THE LIFE OF ARTHUR PINK

ARTHUR AND VERA PINK- JULY 20, 1928

Some history and a personal testimony by W.F. Bell.

Arthur W. Pink was born in Nottingham, England in 1886, and died on the remote Isle of Lewis, Scotland in 1952. His life and ministry were unique in many different ways. Though known more today than when he lived, Pink was a careful and serious student of Scripture, and a gifted writer who is loved by many all over the world. I have before me the first book I obtained by him, Gleanings in Genesis, bearing the date 1970, which was a gift from a friend. In 1972 or 1973, after my teaching at a certain church, someone approached me, saying, "You must be a Pink Calvinist." So I guess I was, and still am! I owe much, under God's blessing, to the written works of Mr. Pink, and truly rejoice in his life's testimony to the truths of God's grace, the trustworthiness of Scripture, and the glory of Christ. He was eccentric in some things, but some of God's best servants have been, so we do not fault him in this, remembering James 3:2.

In 1976 I visited Morton's Gap, Kentucky, where Arthur Pink and his wife Vera lived briefly in 1929-1930. I actually met a couple who had known the Pinks personally, Mr. and Mrs. Will Talliaferro (aged, but with good memories of Pink). Brother Talliaferro gave me a copy of a letter Pink had sent him in 1924 (from Philadelphia), plus loaned me his copy of Pink's book, Why Four Gospels? The letter wound up being published as the very first letter in Banner of Truth's book, Letters of A. W. Pink (1978). The book was republished here in Canton, Georgia in January 1977, but with an Appendix stating that Pink had later changed his views on "Dispensationalism," from that revealed in the original book, which was first published in 1921. This book was subsequently reprinted by Scripture Truth Book Company, Fincastle, Virginia, but lacking the Appendix and any reference to Pink's change of views from the original publication. Despite this, Pink's book on Why Four Gospels? is still a worthy treatment of the subject, and it still amazes us that in this book and his other early works, Pink reveals a great familiarity with Scripture, the writings of others, and a gifted writing ability. Anyone who has read him even scantily knows that he breathes Scripture throughout his writings.

The last years of Pink's life were spent in isolation in the Outer Hebrides in the far northwest of Scotland. This he desired, and we must praise God for the "Providence" that led him there. He was particularly devoting most of his time to editing his magazine, Studies in the Scriptures (published from 1922-1953), and corresponding with the many hundreds who wrote him seeking counsel. We are certainly not losers in Pink's "separating" himself from mainstream churches and ministry, though we must not seek to emulate him in this. Even he would say we should not. So, let us briefly give here some of his own words on a few subjects, hoping this will "whet your appetite" for more and more of Mr. Pink:

GLORYING IN THE LORD

"He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Cor. 1:31). This shows that ministers of the gospel need to be especially careful not to glory in their performances, but instead to give thanks to God for their success: all must be credited to His enabling and blessing. They must not glory in their abilities, attainments or achievements, but only in the Author and Giver of the same....We desire neither to be unsociable nor to live the life of a hermit, but we are "not our own," and are resolved by grace to devote the whole of our energy in an endeavour to feed Christ's lambs and sheep. We highly value such a privilege and honour, and are jealous of anything which tends to encroach upon the same. We are deeply thankful that the Lord has brought us apart from "the strife of tongues," and has so graciously provided us with a "peaceable habitation" (Isa. 32:18). Not that we urge anyone else to follow our example. Others must take their place on the firing line, and each soul should seek to perform his or her duty in whatever position Providence has assigned them. (Annual Letter, 1951, Studies in the Scriptures)

NARROWNESS AND BROADMINDEDNESS

There should be a happy medium between sectarian narrowness and the world's "broadmindedness," between deliberately compromising the truth and turning away from some of the Lord's people because they differ from us on non-essentials. Shall I refuse to partake of a meal because some of the dishes are not cooked as I like them? Then why decline fellowship with a brother in the Lord because he is unable to pronounce correctly my favourite shibboleth?....As good old Matthew Henry said, "The consideration of being agreed in greater things should extinguish all feuds over lesser ones." (1935, Studies in the Scriptures)

GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND CHRISTIAN SERVICE

If God has determined before the foundation of the world the precise number of those who shall be saved, then why should we concern ourselves about the eternal destiny of those with whom we come into contact? What place is left for zeal in Christian service? Will not the doctrine of God's sovereignty, and its corollary of predestination, discourage the Lord's servants from faithfulness in evangelism? No; instead of discouraging His servants, a recognition of God's sovereignty is most encouraging to them....What is God's remedy for dejection at apparent failure in our labors? This -- the assurance that God's purpose cannot fail, that God's plans cannot miscarry, that God's will must be done. Our labors are not intended to bring about that which God has not decreed. (The Sovereignty of God, first published 1918, reprint 1969)

Editor's note:
I thought it would be good to present some biographical information about Arthur W. Pink. He was a remarkable servant of Christ whose greatest influence came after his death in 1952. Almost all of his books were written from material in his magazine Studies in the Scriptures. My late friends, Lawrence and Amy Nelson of Venice, Florida, founders of the Chapel Library, had some personal correspondence from Pink, as well as some full sets of Studies in the Scriptures in their original format. They reflected on fond memories on my visits to them in the 70's. Pink's works have been influential among theologians, ministers and people in the pew. You can find almost all of them online, since none were copyrighted. He was a gifted preacher, but for the final 12 years of his life, he lived in isolation in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, studying, praying and writing. We have the fruit today of that labor Yet, if you search the internet, you will not find over 2-3 photos of this man. cw