Did Ellen White believe in a Three person Godhead?


Our basis for this understanding about the Godhead is centered purely on the Bible and so are our other beliefs. We recommend and direct our readers to numerous Bible based articles published in our site which proves clearly that the Godhead consist of Three persons. Amazingly, this powerful truth can be supported by an anti-Godhead bible [the New World Translation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses]. See our articles under the title “Answering Jehovah witnesses from the NWT - Godhead". We also recommend the comprehensive Godhead article published by our friends at the Adventist Defense League.

We believe that not just the bible teaches a “Three person Godhead”, but so does the writings of Ellen White. However, there is a growing movement of anti-three Godhead believers. They argue that Ellen White did not really believe or teach a Three person Godhead.

The purpose of this article is to examine the various issues raised by our opponents with regard to a Three Person Godhead. We like to inform our readers that we will be using Ellen White's writings to examine her belief towards the Godhead supported with Scripture where relevant. This study therefore is mainly addressed towards our fellow brethren who believes in the inspired counsel of Ellen White.


Here are the two main issues put forward by our opponents:

- The Holy Spirit is not a separate Third person, but Christ himself

- Jesus did not have life inherent, God the Father gave it to him as a part of His inheritance. Therefore, there was a time that the Son of God did not exist.

In this study, we shall first see the distinct personality of the Holy Spirit and then dwell on Christ’s divinity and eternal self-existence.


This article will include the following sections:





Is the Holy Spirit a PERSON?


Is the Holy Spirit,a person as God [the Father and the Son] is a person?

“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds.—Manuscript 66, 1899. (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.)” Evangelism, 616.

“The Holy Spirit has a personality, else he could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else he could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. . . .” (Evangelism, 617, is indexed as Manuscript 20, February 7, 1906.)

The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God. . . . Ms 20, 1906. (Ev 616.6)


How many living persons are there in the Heavenly Trio or Godhead?

There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, pp. 62, 63. (1905)” Evangelism, 615.

"When you gave yourself to Christ, you made a pledge in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – the three great personal dignitaries of heaven." Ms 92, 1901 (7BC 959).

"The work is laid out before every soul that has acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ by baptism and has become a receiver of the pledge from three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Ms 57, 1900 (6 BC 959).

"After the believing soul has received the ordinance of baptism, he is to bear in mind that he is dedicated to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. These three all cooperate in the great work of the covenant made by baptism in the sight of the heavenly universe. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit receive the believing soul into covenant relationship with God." Ms 56, 1900 (6MR 163).

"Here is where the work of the Holy Ghost comes in, after your baptism. You are baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. You are raised up out of the water to live henceforth in newness of life. You are born unto God, and you stand under the sanction and the power of the three holiest beings in heaven, who are able to keep you from falling…. When I feel oppressed, and hardly know how to relate myself toward the work that God has given me to do, I just call upon the three great worthies and say: You know I cannot do this work in my own strength, You must work in me, and by me, and through me, sanctifying my tongue, sanctifying my spirit, sanctifying my words…" Ms 95, 1906 (7 MR 267).

"After we have formed a union with the great threefold power, we shall regard our duty toward the members of God's family with a much more sacred awe than we have ever done before." Ms 11, 1901 (6BC 1102).

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three holy dignitaries of heaven, have declared that they will strengthen men to overcome the powers of darkness." Ms 92, 1901 (5BC 1110).


Notice the following few New Testament and Old Testament texts:

Ephesians 4:4-6
(4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
(5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
(6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Note carefully that there be no misunderstanding. These three text show very clearly that there is “one” of each… there is one Spirit, one Lord which we know is Jesus Christ, and one God the Father. Already, without going to 1 John 5:7, a text our opponents claim was added to the canon of scripture, we here confirm that there are three, one of each.

Isaiah 48:16

(16) Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

In this text we have three individuals… the Lord God, the Spirit, and Jesus Christ (sent me). The construction of this sentence shows that each one of these are separate (the Lord God and… sent…). There is no doubt, therefore, that there are three in the heavenly Godhead.


