Ellen Gould White
What does Ellen White write about...
Ellen Gould White über: "Dealing with physical or psychological violence in marriage"
Answer
The writings emphasize that marriage does not erase a woman's individuality and conscience; she is not obligated to submit to arbitrary authority or violence. God supports women in keeping their own soul free and not entering a slave-like dependence on a tyrannical spouse. In cases of abuse and cruelty, the woman is encouraged to seek her strength in God, while the behavior of the violent partner is condemned as a serious injustice.
Resistance to arbitrary rule and tyranny
»God will support your wife in keeping her own soul free and not submitting to your arbitrary spirit, thereby avoiding becoming enslaved. You should not be your wife's conscience. She should maintain a clear, pure conscience before God and not allow your capricious, erratic spirit to frighten or intimidate her. She should not tolerate your dictatorial spirit for even a moment.«
Individual responsibility before God
»This sister should not feel that she must subordinate her will to a godless young man... She should remember that her marriage does not destroy her individuality. God has claims on her that are higher than any earthly claim. Christ has redeemed her with His own blood; she does not belong to herself. She fails to place her full trust in God and hands over her convictions and conscience to an arrogant, tyrannical man who is incited by Satan.«
Condemnation of abuse and neglect
»The husband's conduct... deserves the strictest disapproval. His wife suffered from a lack of healthy, nourishing food. She did not have enough food or clothing to be comfortable. She bore a burden that was hard to endure. He became for her God, conscience, and will. There are natures that will rebel against this assumed authority. They will not submit to such surveillance. ... If people of reasonable mind were to treat mute animals as he treated his wife regarding food, the community would take the matter into its own hands and bring it before a court.«
Divine assistance in times of persecution
»Your heart was tormented by the evil path your husband took. Yet his persecutions, threats, and violence did not cause you to rely on your own wisdom and forget God. ... When a storm of persecution and cruelty unexpectedly broke over you, the Lord did not allow you to be overwhelmed; rather, in these times of trial, a strength, calm, and peace were revealed to you, which were a miracle for you.«
Slave-like subservience is not a Christian duty
»No man can truly love his wife if she patiently lowers herself to become his slave and serve his degenerate passions. In her passive subservience, she loses the value she once held in his eyes. He sees her brought down from all that is lofty to a low level... Married life becomes a bitter yoke; for love withers, and often distrust, jealousy, and hatred take its place.«
- Individual independence in marriage Ellen White
- Limits of obedience to the spouse
- Protection of human dignity in Christian marriage
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.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
