Dispensationalist theology
Encyclopedia
Dispensational theology refers to the unified teachings of Dispensationalism
that address what other views teach as divergent theologies in the Old Testament
and New Testament
. Its name reflects a view that biblical history is best understood as a series of dispensations, or separated time-periods, in the Bible.
Each dispensation is said to represent a different way in which God deals with man. Some writers also believe that it also involves a different testing of Man. "These periods are marked off in Scripture by some change in God's method of dealing with mankind, in respect to two questions: of sin, and of man's responsibility," explained C. I. Scofield
. "Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment—marking his utter failure in every dispensation."
and New Testament
. Its name comes from the fact that it sees biblical history as best understood in light of a series of dispensations in the Bible. Most dispensationalists cite seven dispensations although this is not a critical or foundational factor to the theology:
John Nelson Darby
did not consider the Garden of Eden
to represent a dispensation, and listed only six.
Each one of these dispensations is said to represent a different way in which God deals with man, specifically a different test for man. "These periods are marked off in Scripture by some change in God's method of dealing with mankind, in respect to two questions: of sin, and of man's responsibility," explained C. I. Scofield. "Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment—marking his utter failure in every dispensation."
Viewing the flow of biblical history as a series of "dispensations" may be seen in some works that predate Darby's dispensationalism. Joachim of Fiore
proposed that human history would be divided into the three ages
of the Father
, Son
, and Holy Spirit
. The term "dispensation" is drawn from Calvinist theology, as in the Westminster Confession, to describe the different forms of divine worship and law practiced in Judaism and Christianity. Some writers, such as L'Économie Divine by Pierre Poiret
(1646–1719), listed multiple dispensations. However, these earlier works did not include the unique testing/failure motif described by Scofield or any hint of the four underlying tenets of classic dispensationalism listed below.
, there is no substantial difference in meaning."
, Darrell L. Bock, and Robert L. Saucy
-- proposed a significant new position developed from within dispensationalism. The major difference between traditional and progressive dispensationalism is in how each views the relationship of the present dispensation to the past and future dispensations.
Traditional dispensationalists perceive the present age of grace to be a parenthesis or "intercalation" with relation to past and future dispensations. In general that means God's plans as revealed in the past dispensations have been "put on hold" until after the rapture. Progressive dispensationalists however hold that this present dispensation is a key link between past dispensations and the future dispensations. In general that means God's plans have continued in this present dispensation, marking it as a crucial link between past and future dispensations and not a parenthesis. This idea of a key link or progression between dispensations has resulted in the label progressive dispensationalism.
Progressive dispensationalism holds much in common with traditional dispensationalism, including a distinction between Israel and the Church, a future rapture, a 7 year tribulation, and the rule of Christ over the earth centered in Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom.
Both progressive and traditional dispensationalists hold to a clear distinction between Israel and the Church. In short, God has provided the nation of Israel with specific promises such as possession of the land, promises which will be fulfilled in the future. Both Progressive and traditional dispensationalists do recognize some "membership" overlap between the Israel and the Church: Jewish Christians such Paul, Peter, and John are both Jewish (of Israel) and Christian (members of the church). This is in contrast to ultradispensationalists who see the Church and Israel as mutually exclusive.
Both progressive and traditional dispensationalists hold to a distinctly "dispensational" end-time view with a pretribulation rapture and a millennial kingdom with Jesus physically reigning from Jerusalem. This common view with traditional dispensationalism is also what clearly distinguishes progressive dispensationalism from historical premillennialism.
The reasons for progressives holding to a progression of dispensations as opposed to a parenthesis is related to:
1) the relationship between the covenants, and
2) hermeneutics.
Progressive dispensationalists, like Scofield and McGahey, argue for one new covenant with an ongoing partial fulfillment and a future complete fulfillment for Israel. Progressives hold that the new covenant was inaugurated by Christ at the last supper. Progressives hold that while there are aspects of the new covenant currently being fulfilled, there is yet to be a final and complete fulfillment of the new covenant in the future. This concept is sometimes referred to as an already-but not yet fulfillment.
The primary differences in hermeneutics between traditionalists and progressives are that
1) progressives are more apt to see partial or ongoing fulfillment, and
2) progressives are more apt to utilize Complementary hermeneutics.
These differences between traditionalists and progressives show up in how one views the Old Testament texts and promises in the New Testament and how they are handled by the New Testament writers.
For traditionalists who perceive the present dispensation as a parenthesis, the standard approach has been to view Old Testament quotations in the New Testament as applications rather than fulfillment. If an Old Testament quotation is said to have a fulfillment role in the New Testament, then that may imply that the present dispensation is no longer a parenthesis, but has a relationship or connection with the prior dispensation.
In contrast, progressives, instead of approaching all Old Testament quotations in the New Testament as application, attempt to take into account the context and grammatical-historical features of both OT and New Testament texts. An Old Testament quote in the New Testament might turn out to be an application, but it also might be a partial fulfillment or a complete fulfillment or even something else.
