It appears to us that Rea is saying that the similarites between the chapter titles
of Patriarchs and Prophets and Alfred Edersheim's works indicate that she got her chapter titles
from Edersheim. However, when we informed Rea in January 2005 about the discoveries mentioned
below, he indicated that he had never said that Ellen White got her chapter titles from
Edersheim.
The actual comparisons Rea made between the chapter titles of Ellen White and Edersheim appear
on pages 77-81 of his book. It is these comparisons that we wish to analyze here in two parts.
Basically, there are two observations that can be made. First, we are indebted to David Conklin
for bringing to our attention the fact that Edersheim's chapter titles as given by Rea are not his chapter
titles at all. Anyone who picks up Edersheim will readily note that what Rea gives as Edersheim's
chapter titles are with few exceptions not what Rea claims they are, and Rea makes no mention whatsoever
of this fact. Neither do the various web sites that copy Rea's material inform their readers that what
they are claiming to be Edersheim's chapter titles are not really his chapter titles. Our
Further
Analysis will present the evidence for your consideration.
Secondly, while preparing Conklin's material for this web page, we stumbled across the fact that
Ellen White had written three previous books covering the same material, and the chapter titles
of these books likewise show a marked similarity to those of Patriarchs and Prophets.
What makes this interesting is the fact that these three
books were published in 1864 and 1870, while the works in question by Edersheim
were not published until 1876. What this suggests is that instead of Ellen White "plagiarizing"
her chapter titles from Edersheim, it may have been the other way around. Our Analysis on this page
lays the facts out on this one.
One gripe that Walter Rea and other critics have expressed on numerous occasions is that,
when confronted with comparisons showing similarities between Ellen White's works and works
by other authors, her friends are too reluctant to admit that she plagiarized. With that in mind we
found it intriguing that when we told Rea about the similarities between Edersheim's chapter titles
and Ellen White's earlier works, he replied, "I don't think Edersheim plagiarized from Ellen White."
We present first our comparisons which suggest that Edersheim "stole" his chapter
titles from Ellen White's earlier books.
Twice Rea refers to page headings, not chapter titles, which we have referred to below
as "chapter" 9.1 and 11.9. We have not tried to analyze every page heading, which
sometimes matched part of the chapter title and sometimes not, but have only included the
two page headings that Rea refers to.
We have inserted chapter numbers in brackets into Rea's version of Edersheim's titles.
We have also omitted the page numbers he gives, since these are included in our table under
"Further Analysis."
In these particular comparisons between chapter titles and paragraph text, we have taken the liberty
to omit words at strategic points in order to accentuate the similarities, but have always indicated that
we have done so with an ellipsis. Some might complain that omitting words in such a manner is extremely
subjective and can skew the evidence, and we wholeheartedly agree. Such omissions are quite regularly
employed among the comparisons provided by Ellen White's critics, and it seemed like this was
an opportune way for us to illustrate the hazards of this practice.
In all honesty, we think this entire exercise utterly absurd and a bit irreverent.
Edersheim was a good man and has long been dead, and to accuse him of plagiarism
just doesn't sound respectful.
Further, we have no idea whether he obtained Ellen White's permission to use
her chapter titles. Perhaps he really did ask and she really did say yes. How would
we know for sure that he didn't? Yet regardless, we are fairly certain that he didn't need
to ask permission and was not required to give credit for this type of copying if British copyright
law was anything like American copyright law at the time.
