"Christ is the truth. His words are truth, and they have a deeper significance than appears on the surface. All the sayings of Christ have a value beyond their unpretending appearance. Minds that are quickened by the Holy Spirit will discern the value of these sayings. They will discern the precious gems of truth, though these may be buried treasures. COL 110.1"
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
The EGW passage states that Christ is the truth and that His words have deeper significance. This directly reflects the statement in John 14:6 where Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." The EGW passage builds upon this foundational principle.
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
The EGW passage discusses how the Holy Spirit helps discern the deeper meaning of Christ's words. This aligns with 1 Corinthians 2:10, which states that God reveals things through His Spirit, who searches the deep things of God. Both passages emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding spiritual truths.
"Human theories and speculations will never lead to an understanding of God's word. Those who suppose that they understand philosophy think that their explanations are necessary to unlock the treasures of knowledge and to prevent heresies from coming into the church. But it is these explanations that have brought in false theories and heresies. Men have made desperate efforts to explain what they thought to be intricate scriptures; but too often their efforts have only darkened that which they tried to make clear. COL 110.2"
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
The EGW passage warns against relying on human theories and speculations to understand God's word, arguing that they can lead to false theories and heresies. This parallels the idea in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that the natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned. Both passages highlight the limitations of human intellect in grasping spiritual truths without divine guidance.
"The priests and Pharisees thought they were doing great things as teachers by putting their own interpretation upon the word of God, but Christ said of them, “Ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God.” Mark 12:24 . He charged them with the guilt of “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7 . Though they were the teachers of the oracles of God, though they were supposed to understand His word, they were not doers of the word. Satan had blinded their eyes that they should not see its true import. COL 110.3 This is the work of many in our day. Many churches are guilty of this sin. There is danger, great danger, that the supposed wise men of today will repeat the experience of the Jewish teachers. They falsely interpret the divine oracles, and souls are brought into perplexity and shrouded in darkness because of their misconception of divine truth. COL 110.4"
"And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?"
Ellen White directly references Mark 12:24 in this passage.
"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Ellen White directly references Mark 7:7 in this passage.