As a Christian, I naturally believe in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, but particularly the King James Version (KJV). However, this version included the 7 books of the Apocrypha when it was first published in 1611.
It is important for me to mention the Apocrypha because it appeared in the Septuagint, which became the source of many modern translations of the Bible.
The Apocrypha contains teachings that lean towards the Catholic beliefs such as praying for the dead (2 Mac. 12:45,46) because it teaches that we have consciousness apart from our physical body (Wisdom 8:19,20). It also teaches that we can have salvation through our own merits (Tobit 12:9).
It teaches that we can make potions to ward off demons (Tobit 6:17,18), and it teaches that mankind was made from nothing (2 Mac. 7:28), contradicting the account in Genesis 2:7 that man was made from the dust of the ground. This is why the Protestants deemed the Apocrypha as spurious, but it is interesting that the Catholics claimed that it is canonical, which makes me wonder who was really behind the Apocrypha and the Septuagint.
According to Wikipedia, Septuagint is
“…the earliest extant Koine GREEK TRANSLATION OF BOOKS FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE, various biblical APOCRYPHA, and deuterocanonical books. The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch, were translated in the mid-3rd century BCE…” (Wikipedia, “The Septuagint”)
In 250 B.C., the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek called, the Septuagint. It resulted containing the apocryphal books, but the Hebrew Old Testament does not have the apocryphal books so no one truly knows how the Septuagint ended up with them.
“Biblical APOCRYPHA are a set of texts included in the Septuagint and Latin Vulgate ***BUT NOT IN THE HEBREW BIBLE.*** While Catholic tradition considers some of these texts to be deuterocanonical, Protestants consider them apocryphal.” (Ibid)
It’s been claimed that Jesus and the disciples quoted Scripture from the Septuagint because they did not quote the Hebrew texts verbatim, but neither did their words exactly matched the words in the Septuagint; therefore, this is not proof that they quoted from the Septuagint.
“The words of the LORD are ‘PURE WORDS:’ as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” “Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt ‘PRESERVE’ them from this generation for ever.” (Psalms 12:6,7)
The Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament Scripture used the MASORETIC TEXT, which is the authorized text in Rabbinical Judaism. The 1611 King James Version translation was based on the Masoretic text, and not the Septuagint.
“The KJV Old Testament is translated from the… Masoretic text of the Hebrew scriptures.” (KJV Today)
“…THE NEW VERSION [KJV] WAS MORE FAITHFUL TO THE ‘ORIGINAL LANGUAGES’ OF THE BIBLE and more scholarly than any of its predecessors…” (Britannica, “King James aversion”) [insert mine]
Ellen G. White wrote…
“I then saw ‘THE WORD OF GOD PURE AND UNADULTERATED,’ and… I saw that the APOCRYPHA was the ‘HIDDEN BOOK,’and that THE ‘WISE’ OF THESE LAST DAYS SHOULD UNDERSTAND IT. I saw that the Bible was the standard book, that will judge us at the last day…” (Ellen G. White, Ms 4, 1850, par. 13)
I already shared the teachings in the Apocrypha that contradict the Bible; therefore, I do not believe that EGW was promoting the Apocrypha as part of the pure word of God. She said that the “wise of these last days should understand it,” and now we understand that it contains erroneous teachings. She saw that it was the “hidden book.”
The term “Apocrypha” denotes… “hidden or secret writings… APOCRYPHA was applied to writings that were ‘HIDDEN’ not because of their divinity but because of their questionable value to the church. In general use, the word apocrypha came to mean ‘FALSE, SPURIOUS, BAD, or HERETICAL.’” (Wikipedia, “Apocrypha”)
Ellen G. White also mentioned some New Testament apocryphal writings that were spurious.
