"Luther trembled as he looked upon himself—one man opposed to the mightiest powers of earth. He sometimes doubted whether he had indeed been led of God to set himself against the authority of the church. “Who was I,” he writes, “to oppose the majesty of the pope, before whom ... the kings of the earth and the whole world trembled? ... No one can know what my heart suffered during these first two years, and into what despondency, I may say into what despair, I was sunk.”— Ibid., b. 3, ch. 6. But he was not left to become utterly disheartened. When human support failed, he looked to God alone and learned that he could lean in perfect safety upon that all-powerful arm. GC 132.1"
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
The EGW passage describes Luther's initial fear and doubt, followed by his reliance on God. This thematically parallels Psalm 27:1, which expresses confidence in God as a source of strength and protection, eliminating fear.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
The verse from Romans directly reflects the sentiment of Luther's experience: when feeling alone and opposed, the knowledge of God's support provides strength and reassurance. EGW uses Luther's experience to illustrate this principle.
"word, as He Himself has said, ‘They shall be all taught of God.’ Hope for nothing from your own labors, from your own understanding: trust solely in God, and in the influence of His Spirit. Believe this on the word of a man who has had experience.”— Ibid., b. 3, ch. 7. Here is a lesson of vital importance to those who feel that God has called them to present to others the solemn truths for this time. These truths will stir the enmity of Satan and of men who love the fables that he has devised. In the conflict with the powers of evil there is need of something more than strength of intellect and human wisdom. GC 132.2"
"It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
EGW directly quotes and alludes to John 6:45, emphasizing the importance of being taught by God rather than relying on one's own understanding.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
EGW's statement about trusting solely in God and not relying on one's own understanding directly echoes the principle found in Proverbs 3:5-6. The connection is clear and meaningful.
"When enemies appealed to custom and tradition, or to the assertions and authority of the pope, Luther met them with the Bible and the Bible only. Here were arguments which they could not answer; therefore the slaves of formalism and superstition clamored for his blood, as the Jews had clamored for the blood of Christ. “He is a heretic,“ cried the Roman zealots. “It is high treason against the church to allow so horrible a heretic to live one hour longer. Let the scaffold be instantly erected for him!”— Ibid., b. 3, ch. 9. But Luther did not fall a prey to their fury. God had a work for him to do, and angels of heaven were sent to protect him. Many, however, who had received from Luther the precious light were made the objects of Satan's wrath and for the truth's sake fearlessly suffered torture and death. GC 132.3"
"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth."
The passage in Acts describes the reaction of those who opposed Stephen's message, mirroring the reaction of those who opposed Luther. Both faced intense anger and calls for their death. This is a clear thematic parallel.
"Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."
Both Jesus and Luther faced threats of violence from those who opposed their teachings. In John 8:59, Jesus escapes stoning, and in the EGW passage, Luther is protected from his enemies. This illustrates a thematic parallel of divine protection in the face of opposition.