"Paul carried with him the atmosphere of heaven. All who associated with him felt the influence of his union with Christ. The fact that his own life exemplified the truth he proclaimed, gave convincing power to his preaching. Here lies the power of the truth. The unstudied, unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when unanswerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a power that it is impossible wholly to resist. GW 59.1"
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Matthew 5:16 directly supports EGW's statement about a holy life being a convincing sermon. The idea of letting your light shine through good works is essentially the same as exemplifying the truth and having an unstudied, unconscious influence.
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God."
Both passages deal with the idea of Christians representing Christ and influencing others. Paul being an ambassador aligns with EGW's statement about carrying the atmosphere of heaven. However, the connection is not a direct principle, but rather a thematic similarity.
"The apostle's heart burned with love for sinners, and he put all his energies into the work of soul-winning. There never lived a more self-denying, persevering worker. The blessings he received he prized as so many advantages to be used in blessing others. He lost no opportunity of speaking of the Saviour or of helping those in trouble. Wherever he could find a hearing, he sought to counteract wrong and to turn the feet of men and women into the path of righteousness. GW 59.2"
"I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Both passages emphasize the importance of helping the weak and giving to others. Acts 20:35, quoting Jesus, states that it is more blessed to give than to receive, which aligns with EGW's description of Paul using his blessings to bless others and helping those in trouble.
"For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:"
Both passages highlight Paul's deep love and dedication to others, even to the point of self-sacrifice. Romans 9:3 expresses Paul's willingness to be accursed for his brethren, which aligns with EGW's description of him as a self-denying and persevering worker who put all his energies into soul-winning.
"Paul never forgot the responsibility resting on him as a minister of Christ; or that if souls were lost through unfaithfulness on his part, God would hold him accountable. “I take you to record this day,” he declared, “that I am pure from the blood of all men.” [ Acts 20:26 .] “Whereof I am made a minister,” he said of the gospel, “according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.” [ Colossians 1:25-29 ] GW 59.3"
"Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men."
Ellen White directly references Acts 20:26 in this passage.
"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
Ellen White directly references Colossians 1:25-29 in this passage.