Background of the Gospel Study Group
The Gospel Study Group began as an informal follow-up to the Primacy of the Gospel Committee, which in turn was set up by Robert Folkenberg, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, in 1994. He expressed a commitment to the church's understanding the message that came to us in 1888, and giving that message to the world. With this background the committee was "to consider in depth the biblical doctrine of righteousness by faith."1 It "was composed of leaders from the 1888 Message Study Committee and from the General Conference, including theologians from two General Conference educational institutions—the Andrews University Theological Seminary and the School of Religion at Loma Linda University."
When the work of the Primacy of the Gospel Committee ended in 2000, and its report was issued, there were some who felt its work had not been completed, and more dialog was needed. Calvin Rock, who had chaired the Primacy of Gospel Committee through most of its meetings, expressed his approval that some continuing informal discussion would be appropriate. Lloyd Knecht, from the 1888 Message Study Committee, and Richard Davidson, from the SDA Theological Seminary, became the key individuals who pulled together a smaller group of individuals from both organizations to meet periodically to discuss the topics related to the message of righteousness by faith and our SDA history.
The first meeting convened in March of 2001, about one year after the Primacy of the Gospel Committee ended its work.
Footnotes
1. All quotes are from the official report of the Primacy of the Gospel Committee, which can be found, as of 28 April 2013, at this site.
Challenge
"God designs that the plan of redemption shall come to his people as the latter rain; for they are fast losing their connection with God. They are trusting in man, and glorifying man, and their strength is proportionate to the strength of their dependence. Some matters have been opened before me which will be fulfilled ere long. We are to know more than we do at the present time. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. There are themes to be dwelt upon which are worthy of more than a passing notice. Angels have desired to look into the truths which are revealed to the people who are searching God’s word and with contrite hearts praying for wisdom, for greater lengths and breadths and heights of that knowledge which God alone can give." {1888 1690.1} [Manuscript 75, 1899]