“Christ retained a perfect identity of character, although surrounded by unfavorable influences, and placed in every variety of circumstances. Nothing supernatural occurred during the first thirty years of his life at Nazareth which would attract the attention of the people to himself. The apocraphy [apocrypha] of the New Testament attempts to supply the silence of the Scriptures in reference to the early life of Christ, by giving a fancy sketch of his childhood years. These writers relate wonderful incidents and miracles, which characterized his childhood, and distinguished him from other children. They relate fictitious tales, and frivolous miracles, which they say he wrought, attributing to Christ the senseless and needless display of his divine power, and falsifying his character by attributing to him acts of revenge, and deeds of mischief, which were cruel and ridiculous.” (Youth Instructor, April 1, 1872, par. 1)
The Apocrypha was included in the 1611 KJV when it was first published, but not mixed in with the 39 books of the Old Testament as the Catholic Bible does, but inserted in-between the OT and the NT as the Apocrypha. This designation apart from the 39 OT deuterocanonical books implied that the Apocrypha was not deemed authoritative as the Catholics do.
“For God is not the author of confusion…” (1 Cor. 14:33).
If the books of the Apocrypha are inspired by God, then it would cause confusion because of the contradictions. The ancient
Bible translations that came from the line of Catholicism were the Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, Latin Vulgate by Jerome in the 4th century.
“The Codex Vaticanus originally contained a virtually complete copy of the Septuagint.” (Wikipedia, “Codex Vaticanus”)
“For most of the New Testament, Codex Sinaiticus is in general agreement with Codex Vaticanus Graecus.” (Wikipedia, “Codex Sinaiticus”)
“The Vulgate… is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was to become the Catholic Church’s officially promulgated Latin version of the Bible during the 16th century and is still used in the Latin Church alongside the Hebrew and Greek sources… The translation was largely the work of Jerome who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I TO REVISE THE VETUS LATINA (‘OLD LATI
N’) Gospels used by the Roman Church…” (Wikipedia, “Vulgate”)
Now let me share with you why the Catholic Church created their own Latin version of the Bible from the version commonly used, the “Vetus Latina” also known as the “Old Latin,” during the 4th century.
The Vetus Latina (Old Latin) and the Waldensians
“Our visit to the Waldensian Valleys was one of special interest on account of the close connection which this locality has with the history of the people of God in past ages. It was in the friendly shelter of the surrounding rocky peaks that they found protection when the fierce persecutions of the Roman church drove them from the fertile plains of NORTHERN ITALY. In these plains they had succeeded in maintaining their ‘independence’ of Rome many years after others had yielded to her power. Indeed, up to the ‘ELEVENTH CENTURY,’ the diocese of Milan is said to have greatly exceeded in extent that of Rome. But the very fact that her authority was disregarded on what might be called her own territory, was very humiliating to a power to whom all the world was then bowing down; and, after repeated unsuccessful attempts to induce the bishops of Milan to yield their independence, THEY WERE FINALLY FORCED TO SUBMIT.” (Ellen G. White, Historical Sketches, pg. 239.1)
Upon careful reading of the quotation above, the author stated that the people of God in the past, referring to them in her other work as “the ‘ancient’ Waldenses…” (EGW, Christian Education, pg. 213.1), have enjoyed their independence from Rome up to the “ELEVENTH CENTURY,” which could only mean that the origin of the Waldensians did not begin with Peter Waldo in the 12th century as claimed by the Catholic Church, and by many others that believed that falsehood.
“… ‘BUT THE TIME CAME AT LAST’ WHEN ROME ‘INSISTED’ UPON THEIR SUBMISSION…” (EGW, Great Controversy, 1888, pg. 63.2).
