Pauline Dispensational History

Occasionally, I receive email from frustrated non-dispensational believers, who after years of floundering and failure are seeking a escape their personal dilemma and wilderness journey. More often, I receive email from earnest dispensationalists curious about Pauline dispensationalism, who like myself cut their teeth on a Scofield Bible.

Some may have heard of or read a few of Miles J. Stanford’s classic works and are looking to gain a better understanding of how Pauline dispensationalism agrees or differs from their own current understanding of dispensational truth. Visitors include heirs of American “Traditional” dispensationalism (Scofield, Chafer, et al) as well as the post-Acts 2 dispensationalists (those heavily influenced by Bullinger, Welch, O’Hair, Stam, Baker, etc.).

During the later half of the 20^th century, two writers have advanced explanations for the decline in dispensational theology in dispensational circles. Pauline dispensationalist Miles Stanford identified the theological breach of keeping Israel and the Church separate—i.e., the erroneous application of Israel’s New Covenant to New Creation believers. Follow link. Christian author Roy Huebner has written regarding Isaac Watts Covenant theological influence upon C. I. Scofield—i.e., the substitution of premillennial age-ism for dispensational truth brought forth by John N. Darby.

Shown below are the Contents page and Preface to Roy A. Huebner’s J. N. Darby’s Teaching Regarding Dispensations, Ages, Administrations and the Two Parentheses, Present Truth Publishers, 1993 (181 pages). Containing selected portions of his much larger Dispensational Truth, Volume 1 (366 pages), the book presents basic concepts of Pauline dispensationalism as understood and taught by John Nelson Darby, William Kelly, and other prominent 19^th century Plymouth Brethren (PB). Roy Huebner, a retired engineer and member of the nearly extinct Tunbridge Wells branch of the Closed PBs, has done extensive research using early PB publications (see his Present Truth Publishers) and in addition has written extensively regarding the doctrinal roots of the seriously aberrant Raven/Taylor/Symington/Hales wing of the Exclusive PBs.

Believers living on the North American side of the Atlantic Ocean have long assumed, albeit wrongly, that early 20^th century, so-called “Traditional” dispensationalism of Scofield, Gray, Chafer, Ironside, Pettingill, Walvoord, Pentecost, Ryrie, etc., more-or-less reflects the understanding of the earlier dispensationalists of Great Britain. No so. The influence of covenantist Isaac Watts upon C. I. Scofield created a theological synthesis which has had far reaching consequences.

The Pauline variety of dispensationalism found expression in North America with William R. Newell and subsequently the works of Miles Stanford and Roy Huebner, although the ministries of the later two are uniquely different. See my graphic representation here.

Note: Mention of Mr. Huebner does not infer broad endorsement of everything he has written. Roy Huebner explanations of the work of the Holy Spirit during regeneration is questionable. Stick with MJS's The Line Drawn. Also, exclusive brethrenism cannot be endorsed no matter how ardent its proponents.

My interest in the writings of Roy Huebner are largely focused upon his technical and systematic explanations of the Pauline dispensational thoughts of Darby, et al. While having attended Open PB fellowships as a visitor in my early years, I am today more than content to observe their assemblies, gospel halls, and sacrosanct “ground of gathering” from a safe distance.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Chapter 1: God’s Glory in Christ Manifested in Two Spheres

Chapter 2: God’s Government in the Earth Introduced God’s Dispensational Ways and Governmental Administrations

Chapter 3: Abraham: Election, Calling and Promise

Chapter 4: Israel: Government and Calling Combined

Chapter 5: The Two Parentheses

Chapter 6: The End of the Trial of the First Man at the Cross, and the Consequence for the Christian

Chapter 7: The Mystery and the Rapture

Chapter 8: The Ruin of the Church

Chapter 9: The Millenium

Notes

Appendix 1: Did J. N. Darby Systematize Dispensational Truth?

Appendix 2: The Opening of the Heavenly Parenthesis: An Answer to So-called Ultradispensationalism

Appendix 3: Is “Dispensationalism” Inherently Arminian?

