Do Seventh-day Adventists have their own Bible?
Adventists have some unique beliefs—you might be able to name some of them right now.
The seventh-day Sabbath as a day of rest, remembrance, and worship.
Death as a “sleep” in the grave, instead of the soul consciously living on in heaven or hell.
Hell as nonexistence, instead of eternal torture.
So where did these beliefs come from? What Bible verses are they based on?
And, do Adventists use a different version of the Bible, or have their own version?
No, Adventists don’t have their own Bible. We use the same Bible translations that other Christian and Protestant denominations use.
But we understand your confusion, so let’s unpack the answer here. We’ll cover:
Why Adventists don’t have their own Bible
As Adventists, we don’t have our own Bible translation because we believe that the canon of the Bible as it exists today—both the Old Testament and the New Testament—is the reliable and unchanging Word of God. It was cherished, protected, and passed down to us through the ages, and we value it as the foundation of all our doctrines and teachings. Through it, God communicates with us by the Holy Spirit and points us to Jesus Christ.
We highlight this in our fundamental belief #1.
Here’s how the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists puts it in an official statement1:
“The Holy Scriptures stand as the infallible revelation of God’s will, the norm for Christian values and life, the measure of all things within human experience, and the sole reliable guide to salvation in Christ.”
During the Reformation, Protestants called this philosophy sola scriptura—the Bible and the Bible alone. It means that the Bible is our ultimate authority and guide.
And, since Adventists indeed uphold the Bible in this way, we need to address some of the misconceptions that have cropped up about this.
Why do people think Adventists have their own Bible?
Even though Adventists don’t have their own Bible, people may think that for a few reasons:
- Our unique doctrines and beliefs
- Our use of Ellen G. White’s writings
- The Clear Word paraphrase
Our unique doctrines and beliefs
Adventists have many similar beliefs to other Christians—salvation by faith in Jesus; the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the world; heaven, where Jesus will take His followers at the Second Coming; and more.
But some of our beliefs are unique, such as the seventh day as the Sabbath; death as a sleep in the grave until Jesus returns; and Jesus’ work in the heavenly sanctuary. These beliefs involve a different interpretation of certain Scriptures than you might have heard before.
But these Adventist beliefs come from the same Bibles most Christians are already familiar with, such as the King James Version, English Standard Version, or the New International Version, to name a few.
Our use of Ellen G. White’s writings
Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash
Adventists accept the writings and teachings of Ellen G. White as a product of the biblical gift of prophecy (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:28). As a result, people wonder if we treat her writings as Scripture.
We don’t. The Bible instructs us to “test everything [and] hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, NKJV). This means checking whether what we’re reading or learning aligns with the Bible. In this way, we test Ellen White’s writings—just like we would any other books or materials. And that alone shows that her prophetic writings are not the authoritative standard. Rather, her books were written to encourage further Bible study and assist fellow Christians in applying Scripture to daily life.
The Clear Word paraphrase
In 1994, Jack Blanco—a theology professor at Southern Adventist University—published a paraphrase of the Bible called The Clear Word, basing it on thoughts he wrote during his own personal Bible study. This book’s fast-growing popularity caused it to be misrepresented as a Bible, leading people to think that it was an Adventist translation, similar to the Book of Mormon or the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation.
But a quick look at the book’s preface of the 2004 edition says otherwise:
“The Clear Word is not a translation, but a devotional paraphrase of Scripture expanded for clarity…. It should not be considered a study Bible. Excellent translations of the Scriptures are available for such purposes.”
It is a devotional tool with an Adventist interpretation of Bible texts—but it was never meant to be used as the primary source for Bible study or worship services. Jack Blanco himself never wanted people to take it as such.
And the Seventh-day Adventist Church has never claimed it is a Bible, as stated by Dr. Jud Lake, an Adventist theologian who wrote a paper about The Clear Word.
When this book was first published, it became popular with those wanting help and encouragement while studying trickier parts of Scripture. Due to this, it became a frequent resource at small group Bible studies and more. But regardless of how this devotional book was originally described or circulated among individual Adventists or local congregations, Dr. Lake clarified,
“. . .The Clear Word is not a translation, nor is it a study Bible. . . . This devotional paraphrase, therefore, is intended for private devotional reading only. It is not for serious study, teaching, preaching, or public reading of Scripture.”2
This paraphrase was the thoughts of one man, commenting on the Bible. It can never be equal to a Bible.
What are different Bible translations, and what do Adventists use?
All Bible translations that exist today can fit into three different categories: literal, dynamic equivalents, and paraphrases. These translations are all based off of the original Greek and Hebrew texts copied and passed down through the centuries.
The official Adventist Church doesn’t officially have a preferred translation, and its members use and own a variety. It’s common for people to own multiple versions for study purposes. Let’s learn more about them.