Complementary hermeneutics means that previous revelation (such as the Old Testament) has an added or expanded meaning alongside the original meaning. For example in Jeremiah 31:31-34, the original recipients of the new covenant were Jews - i.e., "the house of Israel and the house of Judah." Progressives hold that in Acts 2, believing Jews first participated in the new covenant based on Jer 31:31-34. Gentiles were not named as original participants. However, additional revelation came in Acts 9-10 concerning believing Gentiles where God (through Peter and Cornelius) formally accepted believing Gentiles as co-heirs with the Jews. In other words God used additional NT revelation to further expand the participants of the new covenant to include believing Gentiles. God did not replace the original recipients or change the original meaning of the new covenant, he simply expanded it. This expansion of meaning while keeping the original intact is called complementary hermeneutics.
However, there are two minority camps within dispensationalism commonly referred to as hyper-dispensationalists
and ultra-dispensationalists. One camp, known as the Mid-Acts view, believe the church began with the Apostle Paul in Acts chapters 9-15. The second camp believe that the church began with the Apostle Paul in Acts 28:28 in Paul's announcement "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." The latter camp differs over the relevance of Paul's ministry from the middle of Acts to the end of the book, and consequently over Paul's epistles written prior to the so-called Prison Epistles.
Both camps believe that the Church of today is based on Paul's unique ministry. This belief is referenced in Scripture in what may be referred to as the "Pauline Distinctive" and the "Gospel of the Grace of God", and marks an unmistakable shift away from the Mosaic law and the beginning of a completely new Church, called the physical "Body of Christ" consisting of both Jews and Gentiles "in one body." It is this distinction, rather than eschatology as such, that marks both camps.
One notable implication of both hyper-dispensationalism and ultra-dispensationalism is the view that the doctrine contained in the four Gospels (biographies of Jesus' earthly ministry) and many of the New Testament epistles written by the Twelve Apostles was applicable to the Jews of Jesus' day, and which will come to fruition in the coming millennial kingdom. These books are held as proclaiming the "Gospel of the Kingdom", and as such are not applicable for the Christian, largely Gentile, church of today. The Pauline Epistles are held to be the primary authority for the Church as they proclaim the Gospel of the Grace of God.
The prefixes "hyper" or "ultra" simply mean "farther than", and are not meant to be derogatory terms, although some mainstream dispensationalists use them as such. These two groups are called "hyper-dispensationalists" and "ultra-dispensationalists" because they tend to take dispensational concepts farther than their more traditional brethren.
was the prominent Protestant view regarding redemptive history and is still the view of the Reformed churches. A relatively recent view, which is seen as a third alternative, especially among Reformed Baptists, is called New Covenant Theology
.
, a dispensation is a period of time in which God gave priesthood authority to men on the Earth through prophetic callings. Between each dispensation is an apostasy where the priesthood is at least partially absent. The LDS Bible Dictionary
says:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that there have been many dispensations, and use the Bible and modern revelation to identify and clarify some of them. They also make note of dispensations occurring among the Lost Tribes of Israel as well as Book of Mormon
peoples, namely the Nephites and the Jaradites.
After Enoch and the people of Zion were taken from the earth, the wicked people became very numerous.
Following their death, shortly after the record of the Bible, and before the Nicene creed
, the Earth fell into the great apostasy
.
is the last dispensation before the second coming of Jesus
Christ
. It was begun with the restoration of the church in 1830 and continued with the restoration of all the priesthood keys of each prior dispensation restored.
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism is a nineteenth-century evangelical development based on a futurist biblical hermeneutic that sees a series of chronologically successive "dispensations" or periods in history in which God relates to human beings in different ways under different Biblical covenants.As a system,...
that address what other views teach as divergent theologies in the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Its name reflects a view that biblical history is best understood as a series of dispensations, or separated time-periods, in the Bible.
Each dispensation is said to represent a different way in which God deals with man. Some writers also believe that it also involves a different testing of Man. "These periods are marked off in Scripture by some change in God's method of dealing with mankind, in respect to two questions: of sin, and of man's responsibility," explained C. I. Scofield
Cyrus Scofield
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield was an American theologian, minister, and writer whose best-selling annotated Bible popularized dispensationalism among fundamentalist Christians.-Youth:...
. "Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment—marking his utter failure in every dispensation."
The seven dispensational periods
Dispensationalism seeks to address what many see as opposing theologies between the Old TestamentOld Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Its name comes from the fact that it sees biblical history as best understood in light of a series of dispensations in the Bible. Most dispensationalists cite seven dispensations although this is not a critical or foundational factor to the theology:
- the dispensation of innocenceInnocenceInnocence is a term used to indicate a lack of guilt, with respect to any kind of crime, sin, or wrongdoing. In a legal context, innocence refers to the lack of legal guilt of an individual, with respect to a crime.-Symbolism:...
