A Simple Definition Of Dispensational Theology
Dispensational Theology can be defined very simply as a system of theology which attempts to develop the Bible's philosophy of history on the basis of the sovereign rule of God.  It represents the whole of Scripture and history as being covered by several dispensations of God's rule.

The History Of Dispensational Theology
Dispensational Theology did not exist as a developed system of thought in the early Church, although early Church leaders did recognize some of the biblical principles which are basic to Dispensational Theology.[1]  For example, Clement of Alexandria (150-220 A.D.) recognized four dispensations of God's rule.[2]  Augustine (354-430 A.D.) noted the fact that God has employed several distinct ways of working in the world as He executes His plan for history.  Augustine used the term dispensation when referring to these different ways.[3]  It must be said, however, that these Church leaders did not develop these recognized principles into a system of thought.  They were not Dispensational Theologians.

The first person on record to develop a genuine dispensational scheme in a systematic fashion was the French philosopher Pierre Poiret (1646-1719).  In his work entitled The Divine Economy: or An Universal System of the Works and Purposes of God Towards Men Demonstrated, Poiret developed a scheme of seven dispensations covering the scope of Scriptures and history. This work was published in Holland in 1687.[4]

In 1699 John Edwards (1639-1716) published a well- developed dispensational scheme in his book entitled A Complete History or Survey of All the Dispensations.[5]  Isaac Watts (1674-1748 A.D.), the famous hymn writer and theologian, presented a system of six dispensations in an essay named "The Harmony of all the Religions which God ever Prescribed to Men and all his Dispensations towards them."[6]

During the 19th century the Plymouth Brethren, including one of their key leaders, John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), played a very significant role in developing, systematizing, and spreading Dispensational Theology.

Dispensationalism has been developed and promoted even further during the 20th century through the Scofield Reference Bible.  This work, which was published originally in 1909, was primarily the work of Congregationalist pastor and Bible teacher C. I. Scofield.  Scofield had been taught the Scriptures and Dispensationalism initially by the famous Presbyterian pastor and Bible teacher, Dr. James H. Brookes.[7]   He produced the reference notes for the Bible after years of personal Bible study and months of intensive work in the libraries of the leading universities of Europe.[8]  The impact of the Scofield Reference Bible is indicated by two facts.  It was the first publication of Oxford University Press of New York to attain a sale of one million copies.[9]  In addition, in recognition of this work, Scofield was elected to membership in the Societe Academique d'Histoire Internationale, the most influential of European literary societies.[10]

The rise of Bible and prophecy conferences and the Bible school movement since the late 1800s has also been a great aid to the spread of Dispensational Theology.  Most Bible colleges and institutes, such as Philadelphia College of Bible, have consistently been dispensational in their teaching.  On the seminary level the same has been true of Dallas Theological Seminary.

A very significant treatment of Dispensational Theology in the latter half of the 20th century is the book entitled Dispensationalism Today by Charles C. Ryrie.

 

The Meaning Of The Word Dispensation
The word which is translated dispensation in the New Testament is oikonomia, from which the English word economy is derived.  The New Testament word is a combination of two words – oikos, which means house, and nemo, which means to dispense, manage, or hold sway.[11]  Thus, the word literally means house dispensing or house managing.

It "relates primarily to household administration."[12]

The English word dispensation sometimes refers to "the system by which things are administered" and "the divine administration or conduct of the world."  Theologically it is "A religious order or system, conceived as divinely instituted, or as a stage in a progressive revelation, expressly adapted to the needs of a particular nation or period of time."[13]

The English word economy in its theological usage refers to "The method of the divine government of the world, or of a specific department or portion of that government."[14]

 

The Usage Of The Word For Dispensation In The New Testament
The word oikonomia appears nine times in the New Testament. In six of these appearances (Lk. 16:2-4; 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25) it is translated stewardship or dispensation and refers to a responsible office or ministry entrusted to one's care by a higher authority. In the other three appearances (Eph. 1:10; 3:9; 1 Tim. 1:4) it is translated dispensation, fellowship, and edifying in the King James Version and administration in the New American Standard Bible. In these three passages it refers to a particular way of God's administering His rule over the world.  Ephesians 1:10 is of special interest, for it appears to refer to the particular way that God will administer His rule in the coming Millennium (the Millennial Dispensation).  Ephesians 3:9 and 1 Timothy 1:4 refer to the particular way that God administers His rule now (the present dispensation).