Is the Holy Spirit the First person of the Godhead or is He the Second person of the Godhead or is He the Third person of the Godhead?

“Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead.” The Desire of Ages, 671.

“Evil ..could only be restrained ..by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 392

He [Christ] determined to give His representative, the third person of the Godhead. This gift could not be excelled - My Life Today, p. 36.


Does the Father and the Son each have a personality?

"The Father and the Son each have a personality. Christ declared: "I and My Father are one." (9T pages 67-6


Does the Holy Spirit have a personality just like God [the Father and the Son] have a personality?

“The Holy Spirit has a personality, else he could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else he could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. . . .” (Evangelism, 617, is indexed as Manuscript 20, February 7, 1906.)

“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds.—Manuscript 66, 1899. (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.)” Evangelism, 616.


Is there a PERSONAL God and a PERSONAL Christ? Is the Holy Spirit also part of the Three PERSONAL dignitaries of heaven?

"There is a personal God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son." 6BC 1068.

"When you gave yourself to Christ, you made a pledge in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – the three great personal dignitaries of heaven." Ms 92, 1901 (7BC 959).


Is Christ our everlasting Father?

However much a shepherd may love his sheep, he loves his sons and daughters more. Jesus is not only our shepherd; He is our 'everlasting Father.' And He says, 'I know Mine own, and Mine own know Me, even as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father.' John 10:14 , 15 - The Desire of Ages, p. 483.

Christ, ..‘His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6. His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.’ Micah 5:2.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 34.


Christ is the “Everlasting Father”, but does the Father and the Son each have a personality?

"The Father and the Son each have a personality. Christ declared: "I and My Father are one." (9T pages 67-6


Is Christ a DISTINCT PERSONALITY [or person from the Father], yet one with the Father? In other words, Christ is not the Father in personality (person)?

“The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father.”—1 Selected Messages, 247 (Review and Herald, April 5, 1906).

"The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not [the Father] in personality." UL 367

“[John 3:34-36, quoted] In this Scripture, God [the Father] and Christ are spoken of as two distinct personalities, each acting in their own individuality.”— Notebook Leaflets from Elmshaven Library, Vol. 1, 124.


If we say the Father and the Son are the same person (i.e. they do not have a separate personality), what do we deny? Should we reject such a teaching?

"I entreat every one to be clear and firm regarding the certain truths that we have heard and received and advocated….Reject every phase of error, even though it be covered with a semblance of reality, which denies the personality of God and of Christ." (Review and Herald, August 31, 1905 par. 11)


Is Christ also called the Counselor (comforter) in addition to being called the everlasting Father?

Christ, ..‘His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6. His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.’ Micah 5:2.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 34.

Jesus is not only our shepherd; He is our 'everlasting Father.' - The Desire of Ages, p. 483.

“The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be.” 8MR p. 49

“As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving Jesus the Comforter.” 19MR 297.3


But is the Holy Spirit the Comforter, just like Christ is called a Comforter, but yet the Holy Spirit is a DISTINCT PERONALITY from Christ?

“The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in Christ’s name. He [the Holy Spirit] personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 324


Our opponents say, personality is not the same as person. They say a person may have more than one personality. Therefore, according to them, the Holy Spirit is Christ himself but another personalty of Christ. However, if one carefully notices how Ellen White uses the word person and personality towards the heavenly trio, she makes no distinction. She not only calls the Holy Spirit a personality, but also a person. Surely, the Holy Spirit personifies Christ, yet is a distinct person[ality].


If the Holy Spirit personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality and if someone says Holy Spirit and Christ are one and the same person, what do we deny? Should we reject such a teaching?

