In the preceding section we noted that it is important to understand Ellen
White's counsel in its original historical context. In this section we will
examine the importance of reading her statements in their literary framework.
People have too often based their understandings of Mrs. White's teachings
upon a fragment of a paragraph or upon an isolated statement entirely removed
from its setting. Thus she writes that "many study the Scriptures for the
purpose of proving their own ideas to be correct. They change the meaning of
God's Word to suit their own opinions. And thus they do also with the
testimonies that He sends. They quote half a sentence, leaving out the other
half, which, if quoted, would show their reasoning to be false. God has a
controversy with those who wrest the Scriptures, making them conform to their
preconceived ideas" (Selected Messages, book 3, p. 82). Again she
comments about those who by "separating . . . statements from their
connection, and placing them beside human reasonings, make it appear that my
writings uphold that which they condemn" (Letter 208, 1906).
Ellen White was repeatedly upset with those who pick out "a sentence
here and there, taking it from its proper connection, and applying it according
to their idea" (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 44). On another
occasion she observed that "extracts" from her writings "may give
a different impression than that which they would were they read in their
original connection" (ibid., p. 58).
W. C. White, Ellen White's son, often had to deal with the problem of people
using material out of its literary context. In 1904 he noted that "much
misunderstanding has come from the misuse of isolated passages in the
Testimonies, in cases where, if the whole Testimony or the whole paragraph had
been read, an impression would have been made upon minds that was altogether
different from the impression made by the use of selected sentences" (W. C.
White to W. S. Sadler, Jan. 20, 1904).
The study of literary contexts is not an optional luxury on inspired
statements--it is a crucial part of faithfully reading Ellen White's writings.
It is impossible to overestimate the importance of studying Ellen White's
articles and books in their contexts rather than merely reading topical
compilations or selecting out quotations on this or that topic through the use
of indexes or computer printouts. Such tools have their places, but we should
use them in connection with broad reading that helps us to be more aware not
only of the literary context of Ellen White's statements but also of the overall
balance in her writings.