The Doctrine of Revelation

by Arthur W. Pink

▶ DESCRIPTION
This book's principal object will be to set forth some of the numerous indications that the Bible is something far superior to any human production, but before doing that we must seek to establish the existence of its Divine Author. The later chapters will be designed chiefly for preachers or older students of the Word, presenting as they will, some of the rules which require to be heeded if the Scriptures are to be properly interpreted; and though their scope will go beyond the general title of “Divine revelation,” yet they will complement and complete the earlier ones.

▶ CONTENTS
Introduction

Part One: The Existence of God
1. The Existence of God as Manifest in Creation
2. The Existence of God as Revealed in Man
3. The Existence of God as Seen in Human History
4. The Existence of God as Unveiled in the Lord Jesus Christ

Part Two: The Holy Bible
5. God’s Written Communication
6. Addressed to Reason and Conscience
7. Fills Man’ s Need for Divine Revelation
8. Declares It Comes from God Himself
9. The Holy Bible Is Unique
10. The Holy Bible Teaches the Way of Salvation
11. The Holy Bible: Its Fulfilled Prophecies
12. The Holy Bible: More Unique Characteristics

Part Three: God's Subjective Revelation
13. God’s Subjective Revelation in the Soul
14. God’s Subjective Revelation Is Essential
15. God’s Subjective Revelation: The Holy Spirit Must Quicken

Part Four: Revelation in Glory
16. Revelation in Glory: This Life and Life Hereafter
17. Revelation in Glory: The Joy of Death and Heaven
18. Revelation in Glory: The State of Saints in Glory
19. Revelation in Glory: Conclusion
20. Other Book

▶ AUTHOR
Arthur W. Pink was born in Nottingham England in 1886, and born again of the Spirit of God in 1908 at the age of 22. He studied at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, USA, for only six weeks before beginning his pastoral work in Colorado. From there he pastored churches in California, Kentucky, and South Carolina, before moving to Sydney Australia for a brief period, preaching and teaching. In 1934, at 48 years old, he returned to his native England. He took permanent residence in Lewis, Scotland, in 1940, remaining there 12 years until his death at age 66 in 1952.

Genres: Theology

259 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Arthur Walkington Pink was born in Nottingham, England on April 1, 1886 and became a Christian in his early 20s. Though born to Christian parents, prior to conversion he migrated into a Theosophical society (an occult gnostic group popular in England during that time), and quickly rose in prominence within their ranks. His conversion came from his father's patient admonitions from Scripture. It was Proverbs 14:12, 'there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death,' which particularly struck his heart and compelled him to renounce Theosophy and follow Jesus.

Desiring to grow in knowledge of the Bible, Pink migrated to the United States to study at Moody Bible Institute. In 1916 he married Vera E. Russell, from Kentucky. However, he left after just two months for Colorado, then California, then Britain. From 1925 to 1928 he served in Australia, including as pastor of two congregations from 1926 to 1928, when he returned to England, and to the United States the following year. He eventually pastored churches Colorado, California, Kentucky and South Carolina.

In 1922 he started a monthly magazine entitled Studies in Scriptures which circulated among English-speaking Christians worldwide, though only to a relatively small circulation list of around 1,000.

In 1934 Pink returned to England, and within a few years turned his Christian service to writing books and pamphlets. Pink died in Stornoway, Scotland on July 15, 1952. The cause of death was anemia.

After Pink's death, his works were republished by the Banner of Truth Trust and reached a much wider audience as a result. Biographer Iain Murray observes of Pink, "the widespread circulation of his writings after his death made him one of the most influential evangelical authors in the second half of the twentieth century." His writing sparked a revival of expository preaching and focused readers' hearts on biblical living.

Reviews

[Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this volume expecting and looking for something of a systematic theological handling of the idea of revelation. If that is what you're looking for, I don't think you'll find it here. I read the first five chapters or so before deciding I wasn't getting what I was looking for.

That said, here are my impressions.

Pink does handle general and special revelation in this volume, but he does so from more of an apologetic perspective. His dealing with general revelation, for example, is done in such a way as to appreciate and emphasise the way that it's beauty and complexity presents the glory of God to our minds. He seems to do something similar when he starts handling Scripture. His apologetic approach seems to be a melding of unconscious presuppositionalism and evidentialism.

If you find Pink's writing in general edifying, this will be no exception. There is a beauty, even a poetic beauty, to his writing at points, and it stirs a worshipful spirit within. At least it does for me. But don't come to this book expecting to find a systematic theological treatise on the doctrine of revelation. In this sense, the title is somewhat misleading.

[Lorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another classic Arthur Pink study where I always learn something more about God's Word. I love how deep Arthur goes in glorifying God and I always get an uplifted closeness to God after studying Arthur Pink.

[marian grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always very anointed

Trustworthy to be the right insight for deep learning. What a great combination of scholarship and spiritual sensitivity. Excellent reading