Since the Waldenses continued their independence from Rome up to the 11th century, this quote must be referring to the 12th century. Now let’s continue to read what transpired:
“After ineffectual struggles against her tyranny, THE LEADERS OF THESE CHURCHES RELUCTANTLY ‘ACKNOWLEDGED THE SUPREMACY OF THE POWER TO WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD SEEMED TO PAY HOMAGE.’ THERE WERE SOME, HOWEVER, WHO REFUSED TO YIELD TO THE AUTHORITY OF POPE OR PRELATE. They were determined to maintain their allegiance to God, and to preserve the purity and simplicity of their faith. ***A SEPARATION TOOK PLACE.*** THOSE WHO ADHERED TO THE ANCIENT FAITH NOW WITHDREW; SOME, FORSAKING THEIR NATIVE ALPS, RAISED THE BANNER OF TRUTH IN FOREIGN LANDS; OTHERS RETREATED TO THE SECLUDED GLENS AND ROCKY FASTNESSES OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND THERE PRESERVED THEIR FREEDOM TO WORSHIP GOD.” (Ibid)
“…and their trials and perplexities only drove them nearer to God and increased their faith. Such was the character, such the motives, of the Waldenses of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.” (EGW, Historical Sketches, pg. 243.3)
But those that “reluctantly acknowledged the supremacy” of Rome,
“…while, under the pressure of long-continued persecution… ‘COMPROMISED THEIR FAITH,’ little by little yielding its distinctive principles…” (EGW, Great Controversy, pg. 65.1)
In 1120 A.D., these compromising Waldensians gave their Confession of Faith, which you can find in the book, “Baptist History Notebook,” by Berlin Hisel, pg. 247):
1. We believe and firmly hold all that which is contained in the twelve Articles of the Symbol, which is called the Apostles’ Creed, accounting for Heresie whatsoever is disagreeing, and not consonant to the said 12 Articles.
2. We do believe that there is ONE GOD, FATHER, SON, & HOLY GHOST.”
There are objectors to the 1120 A.D. date like SDA minister and historian, Le Roy Froom. He believed that this Confession of Faith was “much later.” He was a huge proponent of the doctrine of the Trinity and cited this Confession to show that the Waldensians were Trinitarians.
“The beliefs of the Waldensians should be found best in their confession of faith… The confession dated 1120 by Morland and Leger, is really much later… The confession labeled ‘1120’ affirms belief in the… Trinity…” (Le Roy Edwin Froom, “The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers,” v. 1, pg. 867.4-868.1)
It’s inconsequential to this study whether the 1120 date is valid or if it was “much later” because the fact is that historians affirm that this Confession labeled “1120” clearly stated their (Waldenses) acknowledgment of God as triune. However, if it’s of any interest to my readers regarding the 1120 date, author Jean Paul Perrin wrote in his book, “History of the Old Albigenses,” pg. 128, under the summary of the contents of Book III: “Ancient Confession of the Faith of the Waldenses, copies out of Manuscripts, bearing date Anno Domini, 1120.”
“The direct evidence that I have presented from Perrin and Bray, in establishing the fact, that the Waldenses and Albigenses, were pedobaptists, seems to me to be conclusive. This evidence is collected from their practice, their various writings, their confessions, their exposition of the sacrament of baptism, and extending from the year 1120, to the year 1633.” (Rev. M.M. Smith, “An Epitome of the Doctrines and Practice of the Old Waldenses and Albigenses, pg. 20, [1866])
And to vindicate the 1120 date, you can also search for the book, “The Christian Observer,” Conducted by the Members of the Established Church and see pp.. 723-729.
If the Waldensians predated the 12th century, then how far back can we go to ascertain their existence? “Behind the lofty bulwarks of the mountains—in all ages the refuge of the persecuted and oppressed—the Waldenses found a hiding place. Here the light of truth was kept burning amid the darkness of the Middle Ages. Here, for ‘a thousand years,’ witnesses for the truth maintaine
d ‘the ancient faith.’” (EGW, Great Controversy, pg. 65.3)
The Middle Ages spanned from the 5th to the 15th centuries according to many historians, which is a span of a thousand years; therefore, based on the inspired quotation above, we can know for certain that the Waldensians existed at least as far back as the 5th century as witnesses for the truth. Some have even suggested an earlier time.
