Inspiration and Literary Assistants
Prophets were not God’s pens but His penmen. What they saw or heard in visions and dreams they wrote down according to the best of their ability. From Scripture we know that some of the biblical authors had secretaries to help them write down the messages of God.
Read Jeremiah 36:1–4, Romans 16:22, 1 Corinthians 16:21, Colossians 4:15–18, and 2 Thessalonians 3:17. What do they tell us about the use of literary assistants?
Thus, both Old Testament and New Testament writers used literary assistants or scribes to write down the messages God had given them.
From New Testament times we know that at times scribes used a wax tablet to take down the gist of what the author wanted to say before they wrote a good copy of the letter. Prior to sending it, the author would go over the letter to make sure it conveyed to the reader what he wanted to say.
Ellen White also used literary helpers. Here’s why:
1. With formal schooling ending at age 9, she recognized her own limitations as a writer. “I am not a grammarian. I will try, if the Lord will help me, at forty-five years old to become a scholar in the science. God will help me. I believe He will.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 90. Thus, some of her assistants functioned as her copy editors.
2. The great demand for her writings made it necessary for her to have literary help. “After my husband's death, faithful helpers joined me, who labored untiringly in the work of copying the testimonies and preparing articles for publication.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 50.
3. Because most of her books were not written as books, but were put together from previously written material, she needed special assistance in their production. Marian Davis was Ellen White’s bookmaker. “She takes my articles which are published in the papers, and pastes them in blank books. She also has a copy of all the letters I write. In preparing a chapter for a book, Marian remembers that I have written something on that special point, which may make the matter more forcible. She begins to search for this, and if when she finds it, she sees that it will make the chapter more clear, she adds it. The books are not Marian's productions, but my own, gathered from all my writings.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 91.
| How does this understanding help us better grasp how inspiration works? What wrong views might you have held on the topic of inspiration? |
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