"3. Still others have rebelled against the testimonies. Some of these have responded in a faultfinding spirit. Some have shown bitterness, anger, and wrath, and in return for my toil and pains in writing the testimonies they have turned upon us to injure us all they could; while others have held me for hours in personal interviews to pour into my ears and my aching heart their complaints, murmurings, and self-justifications, perhaps appealing to their own sympathies with weeping, and losing sight of their own faults and sins. The influence of these things has been terrible upon me and has sometimes driven me nearly to distraction. That which has followed from the conduct of these unconsecrated, unthankful persons has cost me more suffering and has worn upon my courage and health ten times more than all the toil of writing the testimonies. 1T 631.1"
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
Both passages deal with suffering persecution for one's beliefs and actions. Matthew 5:11 speaks of being reviled and persecuted for Christ's sake, while the EGW passage describes the suffering she endured due to the negative reactions to her testimonies. The thematic overlap is clear and meaningful.
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Both passages address the negative reaction one might face when speaking truth. Galatians 4:16 asks if Paul has become an enemy for telling the truth. The EGW passage describes how some people reacted with bitterness and anger to her testimonies, which she believed to be divinely inspired truths. The thematic parallel is the potential for truth-telling to be met with hostility.
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"
Hebrews 12:15 warns against the root of bitterness causing trouble. The EGW passage describes people showing bitterness, anger, and wrath. The connection is the presence and negative consequences of bitterness in both passages.
"And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it."
Both passages deal with questioning the authority and role of a leader chosen by God. In Numbers, Miriam and Aaron question Moses' unique relationship with God. In the EGW passage, people are rebelling against her testimonies, implying a questioning of her prophetic role. The parallel lies in the challenge to divinely appointed leadership.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake."
Both passages describe suffering and negative treatment experienced due to one's faith or work for God. The EGW passage details specific instances of opposition and emotional distress, while Luke 6:22 speaks generally about being hated and reproached for following Christ. The connection is thematic, focusing on the experience of persecution.
"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health."
The proverb speaks of words that pierce like a sword, while the EGW passage describes the hurtful actions and words of those who opposed her. The connection lies in the damaging effect of negative communication, although the proverb is more general, and the EGW passage is specific to her experience.
"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge."
Both passages describe a sense of abandonment and lack of support. Paul laments that no one stood with him, while EGW describes the lack of understanding and support from her brethren and sisters regarding her burdens. The connection lies in the shared experience of feeling alone in their respective ministries.
"And all this has been suffered by me, and my brethren and sisters generally have known nothing about it. They have had no just idea of the amount of wearing labor of this kind which I have had to perform, nor of the burdens and sufferings unjustly thrown upon me. I have given some personal communications in several numbers of my testimonies, and in some cases persons have been offended because I did not publish all such communications. On account of their number this would be hardly possible, and it would be improper from the fact that some of them relate to sins which need not, and should not, be made public. 1T 631.2"
"In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."
Both passages describe the physical and emotional toll of ministry. Paul lists various hardships he endured, while EGW speaks of the 'wearing labor' and 'burdens and sufferings' she experienced. The connection is strong due to the shared emphasis on the personal cost of serving God.
"But I have finally decided that many of these personal testimonies should be published, as they all contain more or less reproof and instruction which apply to hundreds or thousands of others in similar condition. These should have the light which God has seen fit to give which meets their cases. It is a wrong to shut it away from them by sending it to one person or to one place, where it is kept as a light under a bushel. My convictions of duty on this point have been greatly strengthened by the following dream: 1T 631.3"
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
EGW directly uses the phrase "light under a bushel" in the same context as Matthew 5:15, indicating a clear allusion.
"And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?"
EGW directly alludes to the concept of a "candle under a bushel" as presented in Mark 4:21. The context of hiding light is also present.
"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light."
EGW directly alludes to the concept of a "candle under a bushel" as presented in Luke 8:16. The context of hiding light is also present.