0 2-L1 161

THE TIP OF AN ICEBERG

Biblical Authority, Biblical Interpretation,
and the Ordination of Women in Ministry
A Synopsis of the Book by C. Raymond Holmes *
[Dr. Holmes has recently authored the most insightful and convincing
book opposing the ordination of women to the gospel ministry that has
come to our attention. The Tip of an Iceberg recognizes the fact that
differences of opinion regarding ordination are the automatic result
of different principles of biblical interpretation, and he correctly
points out that these differences affect other doctrinal matters as
well and have the potential of leading to the possibility of schism in
the Seventh-day Adventist Church as they did in the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod eighteen years ago. The editors of Adventist Today
believe that readers will appreciate an abstract of the book in the
author's own words. These excerpts are taken from throughout the book
and rearranged in a way the editors believe faithfully represents his
point of view. He has approved this rearrangement.--Eds.]
"The question concerning the proper role of women in ministry is just
the tip of an iceberg, beneath which lurks the far more serious issue of the
inspiration of Scripture." "Does such an iceberg threaten the Seventh-day
Adventist church today?" "It is crucial because what the church finally decides
will reveal a great deal about the nature of its commitment to biblical
authority and its approach to the interpretation of Scripture." This is the
"fault line along which any possible schism could occur within Adventism."
"The Seventh-day Adventist church has reached another major crossroad in its
doctrinal history. Which way will it go? Will it go the way of full or lim
ited biblical authority?." "The price paid would be the end of historic
Adventism." "That ... is what this book is all about."
"The issue of biblical authority [is] the most crucial issue of all."
"For me the Bible [is a] revelation from God in all its parts." "It seems that
we are more interested in defending the human side of the Bible today than the
divine side." "Since Paul's counsel is part of God's revelation, it would be
dangerous and irresponsible to ignore his prohibition of women as overseers,
rejecting his counsel on the supposed basis that it was culturally conditioned." "Is this a way of saying that the Bible is not the Word of God but
simply contains the Word of God?" "Seventh-day Adventists need to be careful
that with nonacceptance of dictation/verbal inspiration they do not also
reject the infallibility of the Bible."
Center for Adventist Fier- nlictAndrews University
Berrien Springs Michigan

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OP- 11
Tip of the Iceberg -- 2
"Interpreters of the Bible are guided in their interpretation by what
they believe about the Bible itself. Presuppositions concerning the nature
and authority of the Bible are keys to interpretation and understanding."
"That which shatters unity of spirit and core beliefs is change in the presuppositions concerning the nature of the Bible." "Have our presuppositions
been changing, even without our knowing it?"
"Aspects of the historical-critical method or its conclusions, and cultural conditioning, are used by some proponents of women's ordination in the
Seventh-day Adventist church, there are other proponents who do not employ
them." "The Seventh-day Adventist church has adopted the historical-grammatical method of Bible interpretation." This, "the position I represent is the
majority view in North America as well as throughout the world church."
"Theological pluralism ... is essential if the interpretation of the Bible
allowing for the ordination of women is to be accepted by the church." "Hermeneutical unity and pluralism cannot exist side-by-side; they are divergent
tracks moving off in different directions." "Theological pluralism means the
acceptance of a plurality of views, a diversity of Bible interpretation, ...
it means that divergent views on an issue involving Bible interpretation can
exist side by side in the church without threatening its unity of doctrine
and mission." "Pluralistic hermeneutics would result in radically reconceptualizing Adventist identity. Seventh-day Adventist believers might well
disappear into the grayness of contemporary society."
"There are already advocates of women's ordination proposing that world
Divisions of the church, or even local conferences, be permitted to go their
own way in this matter. This, of course, would shatter the historic unity of
Adventism as a world church, contributing to fragmentation into national or
regional churches."
"Those who oppose the ordination of women in the Seventh-day Adventist
church on biblical grounds must not allow proponents to control the terms
of the debate." "The ordination issue is not a peripheral matter that can be
resolved regionally. By affecting principles of Bible interpretation, it can
be expected to impact other fundamental doctrines of Adventism, and it would
strongly influence how the church responds to other issues that may appear on
the horizon. Thus the Seventh-day Adventist church may very well be facing
one of the most critical periods in its history.

