"I saw that the Sabbathkeeping ministers of Maine have failed to become Bible students. They have not felt the necessity of a diligent study of the word of God for themselves, that they might be thoroughly furnished unto all good works; neither have they felt the necessity of urging the close searching of the Scriptures upon their hearers. If there had not been one Seventh-day Adventist minister in Maine to oppose the counsel of God, all that has been accomplished might have been done with one half the effort that has been made, and the people might have been brought out of their distracted, confused state into order, and now have been strong enough to stand against opposing influences. Many places which have not yet been entered might have been visited and successful labor bestowed, which would have brought many to a knowledge of the truth. 2T 710.2"
"That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
EGW directly references the need for ministers to be 'thoroughly furnished unto all good works' through diligent study of the Bible, which is the core message of 2 Timothy 3:17. This is a clear application of the biblical principle.