Dispensationalism is without doubt the most widely held system of theology among Bible believers today.
In the vast majority of cases, most believers would be unaware that their beliefs have been shaped by this relatively new theological system. Dispensationalism's conservative history leads many to believe that it is a Biblical doctrine, and thus it's adherents view any other system with skepticism. The labels men give systems of theology are one thing, the only thing we should be concerned with, is whether or not it is founded upon, and agreeable to the Word of God.
Most Dispensational leaders would reject such an early history of Dispensationalism with so recent a figure as J.N.Darby. They have fought hard to convince Christians that its doctrine can be traced right back to the early Church. Without doubt there have been various dispensations in history relative to God's dealings with the human race, such as the 'Mosaic' and 'Church' dispensations. I deliberately use a small 'd' in these two examples as opposed to a capital 'D' as I am not enunciating a theological system.
There have been many throughout history that have marked off various dispensations of periods of time. But something altogether new happened when Darby arrived on the pages of Church history around 1830. Darby taught that the Church and Israel had two entirely different destinies. It was this new doctrine which departed from the historic faith of the Church, which had faithfully held to a common salvation, as taught in the Bible. Thus it was at this juncture in time that the new teaching began to take hold and gain rapid popularity.
Shortly after Darby left the Church of England, he began meeting with the Plymouth Brethren. The Brethren were a group of believers who removed themselves from the established Church and met together without an ordained ministry. They were to all intents and purposes a community of equals. There was no leadership.
However in this vacuum of scriptural leadership, the Brethren movement began to be influenced by those members with the strongest personalities. There followed much strife and fragmentation and Darby soon established himself into a position of strong leadership. He even insisted that the Brethren separate from any who opposed his views. Though starting with a noble and ideological foundation of equality and unity, it was not long before the movement morphed into an organisation which demanded allegiance from it's leader. Darby soon, therefore, became the spokesman for this influential movement.
Darby travelled widely abroad, and made lengthy visits to America, where his views had great influence. Leaders from various denominations began to embrace Darby's teachings.
In America, as Darby's views continued to spread in the years after his death (1882). The Bible Conference movement began to take shape. This movement became known as Fundamentalism; it was born through the efforts of the believing Church to answer the attacks of Liberalism within the Church around the end of the nineteenth century. This was a period of significant trial for the Church, many and various Bible conferences were established to bring preachers and laity together in order to study the Scriptures. Prophecy was the main theme of these conferences, dominated by the Dispensational, pre tribulational prophetic scheme. Dispensationalism gained a large grass roots hearing, and the movement of Fundamentalism found its sounding board. Fundamentalism became, then, largely a Dispensational movement, and Dispensationalism must be credited with being a conservative system. But it does not follow that a modern believer must be Dispensationalist to be a conservative, or a separatist.
In the process of time some of the leaders of the prophetic conference movement began to question the pre tribulation rapture doctrine. Though a large number of men in the movement continued to work together under the banner of premillennialism, two more or less distinct groups formed, with C.I. Scofield and A.C. Gaebelin as the champions of Dispensationalism.
As the prophetic conference movement continued to grow many leaders refused to have those who were not pre millennial and pre tribulational appear on the platform.
The Dispensationalists had won the day so completely that for the next hundred years friend and foe alike largely identified Dispensationalism with pre millennialism.
We should remember that all Dispensationalists are Pre millennialists, but not all pre millennialists are Dispensationalists.
With the rise of the prophetic conference movement popularising Dispensationalism, another chapter in the movement was opening. C.I. Scofield produced the very successful Scofield Reference Bible in 1909. This proved to be a very popular tool, guiding the common man in his study of the Scriptures.
Scofield implied to his readers however that his Reference Bible reflected the major doctrines of the Bible, which a wide range of believers held in common. But this was not the case. In his introduction Scofield relates to his readers how in recent years vast progress had been made in Biblical interpretation. He then cites several eminent Bible scholars, such as Sayce and Margoliouth of Oxford, whom he consulted in preparing his volume. Scofield, however gives his readers little warning that the notes under the scriptures to follow represent the views of one little sect, derived from one man who originated them scarcely eighty years before Scofield published his Bible.
One could hardly exaggerate the influence that the Scofield Reference Bible enjoyed in the continued growth of Dispensationalism. This Bible became by far the most prominent copy of the Scriptures that American Evangelicals carried to both the pulpit and the pew. This tool put the distinctives of the new theology of Dispensationalism into the very hands of a new generation of Bible believers.
The rapid rise of new and independent churches indeed solidified Dispensationalisms dominance in American Evangelicalism. The major denominations at this time were infected by liberalism, and believers began to separate from these now apostate bodies.As a result many of these separatist churches left off their former denominational identity, and came to be known simply as Bible churches. The lack of denominational affiliation created the need for new doctrinal statements to govern these infant churches. Dispensational distinctives figured prominently in the creeds of this new generation of churches. Also evident was a dangerous brevity. This brevity, particularly on the subject of soteriology, paved the way for the controversies over the doctrine of salvation that to this day rage in Dispensational circles.