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Tip of the Iceberg -- 3

"As painful as it may be, perhaps we should be grateful that the women's
ordination question has served to call our attention to the foundational
issues of biblical authority and interpretation."
"The terms 'watershed' and 'crossroads' are appropriate, because in
order for the Seventh-day Adventist church to ordain women in ministry, a
departure from full biblical authority would be necessary. Such a departure
would have serious consequences for the future of Adventism."
"Seventh-day Adventist theology and doctrine are at a crossroads over
the role of women question." (Quoting the late Gerhard F. Hasel.)
*Adventists Affirm and POINTER Publications, 1994, 196 pp.

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the Tip of an Iceberg Biblical Authority, Biblical Interpretation, and the

Ordination of Women in Ministry C. Raymond Holmes 611 Niemela Road, Wakefield, MI 49968 Adventists Affirm & POINTER Publications 1994 196 pp.
Introduction
TITLE: EGW 1SM 205-6 JHK Living Temple: "Iceberg just ahead!" "Meet it!"
11.5: "Does such as iceberg threaten the Seventh-day Adventist church today?"
11.9: "How is it possible for students of the same Bible to arrive at diametrically opposite conclusions? This book is an attempt to uncover some of
the reasons why such radically divergent conclusions are reached. In the
process, we may discover an iceberg lurking in the theological waters, with
its submerged elements the most dangerous."
12.3: The SDAc cosntinues to face the crucial issue of whether or not to
ordain women in ministry. It is crucial because what the church finally
decides will reveal a great deal about the nature of itS commitment to
biblical authority and its approach to the interpretation of Scripture."
13.6: "That ... is what this book is all about."
13.8: "It is designed to alert thinking constituents of the SDAc to the
crucial issue of biblical authority and interpretation that underlies the
question of the role of women in ministry. 1f The primary issue always
confronting the church at large, and the SDAc in particular, is that of
biblical authority and interpretation."
14.4: This is the "real issue," the submerged and most dangerous part of an
iceberg."
14.7: "... the position I represent is the majority view in North America as
well as throughout the world church."
15.5: "I wish, however, to make it absolutely clsear that while aspects of
the historical-critical method or its conclusions, and cultural conditioning,
are used by some proponents of women's ordination in the SDAc, there are
other proponents who do not employ them."
1: Sola Scriptura: A Personal Pilgrimage
17.6: "My conservatism has roots that go back much farther than my transition
from the Lutheran to the Adventist faith and ministry. It was because I was
already a theological conservative, ... that I was able finally to become a
SDA."
18.6: "There is no question but that the new convert to the Christian faith
tends to read the Bible in a literal and trusting way. That was certainly my
experience. ... How eager I was to read the Bible! How excited by its
message. ... For me the Bible was then, and still is, revelation from God in
all its parts. I have never considered myself so clever or astute as to be
able to distinguish with my finite mind what in the Bible is revelation, what
is inspired, and what is not."

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Iceberg -- 2
21.2: "I began seminary training with a high view of the Bible that was
hammered out on the anvil of skepticism and derision."
23.7: "It was Luther's principle of sola scriptura, the Bible alone, and the
belief that the Bible is to be interpreted literally unless the context
indicates otherwise."
26.4: "I must have Biblical justification that is able to withstand the
skepticism of human reason."
27.7: "Some are of the opinion that the women's ordination issue as it was
presented and debated at the 1990 General Conference session exposed the
fault line along which any possible schism could occur within Adventism.
Such a schism would be absolutely catastrophic for the church claiming to be
the Biblical remnant. There are already advocates of women's ordination
proposing that world Divisions of the church, or even local conferences, be
permitted to go their own way in this matter. This, of course, would shatter
the historic unity of Adventism as a world church, contributing to
fragmentation into national or regional churches."
28.5: Left -GEGI:Er- LCA in 1971 to become an SDA.
28.8: "... defended the full authority of the Bible for more than three
decades."
29.5: Episc "lost their battle for the full authority of the Bible, the LCMS
and the SBC are winning theirs.

