Ellen-White.com submitted a response to a supposed controdiction between Ellwn White and the bibles account on who deceived Eve in the Garden. the web site TruthorFables.com decided to respond in return to their response to their findings. Our comments below are on how Sanders (the webmaster of TruthorFables.com) responded back to them:
-Our comments:
We keep wondering why Sanders does not share “everything” the volunteers have to say? Here is a part of their rebuttal they deleted:
Ellen White made it clear, however, that Adam was not deceived in the same way as Eve in Patriarch and Prophets, pp. 55, 56.
Ellen says Satan deceived Adam, while the bible says he did not. Sanders argues from here, but I think he forgets to look at some other details that are involved. I think the above deleted comment is a valid point. Could it be that after deceiving Eve he then deceived Adam, but not the SAME WAY he deceived Eve?
The fact Sanders can not escape, is that Adam WAS “some how” deceived. We know he was deceived, because he ate the fruit after being told by God not to do so. At one point, Sanders makes the following reply:
The apologists say; “Adam had to have been “deceived” in some fashion.” It is typical of many SDAs to depart from the plain Word of God in order to support EGW.
Isn’t this a way of avoiding the issue? He was deceived, other wise he WOULD NOT HAVE EATEN THE FRUIT! Sanders says it’s typical to reply the way the volunteers did, but he offered no solution to their response. He simply gave his personal opinion of how SDAs respond. I didn’t feel anyone was trying to depart from the word of God to support EGW, it’s a simple fact, Adam fell, that’s why we are in the sinful condition we are in now. Our own lives testify of this. And if he fell, it is obviously because he was somehow deceived. Let’s take a closer look at the context of Ms White’s quote:
“Satan, who is the father of lies, deceived Adam in a similar way, telling him that he need not obey God, that he would not die if he transgressed the law. But Adam fell, and by his sin he opened the floodgates of woe upon our world. Again, Satan told Cain that he need not follow expressly the command of God in presenting the slain lamb as an offering. Cain obeyed the voice of the deceiver; and because God did not accept his offering, while He showed His approval of Abel’s offering, Cain rose up in anger and slew his brother.
We need to know for ourselves what voice we are heeding, whether it is the voice of the true and living God or the voice of the great apostate. . . .” {Ev. 598: 1-2}
First, notice the word “similar.” Definition of this word:
Dictionary.com
Having a likeness or resemblance, esp. in a general way: two similar houses. -http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/similar
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition.2) Related in appearance or nature; alike though not identical. -http://www.bartleby.com/61/47/S0414700.html
Wiktionary
3) Having traits or characteristics in common; alike, comparable. – http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/similar
When Ellen spoke of a “similar” way Satan deceived Adam, what way did she mean? If the quote is read in its proper context, it will become apparent that she was speaking about the “voice” we all hear behind our ears, either the Lords or the Enemy’s. When she mentions that Adam was deceived by Satan, she meant Satan was speaking to his ear as he heard Eve give her reasons why he can eat it as she did:
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife
1 Timothy 2:14 does not say that Adam was not deceived by SATAN. The verse simply reads as follows:
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
It does not read… “And Adam was not deceived by SATAN.” Nor does it read, “And Adam was not deceived by EVE.” So how was he deceived? It must have been the only one who intention at that moment WAS to deceive… Satan, only not the same way Eve was deceived.
Is it biblically true, however, that Satan deceives people by speaking to them? By planting in their ears and hearts the thought of performing his will such as sinning and doubting? Any bible scholar will say yes. Here are a few examples:
1Ch 21:1 Now Satan, designing evil against Israel, put into David’s mind the impulse to take the number of Israel.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
2Co 2:10-11 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; (11) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.
Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Our Conclusion: Apparently Adam was somehow deceived, only not the same way Eve was. T Timothy 2:14 does not say by who Adam was deceived, but it cant be teaching he was not deceived at all, for that would contradict the event which transpired in the Garden. If EGW’s quote were simply read in context, one would see what she really meant, and that she was in harmony with the bible.
Points:
-Ms White: thumbs up
-Sanders and Cleveland: thumbs down
What do you think?
