Ellen Gould White
What does Ellen White write about...
Ellen Gould White über: "Does Ellen White say that one should read her writings?"
Answer
Ellen White urges to read her published works in order to learn firsthand what the Lord has revealed through her, rather than relying on unverified rumors. She explains that her testimonies serve to simplify the great truths of the Bible and imprint them more deeply on the heart, in case the study of the Holy Scriptures has been neglected. Reading the writings in their total context also protects against being confused or deceived by isolated sentences taken out of context.
To discover the truth, one should read the published works
»And now I would like to say to all who have a desire for the truth: Give no credence to unauthenticated reports about what Sister White has done, said, or written. If you want to know what the Lord has revealed through her, read her published works. If there are points of interest that she has not written about, do not eagerly seize rumors and do not report what she is said to have said.«
The testimonies as a help to understanding the Bible
»God has been pleased to give you line by line and command by command. But there are not many among you who truly know what is contained in the testimonies. You are not familiar with the Holy Scripture. Had you made God's Word your study, desiring to reach the biblical standard and attain Christian perfection, you would not have needed the testimonies. Because you have failed to become acquainted with God's inspired book, He has tried to reach you through simple, direct testimonies. ... The written testimonies are not intended to give a new light, but to imprint the already revealed truths of inspiration vividly upon the heart.«
The importance of reading in the proper context
»Letters reach me with an urgent request for a reply; I know that many men take the testimonies that the Lord has given and apply them as they think they should, by picking out a sentence here and there, tearing it from its proper context, and applying it according to their own conception. Thus poor souls become confused, whereas if they could read everything that was given in the correct order, they would see the true application and would not be confused.«
The purpose of publishing personal testimonies
»I know no better way to present my views on general dangers and errors as well as the duty of all who love God and keep His commandments than by sharing these testimonies. Perhaps there is no more direct and compelling way to show what the Lord has shown me.«
Warning against losing trust in the testimonies
»If you lose trust in the testimonies, you will depart from biblical truth. I have feared that many would adopt a questioning, doubting attitude, and in my distress for your souls I want to warn you. How many will heed the warning?«
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.
