The authority of Ellen G. White: a critical evaluation

Abstract

The name Ellen G. White as a founding member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and as an author, currently still being read, evokes a great deal of discussion. The various views that are to be found within the discussion cover a wide range of views, either promoting or criticising White’s authority. By comparing the works of Canright, Nichol, Bradford, and Knight, we gain a wide perspective on three critical views in this discussion. This dissertation will consider the issues regarding White’s authority, the historical development of her authority and consideration of her authority in comparison to Scriptural authority. The dissertation seeks to offer the development of White’s authority and the changes that contributed to the various views around her authority, and presents a critical evaluation regarding her authority for today. After the different authors were compared, and having provided my critical evaluation, I came to the conclusion that a moderate view of White as presented by Bradford and Knight presents the view that allows for the following: • Retaining the principle of Sola Scriptura. • Managing White’s authority. • Providing theological freedom. As such, White’s authority can be a positive influence in Seventh-day Adventist theology, promoting theological growth and not impeding it. The critical evaluation makes it evident that there is a lack of a paradigm to evaluate White, especially her authority. The need for a paradigm from which to evaluate White requires further study.

Die naam Ellen G. White, ’n stigterslid van die Sewende Dag Adventiste Kerk en ook ’n outeur wie se boeke tans nog gelees word, ontlok baie bespreking. Hierin vind ons ’n verskeidenheid van geleerdes wat White hetsy voorstaan of kritiseer. ’n Vergelyking van die werke van Canright, Nichol, Bradford en Knight bied ’n wye perspektief oor drie kritiese beskouings in hierdie debat. Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die kwessies rondom White se gesag, die historiese ontwikkeling van haar gesag en ’n beoordeling van haar gesag in vergelyking met die Skrif se gesag. Die verhandeling bespreek die ontwikkeling van White se gesag, die veranderings wat bygedra het tot die verskillende sienings rondom haar gesag, asook ’n kritiese beoordeling van haar gesag vir vandag. Nadat ek die verskillende outeurs vergelyk het en my kritiese beoordeling gegee het, kom ek tot die slotsom dat die gematigde siening van Bradford en Knight oor White die volgende bevorder: • Behoud van die beginsel van Sola Scriptura. • Hantering van White se gesag. • Voorsiening vir teologiese vryheid. As sodanig kan White se gesag as ’n positiewe invloed op die Kerk se teologie dien deur teologiese groei aan te moedig in plaas daarvan om dit te strem. Die kritiese beoordeling dui op die gebrek aan ’n paradigma om White, veral haar gesag, mee te beoordeel. Die behoefte aan so ’n paradigma vereis verdere studie.