RELT 331 DOCTRINAL STUDIES

Study Guide #3
Alden Thompson, Inspiration.
Document 1 (or Selected Messages, vol. 1, pp. 15-23)
1. How did Ellen White feel about possible mistakes in the manuscripts of the Bible?
- There are mistakes in the passages but not big enough to contradict the overall messages within the passages. There are
probable mistakes but those who have are narrow minded hesitate or stumble over these possibilities and probabilities, also
likely to stumble over the simple mysteries of the inspired word because their minds cannot see through the purposes of
God.
2. Complete the following statements of Ellen White.

"Everything that is human is __Imperfect_____."

3. "The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not __God’s mode of thought and expression__. God as a writer,
is not ___Represented___." What is the implication of this statement?

4. "It is not the__words___ of the Bible that are inspired, but __men____ that were inspired." Compare this view
of inspiration to Erickson's.

5. "The Lord speaks to human beings in___imperfect__ speech."

6. "Infinite ideas cannot be__perfectly___ embodied in _finite vehicles__ of thought."

7. "Sinful beings can only bear to look upon a ___shadow of the brightness_______ of heaven's glory."

Document 2 (or E.G.W., Introduction to The Great Controversy, pp. v-xii.

8. According to White, did every Bible writer have the same degree of understanding of the truth?
- Received same inspiration from god. But because they are different individuals they express it differently.

9. Complete the following statement of Ellen White. "The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is,
nonetheless, __From heaven_____. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human
language, yet is the ______testimony of god________.

10. The following question is not in your assigned readings. But I think is worth your attention. Please refer to p.
40 of Thompson, and read Ellen White's statement concerning ignorance and humility. Note especially
who she identifies as the person best qualified to understand the truths of the Bible. Would you like to
bring up this subject in class?
- Yes
A Vision, a Fire in the Bones, a Great Idea
11. Did Alden Thompson consider every writing of Scripture a revelation? Give two biblical examples which
Thompson classifies as Spirit-led research. – page 48
a. (1 Kings 11:41)- the rest of Solomon’s story can be found in the royal records, “the book of the acts of Solomon”
b. (1 Chron. 29:29)- when the Chronicler refers us to the prophetic records of Samuel, Nathan and Gad.
c. (Luke 1:1-4)- when Luke says that he researched the life of Christ so that he could put the record straight.
12. According to Thompson's discussion, did Ellen White claim that everything she wrote was reveled to her?
- No
13. Discuss S. N. Haskell's view of inspiration. Alden Thompson rejected in his discussion Haskell's understanding
of inspiration. Why? What did Thompson say Haskell's view amounted to?
- Haskell says that imperfectin is Gods breath using the vocal organs of the prophet. He continues saying that all scripture
is thus inspired that man may know the way of life. This amounts to the inspiration process becoming another form of
revelation. Pg. 50.
14. Summarize/evaluate Thompson's casebook/codebook theory, his theory of the 1, the 2, the 10 and the many.
Come ready for class discussion. : The bible I Casebook