| Spiritual Gifts, vols. 3 & 4a (1864) |
Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1 (1870) |
Edersheim (1876-1880) as Altered by Rea |
Patriarchs and Prophets (1890) |
| Preface |
|
|
Preface |
| Contents
Spiritual Gifts |
Contents
Introductory—The Spirit of Prophecy |
Introduction |
Introduction
Contents |
| |
1. The Fall of Satan |
|
1. Why was Sin Permitted? |
| 1. The Creation |
2. The Creation |
[1.] Creation |
2. The Creation |
| 2. The Temptation and Fall |
3. The Temptation and Fall |
[1.] The Fall |
3. The Temptation and Fall |
| |
4. The Plan of Salvation |
|
4. The Plan of Redemption
|
| 3. Cain and Abel |
5. Cain and Abel |
[2.] Cain and Abel—The Two Ways |
5. Cain and Abel Tested
|
| 4. Adam's Life |
|
|
|
| 5. Seth and Enoch |
6. Seth and Enoch |
[3.] Seth and His Descendants |
6. Seth and Enoch |
| 6. Crime before the Flood |
|
|
|
| 7. The Flood |
7. The Flood |
[6.] The Flood |
7. The Flood |
| 8. After the Flood |
|
[7.] After the Flood |
8. After the Flood |
| 9. Disguised Infidelity |
8. Disguised Infidelity |
|
9. The Literal Week |
| 10. Tower of Babel |
9. The Tower of Babel |
[8.] Babel—Confusion of Tongues |
10. The Tower of Babel
|
| 11. Abraham |
10. Abraham |
[11.] The Calling of Abram |
11. The Call of Abraham |
| [11.] His Arrival in Canaan |
12. Abraham in Canaan |
| "Again the Lord saw fit to test the faith of
Abraham by a most fearful trial." (vol. 3, p. 105) |
"Again the Lord saw fit to test the faith of
Abraham by a most fearful trial." (p. 98) |
[14.] Trial of Abraham's Faith... |
13. The Test of Faith |
". . . on their way to destroy Sodom . . . ." (vol. 3, p. 103)
"The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was on account of their great wickedness." (vol. 4a, p. 121) |
". . . on their way to destroy Sodom . . . ." (p. 97) |
[13.] The Destruction of Sodom |
14. Destruction of Sodom |
12. Isaac
". . . to become the wife of Isaac. . . . Marriage
contracts were then generally made by the parents . . . ." (vol. 3, p. 110) |
11. Isaac
". . . to become the wife of Isaac. . . . Marriage
contracts were then generally made by the parents . . . ." (p. 103) |
[15.] The Marriage of Isaac
| 15. The Marriage of Isaac
|
13. Jacob and Esau
"He was compelled to flee for his life from the wrath of Esau . . . ." (vol. 3, p. 116)
"In his dream he saw Jacob an exile from his father's house for twenty years, because
he was afraid of his life." (vol. 3, p. 131)
|
12. Jacob and Esau
"He was compelled to flee for his life from the wrath of Esau . . . ." (p. 107)
"In his dream he saw Jacob an exile from his father's house for twenty years, because
he was afraid of his life." (p. 120)
|
[15.] Birth of Esau and Jacob
[16.] Jacob Is Sent to Laban |
16. Jacob and Esau
17. Jacob's Flight and Exile
|
| 14. Jacob and the Angel
"But while Jacob was wrestling with the angel that
night . . . ." (vol. 3, p. 131) |
13. Jacob and the Angel
"But while Jacob was wrestling with the angel that
night . . . ." (p. 120) |
[18.] The Night of Wrestling |
18. The Night of Wrestling |
| |
|
[18.] Jacob Settles at Hebron |
19. The Return to Canaan |
| |
|
[19.] Joseph's Early Life |
20. Joseph in Egypt |
| 15. Joseph and His Brethren |
14. Joseph and His Brethren |
[21.] Joseph Recognizes His Brothers |
21. Joseph and His Brothers |
| 16. Moses |
15. Moses |
[3.] The Birth and the Training of Moses |
22. Moses |
| 17. The Plagues on Egypt |
16. The Plagues on Egypt |
[6.] The Ten "Strokes," or Plagues |
23. The Plagues of Egypt |
| 18. The Passover |
17. The Passover |
[7.] The Passover and Its Ordinances |
24. The Passover |
| 19. Israel Leaves Egypt |
18. Israel Leaves Egypt |
[7.] The Children of Israel Leave Egypt |
25. The Exodus |
| 20. Their Journeyings |
19. Their Journeyings |
[8.] The Wilderness of Shur |
26. From the Red Sea to Sinai |
| 21. The Law of God |
20. The Law of God |