(Gen 1:1–3:7), prior to Adam's fallOriginal sinOriginal sin is, according to a Christian theological doctrine, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as a slight deficiency, or a tendency toward sin yet without collective guilt, referred...
, - of conscienceConscienceConscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
(Gen 3:8–8:22), Adam to Noah, - of governmentGovernmentGovernment refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
(Gen 9:1–11:32), Noah to Abraham, - of patriarchalPatriarchs (Bible)The Patriarchs of the Bible, when narrowly defined, are Abraham, the ancestor of all the Abrahamic nations; his son Isaac, the ancestor of the nations surrounding Israel/Judah; and Isaac's son Jacob, also named Israel, the ancestor of the Israelites...
rule (Gen 12:1–Exod 19:25), Abraham to Moses, - of the Mosaic LawTorahTorah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
(Exod 20:1–Acts 2:4), Moses to Christ, - of graceDivine graceIn Christian theology, grace is God’s gift of God’s self to humankind. It is understood by Christians to be a spontaneous gift from God to man - "generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved" - that takes the form of divine favour, love and clemency. It is an attribute of God that is most...
(Acts 2:4–Rev 20:3—except for HyperdispensationalistsHyperdispensationalismHyper-dispensationalism is a niche Protestant doctrine that views the teachings of the Apostle Paul both as unique from earlier apostles and as foundational for the church, a perspective sometimes characterized by proponents as the "Pauline Distinctive". E. W...
and Ultradispensationalists), the current church age, and - of a literal, earthly 1,000-year MillennialMillenniumA millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
Kingdom that has yet to come but soon will (Rev 20:4–20:6).
John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation...
did not consider the Garden of Eden
Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden is in the Bible's Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived after they were created by God. Literally, the Bible speaks about a garden in Eden...
to represent a dispensation, and listed only six.
Each one of these dispensations is said to represent a different way in which God deals with man, specifically a different test for man. "These periods are marked off in Scripture by some change in God's method of dealing with mankind, in respect to two questions: of sin, and of man's responsibility," explained C. I. Scofield. "Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment—marking his utter failure in every dispensation."
Viewing the flow of biblical history as a series of "dispensations" may be seen in some works that predate Darby's dispensationalism. Joachim of Fiore
Joachim of Fiore
Joachim of Fiore, also known as Joachim of Flora and in Italian Gioacchino da Fiore , was the founder of the monastic order of San Giovanni in Fiore . He was a mystic, a theologian and an esoterist...
proposed that human history would be divided into the three ages
Three Eras
The Three Eras is a Judeo-Christian scheme of periods in historiography, called also Vaticinium Eliae . A three-period division of time appears in the Babylonian Talmud: the period before the giving of the law ; the period subject to the law; and the period of the Messiah...
of the Father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
, Son
Son
A son is a male offspring; a boy or man in relation to his parents. The female analogue is a daughter.-Social issues regarding sons:In pre-industrial societies and some current countries with agriculture-based economies, a higher value was, and still is, assigned to sons rather than daughters,...
, and Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. The term "dispensation" is drawn from Calvinist theology, as in the Westminster Confession, to describe the different forms of divine worship and law practiced in Judaism and Christianity. Some writers, such as L'Économie Divine by Pierre Poiret
Pierre Poiret
Pierre Poiret was a prominent 17th century French mystic and Christian philosopher. He was born at Metz April 15, 1646 and died at Rijnsburg Pierre Poiret was a prominent 17th century French mystic and Christian philosopher. He was born at Metz April 15, 1646 and died at Rijnsburg Pierre Poiret was...
(1646–1719), listed multiple dispensations. However, these earlier works did not include the unique testing/failure motif described by Scofield or any hint of the four underlying tenets of classic dispensationalism listed below.
The four dispensational periods
An alternative to the above “seven-dispensations” approach derives from the question: How and by whom is God evangelizing lost men and women at any given time? A pattern can be traced through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. First, through various Gentile nations; second, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the progenitors of the nation Israel; thirdly, through Jesus Christ; fourthly, through the Church, the Body of Christ. (Israel becomes the focus of divine dealings again after the Rapture for 7 more years). This is followed by the Second Coming proper and the instituting of the millennial kingdom.- the dispensation or age of Gentile nations (Gen 1-11), from Adam to Abraham’s Call;
- of Israel (Gen 12 – Acts 1), from Abraham’s Call to Pentecost in Acts 2;
- of the Church (Acts 2 – Rev. 2), from Pentecost in Act 2 to the end of the Church age;
- of the (missionary) tribulation of Israel (Rev. 6-19), A yet-future seven-year period;
- of a literal, earthly 1,000-year millennial kingdom that has yet to come but soon will (Rev 20:4–20:6).
