Desire of Ages(DA) 530:3 is commonly quoted in an attempt to show that Christ had no beginning, like His Father had no beginning: "In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived." -DA 530:3 (published 1898).
It seems to me that the phrase "original, unborrowed, underived" is a description of the type of life that Christ possesses.
In the following sentence Ellen quotes Jesus as saying, “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. Which might sound like we can have the same life as described above. Can this be true?
Look what Ellen said, published in The Signs of the Times, 4/8/1897: "... In Him[Christ] was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as his personal Saviour."
Does this mean that we can become God? Of course not! So, there must be some other explanation... Am I denying the divinity of Christ? No. In fact, DA530:3 also contains these words: "The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life."
Ellen then continued by quoting(in ST) Jesus in John 17:3, where He identified "the only true God": '“This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” This is the open fountain of life for the world.' (THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES April 8, 1897.1)
More texts claiming The Father as the only God: John 17:1-3; John 20:17; 1 John 5:20; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:6; Revelation 14:1; Revelation 21:22
So, what about that life, original, unborrowed, underived? Where did Jesus get that? Look what Jesus said: "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself " -John 5:26.
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" -Hebrews 1:1-2 (So, who "made the worlds", through whom?)
In agreement with Heb 1:1-2, in the next quote, Ellen says, "All things Christ received from God". Notice that the following quote is also in DA and contradicts the current popular meaning put onto DA 530:3.
But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. “I do nothing of Myself,” said Christ; “the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father.” “I seek not Mine own glory,” but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father's life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life. -Desire of Ages 21.2
God has sent His Son to communicate His own life to humanity. Christ declares, “I live by the Father,” My life and His being one. [John 6:57.] “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” [John 1:18.] “For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” [John 5:26, 27.] The head of every man is Christ, as the head of Christ is God. “And ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” [1 Corinthians 3:23.] -MS 25, 1887, par. 14
End of "concise" quotes, but more related/complete quotes below:
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Christ declares; “no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Christ is invested with power to give life to all creatures. “As the living Father hath sent me,” he says, “and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me....It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Christ is not here referring to his doctrine, but to his person, the divinity of his character. “Verily verily, I say unto you,” he says again, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” -RH April 5, 1906, par. 12
1897&1912: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The world did not see divinity in the humble Man of Nazareth. The only-begotten Son of the infinite God was in the world, and men knew him not in his true character.
“ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” It is not physical life that is here specified, but immortality, the life which is exclusively the property of God. The Word, who was with God, and who was God, had this life. Physical life is something which each individual receives. It is not eternal or immortal; for God, the lifegiver, takes it again. Man has no control over his life. But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from him. “I lay it down of myself,” he said. In him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as his personal Saviour. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” This is the open fountain of life for the world. (THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES April 8, 1897.1-2)
1898: Christ came to this world to save perishing souls. He delights to impart His Holy Spirit to every soul who loved His presence. His first work is to preside in the family, that every member may learn lessons of heavenly wisdom and love. John, the heaven-sent messenger, states, “In him was life.” [John 1:4.] He is as the tree of life. In Him is life, original, unborrowed, underived. Our life given to Christ brings us into connection with Him. We have then a living connection with the fountain of life. We are wholly dependent on Him, for our life is received from Him, and as the Giver, He takes it again. (MS 22, 1898.45)
1898(pub date of DA): Still seeking to give a true direction to her faith, Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life. “He that believeth in Me,” said Jesus, “though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Christ here looks forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven without seeing death. The miracle which Christ was about to perform, in raising Lazarus from the dead, would represent the resurrection of all the righteous dead. By His word and His works He declared Himself the Author of the resurrection. He who Himself was soon to die upon the cross stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted His right and power to give eternal life. -DA 530.3
1905: In Jesus is our life derived. In Him is life that is original, unborrowed, underived life. In us there is a streamlet from the fountain of life. In Him is the fountain of life. Our life is something that we receive, something that the Giver takes back again to Himself. If our life is hid with Christ in God, we shall, when Christ shall appear, also appear with Him in glory. And while in this world, we will give to God, in sanctified service, all the capabilities He has given us. (LT 309, 1905.7)
Concerning the identity of Christ: Who is Christ?
Did any of Ellen's doctrines change with the 1898 publishing of Desire of Ages? Here is what she said about that in 1903-1905:
One thing it is certain is soon to be realized—the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger and will continue to do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. We are to hold fast the first principles of our denominated faith and go forward from strength to increased faith. Ever we are to keep the faith that has been substantiated by the Holy Spirit of God from the earlier events of our experience until the present time.... The past fifty years have not dimmed one jot or principle of our faith as we received the great and wonderful evidences that were made certain to us in 1844, after the passing of the time.... Not a word is changed or denied. That which the Holy Spirit testified to as truth after the passing of the time, in our great disappointment, is the solid foundation of truth. Pillars of truth were revealed, and we accepted the foundation principles that have made us what we are—Seventh-day Adventists, keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus.... -lt 326, 1905, par 2 {letter to Ellen's son, William(Willie) C. White}
... be afraid to trust the suppositions and devising of any human being who entertains the thought that the path over which the people of God have been led for the last fifty years is a wrong path. Beware of those who, not having had any decided experience in the leading of the Lord’s Spirit, would suppose that this leading is all a fallacy; that we have not the truth; that we are not the people of the Lord, gathered by Him from all countries and nations. Beware of those who would tear down the foundation, upon which we have been building for the last fifty years, to establish a new doctrine. I know that these new theories are from the enemy.... The enemy is seeking to bring in among the people of God spiritualistic theories, which if accepted, would undermine the foundation of the faith that has made us what we are. He leads men to present fables clothed with Scripture. There are those who assert that Sister White’s writings are in harmony with these teachings. I declare this to be false. Men may misapply Scripture; they may misinterpret my words; but God understands their devising.... -Ms 137, 1903 The Personality of God November 12, 1903, par 10
What were the SDA beliefs about God from 1872 though 1914? 1872-1889 Fundamental Principles