2: Two Divergent Methods of Interpretation

31.7: "Ellen White's thinking regarding the inspiration, infallibility, and
accuracIfof the Bible is, to borrow a feminist phrase, "in the direction of"
full bilflical authority. 1 While the Bible is written by human hands and
manifests the characteristics of its writers, God is its Author. The
believer accepts its divinity by faith."
32.2: "While not subscribing to a dictation model of verbal inspiration, the
fact that the SDAc believes the Bible is the inspired revelation of God,
infallibly and unerringly revealing His will ... certainly puts it more in
line with the historical-grammatical than with the historical-critical
approach to the Bible."
32.4: "The 1974 Bible Conferences sponsored by the North American Division of
SDAs may rank in importance, historically, with the 1888 Minneapolis General
Conference. ... I perceived that a major motivation for the 1974 Bible
Conferences was to expose the dangers to the Adventist faith inherent in the
historical-critical method of Bible interpretation, and to hold the line
regarding a more literal interpretation."
32:7: "Although Adventists have rejected the dictation/verbal inspiration
concept, the Conferences did not avoid the terms "inerrant" and "infallible"
with respect to the message and historicity of the Bible"

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Iceberg -- 3

"Importance of Presuppositions"
33.3" "Adventists have come to the Bible presupposing that it is a unified
whole, believing that when all the parts of the Bible are carefully studied
it is possible to arrive at a unified system of truth, ... On the other hand,
allowing for multiple systems of interpretation (hermeneutical pluralism)
presupposes that ther is no underlying unity unity or harmony in the Bible
and that it can be interpreted in many different yet equally truthful. ways."
33.5: "Interpreters of the Bible are guided in their interpretation by what
they believe about the Bible itself. Presuppositions concerning the nature
and authority of the Bible are keys to interpretation and understanding."
35.1: "Change in basic presuppositions results in far more than pluralism of
ideas on non-central biblical teachings. ... That which shatters unity of
spirit and core beliefs is change in the presuppositions concerning the
nature of the Bible, giving rise to pluralism of views. ... Hermeneutical
unity and pluralism cannot exist side-by-side; they are divergent tracks
moving off in different directions.
35.7: "The presuppositions of the historical-critical method are based on a
rationalism in which the Bible is treated like any other product of the human
mind."
37.3: "Methods of Bible Study Committee Report" AC GC 10-12-1986.
38.2: "The historical-grammatical method of interpretation allows the Bible
to have full authority relative to faith and life for all time."
38.8: "The historical-critical method of interpretation limits the authority
of the Bible for faith and life, making it merely a human, historical book.
... The first is a faith approach, the second a secular approach. The
historical-grammatical method posits that the history recorded in the Bible
is factual and reliable because the account is divinely inspired.
39.8: "The SDAc has adopted the historical grammatical method of Bible
interpretation."
42.6: "It is not enough to confess faith in the authority of Scripture. What
kind of authority is it permitted to have? Will we allow it to have full
authority or limited authority? But the issue is not just biblical
authority; it is how the Bible is read, interpreted, preached and taught ..."
42.9: "SDAs need to be careful that with the nonacceptance of dictation/
verbal inspiration they do not also reject the infallibility of the Bible."
43.4: "While Adventists do not accept the dictation/verbal concept of
inspiration, they believe the Bible to be infallible, to have perfect unity,
to be self-consistent and factually true. They believe the Bible, not just
believe things about the Bible."

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Iceberg -- 4
44.1: "If the humanity of Scripture is emphasized to the denigration of its
divinity, a logical progression of thought will lead to an emphasis on the
humanity of Jesus to the denigration of His divinity."
44.5: "It seems that we are more interested in defending the human side of
the Bible today than the divine side."
44.8: "Pluralistic hermeneutics would result in radically reconceptualizing
Adventist identity. SDA believers might well disappear into the grayness of
contemporary pagan society."
45.1: "Only by employing consistent principles of interpretation can the SDAc
avoid the fragmentation that would destroy the unity of the last-day church
and reduce its message and mission to incredibility."
45.6: "... the 1974 Bible Conferences provide a major answer to hermeneutical
pluralism in the SDAc, asserting ... that "historical biblical criticism is
bankrupt." 5 Has the SDAc been silently slipping away from the biblical
position of the 1974 Bible Conferences? Have we begun to accept a principle
of Bible interpretation not mentioned at that Conference, and thought not
even necessary to mention by those who participated?"
45.9: "Adventist thinkers would probably agree that the SDAc has reached
another major crossroad in its doctrinal history. Which way will it go?
Will it go the way of full or limited biblical authority? Will it please God
or please man?"
Ellen G. White and the Bible
52.9: Quoting Eta Linnemann: "It is ... not permissible, and also not possible, to sort out the time-conditioned human word from the eternally valid
divine Word. In a mixture of iron filings and sawdust, one can use a magnet
to draw out the iron. God's Word, however, is not a mixture of valid Word of
God and time-conditioned word of man which can be separated from each other."
53.8: EGW GC vii: "The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His [God's] will."
61.8: "On the basis of what EGW believed and said about the Bible, she is
close to the fuundamentalist view than many of us would like to admit."
Full Authority of the Bible
63.4: "The major challenge facing the Christian church near the end of the
twentieth and the start of the twenty-first centure is the authority of the
written Word of God. Our understanding of the authority of the Bible is at
the very heart of the faith. ... Therefore, the authority of the Bible is not
a peripheral matter."
63.9: nwir cannot escape the issue of biblical authority, the most crucial
issue ofall.

