"At Erfurt, Luther was received with honor. Surrounded by admiring crowds, he passed through the streets that he had often traversed with his beggar's wallet. He visited his convent cell, and thought upon the struggles through which the light now flooding Germany had been shed upon his soul. He was urged to preach. This he had been forbidden to do, but the herald granted him permission, and the friar who had once been made the drudge of the convent, now entered the pulpit. GC 152.1"
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:"
Both passages describe a person being chosen and sent by God to fulfill a specific purpose, despite previous circumstances. Luther, once a 'drudge,' is now preaching, similar to Paul being chosen to bear God's name.
"To a crowded assembly he spoke from the words of Christ, “Peace be unto you.” “Philosophers, doctors, and writers,” he said, “have endeavored to teach men the way to obtain everlasting life, and they have not succeeded. I will now tell it to you: ... God has raised one Man from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He might destroy death, extirpate sin, and shut the gates of hell. This is the work of salvation.... Christ has vanquished! this is the joyful news; and we are saved by His work, and not by our own.... Our Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘Peace be unto you; behold My hands;’ that is to say, Behold, O man! it is I, I alone, who have taken away thy sin, and ransomed thee; and now thou hast peace, saith the Lord.” GC 152.2"
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."
The EGW passage directly quotes the words of Christ, 'Peace be unto you,' which is found in John 20:19. The context of the quote in the EGW passage also aligns with the biblical account of Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection.
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Both passages emphasize that victory over sin and death is achieved through Jesus Christ. The EGW passage highlights Christ's work of salvation, while 1 Corinthians 15:57 acknowledges that God gives us victory through Jesus. The theme of victory through Christ is present in both.
"He continued, showing that true faith will be manifested by a holy life. “Since God has saved us, let us so order our works that they may be acceptable to Him. Art thou rich? let thy goods administer to the necessities of the poor. Art thou poor? let thy services be acceptable to the rich. If thy labor is useful to thyself alone, the service that thou pretendest to render unto God is a lie.”— Ibid., b. 7, ch. 7. GC 152.3"
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle of James 2:18, emphasizing that true faith is demonstrated through works and practical acts of service to others. The specific examples of rich helping the poor and poor serving the rich amplify the idea of showing faith through actions.
"But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
The EGW passage's statement about the rich administering to the necessities of the poor directly reflects the sentiment in 1 John 3:17, which questions the love of God in someone who has worldly goods but ignores a brother in need. The connection is clear and meaningful.
"The people listened as if spellbound. The bread of life was broken to those starving souls. Christ was lifted up before them as above popes, legates, emperors, and kings. Luther made no reference to his own perilous position. He did not seek to make himself the object of thought or sympathy. In the contemplation of Christ he had lost sight of self. He hid behind the Man of Calvary, seeking only to present Jesus as the sinner's Redeemer. GC 152.4"
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
The EGW passage describes Luther presenting Christ as the 'bread of life' to 'starving souls,' which thematically aligns with John 6:35 where Jesus declares himself to be the bread of life. While not a direct quote, the imagery and concept are closely related.
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
The EGW passage emphasizes Luther's focus on Christ alone, presenting Jesus as the sinner's Redeemer. This aligns with the sentiment in 1 Corinthians 2:2, where Paul states his determination to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Both passages highlight the centrality of Christ in their respective contexts.