Dispensationalism
| Christian eschatology |
|---|
| Christianity portal |
Dispensationalism is a Christian theological framework for interpreting the Christian Bible which maintains that history is divided into multiple ages called dispensations in which God interacts with his chosen people in different ways.[1]: 19 It is often distinguished from covenant theology, the traditional Reformed view of reading the Bible.[2][3] These are two competing frameworks of biblical theology that attempt to explain overall continuity in the Bible. The coining of the term "dispensationalism" has been attributed to Philip Mauro, a critic of the system's teachings, in his 1928 book The Gospel of the Kingdom.[4][5]
Dispensationalists use a literal interpretation of the Bible and believe that divine revelation unfolds throughout its narrative. They believe that there is a distinction between Israel and the Church, and that Christians are not bound by Mosaic law. They maintain beliefs in premillennialism, Christian Zionism, and a rapture of Christians before the expected Second Coming of Jesus, who Christians believe to be the Messiah, generally before the so-called Great Tribulation.[6]
Dispensationalism was systematized and promoted by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren in the mid-19th century.[7]: 67 It began its spread in the United States during the late 19th century through the efforts of evangelists such as James Inglis, James Hall Brookes and Dwight L. Moody, the programs of the Niagara Bible Conference, and the establishment of Bible institutes. With the dawn of the 20th century, C. I. Scofield introduced the Scofield Reference Bible, which crystallized dispensationalism in the United States.
Dispensationalism has become popular within American evangelicalism. In addition to the Plymouth Brethren, it is commonly found in nondenominational Bible churches, as well as among Baptist, Pentecostal, and Charismatic groups.[8] Protestant denominations that embrace covenant theology, such as the Reformed churches, tend to reject dispensationalism.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:16was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Waters, Guy (2 November 2021). "What are the differences between covenant theology and dispensationalism?". Reformed Theological Seminary. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ 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 9 December 2023.
- ^ Mauro, Philip (1928). The Gospel of the Kingdom: With an Examination of Modern Dispensationalism. Hamilton Brothers. p. 17.
- ^ Hummel, Daniel G. (4 May 2023). The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle over the End Times Shaped a Nation. Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-1-4674-6220-4.
- ^ Blomberg, Craig L.; Chung, Sung Wook (1 February 2009). A Case for Historic Premillennialism: An Alternative to "Left Behind" Eschatology. Baker Academic. ISBN 978-1-4412-1056-2.
- ^ Ryrie, Charles C. (2007). Dispensationalism. Moody. ISBN 978-0-8024-2189-0.
- ^ Crenshaw, Curtis I.; Gunn, Grover (1985). Dispensationalism Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow. Footstool. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-877818-01-1.