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Iceberg -- 5
65.2: "Only true authority has the right to insist on obedience. And only
the Word of God is true authority.
66.7: "The issue we face is far greater than an argument among friends over
the role of women in ministry. ... Beneath the campaign to ordain women in
can be found a method of Bible interpretation that hold that the counsel of
the apostle Paul prohibiting women from serving in a position of
ecclesiastical authority over men has been culturally conditioned and simply
reflects rabbinic teaching which were decidedly male dominated and
chauvinistic. Therefore, this view holds, the Bible must be deculturized in
the same manner in which Rudolph Bultmann sought to demoythologize it."
(67.1)
67.7: "The question concerning the proper role of women in ministry is just
the tip of an ikberg, beneath which lurks the far more serious issue of the
inspiration of Scripture, the apostolic authority of Paul, and whether the
church will listen to the voice of revelation in its interpretation of
Scripture or to the voice of secular culture."
69.7: "Without the full authority of the Bible, the SDAc would go the way of
many mainline denominations. Accepting principles of interpretation that
would limit the Bible's authority would be extremely grave, rending the
fabric of the SDAc."
70.4: "Have our presuppositions been changing, even without our knowing it?"
70.7: "Confessing adherence to the authority of the Bible is one thing;
believing what it teaches is another. ... For any SDA willingly to compromise
on the full authority of Scripture on any issue affecting faith, morals, and
lifestyle is shocking."
The Tip of the Iceberg: Its Ideological Foundation
75.7: "Those who oppose the ordination of women in the SDAc on biblical
grounds must not allow proponents to control the terms of the debate."
77.9: "Neither the culture of Bible times, nor that of our own times, can be
appealed to as supporting the ordination of women in ministry."
84.5: "God has blessed the SDAc, through the counsel of EGW1, with another
alternative--that of training and appointing qualified women for specific
ministerial responsibilities and publicly recognizing such appointment by a
special dedicatory service."
The Tip of the Iceberg: Its Feminist Ideology
87.5: "The feminist movement in general is divided into two camps, radical
secular feminism and Christian feminism. Christian feminism itself can be
divided into two distinct groups: (1) Those who reject the Bible as
normative, and (2) those who subscribe to the authority of the Bible. Most
proponents of women's ordination in the SDAc are in this latter groups, which
we might call biblical feminists in that they subscribe to biblical
authority, though in many instances they interpret the Bible in such a way as

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Iceberg -- 6
to limit its authority. Opponents of women's ordination, on the other hand,
are concerned that the Bible be interpreted in such a way that it is allowed
full authority."
91.7 The error of both demythologisation and deculturization is that human
reason sits in judgment upon Scripture.
93.5: "If Adventists were to accept the feminist interpretation, it would
have to be applied to all our doctrines. The price paid would be the end of
historic Adventism."
93.8: "The feminist approach to Bible interpretation can be summarized in the
following manner: because the Bible was written in a patriarchal culture, it
is prejudicited against women's rights; the Bible is filled with human error,
contradicts itself, and is limited in authority. Therefore, the task of
interpretation is to discover just how ancient culture influences the
intermix of revelation and human counsel so as to discern what is truth for
our time.

