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Arthur Vess
Arthur Vess, born circa 1895, died circa 1970, was an American preacher and author whose ministry within the Holiness movement emphasized sanctification, holy living, and bold scriptural preaching during the mid-20th century. Likely born in the rural South—possibly Tennessee or a neighboring state, given the Holiness movement’s strong foothold there—Vess emerged as a voice for uncompromising faith, though precise details of his early life, such as exact birth date and family background, remain elusive due to limited documentation. His work suggests a modest upbringing, steeped in evangelical Christianity, leading him to a calling as an itinerant preacher and writer focused on equipping believers and ministers alike. Vess’ ministry centered on delivering practical, no-nonsense sermons and writings, many preserved through platforms like RaptureReady.com and oChristian.com, including titles such as How To Preach And Teach Holiness and Youth’s Three Great Choices. He pastored and preached across Holiness churches, advocating for a life of prayer, discipline, and separation from worldly compromise—themes evident in his exhortations to preachers to “live what they preach” and maintain “secret contact with God” for effective ministry. His booklets, like The Bible on the Tongues Doctrine, tackled contentious issues within Pentecostalism, reflecting his engagement with theological debates of his era.
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Arthur Vess emphasizes the importance of preaching holiness constantly, not as a hobby, but as the great foundation and fountain of all truth. He echoes John Wesley's words to preach holiness in every sermon, stating that preaching holiness is essential to preaching the truth. Vess highlights that everything is either holy or unholy, and by exploring holiness in all its aspects, one can never exhaust its depth. He encourages preachers to repeat key points not for emptiness but for emphasis, drawing a comparison to how lawyers present evidence. Vess underscores the significance of holiness in the Holy Bible and the urgent need for it in the unholy world, urging the use of various tools like illustrations, persuasion, arguments, and inspiration to preach holiness in regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.
Preach Constantly
Preach Holiness constantly, not as a hobby, but as the great foundation and fountain of alltruth. John Wesley said, "Preach holiness in every sermon." You cannot preach the truth withoutpreaching holiness. Everything is holy or unholy. If you preach holiness with all its relations andapplications, you can never exhaust it. Do not repeat for emptiness, but for emphasis. A lawyer once said that "if lawyers practiced law like you preachers preach the gospel, we'd never win acase. We find out the main points in our evidence and emphasize them over and over from everyangle. But you preachers just hit one point one time and another the next time until we areconvinced of nothing." The Holy Bible is full of holiness, and the unholy world is void of it and needs it more than all else. Use illustrations, persuasion, arguments, instruction, information, andinspiration. Preach it in regeneration, sanctification and glorification.
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Arthur Vess, born circa 1895, died circa 1970, was an American preacher and author whose ministry within the Holiness movement emphasized sanctification, holy living, and bold scriptural preaching during the mid-20th century. Likely born in the rural South—possibly Tennessee or a neighboring state, given the Holiness movement’s strong foothold there—Vess emerged as a voice for uncompromising faith, though precise details of his early life, such as exact birth date and family background, remain elusive due to limited documentation. His work suggests a modest upbringing, steeped in evangelical Christianity, leading him to a calling as an itinerant preacher and writer focused on equipping believers and ministers alike. Vess’ ministry centered on delivering practical, no-nonsense sermons and writings, many preserved through platforms like RaptureReady.com and oChristian.com, including titles such as How To Preach And Teach Holiness and Youth’s Three Great Choices. He pastored and preached across Holiness churches, advocating for a life of prayer, discipline, and separation from worldly compromise—themes evident in his exhortations to preachers to “live what they preach” and maintain “secret contact with God” for effective ministry. His booklets, like The Bible on the Tongues Doctrine, tackled contentious issues within Pentecostalism, reflecting his engagement with theological debates of his era.