William Miller's Hermeneutics and the Roots of Adventism

Introduction: Miller's Background and Approach to Scripture

Hermeneutics is defined as "the science or study of interpretation," a term derived from the Greek word for interpret (Andrews, 2007). Millerism has been described as "the top root of Adventism," and its founder held that the Bible "is a system of revealed truths, so clearly and simply given, that the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein" (Apology and Defense; as cited in Andrews, 2007).

William Miller (1782–1849) was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on February 15, 1782, to a poor farming family. He was an insatiable reader who had completely exhausted his father's small religious library early in life. McCook (2005) notes that Miller entered the army at the outbreak of war with Britain in 1812 and was named captain of the local militia. McCook observes that war always has the potential to either strengthen or weaken a soldier's faith, and it dramatically altered Miller's religious sentiments. The typical amoral environment of military camps often loosens moral restraint, yet coming face-to-face with death can also turn a soldier's thoughts heavenward.

One night Miller entered the tent of some of his soldiers, still burning their lamps, intending to reprimand them for late carousing. When he learned they were gathered for prayer, he ridiculed them and accused them of gambling — his own vice. The shame he felt from that moment helped move him toward a more orthodox and less humanistic understanding of sin (McCook, 2005).

Miller believed that his own reading of the Bible "was more profitable than hearing it read, or interpreted by some deacon." His approach to biblical study, guided by his systematic rules of interpretation, nonetheless embodied Enlightenment ideals. He attempted to read the Bible with commentaries and his former prejudices set aside, believing the Bible to be its own interpreter. That is, Miller held that all scripture is consistent and in harmony with itself, and that its true interpretation is made clear through a reasoned study of other scripture (McCook, 2005). He embraced the rationalistic principle that all scriptures must be brought together in order to fully understand any doctrinal teaching (McCook, 2005).

Summary and Conclusion

The contribution of the Millerites to present-day Protestant religion was significant, particularly in terms of emphasizing Christ's imminent return and placing spiritual matters above worldly concerns. During the height of the Millerite revival, however, reform efforts were placed in the background due to the urgency of preparing for the predicted return of Christ in 1843 or 1844. William Miller's fourteen methods of interpreting scripture continue to be widely used among Christian denominations in reading and understanding biblical texts. Miller's belief that personal reading of the Bible is more powerful than hearing others read it aloud persists in many denominations today and has served to highlight the importance of Bible study — both in groups and individually — among Christians of many traditions.

Central to understanding Millerism are the books of Daniel and Revelation, the two biblical texts upon which Miller based his predictions concerning the Second Coming of Christ. Miller was visionary in his attempt to evangelize large numbers of individuals within a short time period, and the movement he founded laid the theological and organizational groundwork for one of the most distinctive Protestant denominations of the modern era.