 

Definition Of The Term Dispensation As It Relates To Dispensational Theology
In light of the usage of the word for dispensation in the New Testament, the term dispensation as it relates to Dispensational Theology could be defined as a particular way of God's administering His rule over the world as He progressively works out His purpose for world history.

 

Essential Characteristics Of Each Dispensation
In order for each dispensation to be distinct from all other dispensations, it must have three essential characteristics. First, it must have a particular way of God's administering His rule.  Each dispensation is characterized by a unique ruling factor or combination of ruling factors.  Second, it must involve a particular responsibility for man.  Each dispensation makes man responsible to obey God in accordance with its unique ruling factor or combination of factors.  Third, it must be characterized by divine revelation which had not been given before. In order for man to know God's new way of ruling and his new responsibility, he must have these things revealed to him.  Each new dispensation requires new revelation from God.[15]  For example, Paul indicated that the present dispensation is definitely related to new revelation which God gave to the apostles and New Testament prophets (Eph. 3:2-10).

 

Secondary Characteristics Of Each Dispensation
The fact that each new dispensation involves a newly revealed responsibility for man indicates that each dispensation also has three secondary characteristics.  First each dispensation applies a test to man.  The nature of the test is whether or not man will perfectly obey God's rule by fulfilling the responsibility which is characteristic of that dispensation. Second, each dispensation demonstrates the failure of man to obey the particular rule of God which characterizes that dispensation. Third, each dispensation involves divine judgment because of man's failure.[16]

 

Some Important Considerations
In order to understand the approach of Dispensational Theology to the Bible's philosophy of history, several important points of clarification must be taken into consideration.  First, the different dispensations are different ways of God's administering His rule over the world.  They are not different ways of salvation.  Throughout history God has employed several dispensations but only one way of salvation.  Salvation has always been by the grace of God through faith in the Word of God, and God has based salvation on the work of Jesus Christ.

Second, a dispensation is not an age of history, even though a dispensation may cover the same time period as an age.  A dispensation is a particular way of God's administering His rule, but an age is a particular period of time.

Third, a dispensation may involve a particular way of God's administering His rule over all of mankind or over only one segment of mankind.  For example, the Dispensation of Human Government was over all of mankind, but the Dispensation of the Mosaic Law was over only the nation of Israel.

Fourth, a new dispensation may continue or discontinue some ruling factors of previous dispensations, but it will have at least one new ruling factor never introduced before.  Dispensational Theologians normally name each new dispensation after the new ruling factor or factors.

Fifth, each new dispensation demands new revelation.  God must reveal His new way of ruling and man's new responsibility near the beginning of each dispensation.  Since Dispensational Theology recognizes several successive dispensations, it has a strong concept of progressive revelation.

 

Concluding Remarks
Numerous things in the Bible indicate that God has employed different dispensations or ways of administering His rule throughout history.  For example, before the Noahic Flood God did not institute capital punishment for murderers (Gen. 4:9-15), but He did institute it after the flood (Gen. 9:5-6).  Between the giving of the Mosaic Law and the death of Christ, God commanded that adulterers in Israel be put to death (Lev. 20:10; Dt. 22:22; Jn. 8:5), but since the death of Christ God does not so command (1 Cor. 6:9-11).  While the Mosaic Law was in effect, God required Jews to worship on Saturday (Ex. 20:8-11), but since the death of Christ God does not so require (Rom. 14:4-9; Col. 2:13-17).  God's people today do not offer animal sacrifices for sins, but people before Christ's death were required to do so.
 

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