Progressive Revelation
One of the most important underlying theological concepts for dispensationalists is progressive revelation. While some nondispensationalists start with progressive revelation in the New Testament and refer this revelation back into the Old Testament, dispensationalists begin with progressive revelation in the Old Testament and read forward in a historical sense. Therefore there is an emphasis on discontinuity as seen in Scripture. Biblical covenants are intricately tied to the dispensations. When these Biblical covenants are compared and contrasted, the result is a historical ordering of different dispensations. Also with regard to the different Biblical covenant promises, dispensationalists place more emphasis on to whom these promises were written, the original recipients. This has led to certain fundamental dispensational beliefs, such as a distinction between Israel and the church.Historical-Grammatical Interpretation
Another important theological concept is the emphasis on what is referred to as the historical-grammatical method of interpretation. This is often popularly referred to as the "literal" interpretation of Scripture. Just as it is with progressive revelation, the historical-grammatical method is not a concept or practice that is exclusive to dispensationalists. However, a dispensational distinctive is created when the historical-grammatical method of interpretation is closely coupled with an emphasis on progressive revelation along with the historical development of the covenants in Scripture.Distinction Between Israel and the Church
All dispensationalists perceive a clear distinction between Israel and the church, particularly as different groups who receive a different set of promises. Dispensationalists hold that God provided the nation of Israel with specific promises which will be fulfilled at a future time in the Jews. The Church has received a different set of promises than that of Israel. Most dispensationalists also recognize "membership" overlap between Israel and the Church. Jewish Christians such as Paul, Peter and John are in this category. While most do not believe that Israel and the church are mutually exclusive groups, there is a small minority of past and present dispensationalists who do. Those who do hold that Israel and the church are mutually exclusive include some classical dispensationalists and virtually all ultradispensationalists.Other Proposed Distinctions: Law and Grace
Classical dispensationalism teaches that law and grace are mutually exclusive concepts. Statements made by Scofield and other early classic dispensationalists teach a radical law-grace distinction. In other words, they teach that law contains no grace, and that grace is not conditioned on keeping the law. This does not mean that grace was missing from the dispensation of law, only that the law itself was diametrically opposed to grace, which operated by other means (such as promises and blessings). Some modern dispensationalists disagree with making such a radical distinction. In fact, Daniel Fuller, a non-dispensationalist, stated in his book Gospel and Law (p. 51) that "Although today's dispensationalism explains the relationship between law and grace in wording that is different from that of covenant theologyCovenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
, there is no substantial difference in meaning."
Traditional dispensationalism
The traditional view is the majority view for dispensationalists today. John Walvoord and Charles Ryrie are two traditional dispensational authors. The Revised Scofield Bible of the 1960s also reflects a traditional dispensational view, which is why traditional dispensationalists are sometimes called "Revised" dispensationalists.Progressive dispensationalism
In the late 1980s a number of dispensational scholars—in particular Craig A. BlaisingCraig A. Blaising
Craig A. Blaising is Executive Vice President and Provost of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Blaising earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, a Master of Theology and a Doctor of Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in...
, Darrell L. Bock, and Robert L. Saucy
Robert L. Saucy
Robert L. Saucy is an American Biblical scholar and professor of systematic theology.-Biography:Saucy was born in Salem, Oregon, and educated at George Fox College and Westmont College , earning his A.B. in history. He went on to earn both his Th.M. and Th.D. in systematic theology at Dallas...
-- proposed a significant new position developed from within dispensationalism. The major difference between traditional and progressive dispensationalism is in how each views the relationship of the present dispensation to the past and future dispensations.
Traditional dispensationalists perceive the present age of grace to be a parenthesis or "intercalation" with relation to past and future dispensations. In general that means God's plans as revealed in the past dispensations have been "put on hold" until after the rapture. Progressive dispensationalists however hold that this present dispensation is a key link between past dispensations and the future dispensations. In general that means God's plans have continued in this present dispensation, marking it as a crucial link between past and future dispensations and not a parenthesis. This idea of a key link or progression between dispensations has resulted in the label progressive dispensationalism.
Progressive dispensationalism holds much in common with traditional dispensationalism, including a distinction between Israel and the Church, a future rapture, a 7 year tribulation, and the rule of Christ over the earth centered in Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom.
Both progressive and traditional dispensationalists hold to a clear distinction between Israel and the Church. In short, God has provided the nation of Israel with specific promises such as possession of the land, promises which will be fulfilled in the future. Both Progressive and traditional dispensationalists do recognize some "membership" overlap between the Israel and the Church: Jewish Christians such Paul, Peter, and John are both Jewish (of Israel) and Christian (members of the church). This is in contrast to ultradispensationalists who see the Church and Israel as mutually exclusive.
Both progressive and traditional dispensationalists hold to a distinctly "dispensational" end-time view with a pretribulation rapture and a millennial kingdom with Jesus physically reigning from Jerusalem. This common view with traditional dispensationalism is also what clearly distinguishes progressive dispensationalism from historical premillennialism.