Literal translations
Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash
Literal translations of the Bible aim to translate the Hebrew and Greek texts as directly as possible. For this reason, they are sometimes called word-for-word translations.
Examples of literal translations are:
- The King James Version (KJV)
- The New King James Version (NKJV)
- Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
Many people, Adventists included, prefer literal translations for in-depth Bible study because they tend to be closest to the original text.
Dynamic equivalents
Dynamic equivalents, also known as thought-for-thought or meaning-to-meaning translations, are all about conveying the message of the text, rather than the exact words. Sometimes the same words can have different connotations in different languages, cultures, or periods of history. So the translators of these versions made sure to consider the historical and cultural background of the text so it could best be expressed in modern terms, while preserving the intent of the Bible writers.
Dynamic equivalents include:
- The New International Version (NIV)
- The Good News Translation (GNT)
- The New Living Translation (NLT)
- The Revised English Bible (REB)
- The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Paraphrases
Paraphrases focus on interpreting the Bible text rather than merely expressing what it says. Thus, they don’t fit the definition of a Bible translation and should be used as study aids, not Bibles.
Some paraphrases are:
- The Living Bible
- The Message
- The Clear Word
And if a paraphrase seems to assert a different idea than you find in a Bible translation, it’s wise to consider the Bible as the standard, not the paraphrase. Some who own paraphrases of the Bible have many different ones, so they can also compare between them as well.
To give you an idea how different translations affect the text, here’s a comparison of 1 Corinthians 13:4 between literal, dynamic, and paraphrases.
| Literal (New King James | Dynamic (New | Paraphrase (The Message) |
| version) | International Version) | |
| “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.”3 | “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”4 | “Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head.”5 |
What about the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary?
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary is just that—a commentary. It’s not a Bible and doesn’t claim to be. Instead, it’s a verse-by-verse analysis of the Bible, put together by theologians to help Adventists in their study.
Adventists use the SDA Bible Commentary in the same way that other Christians might use well-known commentaries like Matthew Henry’s Commentary or The MacArthur Bible Commentary.
Again, the Bible must be our standard to test the teachings of the commentary—not the other way around.
Adventists cherish the same Bible other Christians do
The Adventist Church began with people from various Christian denominations—Baptist, Congregationalist, Methodist, etc. When these individuals started Seventh-day Adventism, they brought the Bible with them because they wanted it to be their foundation.
That hasn’t changed. We still use the same Bibles that Protestant Christianity uses.
Again, the Bible must be our standard to test the teachings of the commentary—not the other way around.
Adventists cherish the same Bible other Christians do
The Advent Movement, which eventually became the Adventist Church, began with people from various Christian denominations—Baptist, Congregationalist, Methodist, etc. When these individuals started Seventh-day Adventism, it was because they felt that it was necessary for Christians to continue studying the Bible to discover new things and new applications of its timeless truths.
That remains our priority to this day. The Bible alone is the foundation of our faith, and there’s always more we can learn from it. And it’s an essential part of getting to know Jesus more deeply.
[1] “The Holy Scriptures,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, https://www.adventist.org/official-statements/the-holy-scriptures/.
[2] Lake, Jud, “The Seventh-day Adventist Church and The Clear Word,” http://www.ellenwhiteanswers.org/media/pdf/Clear-Word-Ratz.pdf. [↵]
[3] “1 Corinthians 13:4,” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+13%3A4&version=NKJV. [↵]
[4] “1 Corinthians 13:4,” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+13%3A4&version=NIV. [↵]
[5] “1 Corinthians 13:4-7,” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+13%3A4&version=MSG.[ ↵]
More Answers
Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians?
Yes, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination formed in 1863. Just like other Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and seek to follow the principles of the Word of God.
Adventist Movies: Where Faith and Film Meet
The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s mission from the beginning has been to share God’s truth in the Bible. And as times have changed, we’ve explored new ways of doing this—one of those being movies.
Do Adventists Celebrate Christmas?
In general, most Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate Christmas.
Since our denomination doesn’t have specific guidelines about holidays, it’s up to each member to decide whether to celebrate it based on their personal convictions and study of the Bible.
How does one become a Seventh-day Adventist?
How does one become a Seventh-day Adventist?Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior To be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian means to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This means to recognize that Jesus alone can save you from sin and death (Savior), and to give Him full...
What Does the Bible Say About Modesty
Seventh-day Adventists and Christians in general try to ensure their outward presentation and lifestyle glorify God. This often involves daily habits like the ways we hold conversations, the ways we dress and accessorize, and the ways we regard other people when we’re out and about.
How Do Adventists Make Movie and Music Choices?
We have entertainment at our fingertips. With just a tap on our smartphones, we can access all the latest movies, music, YouTube videos, and more.
Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church Believe in Paying Tithe?
Seventh-day Adventists believe in paying tithe and offerings based on the biblical command and our commitment to being wise stewards of God’s resources. These donations help fund the mission of the Adventist Church by supporting pastors, missionaries, church expenses, and evangelistic projects, among other things.
