Customer Reviews

Attributes of God, The

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

During the first part of the 20th century, Arthur Pink put pen to paper and produced a number of outstanding books that continue to be held in high esteem among many. Pink is famous for 3 main things. First, he held to a very high Calvinist theology. Second, because of the first, he held some highly controversial positions that many Arminians find repugnant. Third, Pink's ability to soak and bathe his views in Scripture are quite extraordinary. It is not at all uncommon to read entire chapters of Pink and encountering a Scripture verse in every other sentence. Such is the case with this particular book.

This book is very short, less than 100 pages. As a result, those looking for a more exhaustive treatment of this topic a la Charnock (whom Pink eloquently quotes a number of times in this book) or the more recent work by Feinberg might be disappointed. However, I'm giving the book 5 stars because even though one could write for a lifetime about the attributes of God and not cover the topic completely, Pink's short work is nonetheless very meaty and is a solid contribution that a number of more recent authors have rightly drawn from in their works.

As is the usual Pink style, he is unapologetic throughout this book in elevating God's ways far above the ways of man, as he believes Scripture does. He is unapologetic about lamenting the wickedness of man generally, and in many cases, directing his most impassioned criticism towards the modern Church for what he sees as the church's coddling of sin, demotion of God to a pleasant afterthought of the human construct, and failing to preach on the unpopular attributes of God such as His wrath. This is not a book aimed at those who want to hear unthreatening and soft peddling thoughts in an effort to feel better about themselves. On the contrary, this is a book that sternly asks Christians to set themselves aside for a minute and examine God for who He is instead of making Him out to be an elevated form of what we see in the mirror. Pink was frighteningly accurate about the mentality of so many Christians who claim to love and understand God while recasting Him in their own image. Scripture plainly teaches otherwise, and Pink's treatment is solid in this area.

Pink's chapter on the patience of God is very good, and His treatment of the immutability of God is outstanding for those who are grappling with the contemporary open theism controversy. Pink wrote before this controversy got legs, but this book along with some others he wrote are quite devastating to the open theist on the questions of foreknowledge, immutability, and sovereignty.

So this book, while not a massive treatise, is nonetheless a Scripture packed analysis that crams a lot of meat into a small book. Excellent for beginners who want to get exposed to these issues without reading a big hardback treatment, and excellent also for more seasoned theologians since Pink has truly emerged over the years as being one of the finest and most impassioned apologists for Calvinism and a high treatment of God in the last 100 years.

This book is a great help for growing into the knowledge and understanding of our Creator's character, which is crucial for Christians to acquire; for growing spiritually (theocentrically). Easy read, also great for referencing. BUT!! Before you buy this work, instead I would recommend getting A.W. Pink's, The Nature of God (ISBN: 0802465714), which can be purchased here at Amazon.com as well. It has this entire book, plus much more.

There is nothing more important than having an accurate knowledge of God. The glory of God has been defined as the sum total of His attributes. As a person comes to know God in increasing measures as He truly exists,they see more of His glory. One of the valuable features in most of the books that Pink has written is that you get numerous quotes from some of the finest works on those subjects that have been written. Mr.Pink quotes from "the" classic,Charnock's "Existence and Attributes of God" no less than ten times. In the preface Pink gives the reader some important directives as to why a book on the attributes of God should be read and how we may profit thereby. He writes,"The foundation of all true knowledge of God must be a clear mental apprehension of His perfections as revealed in Holy Scripture. An unknown God can neither be trusted,served,nor worshipped. ...Something more than a theoretical knowledge of God is needed by us. God is only truly known in the soul as we yield ourselves to Him,submit to His authority,and regulate all the details of our lives by His holy precepts and commandments." Our one great aim in life should be to know God and to worship Him in sprit and in truth. This book exalts the God who is and accurately sets forth His person as He has revealed Himself in His Holy Word. Its eternal value is inestimable in helping someone to come to know better the God of the Bible.

I read this book during my Junior year of college, and it changed my entire worldview. It was like a grenade going off in my mind as the boxes I had put God in were blown apart. I have read the book several times, spent months using it in my devotional times, led a study through the book in Sunday School and in a small group study, and have found it to be a great resource in each situation.

