The Weight of Evidence Formula Prescribed by The Spirit of Prophecy


How you can Know you are Right Even When Forming Theories

"1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible [the same principle would apply to the Spirit of Prophecy]; 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering; 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your THEORY without a contradiction, you cannot be in error; 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible." E.G. White, Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 1, p. 482, col. 2.

The Inherent Built-In Truth of the Weight of Evidence Formula

There is a fundamental beauty hidden within the weight of evidence formula. That fundamental beauty is the truth that God has so arranged truth and its principles, that if one follows the weight of evidence formula, interpreting all so that not one point contradicts any others, ONE CANNOT BE IN ERROR. That is as sure as the principle of gravity! That is positively beautiful. That principle will insure that WE CANNOT BE IN ERROR when interpreting Scripture. Even when you form a theory, we are told that if you follow this practice, YOU CANNOT BE IN ERROR. This is God's system of Checks and Balances in arriving at truth.

Weight of Evidence Formula Versus the Preponderance of Scripture Methodology

Some believe in using the Preponderance of Scripture method of arriving at Biblical truth. In other words, if there is one verse saying that Christ is the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and three verses implying that only the Father is the Omega, they conclude that only the Father can be the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. One can readily see problems with the Preponderance of Scripture methodology.

The Selective Believer Methodology

Some hold that certain portions of Scriptures and their contributors are contradictory and therefore errant. These persons regard anything that "appears" as contracdictory to be errant and not inspired truth. The result of this methodology is that most of the type who use this method end up believing only the words of Christ which He personally spoke. This makes them unbelievers in the whole Word of God. Therefore, they are not unlike infidels and their errors are myriad. They can never know that they are not in error, because they do not follow the only formula by which this might be known--THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE FORMULA, as set forth by Ellen G. White.

"Do not carry your creed to the Bible and read the Word in the light of your former opinions. Do not try to make everything agree with you creed. Search the Word carefully and prayerfully with a mind free from prejudice. If as you read conviction comes, and you see that your most cherished opinions are not in harmony with the Word, do not try to make the Word fit these opinions. Make your opinions fit the Word. Do not allow what you have believed or practiced in the past to control your understanding. Open the eyes of your mind to behold wondrous things out of the law. Find out what is written, and then plant your feet on the eternal Rock." E. G. White Manuscript Releases Volume Three, 432.

"Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence." Testimonies, vol. 3, 255.

"God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things which he cannot make plain to his finite understanding will be left in the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and questioning doubts, and will make shipwreck of faith." Testimonies, vol. 4, 232, 233.

"As with the Bible, so with the Testimonies. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit; and all should decide from the weight of evidence." E.G. White Manuscript Releases Volume 9, p. 204.