Seventh-day Adventist World Population and Demographics
Did you know that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has more churches around the world than all the Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and Subway restaurants combined.
What Is a Seventh-day Adventist Camp Meeting?
Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.
Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.
How to Join the Seventh-day Adventist Church
How to Join the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchWhether you heard about the Seventh-day Adventist Church through a traveling evangelist, during your online searches, or through a loved one or relative, you might be considering joining yourself. There are a few steps...
How Do Adventists Do Baby Dedications?
For Christians, dedication ceremonies for babies, also for older children, are an important time for parents and the church. It’s a special part of the worship service when parents present their young children to God and the church family. Both parents, along with the congregation, regard this as a solemn promise to be a Christ-like example to the child.
Do Adventists Celebrate Communion and Foot Washing?
Like many Christian denominations, Adventists regularly participate in communion, also referred to as the “Lord’s Supper” or the “Last Supper.” They also practice foot washing (John 13:1-20), or the “ordinance of humility,” during the service—which isn’t as common.
What is the Concept of “Present Truth” and Why is it Important?
Present truth is the principle that certain biblical truths are relevant to God’s people at specific times in history. God sends the Holy Spirit to reveal truths that help us better understand how to interpret and apply His Word in a present moment.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Celebrate Easter
Yes, many Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate Easter.
Does the Adventist Church Have Youth Ministry Programs?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been organizing and operating youth ministry programs since 1879.
In our opinion, youth ministry is one of the most important ministries a church can have.
Do Adventists Celebrate Birthdays?
Yes, most Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate birthdays because we see them as excellent reminders of the life God has blessed us with. And we celebrate them the same way everyone else does—with friends, family, presents, and a special meal.
Sola Scriptura—What It Means and Why It Matters
Sola scriptura is a term that originated during the Protestant Reformation. It represents the way many Christians view the Bible and its authority. While the idea is simple enough, there is so much more to sola scriptura than its basic definition.
What Do Adventists Offer for Young Adults?
In recent years, the age group often classified as “young adults” has been trickier to engage. It’s been a significant concern for Christian churches around the world. Though interestingly enough, similar observations regarding young adults have been coming up in conversations about the economy, the entertainment industry, politics, and more.
Do I Need to be an Adventist to be Saved?
The answer to this question is simply, “no.”
When it comes to salvation in Jesus Christ, all that is required of a person is to acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice for us, believe that He has saved us, and claim the free gift of salvation that is always available to us. Salvation is not based on denomination.
Do You Have to Be Vegetarian to Be Adventist?
Of course not. Membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church has never included any dietary requirements. However, there might be some reasons people might think that. So many Adventists are vegetarians or even vegan, and a plant-based lifestyle has many health benefits.
All About Seventh-day Adventist Colporteurs
The Seventh-day Adventist Church uses a variety of methods to spread the hope of the gospel to the world. One of these ways is through colporteuring, also called “canvassing” or “literature evangelism.”
What Is an Adventist Book Center (ABC)?
When you walk into any one of the many Adventist Book Center (ABC) locations, chances are you’ll be greeted by pleasant gospel music in the background, friendly employees, and row after row of Christian books, movies, Bibles, study guides, kids’ games, and more.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Celebrate Holidays?
Wondering whether your Adventist classmate or coworker keeps the same holidays you do? Perhaps you want to include them in some festivities, but you also want to respect their beliefs. Thus, you’re unsure of how to navigate the holiday question. Will they accept your invitation to the office Christmas party?
The Adventist Haystack (It’s Not What You Think) + 4 Recipes
Haystacks are basically a taco salad—with an Adventist spin on it! Most versions are vegetarian and offer an endless combination of tasty toppings. We eat them often because they’re healthy, scrumptious, and easy to make.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Medical Care?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in and supports evidence-based medical care. In fact, medicine has played a significant part in our history, and today we run a major health system with hospitals, medical schools, and clinics throughout the world.
Why do Adventists Emphasize Religious Liberty?
Adventists see religious liberty as an essential human right. After all, God endowed humanity with freedom of choice from the very beginning. So we believe it’s best for governments to also support their citizens’ rights to worship based on their convictions.
All about Adventist Elementary Schools
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the largest Protestant education system in the world. A big part of this system is our K-8 elementary schools, or primary schools, as they’re known in other parts of the world.
What Are Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs?
Like the boy or girl scouts, Pathfinders and Adventurers learn about nature and life skills. But what makes these clubs special is their purpose to bring young people closer to Jesus.
13th Sabbath Offering: What It Is and Why It Matters
13th Sabbath Offering: What It Is and Why It MattersThe Seventh-day Adventist Church has emphasized service and mission work from its earliest days. That’s why there’s a collective “offering calendar” most Adventist congregations follow to support these efforts. Each...