The Paraphrasing Prophet

By Walter T. Rea, , 2005

James's White's claim for Ellen White:

In her published works there are many things set forth which cannot be found in the writings of others, that are new to the most intelligent readers and hearers. And if they are not found in print...from what source has she received the new and rich thoughts which are to be found in her writings... She could not have learned them from books, from the fact that they do not contain such thoughts... The Spirit of God has revealed to her...⁴

Arthur White's claim for Ellen White:

In this broader field of writing, from which there seemed to be no respite, she was impelled to bear testimony to what was revealed to her in scores and hundreds of visions through 70 years of her ministry. In writing these messages of instruction, counsel, encouragement, and correction, she sought no human source of information and was not influenced by those about her. In all her works, we see her moving under the bidding and guidance of the Spirit of God.⁵

Contrast the statements of James and Arthur White with this recent statement from the Ellen G. White Estate's Warren John:

Ellen White was unusually well read in the light of the amount of formal education she received. The ground covered in her reading amounted to several hundred books perhaps covering several tens of thousands of pages...Ellen White incorporated a wealth of material from that which she read into what she wrote. Without saying how extensive it is, we can conclude at this time that she made an extensive use of sources in order to convey the unique truths and the pointed messages needed by God's Church...⁶

Ellen White's claim:

I have not been in the habit of reading any doctrinal articles in the paper, that my mind should not have any understanding of anyone's ideas and views, and that not a mold of any man's theories should have any connection with that which I write.⁷

Ellen White Borrowed for Volume 3 of Spiritual Gifts

Ellen White's description of how earthquakes were formed after the flood⁸, according to Warren Johns, was borrowed from other sources:

In the 1915 inventory [of Ellen White's library of books] is listed an entry, 'Earthquakes, Bound collection of pamphlets on.' This particular collection, which has no author or date indicated, is the most likely source for Ellen White's statements on earthquakes and volcanic phenomena.⁹

In the preface to Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, Ellen White stated:

In presenting this, my third little volume, to the public, I am comforted with the conviction that the Lord has made me His humble servant in shedding some rays of precious light upon the past...¹⁰

According to Dr. Ronald Graybill, former Associate Secretary of the Ellen G. White Estate:

Mrs. White borrowed not only the words and phrases used by these authors, but in some cases followed the outline of their expositions and drew from them facts, illustrations, thoughts, and concepts.¹¹

Dr. Graybill also noted:

These borrowings occurred not only in the historical sections of The Great Controversy but also in its prophetic sections. They appear throughout the Conflict of the Ages and in the Testimonies for the Church as well as other Ellen White books. They occur in letters and specific testimonies to individuals. They appear in descriptions of the content of specific visions given to Mrs. White. It would be unwise at this point to assert that there is any particular book written by Mrs. White or any type of writing from her pen in which literary borrowing will not be found.

In cases where we have Mrs. White's handwritten draft of something she borrowed, this handwritten draft is usually closer to the literary source than is the published version which followed. This difference should generally be attributed to the work of Ellen White's literary assistants in editing her material for publication—a work that she approved.

Many of the beautifully expressed thoughts, that is, many of the literary gems found in Mrs. White’s writings were borrowed from other authors. This fact, together with the knowledge that her writings were polished by literary assistants, leads us to avoid the suggestion that the literary beauty of her writings is an evidence of her divine inspiration.¹²

In spite of the mounting evidence from the Ellen G. White Estate regarding Ellen White's literary borrowing practices, she herself warned the Church:

They [Adventist ministers] profess to be teachers of the word, but they sadly neglect to search the Scriptures for themselves. They are content to use the arguments which are prepared in pamphlets and books, and which others have labored earnestly to search out; but they are not willing to tax their minds to study them out for themselves. In order to make full proof of their ministry, those who open the word of God to others should search the Scriptures diligently. They should not be content to use other men's thoughts, but should dig for truth as for hid treasures. While it is perfectly right to gather ideas from other minds, they should not be satisfied to take those ideas and repeat them in a poll-parrot manner. Make these ideas your own, brethren; frame the arguments yourselves, from your own study and research. Do not borrow the productions of other men's brains and pens, and recite them as a lesson; but make the most of the talents, the brain power, that God has given you.¹³

In 1905, when Dr. David Paulson asked permission to publish some selections from Ellen G. White's writings for his publication "Life Boat", permission was granted; however, only on the condition Ellen G. White be given full credit. Responding to Dr. Paulson's request, Mrs. White's son, Willie C. White, Secretary of the Ellen G. White Estate, stated:

Mother instructs me to say to you that you may be free to select from her writings short articles for the Life Boat. Or you may make extracts from these MSS and from similar writings, in your articles, in each case giving the proper credit.¹⁴

Plagiarized from Daniel March

I have now finished a line-by-line comparison, page-by-page, and chapter-by-chapter, of Ellen White's five books of the Conflict of the Ages series, as well as other material she was supposed to have written. Using the books and material that have been acknowledged and are available from her library, this study will show by using only one author (Daniel March) how extensive her paraphrasing was in all of her writings.¹⁶

See Also

• Ellen White's Plagiarism of Daniel March