Considering the ‘Sins on the Ground’: John 7:53-8:11 and Ellen G. White’s Desire of Ages

The Desire of Ages was published by Ellen G. White in 1898 on the Life of Christ. A number of similar books appeared by scholars like Hanna, Farrar, Edersheim, and Conybeare. Accused of plagiarism, and defended by other scholars, a phrase is chosenin this research from Desire of Ages where it is said Jesus wrote on the ground: “There traced before them, were the guilty secrets of their own lives,” in the context of pericope adulterae of John 7:53-8:11. The phrase is not in the KJV but in some ancient manuscripts with a similar expression. The similar words were first-time used in 1893 by F. Farrar in a footnote and then dismissed, as well as in 1895 by F. C. Conybeare in an article. Ellen White at that time was in Australia at her home Sunnyside. The word “traced” was commonly used by Ellen White. So, it is definitely her writing and not one of the assistants in the USA. After comparing with other writers, it was suggested that her writing of the phrase was not plagiarized from any of these works and yet it contained content that could be found in early Greek manuscripts. It is amazing that the one who did not have the Greek knowledge could write the same content which was found in Greek manuscripts such as U, 700, al, and 264. This aspect provides some strong support for individuals to say that the Desire of Ages is inspired.