The reasons for progressives holding to a progression of dispensations as opposed to a parenthesis is related to:
1) the relationship between the covenants, and
2) hermeneutics.
Relationship between the covenants
One of the most crucial covenants which highlight the differences between progressive and traditional dispensationalists is the new covenant. In the past, dispensationalists have had a surprising variety of views with regard to the new covenant. Some dispensationalists (Charles Ryrie, Walvoord in the 1950s) argued for two new covenants: one new covenant for the church and another new covenant for Israel. Other dispensationalists (Darby and John Master) argued for one new covenant applied only to Israel. And still other dispensationalists (Scofield and John McGahey 1950s) have argued for one new covenant for 1) believing Israel today and an ongoing partial fulfillment, and for 2) a future believing Israel when Jesus returns for a complete fulfillment.Progressive dispensationalists, like Scofield and McGahey, argue for one new covenant with an ongoing partial fulfillment and a future complete fulfillment for Israel. Progressives hold that the new covenant was inaugurated by Christ at the last supper. Progressives hold that while there are aspects of the new covenant currently being fulfilled, there is yet to be a final and complete fulfillment of the new covenant in the future. This concept is sometimes referred to as an already-but not yet fulfillment.
Hermeneutics
Both traditional and progressive dispensationalists share the same historical-grammatical hermeneutic. As with all dispensationalists, progressive revelation is emphasized so that the dispensationalist interprets the Old Testament in such a way as to retain the original meaning and audience. Thus progressives, like traditionalists, place great emphasis on the original meaning and audience of the text.The primary differences in hermeneutics between traditionalists and progressives are that
1) progressives are more apt to see partial or ongoing fulfillment, and
2) progressives are more apt to utilize Complementary hermeneutics.
These differences between traditionalists and progressives show up in how one views the Old Testament texts and promises in the New Testament and how they are handled by the New Testament writers.
For traditionalists who perceive the present dispensation as a parenthesis, the standard approach has been to view Old Testament quotations in the New Testament as applications rather than fulfillment. If an Old Testament quotation is said to have a fulfillment role in the New Testament, then that may imply that the present dispensation is no longer a parenthesis, but has a relationship or connection with the prior dispensation.
In contrast, progressives, instead of approaching all Old Testament quotations in the New Testament as application, attempt to take into account the context and grammatical-historical features of both OT and New Testament texts. An Old Testament quote in the New Testament might turn out to be an application, but it also might be a partial fulfillment or a complete fulfillment or even something else.
Complementary hermeneutics means that previous revelation (such as the Old Testament) has an added or expanded meaning alongside the original meaning. For example in Jeremiah 31:31-34, the original recipients of the new covenant were Jews - i.e., "the house of Israel and the house of Judah." Progressives hold that in Acts 2, believing Jews first participated in the new covenant based on Jer 31:31-34. Gentiles were not named as original participants. However, additional revelation came in Acts 9-10 concerning believing Gentiles where God (through Peter and Cornelius) formally accepted believing Gentiles as co-heirs with the Jews. In other words God used additional NT revelation to further expand the participants of the new covenant to include believing Gentiles. God did not replace the original recipients or change the original meaning of the new covenant, he simply expanded it. This expansion of meaning while keeping the original intact is called complementary hermeneutics.
Hyper-dispensationalism and Ultra-dispensationalism
The majority of dispensationalists are known as Acts 2 dispensationalists, or mainstream dispensationalism. They believe the present church began on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. The majority also believe the New Testament epistles of James through Jude were written directly to the present church. Likewise, most dispensationalists also believe the doctrine contained in the Four Gospels also pertains to the present church.However, there are two minority camps within dispensationalism commonly referred to as hyper-dispensationalists
Hyperdispensationalism
Hyper-dispensationalism is a niche Protestant doctrine that views the teachings of the Apostle Paul both as unique from earlier apostles and as foundational for the church, a perspective sometimes characterized by proponents as the "Pauline Distinctive". E. W...
and ultra-dispensationalists. One camp, known as the Mid-Acts view, believe the church began with the Apostle Paul in Acts chapters 9-15. The second camp believe that the church began with the Apostle Paul in Acts 28:28 in Paul's announcement "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." The latter camp differs over the relevance of Paul's ministry from the middle of Acts to the end of the book, and consequently over Paul's epistles written prior to the so-called Prison Epistles.
Both camps believe that the Church of today is based on Paul's unique ministry. This belief is referenced in Scripture in what may be referred to as the "Pauline Distinctive" and the "Gospel of the Grace of God", and marks an unmistakable shift away from the Mosaic law and the beginning of a completely new Church, called the physical "Body of Christ" consisting of both Jews and Gentiles "in one body." It is this distinction, rather than eschatology as such, that marks both camps.