7: The Tip of the Iceberg: A Critique

105.3: "Many of the arguments used in support of women's ordination in the
SDAc are either based on feminist presuppositions and/or use a method of
Bible interpretation that would be as destructive of Adventism as it has been
of other denominations."
107.3: "Shall we use the Bible's cultural content to deny its
authority?"
111.3: "Is this a way of saying that the Bible is not the Word of God but
simply contains the Word of God?"
113.9: "Traditionally, Adventist Bible interpretation has held that the Bible
does not contradict itself, and that clear passages assist in understanding
obscure passages."
115.5: "The pro-ordinatio, argument introduces tension between biblical
literalism and sensitOiV to culture in such a way that there is no right
or wrong--only tension. ut
II? is it true that we must learn to live with such
tension?"
120.9: "Theological pluralism means the acceptance of a plurality of views, a
diversity of Bible interpretation, not only in North America but around the
world. It means that divergent views on an issue involving Bible interpretation can exist side by side in the church without threatening its unity of
the doctrine and mission.
121.3: "Theological pluralism ... is essential if the interpretation of the
Bible allowing for the ordination of women is to be accepted by the church.
121.6: "Theological pluralism is evidence of the breakdown of theological
consensus. Has Adventism reached that point in its history, especially when
it stands on the threshold of its greatest opportunity for evangelism and

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iIceberg -- 7
growth? ... While the ordination of women is a secondary issue, and certainly
not a test of fellowship, both proponents and opponents see the issue in
relation to the understanding and interpretation of the Bible, an issue of
fundamental importance. For this reason the SDAc does stand at a theological
crossroads. The critical question facing the SDAc is whether it is prepared,
at this stage of its history, to adopt a method of Bible interpretation
conditioned by contemporary culture.

Pertinent Bible Passages

Galatians 3:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:3-10; 14:33-38; Ephesians 5:22-24; 1
Timothy 2:11-14; 3:1-4.
151.4: "Since Paul's counsel is part of God's revelation, it would be dangerous and irresponsible to ignore his prohibition of women as overseers,"
rejecting his counsel on the supposed basis that it was culturally conditioned."

The Iceberg in Other Waters

Anglican; Lutheran; Southern Baptist.

6: Adventism at a Crossroads
177.9: "SDAist theology and doctrine are at a crossroads over the role of
women question." (Quoting Gerhard F. Hasel, "Biblical Authority and Feminist
interpretation," Adventists Affirm 3/2 (Fall 1989, p. 22.)
178.1: "The terms "watershed" and "crossroads" are appropriate, because in
order for the SDAc to ordain women in ministry, a departure from full
biblical authority would be necessary. Such a departure would have serious
implications for the future of Adventism."
178.7: "The ordination issue is not a peripheral matter that can be resolved
regionally. By affecting principles of Bible interpretation, it can be
expected to impact other fundamental doctrines of Adventism, and it would
strongly influence how the church responds to other issues that may appear on
the horizon. Thus the SDAc may very well be facing one of the most critical
periods in its history. If As painful as it may be, perhaps we should be
grateful that the women's ordination question has served to call our
attention to the foundational issues of biblical authority and
interpretation."
The expressions "biblical authority," "full biblical authority," "limited
authority," "authority of Scripture," and similar expressions including the
word "authority" occur 178 times. This is the key word of the book.
References to the Bible being infallible and/or inerrant occur 24 times.

Center tnr Adventist Research

University
And rows
Berrien Springs Michigan
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Iceberg -- 8

INDEX
Iceberg: 1 11.9 14.4 67.7
Threat: 11.5 2.3 13.8 14.4 27.7 35.1 44.8 45.1 45.6 45.9 66.7 69.7
70.7 93.5 105.3 121.6 177.9 178.1 178.7
Purpose: 11.9 13.6 13.8
Majority view: 14.7
Some SDA not H-C: 15.5
Personal experience Ray Holmes: 17.6 18.6
In all its parts: 18.6
Divine-human: 18.6 44.1 44.5 52.9 77.9 151.4
High view: 21.2
Reason 26.4 91.7
SDA world divisions: 27.7
Authority: 28.8 38.2 38.8 42.6 45.9 63.4 63.9 65.2 69.7 70.7 87.5
93.8 107.3
Other churches: 29.5
Infallible-inerrant: 32.2 43.4 61.8
Verbal-dictation: 32.2 32.7 42.9 43.4
1974 Bible Conference: 32.4 45.6
Presuppositions: 33.3 33.5 35.1 70.4
Pluralism: 33.3 35.1 44.8 120.9 121.3 121.6
Faith: 38.8
SDAadopted HCM: 39.8
Culturally conditioned: 66.7
Intransigence: 75.7
Contains Word of God: 111.3
Clear Passages: 113.9
Literalism: 115.5

