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Pauline Dispensational History
Dan R. Smedra
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 20th 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
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
19th century Plymouth Brethren (PB). Roy
Believers
living on the North American side of the
The
Pauline variety of dispensationalism
found expression in
My
interest in the writings of
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
Chapter 3:
Abraham: Election, Calling and Promise
Chapter 4:
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
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
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
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.
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