"The vision was given me about two years ago. The enemy has hindered me in every way he could to keep souls from having the light which God had given me for them. First, my husband's case was so perplexing, so distressing, that I could not write. Then the discouragements brought upon me by my brethren kept me in a condition of sadness and distress, unfitting me for labor of any description. When we started to travel last summer, I commenced to write, but we have traveled from place to place so rapidly that all we could do was to attend the meetings. There was much work to be done. I practice rising at four o'clock in the morning, to take hold of my writing. Yet constant, exciting labor in meeting so taxes the brain that I am unprepared for writing, my head is so weary. 1T 711.2"
"In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."
The EGW passage details her weariness and the taxing nature of her work, which directly parallels Paul's description of his own hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:27. Both passages highlight the physical and mental strain of their respective ministries.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
The EGW passage describes hindrances to her work, attributing them to the 'enemy,' which aligns with the Ephesians verse about wrestling against spiritual forces. The connection is valid as it shows a belief in spiritual opposition to her work.
"I regret that you could not have had this before, but even now may God make it a blessing to you, is my sincere prayer. You, my dear brother, may have seen these things and corrected them ere this. I hope so, at least. You and also your wife have our sympathy and prayers. We have an interest for her as well as for yourself. Her soul is precious. We beseech her in Christ's stead to seek for a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. An angel pointed me to Sister D and repeated these words: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Here is the healthful train of thought for the mind to follow. When it would go in a different channel, bring it back. Control the mind. Educate it to dwell only on those things which bring peace and love. 1T 711.3"
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God."
EGW uses the phrase 'beseech her in Christ's stead' which is a clear echo of 2 Corinthians 5:20, where Paul speaks of being ambassadors for Christ and beseeching people in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. The context is different, but the phrase is directly related.
"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
EGW directly quotes the phrase 'meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price' from 1 Peter 3:4. This is a clear and direct allusion.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
EGW directly quotes the list of virtues from Philippians 4:8: 'Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.' This is a clear and direct allusion.