Appendix 4: An Objection to the Offer of the Kingdom by an ‘Authentic Calvinist’

Notes for the Appendices

Bibliography

Scripture Index

Also Available

Preface

It was originally intended that J. N. Darby's (hereafter JND) teaching regarding dispensational truth be included in Precious Truths Revived and Defended Through J. N. Darby, Vol. 1, but it grew too long. Appendix One contains some comments on whether or not C. I. Scofield built on JND. Additionally, it was thought to add an Appendix Two to critique "ultradispensationalism" from the standpoint of the truth recovered through JND. And finally, the publication of a book charging that dispensationalism is inherently Arminian provided motivation to present a survey of the teachings of JND as they bear on "the five points of Calvinism." Thus, Appendix Three will show that JND is rejected by both Calvinists and Arminians. This same book motivated a response to the objection that "the offer of the kingdom," as viewed by dispensationalist, is an immoral offer - Appendix Four.

The body of the book gives a brief survey of J. N. Darby's dispensational teaching, which involves the following:

1. God has one purpose: to glorify Himself in Christ. This involves glory in two spheres, the earthly and the heavenly.

2. In keeping with this purpose, God has made the Church distinct from Israel, though salvation of all saints is ever and only by grace, in view of the atoning work of Christ. The body of Christ, of which Israel is not a part, is composed of saints seated in the heavenlies, in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6), and this constitutes them a heavenly people, while Israel is an earthly people and shall be established in the land by sovereign power. All Israel will then be saved (Rom. 11:26, etc.), the rebels having been purged (Ezek. 20), etc.

3. It is most important to understand the truth concerning the two men (1 Cor. 15:47). The first man is man viewed in Adamic standing under testing--to bring out his state; and this testing ended with the cross. In the rejection of the Son of the Father, man was finally and fully proved to be totally depraved. Then Christ took His place above and became head of a body, formed by the baptism in by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13) at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4, 32,32), united to the Head in glory. The gathering in of Christ's heavenly co-heirs is a heavenly work going on until the era arrives when a remnant of Israel will be prepared for Messiah's coming in power and glory. This heavenly work was not foreseen by the O. T. prophets and is a "mystery" (Rom. 16:25,26; Col. 1:26; Eph. 3:9).

4. Before the last week (seven years) of Daniel's 70 weeks, the pretribulation rapture of the saints will occur. After the close of that week, the Lord will execute the second phase of His coming. He will come to establish the millennial kingdom and reign for 1000 literal years.

5. Strictly speaking, dispensations are not identical to distinguishable time periods or to ages, though the word dispensation is often so used. To understand dispensational truth it is important to distinguish between 1) an age--i. e., a distinguishable time period, and 2) a dispensation.¹ Strictly speaking, they are not the same thing. However, the word dispensation is conventionally used for an age. JND so used the word dispensation conventionally also, and it must be discerned where he did and where he did not use the word conventionally. JND cited some examples of dispensations such as priesthood, judges and kingship in Israel. These are not ages but something that God dispensed.

6. Certain time periods, which I will call administrations, in an effort to clarify JND's teaching, have essential and. characterizing element, namely government, introduced- with Noah, With Moses, the principle of God's calling was combined with government. These are the first two of the three, administrations. The Gentiles do not have this calling of God during the times of the Gentiles. Moreover, the church does not have government placed in its hands, though the saints have a heavenly calling. Thus, there has been no third administration yet. But Christ will make good, to God's glory, both calling and government, wherein the first man has failed. The third, the last of the three administrations, will be the millennial kingdom. The ways of God in government is an essential _component of an administration -- for these have to do with God's ways in the earth.

7. The time wherein the church is called is not, properly speaking, a dispensation or an administration. The first man, as such, is no longer under testing since the cross, because he no longer has a position before God. The testing of the first man now would mean that God is not finished with man in his Adamic standing. But he is removed, and the last Adam is established.

8. It may be seen from all this that the times of the Gentiles forms an earthly parenthesis of judgment on Israel. It is an earthly parenthesis of the times of the Gentiles until both government and calling are taken up by Christ and made good by sovereign power, by Christ, during the millennium.

9. Within the earthly parenthesis of judgment on Israel is a heavenly parenthesis of saints being seated in the heavenlies, in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6). No saints before, and none after, will partake of this special, heavenly position and blessing. Therefore it has been called a "heavenly parenthesis."

These and other truths will be traced in the following pages without pretending to completeness.

1 See Collected Writings 13:153-156 concerning the difference.

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