One notable implication of both hyper-dispensationalism and ultra-dispensationalism is the view that the doctrine contained in the four Gospels (biographies of Jesus' earthly ministry) and many of the New Testament epistles written by the Twelve Apostles was applicable to the Jews of Jesus' day, and which will come to fruition in the coming millennial kingdom. These books are held as proclaiming the "Gospel of the Kingdom", and as such are not applicable for the Christian, largely Gentile, church of today. The Pauline Epistles are held to be the primary authority for the Church as they proclaim the Gospel of the Grace of God.
The prefixes "hyper" or "ultra" simply mean "farther than", and are not meant to be derogatory terms, although some mainstream dispensationalists use them as such. These two groups are called "hyper-dispensationalists" and "ultra-dispensationalists" because they tend to take dispensational concepts farther than their more traditional brethren.
Classical dispensationalism
Early dispensational writers such as Darby and Chafer are referred to as classical dispensationalists. This view differs from today's traditional or "revised" dispensationalists. The early Scofield Bible (but not the Revised Scofield Bible) reflects a classical dispensational view. Classical dispensationalists are a small minority today, and Miles Stanford is one writer who represents this point of view.Biblical arguments in favor of dispensationalism
- The Apostles determined at the Council of JerusalemCouncil of JerusalemThe Council of Jerusalem is a name applied by historians and theologians to an Early Christian council that was held in Jerusalem and dated to around the year 50. It is considered by Catholics and Orthodox to be a prototype and forerunner of the later Ecumenical Councils...
(Acts 15) that it was not necessary for Gentiles to become Jewish in order to become Christians. Thus, the church is not a sect of Judaism but a separate entity. - The term "Israel" is used 75 times in the New Testament. At least 73 of the 75 times, it refers to the physical nation of Israel.
- Similarly, it is argued that the terms "church" and "kingdom" are never used interchangeably in Scripture.
- Paul claims that Israel will be grafted in again (Rom 11).
Biblical arguments in opposition to dispensationalism
- The issues between dispensationalist theology and others involve issues in biblical interpretation, including taking texts literally or figuratively, contextually or hermeneutically, issues involving predictive prophecy concerning Israel, conditions upon prophesies, and interpreting texts in (eisegesisEisegesisEisegesis is the process of misinterpreting a text in such a way that it introduces one's own ideas, reading into the text. This is best understood when contrasted with exegesis. While exegesis draws out the meaning from the text, eisegesis occurs when a reader reads his/her interpretation into...
), or (exegesisExegesisExegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
).- For example, interpreting the Book of Revelation, the New Jerusalem's dimensions are accepted at face value, including its height of 12,000 stadia (about 1,400 miles) as literal, and understanding the seven cities of Asia to represent periods of church history figuratively.
- Regarding conditions: DeuteronomyDeuteronomyThe Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
28:58–64 indicates that the promises of God were conditional. "If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book [...] the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone." The conditional nature of predictive prophecy is explained clearly in Jer 18:1–10, with immediate application to God's people in Judah and Jerusalem (vv. 11–17). It is also the subject of the entire book of Jonah. Both Jeremiah and Jonah indicate that prophecies can be conditional even when the conditions are not explicitly stated. Other prophecies without stated conditions are understood as conditional (e.g., 2 Sam 12:14–23).
- One example of differing opinions is contained in Titus 2:13, in which some separate the "blessed hope" from the "glorious appearing" by the seven-year tribulation period.
- Progressive Dispensationalists conceives of the church as a substitution for the Kingdom of God, and as the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose and plan: the faithful remnant of the Jews (the faithful apostles and the earliest Jewish disciples) accepted Jesus as Messiah, joined by a great multitude of Gentiles who have come to faith through their ministry. Progressives see the church as the new Israel, and is the heir of God's promises to the unbelieving nation. This theme begins with the preaching of John the Baptizer (see Matt 3:9–10), continues throughout the ministry of Jesus (see Matt 21:43), and is confirmed by the apostolic ministry (Acts 10:35–43; RomEpistle to the RomansThe Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
9:22–33; 1 Pet 2:4–10; etc.). - Romans 11 speaks of the "olive tree" (Israel) as having branches broken off (unbelieving Jews) and branches grafted in (believing Gentiles). The broken branches can be grafted back in, however, if the unbelieving Jews were to come to faith in Jesus: "And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again" (RomEpistle to the RomansThe Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
11:23). As far as God is concerned, then, the entire tree—roots, trunk, natural branches (the faithful remnant), and grafted branches (believing Gentiles) —is still Israel and subject to divine blessing under the New Covenant. Classical Dispensational theology holds that Israel and the church are two completely separate entities, and the church (wild olive branch) is held by the root - Israel, specifically Paul's letters. - Passages such as DeutDeuteronomyThe Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
6:4 ("Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one." NIVNew International VersionThe New International Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible. Published by Zondervan in the United States and by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK, it has become one of the most popular modern translations in history.-History:...
