"It has been very hard for the servants of God to labor in ——, for there has been a class of self-righteous, talkative, unruly ones there, who have stood in the way of the work of God. If received into the church, they would tear it to pieces. They would not be subject to the body, and would never be satisfied unless the reins of church government were in their own hands. 1T 329.1"
"But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."
The EGW passage describes individuals who would 'tear the church to pieces' if given the chance, which is thematically similar to the warning in Galatians 5:15 about biting and devouring one another. The connection is not a direct quote, but the underlying principle of internal conflict destroying a community is present in both.
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
The EGW passage describes individuals who are self-righteous and want the 'reins of church government' in their own hands, which contrasts with the humility and consideration for others advocated in Philippians 2:3. The connection is thematic, highlighting the importance of humility and avoiding strife within the church.
"For the body is not one member, but many."
The EGW passage speaks of individuals who would not be 'subject to the body,' which relates to the concept of the church as a body with many members, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:14. The connection is thematic, highlighting the importance of unity and submission within the church body.
I was shown the case of Sister H. She was presented before me in connection with a professed sister who was strongly prejudiced against my husband and myself, and opposed to the visions. This spirit had led her to love and cherish every lying report in regard to us and the visions, and she has communicated this to Sister H. She has had a bitter spirit of war against me, when she had no personal knowledge of me. She was unacquainted with my labors, yet has nourished the most wicked feelings of prejudice against me, and has influenced Sister H, and they have united together in their bitter remarks and speeches. The person shown me in connection with Sister H was a strong-minded woman, sanguine, and exalted in her own estimation. She has thought that her views were correct, and that others must rely upon her word, when she only darkened counsel by words, and manifested the spirit of the dragon host to war against those who would be united on the commandments of God and the testimony of Je…
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
The EGW passage describes a person spreading 'lying reports' and harboring 'wicked feelings of prejudice,' which aligns with the warning in Matthew 7:15 about false prophets who appear harmless but are inwardly destructive. The connection is thematic, focusing on the danger of deceptive individuals within a religious community.
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth."
The EGW passage describes a person with 'bitter remarks and speeches' and 'wicked feelings of prejudice,' which aligns with the 'bitter envying and strife' mentioned in James 3:14. The lying against the truth is also present in the EGW passage.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."
The EGW passage describes someone judging Ellen White without knowing her, which directly violates the principle of 'judge not, that ye be not judged.'