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Dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is a theological framework for interpreting the Bible which maintains that history is divided into multiple ages called "dispensations" in which God interacts with his chosen people in different ways.: 19  It is often distinguished from covenant theology. These are two competing frameworks of biblical theology that attempt to explain overall continuity in the Bible. 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.

Overview

Typical divisions

Variants

Theology

Purpose of God in the world

Biblical literalism

Progressive revelation

Distinction between Israel and the Church

The Law

Eschatology

History

Proto-dispensationalism

Formalization by Darby

Expansion and growth

Scofield and his influence

The Fundamentals

Influence of Dallas Theological Seminary

Dispensationalists use a literal interpretation of the Bible and believe that divine revelation unfolds throughout the Bible. 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 the Church that will happen before the Second Coming of Christ, generally seen as happening before a period of tribulation.

Attachments