GST 520

DISPENSATIONALISM and DISPENSATIONAL HERMENEUTICS

Maranatha Baptist Seminary

Watertown, Wisconsin

Spring 2012

Dr. Larry R. Oats

920-206-2324

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this course is to study dispensationalism, both as a history of God’s redemptive work and as a hermeneutical system.Several aspects of dispensationalism will be addressed: its historical development, its interpretation of biblical history, the relationship of covenants to dispensations, arguments raised against dispensationalism, the hermeneutics of dispensationalism as they relate to pretribulational and premillennial eschatology, the relationship of law and grace, major events that unfold in particular dispensations, and current trends in dispensational theology.

By the end of the course, the students should be able to:

  1. Understand and appreciate dispensationalism, both as a view of history and as a method of interpretation of Scripture.
  2. Have a better exposure to dispensational literature.
  3. Demonstrate critical theological thinking from a dispensationalism framework. Critical theological thinking involves the ability to formulate comprehensive theological description, definitions, and argumentation based on accurate analysis and scholarly synthesis of Scripture (exegesis and Biblical theology), with the goal of understanding theological tradition and present day theological views.
  4. Have a better understanding of general hermeneutical principles.
  5. Be introduced to the dangers in modern approaches to hermeneutics.

TEXTBOOK READING:

Required:

Charles C. Ryrie.Dispensationalism. Chicago: Moody Press, 2007. (Entire book)

Alva J. McClain.Law and Grace.BMH Books.(Entire book)

Robert Thomas. Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2003. Chaps 1-3, 5-7, 12.

Henry A. Virkler and KarelynneAyayo.Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007. Chapters 1-7.

Recommended:

Herbert W. Bateman, ed. Three Central Issues in Contemporary Dispensationalism.Kregel, 1999.

Witherington, Ben III. The Problem with Evangelical Theology.Waco, TX: Baylor Univ Press, 2005. (Pages 93-168, 223-254 especially – please note that Witherington is opposed to dispensationalism; this reading is one of the better examples of the opposition to dispensational hermeneutics)

Include all reading on your reading report.

READING REPORT

Allrequired reading, readingdone in the course of research for your paper and personal reading in areas of interest in the field of dispensationalism should be recorded and reported. Report your reading by submitting a list of books and the pages read in each book, along with a total number of pages read. The grand total should be at least 1200 pages. An Excel reading report and a PDF reading report can be found on the eRacerResearch Module. Use either one.

DISPENSATIONALISM OUTLINE

A course outline prepared by the Professor is required for the course.Class lectures and discussion will be based on the syllabus and other notes that may be presented in class.

HERMENEUTICS SUMMARIES

Your hermeneutics summaries will consist of two elements.

  1. Read Henry A. Virkler and KarelynneAyayo, Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation, chapters 1-7, according to the class calendar. Summarize the key points of each chapter in bullet format (no more than 5 main points per chapter); each bullet should consist of 2-3 sentences.
  2. Then read Robert Thomas, Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2003. In the second half of your summary, identify in one or two sentences what Thomas says about each of the bullets in your Virkler summaries.
  3. As an option, simply read Virkler and summarize the key points of each chapter in bullet format (no more than 5 main points per chapter); each bullet should consist of 2-3 sentences. Then just read Thomas and summarize the key points of each chapter in bullet format (no more than 5 main points per chapter); each bullet should consist of 2-3 sentences.

RESEARCH PAPER.

A scholarly theological research paper on some topic or problem within Dispensationalism is required.The student is free to choose his own topic.Check with the Professor regarding your choice of topic.Follow Turabian and the Maranatha Guide. The paper should be 15-25 pages of text, with footnotes.The grade will be based on:(1) Intellectual content (including a clear declaration of the issue under discussion, a fair representation of the various approaches to the issue, a biblical, exegetical and theological solution to the problem, and an explanation of the impact on the current scene);(2) Literary excellence;(3) Structural layout and form;and (4) Bibliography of sources consulted.