“They contended for the faith of the apostolic church,—‘the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ Jude 3. ‘The church in the wilderness,’ and not the proud hierarchy enthroned in the world’s great capital, was the true church of Christ, the ‘GUARDIAN’ of the treasures of truth which God has committed to His people to be given to the world.” (EGW, Great Controversy, pg. 64.2 [1911])
“The Waldenses were the first of all the peoples of Europe to obtain a translation of the Holy Scriptures. Hundreds of years before the Reformation, they possessed the Bible in manuscript ‘IN THEIR NATIVE TONGUE.’ They had the truth ‘UNADULTERATED,’ and THIS RENDERED THEM THE SPECIAL OBJECTS OF HATRED AND PERSECUTION…” (Ibid, pg. 65.1)
Their native tongue was the language of Northern Italy; therefore, the Bible manuscripts that they possessed was the “Vetus Latina,” or the “Old Latin,” or also called the “Itala,” which
EGW described as “unadulterated.” God has especially “guarded” His words, and the Waldensians were His “guardians” by preserving its purity. Now do you see why the Catholic Church made their own Latin translation of the Bible to replace the Itala As we read earlier, the Waldensians enjoyed their independence from Rome up to the 11th century, but henceforth, became the fierce objects of Rome’s hatred and persecution.
“…THEIR REFUSAL TO SURRENDER THE SCRIPTURES WAS ALSO AN OFFENSE THAT ROME COULD NOT TOLERATE. She determined to blot them from the earth. Now began the most terrible crusades against God’s people in their mountain homes…” (EGW, Great Controversy, 1888, pg. 76.1)
And what Scriptures did the Waldensians use? The Old Latin Bible for EGW wrote that “they possessed the Bible manuscript IN THEIR NATIVE TONGUE.” It could not have been the Latin Vulgate of Jerome for if it were so, the Catholic Church would not have had objected to it. But
“THEIR ‘GRAND OFFENSE’ was that THEY WOULD NOT WORSHIP GOD ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE POPE. For this crime, every humiliation, insult, and torture that men or devils could invent was heaped upon them.” (Ibid, par. 3)
These were the faithful Waldensians that did not compromise the faith of the apostolic church, which they held and stated in their Confession of Faith, 1544 A.D. (Citations: “Broadbent, E.H., ‘The Pilgrim Church.’ Grand Rapids, MI: Gospel Folio Press, 1931; William Jones History of the Christian Church, v.2, pg. 45; C.H. Cayce editorial vol. VII, pg. 195):
1. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, who is a Spirit – the Creator of all things – THE FATHER OF ALL, who is above all, and through all, and in us all; who is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth – upon whom we are continually dependent, and to whom we ascribe praise for our life, food, raiment, health, sickness, prosperity, and adversity. We love him as the source of all goodness; and reverence him as that sublime being, who searches the reins and trieth the hearts of the children of men.
2. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON AND IMAGE OF THE FATHER- that in Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells, and that by Him alone we know the Father. He is our Mediator and advocate; nor is there any other name given under heaven by which we can be saved. In His name alone we call upon the Father, using no other prayers than those contained in the Holy Scriptures, or such as are in substance agreeable thereunto.
3. WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE COMFORTER, PROCEEDING FROM THE FATHER, AND FROM THE SON; by whose inspiration we are taught to pray; being by Him renewed in the spirit of our minds; who creates us anew unto good works, and from whom we receive the knowledge of the truth.
