point to this as a sign that we are living near the end of earth’s history (see Dan. 12:4). Clearly, though, society has not always used that knowledge positively. Sometimes it has been devastatingly destructive. But the Bible has withstood repeated attacks, such as those of Voltaire, who predicted the Bible’s demise, but whose home, reportedly, was later used to house Bibles![*] The Bible itself unequivocally urges us to trust its pages: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

In an age of relativism and information overload, sola scriptura preserves the primacy of God’s revealed Word as the final test of truth and faithfulness.

In answer to two disciples who no longer believed He could be the Messiah because of His crucifixion, Jesus, rather than revealing Himself openly as risen from the dead, showed them “in all the Scriptures” that it was “necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory” (Luke 24:26, 27, NASB). Thus, He shows that the Bible is the only authority for faith and practice. God has protected the Bible through the centuries because it alone can “make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).

Archaeological findings continue to provide evidence of the Bible’s historical reliability. The accurate fulfillment of Bible prophecies through history up to the present also witnesses to its divine inspiration and trustworthiness. No other book comes close to God’s timeless wisdom found in Scripture. Only the Bible provides a God-given norm amid competing authorities—tradition, culture, experience, or charismatic leadership. Seventh-day Adventist doctrines arose through careful Bible study, letting Scripture interpret Scripture. In an age of relativism and information overload, sola scriptura preserves the primacy of God’s revealed Word as the final test of truth and faithfulness.

How should we understand the inspiration of Ellen White’s writings and their relation to the Bible principle of sola scriptura? She herself referred to her writings as the “lesser light” shining on the “greater light” of the Bible. They were given to help us understand the Bible and God’s will for us. They can never replace Bible study, nor are they in any sense an addition to the Bible. The Bible remains the supreme authority for doctrine, an infallible revelation of God’s will, and a trustworthy record of God’s acts in history.

[*]https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/content/get_involved/bible_sunday/2016_resources/Bible-Sunday-Sermon-notes.pdf