"of their reasoning; but they grasp only an item of the work of God, and in their shortsightedness, calling it science, they exalt it above the God of science. CT 423.2"
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"
Both passages address the limitations of human wisdom and the potential for it to be elevated above God. EGW's critique of 'science' being exalted above the 'God of science' parallels Paul's questioning of worldly wisdom in 1 Corinthians 1:20.
"Man is finite; there is no light in his wisdom. His unaided reason can explain nothing in the deep things of God, nor can he understand the spiritual lessons that God has placed in the material world. But reason is a gift of God, and His Spirit will aid those who are willing to be taught. Man's words, if of any value, echo the words of God. In the education of youth they should never take the place of the divine word. CT 423.3"
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
The EGW passage directly echoes the sentiment of Proverbs 3:5, emphasizing the limitations of human understanding and the need to rely on God's wisdom. The phrase 'lean not unto thine own understanding' is directly related to the idea that 'there is no light in his wisdom' and 'His unaided reason can explain nothing in the deep things of God'.
"Cold, philosophical speculations and scientific research in which God is not acknowledged are a positive injury. And the evil is aggravated when, as is often the case, books placed in the hands of the young, accepted as authority and depended upon in their education, are from authors avowedly infidel. Through all the thoughts presented by these men their poisonous sentiments are interwoven. The study of such books is like handling black coals; a student cannot be undefiled in mind who thinks along the line of skepticism. CT 423.4"
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."
The EGW passage warns against the corrupting influence of infidel literature, which aligns with the warning in 1 Corinthians 15:33 about evil communications corrupting good character. The 'poisonous sentiments' are the 'evil communications'.