Source: http://essentialbaptistprinciples.org/confessions/waldenses_1544.htm; https://archive.org/details/WilliamJonesTheHistoryOfTheChristianChurchVol.2/page/n43/mode/2up
This Confession of Faith is drastically different from their compromising brethren’s Confession of Faith in 1120, which stated the belief in the Catholic’s Trinity, but the faithful Waldensians were the guardians “…of the treasures of truth which God has committed to His people to be given to the world.” (EGW, Great Controversy, pg. 64.2 [1911])
“From their pastors the youth received instruction. While attention was given to branches of general learning, the Bible was made the chief study. THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW AND JOHN THEY COMMITTED TO MEMORY, with many of the Epistles. They were employed also in copying the Scriptures. Some manuscripts contained the whole Bible…
“By patient, untiring labor, sometimes in the deep, dark caverns of the earth, by the light of torches, the sacred Scriptures were written out, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. Thus the work went on… Angels from Heaven surrounded these faithful workers. Satan had urged on the papal priests and prelates TO BURY THE WORD OF TRUTH BENEATH THE RUBBISH OF ERROR, HERESY, and SUPERSTITION, BUT IN A MOST WONDERFUL MANNER IT WAS ‘PRESERVED UNCORRUPTED’ THROUGH ALL THE AGES OF DARKNESS. IT BORE NOT THE STAMP OF MAN, BUT THE IMPRESS OF GOD…” (EGW, Great Controversy, 1888, pp. 68.2-69.1)
“From earliest childhood the youth were instructed in the Scriptures, and taught to sacredly regard the claims of the law of God. COPIES OF THE BIBLE WERE RARE; therefore its precious words were committed to memory. Many were able to repeat large portions of both the Old and the New Testament…” (Ibid, pg. 66.2)
“I saw that God had especially ‘GUARDED’ the Bible; yet WHEN COPIES OF IT WERE FEW, ‘learned men’ had in some instances ‘changed the words,’ thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition.” (EGW, Early Writings, pg. 220.2)
The Waldenses used the Old Latin Bible (Itala), and not the corrupted Latin Vulgate, but the time has come that the words of God must be translated into the English language because this was to be the universal language in the last days.
“Thus the Waldenses witnessed for God, centuries before the birth of Luther. Scattered over many lands, they planted the seeds of the Reformation that began in the time of WYCLIFFE…”
[Revelation 1:9.].” (EGW, Great Controversy, 1888, pg. 77.3)“In the FOURTEENTH CENTURY arose in England the ‘morning-star of the Reformation.’ JOHN WYCLIFFE was the herald of reform.” (Ibid, pg. 79.3)
“But the greatest work of his [Wycliffe] life was to be the translation of the Scriptures into the ENGLISH LANGUAGE…” (EGW, Great Controversy, pg. 87.2) [bracket mine]
“Except among the Waldenses, the Word of God had for ages been locked up in languages known only TO THE LEARNED; but the time had come for the Scriptures to be ‘TRANSLATED,’ and given to the people of different lands in their native tongue…” (EGW, Great Controversy, 1888, pg. 79.2)
Wycliffe was among those “learned” men that God used to translate the Bible in English; but unfortunately, he used the Latin Vulgate, which was the corrupted version.
“WYCLIFFE became Master of Balliol College, Oxford, in 1361. Studying the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, and seeing how ordinary people thirsted for a knowledge of God’s Word, he became convinced of the need to translate the Latin to which he had access – THE LATIN VULGATE – into the English language spoken by ordinary people.” (Bible Manuscript Society, Wycliffe Bible)
Hence, Ellen G. White wrote…
“Wycliffe’s Bible had been translated from the Latin text, which contained ‘MANY ERRORS.’” (EGW, Great Controversy, 1888, pg. 245.1)
“‘Before the Reformation’ [before the 14th century] there were at times but ‘VERY FEW COPIES’ of the Bible in existence; but God had not suffered his Word to be wholly destroyed. Its truths were not to be forever hidden…” (EGW, Great Controversy, 1888, pg. 79.1) [bracket mine]
“While Wycliffe was still at college, he entered upon the study of the Scriptures. In those early times, when the Bible existed only in the ‘ancient languages,’ ‘SCHOLARS’ were enabled to find their way to the fountain of truth, which was closed to the uneducated classes. Thus already the way had been prepared for Wycliffe’s future work as a Reformer. ‘MEN OF LEARNING’ had studied the word of God and had found the great truth of His free grace there revealed. In their teachings they had spread a knowledge of this truth, and had led others to turn to the living oracles…” (Ibid, pg. 80.3)
“I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet WHEN COPIES OF IT WERE FEW, ‘LEARNED MEN’ had IN SOME INSTANCES ‘CHANGED THE WORDS,’ thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition. But I saw that the Word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion linking into and explaining another. True seekers for truth need not err; for not only is the Word of God plain and simple in declaring the way of life, but the Holy Spirit is given as a guide in understanding the way to life therein revealed.” (EGW, Early Writings, pp. 220.2 – 221.1)
Often, this quote above is used to discredit the authenticity of the baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19 and the Johannine comma in 1 John 5:7,8 as reflected in the KJV Bible, but upon reading the quotes above, the “learned” “scholars” that made copies of the Bible were contemporaries of Wycliffe and were described as those that “studied the word of God and had found the great truth of His free grace there revealed;” therefore, these scholars could not have been working for the pope to corrupt the KJV.