[10.] The "Ten Words," and Their Meaning |
27. The Law Given to Israel |
| |
|
|
28. Idolatry at Sinai |
| |
|
[12.] The Sin of the Golden Calf |
29. Satan's Enmity Against the Law |
| 22. The Sanctuary
["tabernacle" used 19 times in this chapter] |
21. The Sanctuary
["tabernacle" used 19 times in this chapter] |
[13.] The Rearing of the Tabernacle |
30. The Tabernacle and Its Services |
| 23. Strange Fire
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 11)
Nadab and Abihu . . . . Fire from his presence destroyed them in their sin. (vol. 4a, p. 125) |
22. Strange Fire
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron . . . ." (p. 276) |
[14.] The Sin of Nadab and Abihu |
31. The Sin of Nadab and Abihu |
| |
|
[11.] Civil and Social Ordinances—The "Covenant Made by Sacrifice" |
32. The Law and the Covenants |
| 24. The Quails |
23. The Quails |
[17.] [March into the Wilderness] |
33. From Sinai to Kadesh |
| 25. Miriam |
24. Miriam |
| 26. Caleb and Joshua
". . . heard of the spies . . . ." (p. 25) |
25. Caleb and Joshua
". . . heard of the spies . . . ." (p. 293) |
[18.] The Spies Sent to Canaan |
34. The Twelve Spies |
| 27. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram |
26. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram |
[19.] The Gainsaying of Korah |
35. The Rebellion of Korah |
| 28. Aaron's Rod
"They are at length compelled to believe the unwelcome
truth, that their fate is to die in the wilderness." (vol. 4a, p. 36) |
27. Aaron's Rod
"They are at length compelled to believe the unwelcome
truth that their fate is to die in the wilderness." (p. 306) |
| [19.] The Years in the Wilderness |
36. In the Wilderness |
| 29. Moses Sinned |
28. The Sin of Moses |
[20.] The Sin of Moses and Aaron |
37. The Smitten Rock |
| 30. Fiery Serpents
As the people journeyed from Hor by the way of the
Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom . . . . (vol. 4a, p. 40) |
29. Fiery Serpents
As the people journeyed from Hor by the way of the
Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom . . . . (p. 314) |
[21.] Journey of the Children of Israel in ["Compassing"] the Land of Edom
[also, Edersheim's title for this chapter includes the words "Fiery Serpents"] |
38. The Journey Around Edom |
| |
|
39. The Conquest of Bashan |
| 31. Balaam
Balaam . . . . ". . . let my last
end be like his!" (vol. 4a, p. 46)
|
30. Balaam
Balaam . . . . ". . . let my last
end be like his!" (pp. 322, 323) |
[1.] Character and History of Balaam
|
40. Balaam |
| [2.] The End of Balaam |
41. Apostasy at the Jordan |
| [3.] The Second Census of Israel |
| 32. Death of Moses |
31. Death of Moses |
4. Death and Burial of Moses |
42. The Law Repeated |
| 43. The Death of Moses |
| 33. Joshua
". . . miraculous passage
over . . . Jordan . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 60)
". . . the conquest. Christ commanded the armies of Heaven to
throw down the walls of Jericho . . . . in this
wonderful miracle . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 64)
He then eloquently addressed them. . . . Joshua. (vol. 4a, pp. 64, 65)
|
32. Joshua
". . . miraculous passage
over . . . Jordan . . . ." (p. 346)
". . . the conquest. Christ commanded the armies of Heaven to
throw down the walls of Jericho . . . . in this
wonderful miracle . . . ." (p. 351)
He then eloquently addressed them. . . . Joshua. (pp. 351, 352)
|
[6.] The Miraculous Parting
of Jordan |
44. Crossing the Jordan |
| [7.] The Miraculous Fall of Jericho |
45. The Fall of Jericho |
| [9.1] The Blessing and the Curse on Gerizim and Ebal |
46. The Blessings and the Curses |
| [9.] The Deceit of the Gibeonites |
47. League with the Gibeonites |
| [11.] Final Division of the Land |
48. The Division of Canaan |
| [12.] Joshua's Farewell Addresses |
49. The Last Words of Joshua |
| |
|
|
50. Tithes and Offerings |
| |
|
|
51. God's Care for the Poor |