Pink is unashamed of God's glory, and he conveys that in every chapter. When you take up this book you are going to see the pages of scripture opened and the majesty of God exposed.

This book is strongly Calvinistic. I cannot confess to make too much of the same claim for myself. However, having said this, the book represents a powerful portrayal of seventeen attributes of God. Above all, it portrays God as a sovereign God, "above all praise", whose omniscience and omnipotence reach to the farthest imaginable recesses of this world. Each section is well supported with appropriate Scriptures, some word studies, and fascinating observations. This is not merely a systematic theology.

The usual questions of Calvinism arise of course. I shall note just one overriding emphasis of the book. Pink states: "He [God] fixed all the circumstances in the lot of individuals, and all the particulars which comprise the history of the human race from its commencement to its close. He did not merely decree that general laws should be established for the government of the world, but He settled the application of those laws to all particular cases . . . to the most insignificant creatures, and the most minute events." On the positive side, Pink portrays a God who is alive and all-powerful. On the other hand, there would seem no doubt that God, as He is portrayed in the Bible, has a dynamic, responsive, living relationship with His children. One finds little if any room for such a view in the book.

I recently had an interesting discussion with a colleague, with whom I graduated at a Calvinist seminary. As we remembered fellow graduates, he noted that a strength of Calvinists is that they tend to endure in ministry. They are not wearied by petty opposition, or worried that things might run out of control. However, another minister disagreed -- and she listed some examples. Calvinists, she said, enter the ministry with a rigid set of beliefs -- yet there they come face to face with people of the real world. That is where it all comes unstuck. Pink himself has the following to offer, as he contemplates Christian ministry: "How refreshing, then, how unspeakably blessed, to . . . behold the One who is faithful, faithful in all things, faithful at all times." This, he says, serves to "much quieten the minds of God's people".

In the Foreword to the book, Pink notes that a true knowledge of God is foundational. "An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshipped." From this point of view, the book does much to fulfil its purpose. Although it takes a strongly Calvinistic stance, it has stood the test of time, and deserves to have a broader appeal. It deserves to be read for its strengths, even if one is unable to swallow it whole.

I just wanted to say this book is an excellent resource and study for any believer. As the Psalmist said in Ps.46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..." This book truly is help in that area. Read it along with an open Bible, Pink in other books challenges his readers not to take his word for it, check him out with the Word of God. I also encourage the reader of this book and every believer, for that matter, to not forget the purpose of knowing God. The latter part of Ps.46:10 says "...I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth" Bring glory to Him who alone is Worthy as you read this book and share with others the Good News.

While I was in college, AW Pink's books had tremendous influence in my spiritual walk. Among his books, I rank, "Attributes of God" one of his best. Here are the reasons:
1. Each chapter is divided into specific attribute of God (sovereignty, love, faithfulness, etc..) and defines it according to the Bible clearly and applies them to believer's life.
2. Each chapter is short but profound. Therefore it gives you time to think and reflect about God's attribute without having a pressure to finish the chapter or the book.
3. Each chapter brings out the insight of God's attribute and makes it cohesive with other attributes.
4. The book is very devotional if read it thoughtfully and humbly.

In sum, I recommed this book to those believers who seek Reformed view of God's attributes in concise and devotional form. So take your cup of coffee and read it slowly and enjoy it!

Arthur Pink is certainly worth reading. I purchased several copies to use as gifts. However, once I started reading it, I noticed lots of what seemed to be typos. They are actually scanning errors, caused when the original was scanned into a computer file for use on a Web site. This book is nothing but a printout of a web site. You can find it at several URLs. In fact, there is even a parenthetical statement in one of the chapters where Pink originally referred back to an earlier chapter, but this version refers back to the earlier "Web site"!

If this had been re-edited for publication, it would be worth it. You can find Web editions for free without the scanning errors, so you would do just as well to print those out yourself...

There are few books that will leave you as in awe of the nature of God than this classic work by A.W. Pink. Extremely sobering and encouraging reading.

God alone is worthy of worship from all His creation.Who is He? This book wonderfully introduces the reader to just a few of the holy attributes of our righteous God.Many today do not know who He is, let alone how great He is.Pink, very simply outlines the scriptures which define God Himself and His glorious attributes. A must read for all christians who look to know more about the character of God.