We can also ascertain that these learned scholars did not inject the baptismal formula or the Johannine comma in the KJV Bible because the timeframe wherein they lived was when “copies of” the Bible “were few,” but the translators that were employed that created the KJV were from the 17th century, which by that time, the printing machine had long been invented. The first printing press was invented in 1440 A.D., and the first mass produced Bible was Tyndale’s.
“In 1516, a year before the appearance of Luther’s theses, ERASMUS had published his GREEK and LATIN version of the New Testament. Now for the first time the Word of God was printed in the original tongue. In this work ‘MANY ERRORS’ of ‘FORMER VERSIONS’ were ‘CORRECTED,’ and the ‘SENSE’ was ‘MORE CLEARLY RENDERED.’ It led many among the educated classes to a better knowledge of the truth, and gave a new impetus to the work of reform. But the common people were still, to a great extent, debarred from God’s Word. TYNDALE was to complete the work of WYCLIFFE in giving the Bible to his countrymen…
“A diligent student and an earnest seeker for truth, HE HAD RECEIVED THE GOSPEL FROM THE GREEK TESTAMENT OF ERASMUS.” (EGW, GC88 245.1, 2)
Therefore, Tyndale’s Bible was the better Bible translation in English than Wycliffe’s error filled version.
“In Christianity, the term Textus Receptus (Latin: ‘received text’) designates all editions of the Greek texts of the New Testament from the Novum Instrumentum omne established by Erasmus in 1516.” (Wikipedia, “Textus Receptus”)
“The biblical Textus Receptus constituted the translation-base for the original German Luther Bible, the translation of the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, the King James Version…” (Ibid)
God used Erasmus to correct many errors from the prior translations of His words, and He used Tyndale to translate it in English based on Erasmus’ work. His translation included both the complete text of Matthew 28:19 and 1John 5:7.
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“Go therfore and teache all nacions baptysinge them in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy goost.” (Matthew 28:19, Tyndale Bible, 1534 A.D.)
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“For ther are thre which beare recorde in heuen the father the worde and the wholy goost. And these thre are one.” (1 John 5:7, Tyndale Bible, 1534 A.D.)
And Tyndale’s last prayer before he was martyred, “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.” He said this because…
“All England seemed closed against him, and he resolved to seek shelter in Germany. Here he began the printing of the English New Testament…” (EGW, GC88 246.4)
“As quickly as Tyndale’s translations were smuggled into England, the church authorities attempted to confiscate and burn them. And they sent agents to apprehend Tyndale, now in Antwerp. On October 6, 1536, he was first strangled, then burned at the stake. But at about the same time as Tyndale’s martyrdom, King Henry VIII’s break from the Roman Catholic Church heralded a new freedom to translate and own English Bibles. ‘Matthew’s Bible’ was the first to be officially licensed by the state, and in 1539 the ‘Great Bible’ was produced for the pulpits of the new Church of England. BOTH OF THESE DREW HEAVILY ON TYNDALE’S WORK…
“Mary I, who became queen in 1553, briefly reimposed Catholicism on England and ushered in an age of further persecution. English Protestants who had fled to Geneva, John Calvin’s stronghold, began work on a translation which would be known as the ‘GENEVA BIBLE’…,” which was heavily “…indebted to Tyndale…” (1997, The Roots of the KJV: Tyndale and the “Geneva Bible” by T.L. Hubeart Jr.)