Possible Topics:

  • The Content of Saving Faith in the Dispensation of______.
  • Where are the Heathen Dispensationally?
  • The Efficacy of Animal Sacrifices in the Old Testament
  • The Purpose of Animal Sacrifices in the Millennial Kingdom
  • The Status of Israel as a Theocracy Between the Captivity and Christ
  • The Relationship Between Prayer and Priesthood in the Dispensation of Law
  • The Theological Meaning and Chronological Development of Spirit Baptism
  • Resurgent Postmillennialism
  • Spirit Indwelling in the Old Testament
  • The relationship of Law vs. Grace. Has the law been abolished, fulfilled, or abrogated?
  • What is the New Covenant and what is its relationship to the church?
  • An Analysis of the Concept of the Covenant of Grace
  • The Nature of Near Eastern Covenants and Their Bearing on Biblical Covenants
  • The Christian’s Relationship to the Ten Commandments
  • What is the dispensational view of the kingdom? How is the church related to the kingdom?
  • The Olive Tree Analogy of Romans 11
  • What is the relationship of the throne of David and the Davidic Covenant to the church and to the millennium
  • The Relationship of the Millennial Kingdom to the Eternal Kingdom
  • The Spiritual and Dispensational Status of the Disciples in Acts 19:1-5
  • The Dispensational Significance of the Various Kinds of “Gospel”
  • Social Responsibilities of the Church Dispensationally Considered
  • Missionary and Soulwinning Obligations in the Dispensation of Law
  • The Dispensational Significance of the Various Kinds of Baptism in the Bible
  • The Sermon on the Mount and its Dispensational Setting
  • The Dispensational Considerations of Fasting
  • The Dispensational Significance of the Mysteries of the Kingdom in Matthew 13
  • A Dispensational Understanding of the “Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16
  • Biblical Criteria for Civil Government in the present Dispensation
  • A Critique of a particular article or chapter in a significant book on Dispensationalism (Check with the Professor first)

FINAL EXAM

A final exam will be placed on our eRacerclass site.

GRADING:

The final grade will be calculated based on the following:

Research Paper:50%

Reading: 20%

Final Exam: 30%

Grading Scale

94-100 / A
93-92 / A-
91-90 / B+
85-89 / B
84-83 / B-
82-81 / C+
75-80 / C
74-73 / C-
64-72 / D
63-0 / F

DISPENSATIONALISM

Reading List

(Asterisk indicates a non-dispensational stance)

BOOKS

Bahnsen, Greg L., et al. The Law, the Gospel, and the Modern Christian.*Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.

Bahnsen, Greg L. and Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. House Divided: The Break-Up of Dispensational Theology.* Tyler, Tex.: Institute for Christian Economics, 1989.

Baker, Charles F. A Dispensational Theology. Grand Rapids: Grace Bible College Publications, 1971.

Barndollar, W. W. The Validity of Dispensationalism.Clarks Summit: Baptist Bible Seminary, 1964.

Bass, Clarence. The Backgrounds to Dispensationalism.*Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960.

Bateman, Herbert W., IV,ed. Three Central Issues in Contemporary Dispensationalism.*Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1999.

Beasley-Murray. G. R. Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.

Blaising, Craig A., and Darrell L. Bock, eds. Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church.Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.

Boettner, Loraine. The Millennium.* Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1966.

Bruce, F. F. The New Testament Development of Old Testament Themes.*Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1968.

______. The Time is Fulfilled.*Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978.

Campbell, Don and J. Townsend.The Case for Premillenialism. Chicago: Moody, 1992.

Campbell, Don K., ed. Walvoord: A Tribute. Chicago: Moody, 1982.

Chafer, C. A. God's Plan Through the Ages.Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1938.

Chafer, Lewis Sperry.Dispensationalism.Dallas: Dallas Seminary, 1951.

Clouse, Robert, ed. Meaning of the Millennium. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1977.

Crenshaw, Curtis and GroverGunn.Dispensationalism: Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow.* Memphis: Footstool Press, nd.

Decker, Rodney J. Contemporary Dispensational Theology. Kansas City, MO: Calvary Theological Seminary, 1992.

Ehlert, Arnold D.A Bibliographic History of Dispensationalism. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965.

Erickson, Millard. Contemporary Options in Eschatology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977.

Feinberg, C. Jesus the King is Coming. Chicago: Moody, 1975.

______. Millennialism: The Two Major Views. 3rd Edition. Chicago: Moody, 1980.

______. Israel: At the Center of History and Revelation. Portland: Multnomah, 1980.

______. Millennialism: Two Major Views. Chicago: Moody, 1980

Feinberg, John S. and Feinberg, Paul D., ed. Tradition and Testament: Essays in Honor of Charles Feinberg. Chicago: Moody, 1981.

Feinberg, John S., ed. Continuity and Discontinuity: Essays in Honor of S. Lewis Johnson, Jr. Westchester: Crossway Books, 1988.

Fruchtenbaum, Arnold. Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 1989.

Fuller, Daniel P. Gospel and Law: Contrast or Continuum?*Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980.

Gentry, Kenneth L. Jr., He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology.* Tyler, Tex.: Institute for Christian Economics, 1992.

