Kinlaw was born in
Lumberton, N.C. on June 26, 1922. He held a B.A from Asbury College (1943), an M.Div from Asbury Theological Seminary (1946), and an M.A. and Ph.D. from
Brandeis University. Following graduation, he was a professor of
Old Testament Languages and Literature at
Asbury Theological Seminary (1963-1968) and a visiting professor at
Seoul Theological College,
Seoul,
South Korea. From 1968 to 1981, Kinlaw served his first term as President of
Asbury College. He returned for a second term in that office and served from 1986-1991. In 1992, he was named Chancellor of the school. More than an academician, Kinlaw was deeply devoted to the Wesleyan Holiness theological tradition and to the proclamation of its truth through the art of preaching. He was the founder of the Francis Asbury Society, an organization committed to the promotion of Wesleyan theology and authored several books on the topic. The Kinlaw Library on Asbury College's campus is named in honor of Kinlaw and his late wife, Elsie. ==Publication==