) and Ps 103:17–18 ("But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.") are seen as stating that there is only one entity and one covenant. (Dispensational theology - "his" covenant does not necessarily imply only "one" covenant. God made a covenant with "Abraham" and his "Seed" - meaning Christ. Abraham's children through Jacab (Israel) are promised the land portions, esp Ezekiel's prophesies, and Christ's children are promised eternal life, and inheritance reserved in heaven.) - Jeremiah 31 says that the New CovenantNew CovenantThe New Covenant is a concept originally derived from the Hebrew Bible. The term "New Covenant" is used in the Bible to refer to an epochal relationship of restoration and peace following a period of trial and judgment...
will be with the "house of Israel" and the "house of Judah." (Dispensational theology take this as to mean the New Covenant described in Ezekiel for the Kingdom Age (1,000 yr reign of Christ).) Progressive dispensational blend Israel with the Church. - Progressive Dispensationalists claim that passages in which "kingdom" and "church" are interchangeable. These include the Parables of the Kingdom (Mark 4; Matt 13; Luke 8); Jesus' veiled prediction of His resurrection (Mark 14:25; Luke 22:16,18; Matt 26:29); verses about entering or seeing the kingdom (Classical Dispensational see entering, seeing, inheritance as a "reward" for faithful service)(e.g., Mark 10:23–25; Matt 19:23–24; Luke 18:24–25; John 3:3,5); the spiritual nature of the kingdom (RomEpistle to the RomansThe Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
14:17; 1 Cor 4:20); and Christians as citizens of the kingdom (e.g., Col 1:13; Rev 1:6; 5:10). A key passage is Christ's announcement that He will found His church and give to Peter the keys of the kingdom (Matt 16:18–19), which is analogous to saying, "I will build my house and give you the keys to my residence." (Dispensational theology sees Peter as an apostle to the circumcised (Israel), not to the Gentiles.) Progressive Dispensational claim "Israel", "God's people," and "the church" are interchangeable based on Rom 9:6-8 states that "not all those who are descended from Israel are Israel," going on to indicate that genetic hereditary links to Abraham do not constitute membership in the true Israel, although faith in Christ does. (Dispensational theology - this could also mean those who are children by lineage are not children of faith, however some in Israel are children of faith.) - GalatiansEpistle to the GalatiansThe Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, often shortened to Galatians, is the ninth book of the New Testament. It is a letter from Paul of Tarsus to a number of Early Christian communities in the Roman province of Galatia in central Anatolia...
3 indicates that there is no "Jew or Greek" in Christ, but only those with faith in Christ, etc. At the end of Galatians, Paul says, "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God." If there is no circumcision or uncircumcision (of the flesh), what is this "Israel of God"? Progressive Dispensational claims it must be the saved believers of the "New Covenant", who have experienced the circumcision of the heart mentioned in RomEpistle to the RomansThe Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
1:28–29 and ColEpistle to the ColossiansThe Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, usually referred to simply as Colossians, is the 12th book of the New Testament. It was written, according to the text, by Paul the Apostle to the Church in Colossae, a small Phrygian city near Laodicea and approximately 100 miles from Ephesus in Asia...
2:11–13. (Dispensational theology recognizes 3 classes now, Jews, Gentiles, and the New Creation, not abolishing the people of Israel, and not counting unbelieving Gentiles into New Creations.) - According to Progressives, Dispensational theology portrays a God with changing covenants and requirements that may not be part of a single plan for salvationSalvationWithin religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
. They claim it is contrary to the orthodoxOrthodoxyThe word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
understanding that God is immutable. (Dispensational theology simply sees God working differently in different ways at different times. God can still be immutable and work in different ways to different people in different times.) - Saved believers of the new covenant are God's children irrespective of their race; this is a major theme in the New Testament: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (the BeatitudesBeatitudesIn Christianity, the Beatitudes are a set of teachings by Jesus that appear in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The term Beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful....
- MatthewGospel of MatthewThe Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
5:9 and LukeGospel of LukeThe Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
3:8); see also Eph 2:11–22; 1 Pet 2:9–10. - Progressive claim Dispensationalists de-emphasize human efforts to achieve peace because of the belief that an increase of war and famine is prophesied and inevitable. Some dispensationalists have taught that international peace institutions such as the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
may be paving the way for the reign of the AntichristAntichristThe term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
. (Dispensational theology simply recognize Christ's prophesies, and believe Jesus words of what will happen. Paul says that the removal of believers must happen (RaptureRaptureThe rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
) for the Son of Perdition to come, so the claim that dispensationalists are lazy, and de-emphasize human effort is error.) - In MattGospel of MatthewThe Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
24:36, 42, 44 we find "No one knows about the day and hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father [...] because the Son of ManSon of manThe phrase son of man is a primarily Semitic idiom that originated in Ancient Mesopotamia, used to denote humanity or self. The phrase is also used in Judaism and Christianity. The phrase used in the Greek, translated as Son of man is ὁ υἱὸς τοὺ ἀνθρώπου...
