Gleanings from the Scriptures

by Arthur W. Pink

Gleanings from the Man's Total Depravity

Genres: Theology

Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

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

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Out of date vocabulary, but that adds to the specifics of the message presented. Convicting, delving deep into the most simple and innocent seeming sin to reveal how it is anything but. It's a good read for a deep understanding of how sinful sin is. It's also a great book if you feel the need to look deeper within yourself, if you've lost conviction, or are curious about Biblical Law concerning the first sinful act. Pink was brutally honest. I borrowed the one I read and sure would like to get one of my own.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man's total depravity and man's inexusableness are dual doctrines that should lead one to fall at the feet of Christ and beg for His mercy. Unfortunately, they tend, instead, to lead to argument and defensiveness. Pink does a masterful job of convincing from Scripture and example why these truths are true. A humbling and enlightening book. Pink is perhaps the best writer of our near times. He takes on both Arminians and hyper Calvinists in his reasoned approach and clearly shows why the Scripture must prevail.