William Leroy Pettingill Grave

William Leroy Pettingill

 “He received only a fourth-grade education … yet traveled across North America, Central America, and Europe sharing his gift of stirring people to action from the Word.”
(Christian Hall of Fame)

William Leroy Pettingill: A Defender of the Faith and Teacher of Grace

William Leroy Pettingill (1886–1950) was among the early twentieth century’s most influential Bible teachers, authors, and defenders of dispensational truth. A man of deep conviction and spiritual clarity, Pettingill helped shape the fundamentalist movement through his preaching, writing, and teaching. His ministry, rooted in the authority of Scripture and the simplicity of the gospel, left a lasting mark on American evangelical thought.

Early Life and Conversion

William Leroy Pettingill was born on February 5, 1886, in Maryland, into a Christian home that valued hard work and integrity. From his youth, he displayed a keen intellect and a love for learning. Though raised amid church influences, Pettingill did not come to a settled faith in Christ until his early adulthood. His conversion experience, characterized by deep repentance and joy in the assurance of salvation, became the central passion of his ministry—making the gospel plain so that others might know the same peace with God.

From his earliest days as a Christian, Pettingill felt the call to study and teach the Word of God. His conversion came during a time when Bible institutes were flourishing across America—institutions founded to train laymen and ministers in the fundamentals of the faith. This movement profoundly influenced him and would later become the primary context of his ministry.

Early Ministry and Teaching

After devoting himself to the study of Scripture, Pettingill began preaching and writing on biblical subjects. He quickly gained a reputation for clarity and balance, able to explain deep doctrinal truths in language that everyday people could grasp.

Pettingill became closely associated with the Bible conference movement, which flourished in the early decades of the twentieth century. These conferences—such as those at Winona Lake, Stony Brook, and Niagara—were gatherings of pastors, teachers, and laypeople eager to study the Bible apart from denominational constraints. There, Pettingill taught on prophecy, grace, and the believer’s assurance, gaining a devoted following.

His theological training was self-taught through careful reading and disciplined study, but his insight placed him among the finest Bible expositors of his time.

Association with the Bible Institute Movement

William Pettingill’s ministry found its fullest expression through his partnership with other fundamentalist leaders, especially Dr. C. I. Scofield and Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer. Pettingill served as a teacher at the Bible Institute of Philadelphia (now Cairn University), an institution founded by C. I. Scofield and William L. Pettingill himself in 1914. Their vision was to establish a center of Bible teaching grounded in the literal interpretation of Scripture and the doctrines of grace.

The Philadelphia School of the Bible (as it came to be known) trained men and women in systematic Bible study, evangelism, and missionary service. Pettingill’s teaching style was simple but authoritative; he believed the Scriptures were to be read literally and obeyed practically. His students often remarked on his humility and pastoral heart—qualities that complemented his firm doctrinal convictions.

A Defender of Biblical Truth

Pettingill’s ministry coincided with the rise of theological liberalism in the early twentieth century. Many seminaries and churches were turning away from the supernatural elements of Christianity, embracing a more human-centered theology. In this climate, Pettingill emerged as a defender of the fundamentals of the faith: the inspiration of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, and Christ’s literal second coming.

He contributed essays to The Fundamentals, the twelve-volume series published between 1910 and 1915 that gave the fundamentalist movement its name. Pettingill’s writings in these volumes focused on the sufficiency of the Bible, the necessity of the new birth, and the literal interpretation of prophecy. His work, alongside other writers such as R. A. Torrey, James Gray, and C. I. Scofield, helped unify conservative Christians around core biblical doctrines during a time of great division.

Writer and Expositor

William Pettingill was also a prolific writer. His best-known work, Simple Studies in Revelation (1918), remains a valuable commentary for those approaching the book from a dispensational and premillennial standpoint. In this and other writings, he sought to remove the mystery from prophetic Scripture and show its practical relevance for daily Christian living.

Among his other works were Bible Questions Answered, Christian Fundamentals, The Gospel of John: A Commentary, and By Grace Through Faith. His books were written in plain, devotional style—clear, practical, and full of reverence for the Word of God. Pettingill believed that theology should never be an end in itself but should always lead believers to greater holiness and service.

The Evangelist and Pastor

Though primarily known as a teacher, Pettingill also possessed an evangelist’s heart. He preached widely across the United States, often in Bible conferences and revival meetings. His sermons were known for their simplicity and directness. He never relied on emotionalism or theatrics; instead, he opened the Scriptures and let their truth speak for itself.

His ministry emphasized the grace of God as the foundation of salvation. He often said that “grace is God’s work for man, while religion is man’s work for God.” This conviction—drawn from Ephesians 2:8–9—became a recurring theme in all his messages.

Relationship with Other Leaders

Pettingill’s circle of influence included some of the most respected Bible teachers of his era. He worked closely with C. I. Scofield, helping to promote the Scofield Reference Bible, which revolutionized Bible study for generations of Christians. He also maintained a strong friendship with Lewis Sperry Chafer, who later founded Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924. Both men regarded Pettingill as a teacher of rare depth and faithfulness.

In all these relationships, Pettingill demonstrated humility and cooperation. Though firm in his convictions, he was never quarrelsome. He sought unity among Bible-believing Christians, provided that unity was grounded in truth.

Legacy and Lasting Influence

William Leroy Pettingill’s ministry left a rich legacy that continues to shape evangelical theology and education. Through his teaching at the Philadelphia School of the Bible, he trained hundreds of men and women who went on to serve as pastors, missionaries, and Bible teachers. His written works continue to be cited by dispensational scholars and used in Bible colleges.

More than his scholarship, however, Pettingill is remembered for his clear proclamation of grace. At a time when many churches confused salvation with religious effort, he proclaimed the simple gospel that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”

In later years, as the currents of liberalism continued to sweep through mainline denominations, Pettingill’s steadfastness stood as an anchor for many believers. His balanced combination of doctrinal precision and practical godliness gave credibility to the fundamentalist cause and helped preserve orthodox faith for future generations.

Conclusion

William Leroy Pettingill’s life illustrates the enduring power of Scripture-centered ministry. He was not a showman or a celebrity preacher; he was a student of the Bible who taught others to love its pages. His message of grace, his loyalty to truth, and his commitment to teaching the Word continue to inspire those who seek to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints.

In an age of theological confusion and compromise, Pettingill’s voice still speaks—reminding believers that truth never changes, that grace always saves, and that the sure Word of God remains the foundation for all Christian faith and life.