Arnold or Gordon, in what way is fallen nature not defiled or corrupt?

Think of Christ's humiliation. He took upon Himself fallen, suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin. He took our sorrows, bearing our grief and shame. He endured all the temptations wherewith man is beset. {4BC 1147.4}

Mike,

Christ was not corrupt.
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MM, EGW appears to use the word "corrupted" to imply a participation in sin, whereas the word "defiled" she doesn't. So Christ took a nature that was defiled, but not corrupted. I realize that as far as ordinary English is concerned, these words are synonyms, but this appears to be how Ellen White expressed the concept.

I know you agree with this, but I'll spell it out for general consumption. What inspiration says is that Christ had flesh just like ours, but never sinned in that flesh.

Here's how W. W. Prescott put it, in a sermon Ellen White endorsed:

Arnold, I'm having trouble following some of this.

It seems to me teresa didn't understand something you wrote, and asked you to explain your meaning, and you declined to do so, saying the problem was with her. How does this help her understand your argument?

And then when she pointed out that you had addressed her rather than her question, you said her argument was flawed, but she would rather blame others. What argument, that's flawed, is this? And how is she blaming others? And she prefers blaming others to doing what? And what's the answer to her question?

Tom and Mike,

Please bear in mind that she is referring here to two distinct things as not being corrupted: the nature Christ took ("Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted"), and the nature He developed ("and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God").

As far as I'm aware, EGW was consistent in her use of the word "corrupted" or "corrupt" to mean participation in sin. She said Christ took our nature "defiled" and "degraded" by sin. In ordinary English, these are synonyms of "corrupted," as a thesaurus will corroborate. If she just meant "defiled" or "degraded" by "corrupted" then she'd be saying that Christ took our nature, "defiled" and "degraded" but not "defiled" or "degraded." So she had something in mind other than "defiled" or "degraded" by "corrupted," and what that is is shown by her use of the word. For example,"and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God."

Christ's came in sinful flesh, which was just like ours. In that flesh, He perfectly overcame, preparing the way for us.

She uses the word "corruption" several times referring to sinful tendencies, obviously both inherited and cultivated.

"What a warning to keep the grace of Christ ever in their heart, to battle with inward corruptions and outward temptations!" (Letter 51, 1886). {2BC 1031.6}

"As long as life shall last, there is need of guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose. There is inward corruption, there are outward temptations, and wherever the work of God shall be advanced, Satan plans so to arrange circumstances that temptation shall come with overpowering force upon the soul. Not one moment can we be secure only as we are relying upon God, the life hid with Christ in God" (Letter 8b, 1891). {2BC 1032.1}

Again, if she is using the word "corrupted" to mean "defiled" and "degraded" then she is saying that Christ took our fallen nature, "degraded and defiled" but not "degraded and defiled."

I'm not following this. Where does Mrs. White say that Christ took our nature, corrupted but not corrupted?

In English, "fallen" and "corrupted" are not the same thing. It appears you are saying they are.

"Corrupt" is a strong word. Any definition of it relating to character implies sin. If Jesus had a corrupt nature, then He would have been a sinner. His nature cannot, therefore, have been corrupted.

The only other use of the word "corruption" with Jesus had to do with His body in the grave...it was not allowed to see corruption, meaning it was not there long enough to decay.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Amen! But was He "defiled"?