Dispensationalism or Covenant Theology?

[chrispalasz]

This is new to me. I had never heard of Dispensaitonalism before. A friend of mine mentioned it recently and we chatted briefly. I decided to look more info up... but then I decided this would be a good website to find resources and insight on this issue.

Keeping in mind that I don't know much about Dispensationalism, here's the question:

Do you believe in Dispensationalism or Covenant Theology and why?

I've always been a Covenant Theology person at heart, but I went to Wikipedia.com and read a LITTLE on Dispensationalism... and to be honest - I REALLY don't know what the HUGE differences are!!!

If you could tell me what the huge differences are in these two theologies that would be GREAT! THANKS!

[hannahjoy]

This could get long . . .

I'm a Dispensationalist. There is a difference, but I don't know that it's a "huge" difference.

I don't know exactly what you believe and have been taught, but as I understand it, the main difference is this:
Covenant Theology: continuity between OT Israel and NT Church
Dispensationalism: dichotomy between OT Israel and NT Church
How's that for an oversimplification?

Where this difference primarily shows up is in interpretations of prophecies concerning Israel. I believe that they will be fulfilled literally in the nation Israel, rather than spiritually in the Church.

Of course there's also 2-3 Covenants or 7-8 Dispensations we could discuss, the characteristics of a covenant or dispensation, the historical background of each position, etc.

I would recommend "Dispensationalism" by Charles Ryrie if you want an in-depth explanation, or "There Really Is A Difference: A Comparison of Covenant and Dispensational Theology" by Renald Showers - also from a Dispensationalist perspective. I don't know of any book that compares the two without taking sides, but the Ryrie book at least is not vitriolic - I haven't read the other.

Two things I want to make clear . . .
Dispensationalism does NOT teach more than one way of salvation. That accusation has been made many times, and it is false.
Several years ago my uncle gave me a one-page summary of each position. One point he made under each was:
" [CT/DT] is a humanly devised, systematic theological way of viewing the whole landscape of redemptive history."
In other words, don't elevate a human system, however helpful, to the level of divine inspiration.

Hannah Joy

[chrispalasz]

Hey hannahjoy,

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate those resources. I may take a look at those. When I was reading about these two views, not much information was given. What I did notice was that the information that WAS given for each, I pretty much agreed with. So, I didn't know what to think about that.

I did hear the "multiple ways to salvation" accusation, actually. I'm glad that accusation is false. So, for Dispensationalism, it is held that Jesus Christ is the only salvation throughout the Old and New Testament?

As far as these prophesies being fulfilled in the actual nation of Israel... would it be too much trouble if I asked you to give me a couple of these prophesies as an example? That would help me understand what kind you're talking about.

Also, is there a difference between these two Theologies in the interpretation of The Book of Revelation? There are a lot of images in there that I do not take literally (and many people don't) and there are also a lot of prophesies in there.

Thanks!

[hannahjoy]

I will get back to you on this eventually - other topics have been consuming my time here .

So, for Dispensationalism, it is held that Jesus Christ is the only salvation throughout the Old and New Testament?

Yes.

[hannahjoy]

This could get really long . . .

I guess I was always taught from a Dispensationalist perspective, but I really didn't know much about the differences until the last few years, so this might take me a while. I can't seem to find any comprehensive discussion or even list of the prophecies concerning Israel, but one of the major ones would be Jeremiah 30-33.
Some of the prophecies there have already been fulfilled, such as 31:15
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

but others obviously have not been fulfilled in the nation of Israel, such as 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

So the question is, does that refer only to the Church, the spiritual descendants of Abraham, or is it also a promise of what will take place in national Israel, the physical descendants? Some would say that Israel, having rejected Christ, has forfeited this and that it can only apply to the Church. I believe that God is not done with the nation Israel, in part because of verses such as 31:37
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

I would think this would also affect the interpretation of Revelation. Dispensationalists are almost exclusively premillennialists, though some Covenant Theologians are as well. This is because Dispensationalism uses a characteristically literal interpretation of prophecy.
One relevant passage in Revelation is chapter 7.

7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
and he goes on to name the tribes.
These are distinguished from another group of redeemed people,
7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

That's all I have time for now . . .

Hannah Joy