Statements From the Pioneers

THERE ARE ONLY TWO DIVINE BEINGS

Ellen White

“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate – a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father – one in nature, in character, in purpose – the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6. His “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2. And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting.... When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” Proverbs 8:22-30. (EGW. PP-34)

James White:

‘‘The way spiritualizers this way have disposed of or denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is first using the old unscriptural trinitarian creed, viz., that Jesus Christ is the eternal God, though they have not one passage to support it, while we have plain scripture testimony in abundance that He is the Son of the eternal God.’’ ‘‘Letter from Bro. White,,’’ The Day-Star, IX (January 24, 1846), 25

‘‘To assert that the sayings of the Son and His apostles are the commandments of the Father, is as wide from the truth as the old trinitarian absurdity that Jesus Christ is the very and eternal God.’’ ‘‘The Faith of Jesus,’’ Review & Herald, III (August 5, 1852), 52

E.J. Waggoner

“The Scriptures declare that Christ is “the only-begotten Son of God.” He is begotten, not created. As to when He was begotten, it is not for us to inquire, nor could our minds grasp it if we were told .... There was a time when Christ proceeded and came forth from God, from the bosom of the Father (John 8:42; 1:18), but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite comprehension it is practically without beginning.” “Christ and His Righteousness” - (From the section entitled, “Is Christ a Created Being?”)

J.N. Loughborough

“Question 1. What serious objections is there to the doctrine of the Trinity?

Answer. There are many objections which we might urge, but on account of our limited space we shall reduce them to the three following:

1. It is contrary to common sense.

2. It is contrary to Scripture.

3. Its origin is pagan and fabulous.”

R.H. - Nov.5,1861