"I entreat every one to be clear and firm regarding the certain truths that we have heard and received and advocated….Reject every phase of error, even though it be covered with a semblance of reality, which denies the personality of God and of Christ." (Review and Herald, August 31, 1905 par. 11)

Note: Christ is the “Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6). But not the Father in person. Christ is also the “Counselor (comforter)”, but not the Holy Spirit in person. Our critics asks us why is the Holy Spirit not mentioned in the above statement if he really is a person. We anwser 1) elsewhere she identifies the personality or person of the Holy Spirit very clearly 2) The title God includes all three (the Father, the Son and the Spirit). To say that the Father and the Son are the same person is to deny the personality of God [the Father] and of Christ. To say that the Holy Spirit and Christ are the same person is to deny the personality of the [Spirit of] God and of Christ.

Is Melchisedec whom Christ spoke through and who represented the Father; is he Christ himself or Father himself or is he just the representative?

"It was Christ that spoke through Melchisedec, the priest of the most high God. Melchisedec was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father. And all through the generations of the past, Christ has spoken; Christ has led his people, and has been the light of the world." -The Review and Herald, Feb 18, 1890, How to Meet a Controverted Point of Doctrine.


"God has never left Himself without witness on the earth. At one time Melchizedek represented the Lord Jesus Christ in person, to reveal the truth of heaven, and perpetuate the law of God. Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world" (The SDA Bible Commentary, 1092-1093).

Melchisedec was not Christ nor was he God the Father. But he was the representative. Now can a representative be the same person that he represents? If he is the same person, why does he have to represent himself?


Is the Holy Spirit Christ himself or his representative?

"When God’s people search the Scriptures with a desire to know what is truth, Jesus is present in the person of His representative, the Holy Spirit…" 12MR 145.

“The Lord Jesus acts through the Holy Spirit; for it is His representative.”—Messages to Young People, 55.

“We cannot render to God supreme love and honor if we do not recognize the Holy Spirit which the Lord sends. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus Christ.”—2 Manuscript Releases, 38.

He [Christ] determined to give His Representative, the third person of the Godhead. This gift could not be excelled (My Life Today, p. 36).


Melchisedec represented God the Father and the Son. But Melchisedec was not the Father nor the Son. In the same manner, Holy Spirit represents Christ, but the Holy Spirit is not Christ himself.


Was Christ the representative of the Father just like Holy Spirit represents Christ?

"He [Christ] stood before the human race as the representative of the Father." RH Sept. 30, 1909.


Can the Holy Spirit search the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God if he was not a person?

"The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God [the Father]. 'For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God'" [1 Corinthians 2:11] (Evangelism, p. 617).


Does the Spirit of God have a mind just like God has a mind?

"I have felt burdened, lest the work of confession and repentance would not go as deep and thorough as it should, in order to meet the mind of the Spirit of God." RH March 12, 1889.

If the Holy Spirit has a mind, He "must also be a divine person" seperate from God [the Father] who also has a mind.


Did the Third person of the Godhead who has distinct personality from Christ ALWAYS exist from eternity AS A SEPARATE PEPRONALITY with the Father and the Son? Or did He come into existence sometime later?

“The eternal heavenly dignitariesGod, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit—arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy . . would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.”—Evangelism, 616.

This work began in the heavenly courts . .The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order fully to carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin.”—Counsels on Health, 222.

“The eternal Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—is involved in the action required to make assurance to the human agent.”— Upward Look, 148.

Before this the Spirit had been in the world; from the very beginning of the work of redemption He had been moving upon men’s hearts. But while Christ was on earth, the disciples had desired no other helper. Not until they were deprived of His presence would they feel their need of the Spirit, and then He would come. —Desire of Ages, 669.

“All should bear in mind that Satan's special efforts are directed against the ministry. He knows that it is but a human instrumentality, possessing no grace or holiness of its own. He knows that it is an agent that God has ordained to be a powerful means for the salvation of souls and is efficacious only as God, the eternal Spirit, makes it so.” Testimonies to Ministers, page 404


Are, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit really Three distinct agencies?
Three distinct agencies, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, work together for human beings.- Manuscript 27a, 1900.

"The Holy Spirit is a free, working, independent agency." RH May 5, 1896.

“Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead.” The Desire of Ages, 671.