What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Acts 15 Gentile Christians no further burden dietary laws clean unclean meat Ellen White"
Answer
Ellen White confirms in "The Acts of the Apostles" that the apostolic council did not intend to impose circumcision or the entire ceremonial law on Gentile Christians. Instead of adding a further burden, only specific abstinences were required: from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. The purpose was to avoid troubling newly converted Gentiles with doubtful questions and to prevent their faith from being shaken. Ellen White’s own position on meat consumption did not contradict these limited regulations.
Origin of the Controversy: Circumcision and the Ceremonial Law
»When men of promise and talent were converted, such as Timothy, Paul and Barnabas earnestly sought to show what necessity lay in working in the vineyard. [...] The church in Antioch was a large and growing congregation. While the apostles, along with ministers and lay members in Antioch, were making earnest efforts to win many souls for Christ, certain Jewish believers from Judea "of the sect of the Pharisees" introduced a question that soon led to widespread controversy in the church and caused distress among believing Gentiles. With great confidence, these Judaizing teachers asserted that one must be circumcised to be saved and must keep the entire ceremonial law.«
James’ Judgment: Do Not Trouble the Gentiles
»Peter’s speech brought the assembly to the point where they could patiently listen to Paul and Barnabas as they reported their experiences among the Gentiles. "All the multitude kept silence and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what miracles and signs God had worked through them among the Gentiles." James also gave his testimony with firmness, declaring that it was God’s will to grant the Gentiles the same privileges and blessings given to the Jews. The Holy Spirit saw it as not good to impose the ceremonial law on Gentile Christians. James led the council, and his final decision was: "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God." Thus the discussion ended.«
The Letter to the Gentiles: No Greater Burden
»In this case, James appears to have been selected to announce the decision reached by the council. [...] However, the Gentile converts were to abandon customs inconsistent with the principles of Christianity. Therefore, the apostles and elders agreed to instruct the Gentiles by letter to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality, from meat of strangled animals, and from blood. They were to be urged to keep the commandments and live holy lives. [...] The four servants of God were sent to Antioch with the letter and message designed to end all disputes: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.«
Ellen White’s View on Dietary Regulations and Meat
»No Christian infers that he has fulfilled all the moral requirements of Christianity merely because he abstains from sexual immorality. Why, then, should someone infer that the limited dietary regulations set by the council—and they were regulations—represented everything that ought to be enumerated? Mrs. White simply provides reasons why certain further dietary restrictions should be placed. Christ ate meat. Mrs. White, in condemning meat, condemns him. [...] She wrote of her own experience: "When I could not obtain the food necessary for me, I have sometimes eaten meat.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
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