“However, Queen Elizabeth and her successor James I disliked the Geneva’s notes. James, with his strong view of the ‘divine right of kings,’ specifically objected to notes like that at Exodus 1:19 (‘Their disobedience herein was lawfull, but their dissembling euill’) which seemed to countenance rebellion toward rulers. Thus when at the Hampton Court Conference he was petitioned to order a new translation of the Bible, he was sympathetic to the idea. Forty-seven learned men eventually gathered at the king’s request, meeting at Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge to produce what would be published in 1611 and commonly known to later ages as the ‘Authorized, or King James, Version.’ THE KJV OWED A GREAT DEAL TO EARLIER VERSIONS, PARTICULARLY TO TYNDALE AND GENEVA.” (Ibid)
“THIS [KJV] WAS THE VERSION MOST USED BY ELLEN WHITE, though occasionally she used others.” (The Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate, Christ Triumphant, Foreword, pg. 5.4) [bracket mine]
Then most assuredly, she was aware of the baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19. In fact, she assured us that this was authentic.
“The prejudice of the Jews was aroused because the disciples of Jesus did not use the exact words of John in the rite of baptism. John baptized unto repentance, BUT THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS, ON PROFESSION OF THE FAITH, BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. The teachings of John were in perfect harmony with those of Jesus, yet his disciples became jealous for fear his influence was diminishing. A dispute arose between them and the disciples of Jesus in REGARD TO THE FORM OF WORDS PROPER TO USE AT BAPTISM, and finally as to the right of the latter to baptize at all.” (EGW, Spirit of Prophecy, v.2, pg. 136.3)
And most assuredly, she was also aware of the Johannine comma in 1 John 5:7,8. While she did not quote this in any of her writings is not proof that this was spurious; moreover, she did not at any time state nor even hinted that this was an interpolation. Instead, she wrote…
“I take the Bible just as it is, as the Inspired Word. I believe its utterances in an entire Bible. Men arise who think they find something to criticize in God’s Word. They lay it bare before others as evidence of superior wisdom… the whole lifework [of whom] is to unsettle minds in regard to the inspiration of the Scriptures. They influence many to see as they do. And the same work is passed on from one to another, just as Satan designed it should be, until we may see the full meaning of the words of Christ, ‘When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:8).” (EGW, Selected Messages, v.1, pg. 17.3)
“Some look to us gravely and say, ‘Don’t you think there might have been some mistake in the copyist or in the translators?’ This is all probable, and the mind that is so narrow that it will hesitate and stumble over this possibility or probability would be just as ready to stumble over the mysteries of the Inspired Word, because their feeble minds cannot see through the purposes of God… All the mistakes will not cause trouble to one soul, or cause any feet to stumble, that would not manufacture difficulties from the plainest revealed truth…” (Ibid, pg. 16.2)
“Those who think to make the supposed difficulties of Scripture plain, in measuring by their finite rule that which is inspired and that which is not inspired, had better cover their faces, as Elijah when the still small voice spoke to him; for they are in the presence of God and holy angels, who for ages have communicated to men light and knowledge, telling them what to do and what not to do, unfolding before them scenes of thrilling interest, waymark by waymark in symbols and signs and illustrations.” (Ibid, pg. 17.1)
While she conceded to the probability of mistakes made by the translators even to the Bible version that she used most, which was the KJV, yet, according to her, those mistakes did not include the baptismal formula, nor could they have included the Johannine comma because if she was so mindful to mention even just a single word that was erroneously added by the translator, how much more a whole phrase if the Johannine comma was spurious?
“Then I saw in relation to the ‘daily’ (Daniel 8:12) that the word ‘sacrifice’ was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the “daily”; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed.” (EGW, Early Writings, pg. 74.2)
Therefore, it is my personal conviction based on the light that I shared in this article that the King James Version of the Bible is the most correct translation that we have available today.