A Study of Dispensationalism

by Arthur W. Pink

Early in his spiritual life Pink was a Scofield Reference Bible carrying Christian. Yet around 1929 he began to reject dispensational teachings, as he grew in his understanding of Reformed theology. In this little work, A Study of Dispensationalism, we discover his core complaint against it destroys the unity and applicability of Scripture. He so vigorously turned from dispensationalism that in these pages he denounces it as a "modern and pernicious error." Through his characteristically insightful and compelling method he ably demonstrates dispensationalism's destructive tendencies. Against dispensationalism he argues that "there is no conflict between the law and the Gospel of the grace of God." Pink laments that "consciously or unconsciously, Dispensationalists are, in reality, repeating the sin of Jehoiakim, who mutilated God's Word with his penknife (Jer. 36:23)." The Apologetics Group, Inc. (A Division of NiceneCouncil dot com) is pleased to offer in print once again, Pink's devastating critique of dispensationalism. This well supplements our concerns as expressed in our "Ninety-Five Theses Against Dispensationalism". Reading Pink's rebuttal of dispensationalism will show the earnest believer why our Ninety-Five Theses is such a necessary declaration. -- Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Genres: Theology, Christian

85 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

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

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! ❤

[Divanshu Sandhu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very narrow understanding of ‘Dispensation theology ‘, and even though I have read several good books by A.W. Pink but this is very ungracefully written. I can’t imagine he says something like this for those who holds this view -
“Instead of “opening the Scriptures,” they are bent in closing the major part of them from God’s people today. They are just as much engaged in doing the devil’s work as are the Higher Critics, who, with their dissecting knives, are wrongly “dividing the word of truth.”

[Bromineandtungstengmail.Com · Rating 1 out of 5]

If Pink were alive today, he should be embarrassed. It's one thing to refute an opposing system of theology. It's another to mischaracterize because you're so blinded by emotions. This is simply pathetic.

I've read many refutations of dispensationalism (myself being dispensational), and while they usually engage in some incendiary arguments driven by emotions, this takes the cake. Pink is a great example of a brilliant person who refused to evaluate opposing viewpoints objectively.

This book is hardly worth starting a fire with.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Consciously or unconsciously, Dispensationalists are, in reality, repeating the sin of Jehoiakim, who mutilated God's Word with his penknife (Jer 36:23). Instead of "opening the Scriptures," they are bent in closing the major part of them from God's people today. They are just as much engaged in doing the devil's work as are the Higher Critics, who, with their dissecting knives, are wrongly "dividing the word of truth." They are seeking to force a stone down the throats of those who are asking for bread. These are indeed severe and solemn indictments, but not more so than the case calls for. We are well aware that they will be unacceptable unto some of our own readers; but medicine, though sometimes necessary, is rarely palatable.”

[Matt Pelto · Rating 4 out of 5]

When other writers would light a match, Pink lights a blowtorch. In this brief collection of articles, A.W. Pink rails against Dispensationalism and the effect he sees it having on biblical application, and offers a wide range of proofs from scripture undermining the dispensationalist position of a primary discontinuity between the Testaments. Bombast not withstanding, the last two chapters are remarkably pastoral in Pink's desire and presentation that the modern (gentile) People of God ought to appropriate and apply to himself the promises that God made to the Hebrew People of God under the Old Covenant.

[Cliff Dailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In conjunction with asking one of my church elders about dispensationalism, this short read provided much information and provoking thoughts. What I enjoy about Pink in this read is his faithfulness to represent dispensational hermeneutics in his negation. Though, I would wager that Pink was up against more classical dispensationalism. I'm still figuring out how to understand dispy thought, today. (Hyper-, Classical, Modern, and Progressive dispensational hermeneutics)

[Joshua Reichard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read a book by A.W. Pink before. He is very brief and abrasive in his criticism of dispensationalism but I think gives a far treatment of it. Though I would like to read more about dispensationalism I was encouraged to see Pink tackle basic principles and refute them. I have a better grasp of this understanding of scripture now. If anything I am more sure of covenant theology after reading this book!

[Evan King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great short and to the point read from Pink on the dangers of strict (primarily hyper-) dispensationalism. It contains a very sound refuting of Bullingerism and dispensationalism in general. His exegesis of specific passages in Hebrews and Galatians in particular were very solid at refuting the position (his own shift from dispensationalism came during the writing of his 'Exposition of Hebrews'). Highly recommend to any Pink fan or to anyone of a dispensationalist persuasion.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent booklet holds Dispensationalism’s feet to fire. The author wields the Word of God as he zealously defends historic Christian teaching against the novel serious-error-at-best and heresy-at-worst that is Dispensationalism. This booklet is as timely today as ever before here in the US.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I can’t recommend this enough for every Christian. Pink is a bible centered teacher who uses the biblical truth to convince of the truth of Scripture (by the Holy Spirit for sure)
Truly enjoyed this book and truly convinced that All the Bible is for all Christians in every age.

[Alan Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theologian and former Dispensationalist Arthur Pink takes a look at the doctrine. Some quotes:

...for anyone who has been taught of God knows that almost everything during the old economies had a figurative meaning, shadowing forth the better things to come.

Instead of law and grace being contradictory, they are complementary. Both of them appeared in Eden before the Fall.

By all means let the Word of Truth be "rightly divided"; not by parceling it off to different "dispensations," but by distinguishing between what is doctrinal and what is practical, between that which pertains to the unsaved and that which is predicated of the saved.

The Old Testament saints were the subjects of the same everlasting covenant, had the same blessed Gospel, were begotten unto the same celestial heritage as the New Testament saints.

Pink, Arthur W.. A Study of Dispensationalism. Kindle Edition.

[Dan Weger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read. Very well structured and argued

Tightly reasoned and on the mark. Brings dispensationism to its knees. the truth is proclaimed and record set completely right

[Adam T. Calvert · Rating 3 out of 5]

While some of the arguments are out of date (Scofield is no longer the prominent voice in Dispensationalism, and many within his camp have since corrected or revised some of his more controversial theological statements), I still found this book to be a useful resource. It has a lot of good insights coming from a solid Reformed theologian who was also at one time a Dispensationalist.

[Michael Schmid · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book argues for the application of all of Scripture for Christians today, countering extreme dispensationalist views that deny the application even of New Testament texts such as the Sermon on the Mount for believers today.

[David]

It was good. Good information about the dispensationalist vs reformed doctrine. Not an easy read for me, but worthwhile for those interested in the subject.

[Gary Reid Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

In some regards this goes against what I was thought previously however it is spot on inn so many things.