Dispensationalism

In Christian theology, dispensationalism is a Biblical framework that divides history into different periods, where God deals with us differently. 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. 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. Dispensationalism is different from covenant theology, which sees the history of God's dealings with us under the framework of works, grace and redemption.

References

  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. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. 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.