Arthur Pink (1886-1952)

Arthur Walkington Pink was an English Bible teacher who sparked a renewed interest in the exposition of Calvinism or Reformed Theology.

Arthur was born in Nottingham, England. He desired to become a minister but was unwilling to attend a liberal theological college in the UK. He briefly studied at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago in 1910.

He took a pastorate of the Congregational church in Silverton, Colorado.He then took on joint pastorates in rural Burkesville and Albany in Kentucky.

In 1916 he married a local girl from Kentucky - Vera E. Russell (1893-1962). In 1917 they moved to Spantanburg, South Carolina.

He had his first 2 books published in 1917/8. He also published his first edition of The Sovereignty of God (1918). The modified version of the book was republished by* Banner of Truth* in 1961 and by 2004 had sold 177,000 copies.

In January 1922 he published the first issue of Studies in the Scriptures. By the end of the first year he about 1,000 subscribers. This ended up as 17 volumes and became the source for dozens of books.

IN 1923 he suffered a nervous breakdown. On regaining his health they sailed to Sydney, Australia. He served as both an evangelist and Bible teacher at the Ashfield Tabernacle. Bur his impolitic (rude) preaching Calvinistic doctrine resulted in him not having his position endorsed. He served as pastor of 2 groups of Strict and Particular baptists.

He returned to the UK and was invited to preach at a pastorless church in Seaton, Devon. Members thought he would split the church.

The couple returned to Kentucky, Vera’s home state. He hoped to become the pastor of the Baptist church in Morton’s gap. His hopes again are dashed.

In 1933 his father dies and Arthur receives enough estate so the couple can live a simple life without financial concerns for the rest of his life.
The year is 1934 Arthur has reached the point where he believes his ministry is in writing , not preaching and returns to the UK.

1936 they move to Hove, near Brighton. During WW11 (1939-45) Hove is a regular target for German Air raids. They make their last move - Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Arthur governs his time in study and writing with ‘military precision’.

In 1951 Vera was aware Arthur was losing weight and in pain. He refused to take any medicine in case it might dull his mind and hinder him from compleing his work. On 15th July 1952 he died. *‘The Scriptures explain themselves’ were his last words.

After his death there was a major shift of evangelical opinion toward Calvinist theology. In 1982 Baker Book House published 22 of Arthur’s books and sold 350,000 total copies. 'Sovereignty of God’ did more than any other in redirecting the thinking of a younger generation. (177,000 copies by 2004).

Arthur was eventually ‘heard’ through his books not his sermons.

Sources used
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wikipedia