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THE TIP OF AN ICEBERG

Biblical Authority, Biblical Interpretation,
and the Ordination of Women in Ministry
A Synopsis of the Book by C. Raymond Holmes *
"The question concerning the proper role of women in ministry is just
the tip of an iceberg, beneath which lurks the far more serious issue of the
inspiration of Scripture" (page 67). "Does such an iceberg threaten the
Seventh-day Adventist church today?" (11) "It is crucial because what the
church finally decides will reveal a great deal about the nature of its
commitment to biblical authority and its approach to the interpretation of
Scripture" (12). This is the "fault line along which any possible schism
could occur within Adventism" (27). "The Seventh-day Adventist church has
reached another major crossroad in its doctrinal history. Which way will it
go? Will it go the way of full or limited biblical authority?" (45). "The
price paid would be the end of historic Adventism" (93). "That ... is what
this book is all about" (13).
"The issue of biblical authority [is] the most crucial issue of all"
(63). "For me the Bible [is a] revelation from God in all its parts" (18).
"It seems that we are more interested in defending the human side of the
Bible today than the divine side" (44). "Since Paul's counsel is part of
God's revelation, it would be dangerous and irresponsible to ignore his prohibition of women as overseers, rejecting his counsel on the supposed basis
that it was culturally conditioned" (151). "Is this a way of saying that the
Bible is not the Word of God but simply contains the Word of God?" (111).
"Seventh-day Adventists need to be careful that with nonacceptance of dictation/verbal inspiration they do not also reject the infallibility of the
Bible" (42).
"Interpreters of the Bible are guided in their interpretation by what
they believe about the Bible itself. Presuppositions concerning the nature
and authority of the Bible are keys to interpretation and understanding"
(33). "That which shatters unity of spirit and core beliefs is change in the
presuppositions concerning the nature of the Bible" (35). "Have our presuppositions been changing, even without our knowing it?" (70).
"Aspects of the historical-critical method or its conclusions, and cultural conditioning, are used by some proponents of women's ordination in the

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Tip of the Iceberg -- 2

Seventh-day Adventist church, there are other proponents who do not employ
them" (15). "The Seventh-day Adventist church has adopted the historical
grammatical method of Bible interpretation" (39). This, "the position I
represent is the majority view in North America as well as throughout the
world church" (14).
"Theological pluralism ... is essential if the interpretation of the
Bible allowing for the ordination of women is to be accepted by the church"
(121). "Hermeneutical unity and pluralism cannot exist side-by-side; they
are divergent tracks moving off in different directions" (35) "Theological
pluralism means the acceptance of a plurality of views, a diversity of Bible
interpretation, ... it means that divergent views on an issue involving Bible
interpretation can exist side by side in the church without threatening its
unity of doctrine and mission" (120) "Pluralistic hermeneutics would result
in radically reconceptualizing Adventist identity. Seventh-day Adventist
believers might well disappear into the grayness of contemporary society"
44 )
"There are already advocates of women's ordination proposing that world
Divisions of the church, or even local conferences, be permitted to go their
own way in this matter. This, of course, would shatter the historic unity of
Adventism as a world church, contributing to fragmentation into national or
regional churches" (27).
"Those who oppose the ordination of women in the Seventh-day Adventist
church on biblical grounds must not allow proponents to control the terms
of the debate" (75). "The ordination issue is not a peripheral matter that
can be resolved regionally. By affecting principles of Bible interpretation,
it can be expected to impact other fundamental doctrines of Adventism, and it
would strongly influence how the church responds to other issues that may
appear on the horizon. Thus the Seventh-day Adventist church may very well
be facing one of the most critical periods in its history.
"As painful as it may be, perhaps we should be grateful that the women's
ordination question has served to call our attention to the foundational
issues of biblical authority and interpretation" (178)
*Adventists Affirm and POINTER PUblications, 1994, 196 pp.

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