Arthur Walkington Pink was an English Christian evangelist and biblical scholar known for his prolific writings on theology. Born in Nottingham, England in 1886, Pink was raised in a Christian home but renounced his faith as a young man. However, after a dramatic conversion experience, he devoted his life to studying and teaching the Bible.
After his conversion, Pink felt called to pastoral ministry. He studied at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago in 1910-1911. However, he soon became disillusioned with the evangelical Christianity of his day, believing it had strayed too far from biblical truth. This led him to adopt a more Reformed theological perspective.
From 1925 to 1928, Pink served as a pastor at churches in Colorado, California, Kentucky, and South Carolina. However, he frequently ran into conflict with church leaders over his staunch Calvinist views. As a result, Pink eventually left the formal pastoral ministry to devote himself to writing and independent preaching.
Pink lived in the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland from 1940 to 1953. There he concentrated on studying Scripture and producing material for his monthly Studies in the Scriptures magazine. Altogether, he authored more than 40 books and pamphlets over the course of his life, most of which were collections of his writings for the Studies magazine.
Several key themes characterized Pink’s theology:
- The sovereignty of God. Pink emphasized God’s complete control over all things and rejected notions of free will.
- Election and predestination. Pink taught that God chose particular individuals for salvation, entirely apart from human merit.
- The depravity of mankind. Pink argued forcefully for the total inability of sinners to save themselves apart from God’s initiative.
- The attributes of God. Much of Pink’s work focused on expounding the perfect nature of God, including His holiness, wisdom, faithfulness and grace.
- Law and gospel. Pink stressed both the demands of God’s law to convict sinners, and the grace of the gospel to redeem those who repent.
Due to the uncompromising nature of his theology, Pink’s writings were controversial in his day. His works emphasized God’s judgment against sin to a degree many found imbalanced. He also frequently criticized leading evangelists, churches, and Bible colleges for compromising biblical truth.
However, Pink has had a significant influence on later Calvinist thinkers and preachers. Leaders such as Martyn Lloyd-Jones and R.C. Sproul admired Pink’s efforts to call the church back to foundational Reformed doctrine. While the tone of his writings can appear severe, his supporters commend Pink’s zeal to uphold the authority of Scripture against a tide of theological liberalism and watered-down teaching.
Some key writings by Arthur Pink include:
- The Sovereignty of God (1918)
- The Attributes of God (1930)
- The Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer (1952)
- Exposition of the Gospel of John (1945)
- Spiritual Union and Communion (1950)
In summary, Arthur Pink was a controversial but influential figure in the 20th century Reformed evangelical movement. His legacy lives on through the widespread circulation of his books and articles up to the present day. While a minority figure in his lifetime, many evangelical Calvinists today see Pink as an under-appreciated defender of the doctrines of grace against compromise and liberalism.
Arthur Pink died on July 15, 1952 at the age of 66. Though largely unknown to the wider Christian world while alive, Pink’s writings continue to challenge readers to embrace a high view of God’s sovereignty and holiness. His uncompromising defense of Reformed theology has inspired generations of preachers, theologians and everyday believers.
While some object to Pink’s often harsh tone, none can question his passion for biblical truth. As Pink himself summarized his life’s purpose: “To honor and glorify God as the supreme Sovereign of the universe, and to make Him known as He is revealed in the Holy Scriptures.”
Pink stood as a bulwark against ideas that detracted from the sovereignty, majesty and glory of God. He called the church back to foundational biblical principles during a time of drift and compromise. The continuing impact of his books and articles remind us that truth ultimately prevails over theological trends.
Arthur Pink made an indelible mark on 20th century evangelicalism by forcefully asserting the centrality of God in all things. He lived a life focused on getting to know God through diligent Bible study and teaching. And he urged all Christians to pursue that same passionate quest to understand and revere their Creator and Redeemer.
While some aspects of Pink’s theology remain controversial, few can question his sincere love for Scripture and zeal for God’s glory. By calling the church to exalt the sovereignty and holiness of God, Pink reminds all believers to put the focus where Scripture puts it – on knowing the greatness and grace of God as revealed in His Word.
Arthur Pink was a man devoted to God and committed to biblical truth. During his lifetime he was largely neglected and ignored. But his legacy lives on powerfully today through his voluminous writings. The continuing impact of his works remind us that faithfulness to Scripture and expressing the majesty of God are what matters most. Pink inspires Christians in every generation to know the Word of God and make the glory of God central in all things.