The 1872 Declaration of Fundamental Principles is a milestone in the development of Adventist theology in several regards. It still enshrined the denomination’s thinking of the period in a Millerite framework yet also indicated its move away from their Adventist competitors. It presented the movement’s beliefs in a unique structure and thus became an important tool for Adventist dogmatic self-reflection; at the same time, it canonized the anti-creedal paradox of rejecting norms secondary to Scripture while producing precisely such a normative statement. Overall, the Fundamental Principles are a crucial witness to the contextuality of 19th century Adventist theologizing.