Inspiration of the Prophetic Writers
17
mold, making the very hearing monotonous. In such uniformity there
would be a loss of grace and distinctive beauty....
The Creator of all ideas may impress different minds with the
same thought, but each may express it in a different way, yet without
contradiction. The fact that this difference exists should not perplex
or confuse us. It is seldom that two persons will view and express
truth in the very same way. Each dwells on particular points which his
constitution and education have fitted him to appreciate. The sunlight
falling upon the different objects gives those objects a different hue.
Through the inspiration of His Spirit the Lord gave His apostles
truth, to be expressed according to the development of their minds by
the Holy Spirit. But the mind is not cramped, as if forced into a certain
mold.—
Letter 53, 1900
.
The Lord Speaks in Imperfect Speech
The Lord speaks to human beings in imperfect speech, in order that
the degenerate senses, the dull, earthly perception, of earthly beings
may comprehend His words. Thus is shown God’s condescension.
He meets fallen human beings where they are. The Bible, perfect
as it is in its simplicity, does not answer to the great ideas of God;
for infinite ideas cannot be perfectly embodied in finite vehicles of
thought. Instead of the expressions of the Bible being exaggerated,
as many people suppose, the strong expressions break down before
the magnificence of the thought, though the penman selected the most
expressive language through which to convey the truths of higher
education. Sinful beings can only bear to look upon a shadow of the
brightness of heaven’s glory.—
Letter 121, 1901
.
[23]
No Man to Pronounce Judgment on God’s Word
Both in the [Battle Creek] Tabernacle and in the college the subject
of inspiration has been taught, and finite men have taken it upon
themselves to say that some things in the Scriptures were inspired and
some were not. I was shown that the Lord did not inspire the articles
on inspiration published in the Review, [
Reference here is to a series
of articles the writer of which advocated that there were “Differences
in Degrees” of inspiration. See
The Review and Herald, January 15,