Testimony of J.N Andrews

Elder John Nevins Andrews
1829-1883 (54)

Former General Conference President “J. N. Andrews was an intellectual who enjoyed "severe study" much more than physical activity. He was closely associated with James & Ellen White in the leadership andevangelistic work of the SDA Church.

As a theologian, Andrews made great strides in the development of church doctrines. He applied the two-horned beast of Rev. 13 to the United States of America. Further, he was influential in creating the church’s bylaws and constitution. In 1855, after thorough investigation, Andrews adopted sunset Friday evening as the beginning of the Sabbath.

This began a standard for the church. He also organized the church as a legal business association, allowing the church to obtain legal possession of property. During the Civil War, Andrews lobbied for non-combatant designation for SDA draftees.

In 1860, he was involved in the organization of the denominational publishing house. The following year, he published his extensive research, History of the Sabbath & the First Day of the Week. This was a work reviewing the seventh-day Sabbath in history. Between 1869-70, he was the editor of the Review and Herald. In 1874, he became the first SDA missionary in Switzerland. He worked to gather the scattered Sabbathkeeping companies and organize them with a united message. While living in Basel, he contracted tuberculosis and died. He was 54.” {Vol. 6, No. 2 of "Lest We Forget" features J. N. Andrews}.

Comments on the trinity by J.N. Andrews

“The doctrine of the Trinity which was established in the church by the council of Nice, A. D. 325... This doctrine destroys the personality of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous measures by which it was forced upon the church which appear upon the pages of ecclesiastical history might well cause every believer in that doctrine to blush. {J. N. Andrews, March 6, 1855, Review and Herald, Vol. 6, No. 24, P. 185}

“...and as the son of God, he would be excluded also, for he had God for his Father, and did, at some point in the eternity of the past, have beginning of days. So that if we use Paul’s language in an absolute sense, it would be impossible to find but one being in the universe, and that is God the Father, who is without father, or mother, or descent, or beginning of days, or end of life.” {Review and Herald Sept. 7, 1869}.

J.N.Andrews – showing clearly that the trinity teaching is not biblical

“J.N. Andrews reiterated the common Adventist understanding that God the Father is the supreme source of all life in the universe. In 1874 he writes: “That God is the fountain and source of immortality is plain from the statement of Paul. He speaks thus of God the Father: ‘Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting; Amen.’ 1 Tim. 6:16. This text is evidently designed to teach that the self existent God is the only being who, of himself, possesses this wonderful nature. Others may possess it as derived from him, but he alone is the fountain of immortality Our Lord Jesus Christ is the source of this life to us. ‘For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.’ John 5:26. ‘As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.’ John 6:57. The Father gives us this life in His Son. ‘And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.’ 1Jn 5:11, 12.

These Scriptures do clearly indicate that Christ is the source of endless life, and that those only have this who have Christ.” {Review and Herald, Jan. 27, 1874 p.52}.

Comments on the above quotation

Elder J N Andrews was one of Adventism’s founders and leaders in the highest sense. He is well respected today throughout the Seventh-Day Adventist church. The churches 1st university bears the record of his name and shows the perception of scholarship which has been associated with his Biblical Exegesis.