Foreword on the 27 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists

Over the years, Seventh-day Adventists have been reluctant to state their creed (in the usual sense of the word). However, from time to time, for practical purposes, we have felt the need to summarize our beliefs.

In 1872 the Adventist printing office at Battle Creek, Michigan, published a “Review of Our Faith” in 25 volumes. This document, slightly revised and expanded to 28 points, appeared in the church yearbook of 1889. It was not continued in subsequent editions, but it was again included in the yearbook of 1905 and continued to appear until 1914.

The present book is based on this brief summary. These are given at the beginning of each chapter. In this book we present to our members, friends, and other interested persons, in a comprehensive, readable, and practical manner, these doctrinal convictions and their significance for Adventist Christians in today's society. Although this work is not an officially approved statement—only a General Conference in a world session could determine that—it may be regarded as representative of “the Truth ... in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21) which Seventh-day Adventists cherish and proclaim throughout the world.

In response to a call by Church leaders in Africa for "a statement that would assist government officials and others to better understand our work," a committee of four, including the president of the General Conference, prepared a statement that included "the essential features" of our faith as they "might be summarized." First printed in the 1931 Yearbook, this statement of 22 fundamental beliefs remained until the 1980 General Conference replaced it with a similar but more comprehensive 27-paragraph summary,

published under the title 'Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists'.

Note: Now available as a book in the HIS Message web shop.

Belief #28 'Growing in Christ' has been added here.

( In the Dutch shortened version this is point of faith no. 11)