Dispensationalism

In Christian theology, dispensationalism is a Biblical framework that divides history into different periods, where God deals with us differently.^[1] Its general view is that we live in a time where we cannot live up to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. However, sometime in the future, we will be able to. When that time comes, people will have to follow the Sermon's teachings to get salvation.

Origin

Dispensationalism was promoted by John Nelson Darby, an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher, and the Plymouth Brethren, a low church and nonconformist Christian movement, in the mid-19th century.^[2] It became popular in the United States (US) with the effort of Evangelical preachers James Inglis, James Hall Brookes and Dwight L. Moody.

Prevalence

Dispensationalism is widely held by followers of Baptist churches, Pentecostal churches, Charismatic churches, and nondenominational Bible churches, which see the Bible as the perfect guide for how we should act.^[3]^[4] Dispensationalism is different from covenant theology, which sees the history of God's dealings with us under the framework of works, grace and redemption.^[5]^[6]

Dispensationalism Media

Timeline of the history of dispensationalism, showing the development of various streams of thought
Isaac Watts from NPG.jpg

Scofield followed Isaac Watts's (1674–1748) divisions of the dispensations.^{:&hairsp;Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist.,&hairsp;[67]&hairsp;}
JohnNelsonDarby.jpg

John Nelson Darby systematized and promoted dispensationalism.
Dwight Lyman Moody 1900 (Hold the Fort!, Scheips).jpg

"Dwight Lyman Moody in 1900. (Library of Congress photo.)"
ScofieldCI.jpg

photograph of Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, Bible teacher and creator of the Scofield Reference Bible, c. 1920
LymanStewart.jpg

Lyman Stewart, co-founder of Union Oil

Related pages

References

↑
- Poythress, Vern Sheridan (1986). "1 Getting Dispensationalists and Nondispensationalists to Listen to Each Other. The Term 'Dispensationalist'". Understanding Dispensationalists. Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania: Westminster Theological Seminary. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- Bass, Clarence B. (2005-02-03). Backgrounds to Dispensationalism: Its Historical Genesis and Ecclesiastical Implications. Wipf and Stock. ISBN 978-1-59752-081-2.
- Waters, Guy (2 November 2021). "What are the differences between covenant theology and dispensationalism?". Reformed Theological Seminary. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
↑ Ryrie, Charles C. (2007). Dispensationalism. Moody. ISBN 978-0-8024-2189-0.
↑ Dearing, Karen Lynn (2001). A History of the Independent Bible Church. Ouachita Baptist University. p. 20. https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1103&context=honors_theses. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
↑ Crenshaw, Curtis I.; Gunn, Grover (1985). Dispensationalism Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow. Footstool. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-877818-01-1.
↑ "Covenant Theology". Ligonier Ministries. Retrieved 11 April 2022. Covenant theology is a hermeneutical framework that seeks to understand the Bible according to its covenantal structure. Covenant theology is particularly associated with Reformed theology, as the Reformed tradition has devoted much attention to studying the biblical covenants. As Dr. R. C. Sproul frequently observed, 'Reformed theology is covenant theology.'
↑ Rodes, Stanley J. (2014). From Faith to Faith: John Wesley's Covenant Theology and the Way of Salvation. James Clarke & Co. ISBN 978-0-22790220-2.

[1] 
Poythress, Vern Sheridan (1986). "1 Getting Dispensationalists and Nondispensationalists to Listen to Each Other. The Term 'Dispensationalist'". Understanding Dispensationalists. Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania: Westminster Theological Seminary. Retrieved December 9, 2023.

Bass, Clarence B. (2005-02-03). Backgrounds to Dispensationalism: Its Historical Genesis and Ecclesiastical Implications. Wipf and Stock. ISBN 978-1-59752-081-2.

Waters, Guy (2 November 2021). "What are the differences between covenant theology and dispensationalism?". Reformed Theological Seminary. Retrieved 9 December 2023.

[2] Poythress, Vern Sheridan (1986). "1 Getting Dispensationalists and Nondispensationalists to Listen to Each Other. The Term 'Dispensationalist'". Understanding Dispensationalists. Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania: Westminster Theological Seminary. Retrieved December 9, 2023.

[3] Bass, Clarence B. (2005-02-03). Backgrounds to Dispensationalism: Its Historical Genesis and Ecclesiastical Implications. Wipf and Stock. ISBN 978-1-59752-081-2.

[4] Waters, Guy (2 November 2021). "What are the differences between covenant theology and dispensationalism?". Reformed Theological Seminary. Retrieved 9 December 2023.

[2] Ryrie, Charles C. (2007). Dispensationalism. Moody. ISBN 978-0-8024-2189-0.

[3] Dearing, Karen Lynn (2001). A History of the Independent Bible Church. Ouachita Baptist University. p. 20. https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1103&context=honors_theses. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

[4] Crenshaw, Curtis I.; Gunn, Grover (1985). Dispensationalism Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow. Footstool. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-877818-01-1.

[5] "Covenant Theology". Ligonier Ministries. Retrieved 11 April 2022. Covenant theology is a hermeneutical framework that seeks to understand the Bible according to its covenantal structure. Covenant theology is particularly associated with Reformed theology, as the Reformed tradition has devoted much attention to studying the biblical covenants. As Dr. R. C. Sproul frequently observed, 'Reformed theology is covenant theology.'

[6] Rodes, Stanley J. (2014). From Faith to Faith: John Wesley's Covenant Theology and the Way of Salvation. James Clarke & Co. ISBN 978-0-22790220-2.

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