Revision as of 17:44, 24 January 2019

Objectives

Opening

• What words, if any, come to mind when you hear the word dispensationalism?

Main Body

What is Dispensationalism?

• What is dispensationalism?
  • This is not really an answerable question because dispensationalism can be broken into many different sects. Geisler defines a dispensation as "a 'divine order of affairs' or a 'period of administration.' It is a specific time in the unfolding drama of redemption wherein God ordains a specific arrangement of events and commands for a specific purpose. His purpose includes the feat of evil."^[1] In the 19th century, Nelson Darby developed a perspective based upon a literal interpretation of scripture in which he broke up the way God deals with mankind into dispensations instead of covenants. This work started the dispensational movement. It is important to realize that many elements of dispensationalism were around from the start of the church, but the label began with Darby. There is actually a lot of confusion about dispensationalism and part of that confusion is probably because the Scofield Reference Bible states that "a dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect to his obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God." ^[2]. Ryrie notes that criticism of Scofield's definitions are valid because "a dispensation is primarily a stewardship, administration, or arrangement and not a period of time. Age and dispensation are not synonymous in meaning even though they may exactly coincide in history."^[3]. The key is that a dispensation is the stewardship, administration, or arrangement and so the definition must emphasize these elements. Additionally, dispensations build upon each other, this does not mean that everything from a previous dispensation will carry into the next dispensation, but it does mean that there may be overlap. Ryrie define a dispensation to be "a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God's purpose."^[4]

• What are the essentials of dispensationalism?
  • In Dispensationalism Today, Ryrie argues for three main tenants of dispensationalism. Specifically, the distinction between Israel and the Church, a consistently literal interpretation of scripture, claim that God's glory is the focus rather than a single purpose focus on salvation. ^[5]

Does Dispensationalism Make any Sense

Before looking into specifics of dispensationalism (many lessons to follow)n we will first examine the three tenants of dispensationalism to se if they make any sense at all.

Are Israel and the Church Distinct?

• What distinction does Paul make in 1 Corinthians 10:32? What dos Paul speak about in Romans 11:25-26?
  • In both passages Paul seems to be distinguishing the church from Israel.

• What inheritance is discussed in Ephesians 1:3, 11, 14, 18? What inheritance is discussed in Genesis 13:14-15? How are these different.
  • God promise a physical inheritance to Abraham and his descendants while promising a spiritual inheritance to the Church.

• What picture is given in Romans 11:11-24?
  • The picture given is that of a vine and a vine-dresser. Some branches are removed and other grafted in. This does not mean that Israel is completely replaced, but rather that God has provided a means of blessing those outside Israel. In fact, verses 25-27 clearly teach that Israel is not replaced but rather Israel will be restored.

• Why might distinctions between Israel and the Church be an important counter to anti-Semitism?
  • Since the Church does not replace Israel, it is a fact that Israel is still the chosen people of God and God still has a purpose for Israel. Christians should have nothing to do with anti-Semitism because, among other reasons, God has still chosen Israel for special blessing.

Should we really interpret the Bible literally?

• How did Jesus interpret Jonah in Matthew 12:40?
• How did the authors of Hebrews interpret the Old Testament according to Hebrews 11?
• Consider the culture, in particular, greco-roman culture, at the time of the early Church. How would you describe the greco-roman gods? How might this impact interpretation of scripture.
  • The greco-roman gods were an embarrassment, they were vengeful, lustful, greedy, arrogant, and anything but holy. In order to handle these gods, the people developed a method of interpreting mythology that allegorized the message. One Jew, Philo of Alexandria (25 BC- AD 50) suggests that the God of the Old Testament might best be understood in this allegorical method. At first this method was only used by some Jews in Alexandria but as time went on the influence of these Jews spread and Christians began to use the allegorical method. By AD 354-430, Augustine, seeking to eliminate the need for a literal 1000 year reign of Christ adopted the allegorical interpretation of scripture. One of the most significant aspects of Martin Luther's reform was his mov back to a literal interpretation, the literal interpretation allowed him to rediscover doctrines justification by faith. You may come across someone who says something like "did you know that the doctrine taught in the Left Behind series wasn't invented until the late 1800's?" A proper response might go something like this, "that is not entirely correct, the eschatological doctrines you are referring to were well known and accepted in the first century but an insistence on allegorical interpretation led the doctrines to fall out of favor for over 1000 years. Once a literal interpretation of scripture was reinstated the doctrines were rediscovered. So, not only is that a weak argument, but the fact that the doctrines were discovered twice seems to indicate that they are robust."

• What command is given in 2 Timothy 4:1-2?
  • Pastors and leaders are to preach the Word, not our own allegorization of the word but the Word.

What is God's purpose?

Nothing in this section should be taken to devalue the Gospel. Rather, we seek to show that God's glory is the highest value.

• What purpose does salvation serve according to Ephesians 1:3-14?
  • It is to the praise of His glory.

• Besides salvation, what are other aspects of life that can bring glory to God?
  • Marriage
  • Worship
  • Creation
  • Angelic Hosts

Conclusion

1. ↑ Geisler, Norman L. Systematic theology: In one volume. Bethany House, 2011. pg 796
2. ↑ pg. 4
3. ↑ Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. "The Necessity of Dispensationalism.”." Vital Prophetic Issues: Examining Promises and Problems in Eschatology (1956). pg. 5
4. ↑ Ibid.
5. ↑ Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Dispensationalism today. Moody Press, 1965.