will come at an hour when you do not expect him," and ActsActs of the ApostlesThe Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
1:7 states, "It is not for you to know the dates or times which the Father has set by his own authority." Progressives claim Dispensational violate these statements by claiming to predict roughly (or sometimes exactly) when prophesied events will occur. (Dispensational theology simply looks forward to the Coming of Christ, and His Kingdom.)- Some that have claimed dispensational theology draw up purported timetables for the fulfillment of prophecy. For example, dispensationalist Hal LindseyHal LindseyHarold Lee "Hal" Lindsey is an American evangelist and Christian writer. He is a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist author. He currently resides in Texas.-Biography:...
wrote a book with the title The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon. None of the prophecies made by Lindsey were fulfilled. Edgar Whisenant's 88 Reasons Why the Rapture will be in 1988 has likewise been set aside by the passing of the years.
- Some that have claimed dispensational theology draw up purported timetables for the fulfillment of prophecy. For example, dispensationalist Hal Lindsey
- Progressives claim the old distinction between Jew and Gentile is permanently erased in Christ: "Remember that at the time you were separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" (EphEpistle to the EphesiansThe Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, often shortened to Ephesians, is the tenth book of the New Testament. Its authorship has traditionally been credited to Paul, but it is considered by some scholars to be "deutero-Pauline," that is, written in Paul's name by a later author strongly influenced by...
2:12–14). (Dispensational theology say there is still two groups of people, only the hostility between the two has been destroyed, not the specific people groups. Gentile believers are "brought near" through Christ.) - The Apostle Paul describes one plan of salvation open to Gentile and Jew alike (RomEpistle to the RomansThe Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
1:16–17; GalEpistle to the GalatiansThe Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, often shortened to Galatians, is the ninth book of the New Testament. It is a letter from Paul of Tarsus to a number of Early Christian communities in the Roman province of Galatia in central Anatolia...
3:26–29). (Dispensational theology include two separate messages/gospels, one revealed by revelation to Paul - the Apostle to the Gentiles, and one to Peter, the Apostle to the Jews. Paul's gospel is found in 1 Cor 15:1-4.)
Alternatives to dispensationalism
Prior to dispensationalism's 19-20th century inception and systemization, Covenant TheologyCovenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
was the prominent Protestant view regarding redemptive history and is still the view of the Reformed churches. A relatively recent view, which is seen as a third alternative, especially among Reformed Baptists, is called New Covenant Theology
New Covenant Theology
New Covenant Theology is a Christian theological system which teaches that the Old Testament Laws have been fulfilled and abrogated or cancelled with Christ's death, and replaced with the Law of Christ of the New Covenant. It shares similarities and yet is distinct from Dispensationalism and...
.
Latter Day Saint Beliefs
In the Latter Day Saint movementLatter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, a dispensation is a period of time in which God gave priesthood authority to men on the Earth through prophetic callings. Between each dispensation is an apostasy where the priesthood is at least partially absent. The LDS Bible Dictionary
Bible Dictionary (LDS Church)
Bible Dictionary is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Since 1979, Bible Dictionary has been published as an appendix to most copies of the King James Version of the Bible printed by the LDS Church. The dictionary contains 1285 entries on 196 pages...
says:
- A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that there have been many dispensations, and use the Bible and modern revelation to identify and clarify some of them. They also make note of dispensations occurring among the Lost Tribes of Israel as well as Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
peoples, namely the Nephites and the Jaradites.
Adamic Dispensation
According to Latter-day Saint scriptures an angel appeared to Adam and Eve soon after they were driven out of the Garden of Eden, who taught them the gospel and gave him priesthood authority which he passed down to his children. (see Moses 5:6–9, Moses 6:64–65) Eventually they “began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish” (see Moses 5:12–13) and the priesthood was lost thus ending the dispensation in apostasy.Dispensation of Enoch
See (Moses 7:69; Doctrine and Covenants D&C 107:48, D&C 107:53.After Enoch and the people of Zion were taken from the earth, the wicked people became very numerous.
Dispensation of the meridian of time
This dispensation's authority was in Jesus Christ himself and then with the apostles after his death and resurrection.Following their death, shortly after the record of the Bible, and before the Nicene creed
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
, the Earth fell into the great apostasy
Great Apostasy
The Great Apostasy is a term used by some religious groups to describe a general fallen state of traditional Christianity, especially the Papacy, because it allowed the traditional Roman mysteries and deities of solar monism such as Mithras and Sol Invictus and idol worship back into the church,...
.
Dispensation of the fulness of times
The dispensation of the fulness of timesDispensation of the fulness of times
In Christianity, the dispensation of the fulness of times is thought to be a world order or administration in which the heavens and the earth are under the political and/or spiritual government of Jesus...
is the last dispensation before the second coming of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
. It was begun with the restoration of the church in 1830 and continued with the restoration of all the priesthood keys of each prior dispensation restored.