| ". . . also, the various regulations respecting
sacrificial offerings." (vol. 4a, p. 55) |
". . . also, the various regulations respecting
sacrificial offerings." (p. 334) |
[3.] Sacrificial Ordinances |
52. The Annual Feasts |
| |
|
[13.] Summary of the Book of Judges |
53. The Earlier Judges |
| |
|
[19.] The History of Samson |
54. Samson |
| 36. The Ark of God
"The Lord made known to the child Samuel
. . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 104)
"The transgressions
of Eli's sons . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 104)
"He was afraid that the ark of God might be taken . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 106)
|
37. The Ark of God
"The Lord made known to the child Samuel
. . . ." (p. 401)
"The transgressions
of Eli's sons . . . ." (p. 402)
"He was afraid that the ark of God might be taken . . . ." (p. 404)
|
[1.] Birth of Samuel |
55. The Child Samuel |
| [2.] The Sin of Eli's Sons |
56. Eli and His Sons |
| [3.] Taking of the Ark |
57. The Ark Taken by the Philistines |
| |
|
[4.] Samuel's Administration |
58. The Schools of the Prophets
|
| 34. Samuel and Saul
"Their demand for a king . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 66)
"Samuel visits Saul with a curse
from the Lord for his disobedience . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 73)
". . .God had rejected him from being king." (vol. 4a, p. 77)
"But he sent Samuel to the house of Jesse, to anoint David . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 77)
"David . . . . God had sent him to slay Goliath." (vol. 4aSG, p. 81)
". . . Jonathan might be the means of preserving the life of David . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 79)
". . . until the death of Saul." (vol. 4a, p. 83)
"Saul . . . the witch of Endor . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 85)
|
33. Samuel and Saul
"Their demand for a king . . . ." (p. 353)
"Samuel visits Saul with a curse
from the Lord for his disobedience . . . ." (p. 362)
". . .God had rejected him from being king." (p. 366)
"But he sent Samuel to the house of Jesse, to anoint David . . . ." (p. 367)
"David . . . . God had sent him to slay Goliath." (p. 371)
". . . Jonathan might be the means of preserving the life of David . . . ." (p. 369)
". . . until the death of Saul." (p. 375)
"Saul . . . the witch of Endor . . . ." (p. 376)
|
[4.] The Demand for a King |
59. The First King of Israel |
| [7.] Saul's Disobedience |
60. The Presumption of Saul |
| [7.] The Rejection of His Kingdom |
61. Saul Rejected |
| [10.] The Anointing of David |
62. The Anointing of David |
| [10.] Combat Between David and Goliath |
63. David and Goliath |
| [11.] David's Flight to Samuel |
64. David a Fugitive |
| [11.9] David and Jonathan |
65. The Magnanimity of David |
| [15.] Death of Saul |
66. The Death of Saul |
| [14.] Saul ... the Witch of Endor |
67. Ancient and Modern Sorcery |
| |
|
[14.] Capture of Ziklag by the Amalekites |
68. David at Ziklag |
| 35. David
"David . . . his sin and repentance . . . .
David's sin . . . ." (vol. 4a, p. 88)
|
34. David
"David . . . his sin and repentance . . . .
David's sin . . . ." (pp. 380, 381)
|
[15.] David King at Hebron |
69. David Called to the Throne |
| [16.] David ... King over All Israel |
70. The Reign of David |
| [19.] David's Great Sin
... Repentance |
71. David's Sin and Repentance |
| |
72. The Rebellion of Absalom |
| |
73. The Last Years of David |
If we simply tally up the various titles and headings that suggest some degree of literary
dependence, it appears that roughly 79% of the similarities between Ellen White and Edersheim
are found in her earlier books. If Rea's logic is sound, something we are presently uncertain of,
then this is "proof" that Edersheim copied from Ellen White, with no credit whatsoever being given.
67.9%
21.8%
10.3%
0.0%