Spirit of Prophecy
An introduction to the writings of Ellen G. White — the lesser light pointing to the greater light, the Word of God.
Testimonies for the Church (9 Volumes)
Testimonies for the Church (complete 9-volume set)
Overview
Testimonies for the Church is a nine-volume collection of Ellen G. White's counsel to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, written across fifty-five years of her ministry. Unlike her thematic books, the Testimonies are a running series of messages -- spiritual commentary of a general nature together with many letters of personal instruction to church leaders and members. They address an immense range of subjects: Christian character and daily living, church organization and discipline, health and temperance, education, publishing, stewardship, dress, recreation, family life, the work in the cities, and above all the preparation of God's people for the second coming of Christ. Because they speak to the same spiritual issues the church still faces, they remain some of the most practical and searching of all Ellen White's writings.
Purpose & Background
The Testimonies were given to provide safe guidance for a young and growing movement -- to correct error, revive faltering faith, warn against worldliness and fanaticism, encourage the discouraged, and keep the church focused on its mission and on the soon return of Christ. Ellen White explained that the testimonies were not to take the place of the Bible, but to lead people back to the Word they had neglected, and to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed.
Best For
Serious students of the Spirit of Prophecy, church leaders, and members who want Ellen White's direct, practical counsel on Christian living and church life. Because the set is large and wide-ranging, it is best approached by topic or a volume at a time rather than read straight through. Newer readers may prefer to begin with her thematic books and turn to the Testimonies for deeper study.
Publisher
Pacific Press Publishing Association
The nine volumes were issued over many years and later standardized as a set totaling 4,739 pages, drawn from testimonies Ellen White wrote between 1855 and 1909. Volume 1 alone spans about thirteen years of the church's earliest history. The counsel followed the movement from its tiny beginnings -- when only a handful of ministers served the whole cause -- through decades of growth into a worldwide church. A condensed selection of the most broadly applicable material was later published as the three-volume Testimony Treasures for readers around the world.
Contents
The set contains nine volumes, each gathering the testimonies of a particular period. An overview of each volume is given below. The complete text of all nine volumes is available free at the read link.
- Volume 1 (covering 1855-1868) -- the earliest counsels, on Christian character, church order, worldliness, health reform, and the experiences of the young movement
- Volume 2 (covering 1868-1871) -- messages on practical godliness, health and the care of the body, separation from the world, and personal religion
- Volume 3 (covering 1872-1875) -- counsel on church organization and leadership, education, and the development of denominational institutions
- Volume 4 (covering 1876-1881) -- the sacredness of God's commandments, family religion, temperance, and the camp-meeting era of Adventism
- Volume 5 (covering 1882-1889) -- some of the most weighty counsels, including warnings for the last days, the shaking, and the call to a deeper spiritual experience
- Volume 6 (1900) -- counsel on evangelism, education, the medical missionary work, and the conduct of the church's institutions
- Volume 7 (1902) -- the publishing work, the health-food and medical work, and the spirit of true Christian service
- Volume 8 (1904) -- messages on the greatness of God, the danger of false theories, and faithfulness in a time of crisis and growth
- Volume 9 (covering 1904-1909) -- the closing counsels, on the final gospel work, the cities, unity, and the world-wide proclamation of the message