For the sake of infringement of copyright purposes, I must give credit to Reginald C Kimbro for the inspiration of this article. I have heavily condensed and edited his work, and pray that visitors to my blog would be alerted to the false system of theology known as Dispensationalism. And I heartily recommend visitors to obtain this book, available from the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony.
Kimbro, does indeed in his book, give credit to others who were wise to the errors of Dispensational theology, and would no doubt desire that many would reject it altogether.
B.W. Newton however, from my limited knowledge of this vast subject was the first to teach against this false gospel, in fact, in his appendix, he compares its doctrine to that of Marcion's heretical teachings!
I will, God willing, write about that another time.
Recommended reading:
The Gospel According To Dispensationalism Reginald C Kimbro
The Old Testament Saints Not To Be excluded From The Church In Glory B.W. Newton
In America, as Darby's views continued to spread in the years after his death (1882). The Bible Conference movement began to take shape. This movement became known as Fundamentalism; it was born through the efforts of the believing Church to answer the attacks of Liberalism within the Church around the end of the nineteenth century. This was a period of significant trial for the Church, many and various Bible conferences were established to bring preachers and laity together in order to study the Scriptures. Prophecy was the main theme of these conferences, dominated by the Dispensational, pre tribulational prophetic scheme. Dispensationalism gained a large grass roots hearing, and the movement of Fundamentalism found its sounding board. Fundamentalism became, then, largely a Dispensational movement, and Dispensationalism must be credited with being a conservative system. But it does not follow that a modern believer must be Dispensationalist to be a conservative, or a separatist.
In the process of time some of the leaders of the prophetic conference movement began to question the pre tribulation rapture doctrine. Though a large number of men in the movement continued to work together under the banner of premillennialism, two more or less distinct groups formed, with C.I. Scofield and A.C. Gaebelin as the champions of Dispensationalism.
As the prophetic conference movement continued to grow many leaders refused to have those who were not pre millennial and pre tribulational appear on the platform.
The Dispensationalists had won the day so completely that for the next hundred years friend and foe alike largely identified Dispensationalism with pre millennialism.
We should remember that all Dispensationalists are Pre millennialists, but not all pre millennialists are Dispensationalists.
With the rise of the prophetic conference movement popularising Dispensationalism, another chapter in the movement was opening. C.I. Scofield produced the very successful Scofield Reference Bible in 1909. This proved to be a very popular tool, guiding the common man in his study of the Scriptures.
Scofield implied to his readers however that his Reference Bible reflected the major doctrines of the Bible, which a wide range of believers held in common. But this was not the case. In his introduction Scofield relates to his readers how in recent years vast progress had been made in Biblical interpretation. He then cites several eminent Bible scholars, such as Sayce and Margoliouth of Oxford, whom he consulted in preparing his volume. Scofield, however gives his readers little warning that the notes under the scriptures to follow represent the views of one little sect, derived from one man who originated them scarcely eighty years before Scofield published his Bible.
One could hardly exaggerate the influence that the Scofield Reference Bible enjoyed in the continued growth of Dispensationalism. This Bible became by far the most prominent copy of the Scriptures that American Evangelicals carried to both the pulpit and the pew. This tool put the distinctives of the new theology of Dispensationalism into the very hands of a new generation of Bible believers.
The rapid rise of new and independent churches indeed solidified Dispensationalisms dominance in American Evangelicalism. The major denominations at this time were infected by liberalism, and believers began to separate from these now apostate bodies.As a result many of these separatist churches left off their former denominational identity, and came to be known simply as Bible churches. The lack of denominational affiliation created the need for new doctrinal statements to govern these infant churches. Dispensational distinctives figured prominently in the creeds of this new generation of churches. Also evident was a dangerous brevity. This brevity, particularly on the subject of soteriology, paved the way for the controversies over the doctrine of salvation that to this day rage in Dispensational circles.
For the sake of infringement of copyright purposes, I must give credit to Reginald C Kimbro for the inspiration of this article. I have heavily condensed and edited his work, and pray that visitors to my blog would be alerted to the false system of theology known as Dispensationalism. And I heartily recommend visitors to obtain this book, available from the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony.
Kimbro, does indeed in his book, give credit to others who were wise to the errors of Dispensational theology, and would no doubt desire that many would reject it altogether.
B.W. Newton however, from my limited knowledge of this vast subject was the first to teach against this false gospel, in fact, in his appendix, he compares its doctrine to that of Marcion's heretical teachings!
I will, God willing, write about that another time.
Recommended reading:
The Gospel According To Dispensationalism Reginald C Kimbro
The Old Testament Saints Not To Be excluded From The Church In Glory B.W. Newton
Hi Colin,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this article: very informative!
God bless!