Gerstner, John H. Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth.* Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1991.

Hoekema, Anthony. Bible and the Future. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979.

Ice, Thomas and Timothy Demy, ed. When the Trumpet Sounds. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers,1995.

Ironside, Harry. The Mysteries of God.Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux, 1938.

______. Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth.Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux, n.d.

Johnson, S. Lewis. The Old Testament in the New. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1980.

Kaiser, Walter Jr. Back Toward the Future. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989.

Kaiser, Walter. The Uses of the Old Testament in the New. Chicago: Moody, 1985.

Karleen, Paul S. The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church: Is it Biblical?Langhorn, PA: BF Press, 1991.

Kevan, E.F. The Grace of Law.*Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965.

Kraus, Norman. Dispensationalism in America.*Louisville: John Knox, 1958.

Mason, Clarence E., Jr. Dispensationalism Made Simple. Arnold, MO: Shield Press, 1976.

______. Prophetic Problems with Alternative Solutions. Chicago: Moody, 1973.

McComiskey, Thomas E. The Covenants of Promise.*Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985.

Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come.New London, NH: Dunham, 1958.

Poythress, Vern. Understanding Dispensationalists.* Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987.

Radmacher, Earl D. The Nature of the Church. Chicago: Moody, 1972.

Radmacher, Earl. Understanding Contemporary Dispensationalism. Portland: Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1972.

Ryrie, Charles C. Dispensationalism Today. Chicago: Moody, 1965.

______. The Grace of God.Chicago: Moody, 1963.

______. The Basis of the Premillennial Faith.Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux, 1953.

Saucy, Robert.The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.

Sauer, Erich. The Dawn of World Redemption.Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951.

______. From Eternity to Eternity.Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1954.

______. The Triumph of the Crucified.Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951.

Schreiner, Thomas R. The Law and Its Fulfillment: A Pauline Theology of Law. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993.

Scofield, C. I. Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth. New London, NH: Dunham, 1956.

Showers, Renald E. There Really is a Difference. Bellmawr, NJ: Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc., 1990.

Stam, Cornelius. Acts Dispensationally Considered.Germantown, WI: Berean Bible Society, 1954. (Hyper-dispensational)

______. The Fundamentals of Dispensationalism.Germantown, WI: Berean Bible Society, 1951.(Hyper-dispensational)

______. Things That Differ. Germantown, WI: Berean Bible Society, 1985. (Hyper-dispensational)

Strickland, Wayne G. Editor. The Law, the Gospel, and the Modern Christian: Five Views. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.

Tan, Paul Lee. Interpretation of Prophecy. Winona Lake: BMH Books, 1974.

Thielman, Frank. Paul and the Law: A Contextual Approach. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1994.

Toussaint, Stanley and Dyer, D. H. Essays in Honor of J. Dwight Pentecost. Chicago: Moody: 1986.

Van Gemeren, Willem. The Progress of Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988.

Weber, Timothy P. Living in the Shadow of the Second Coming: American Premillennialism 1875-. Enlarged Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983.

Weber, Timothy P. On the Road to Armageddon: How Evangelicals Became Israel’s Best Friend.* Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.

Westerholm, Stephen. Israel's Law and the Church's Faith.* Eerdmans, 1988.

ARTICLES - PAMPHLETS - UNPUBLISHED PAPERS

Aldrich, Roy.“Has the Mosaic Law Been Abolished?”Bibliotheca Sacra(1959).

______.“The Mosaic Ten Commandments Compared to Their Restatement in the New Testament.”Bibliotheca Sacra (1961).

Barrick, William D. “The Mosaic Covenant.”The Master’s Seminary Journal 10 (1999): 213-32.

Battle, J. R., Jr. “Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in Romans 9:25-26.”Grace Journal 2 (1981): 115-129.

Blaising, Craig. “Contemporary Dispensationalism.”Southwestern Journal of Theology 36 (1994): 5-13.

______. “Developing Dispensationalism.”Bibliotheca Sacra 145 (1988): 133-140, 254-280.

______.“Doctrinal Development in Orthodoxy,”Bibliotheca Sacra(1988).

Bock, Darrell L.“Current Messianic Activity and OT Davidic Promise: Dispensationalism, Hermeneutics, and NT Fulfillment.”Trinity Journal 15 (1994): 55-87.

______. “Evangelicals and the Use of the Old Testament in New.”Bibliotheca Sacra 142 (1985): 209-221, 306-319.

______. “Why I Am a dispensationalist with a Small ‘d.’”Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 41 (1998): 383-396.

Book, Mitchell. “James’ Use of Amos 9:11-12 in Acts 15:13-18.”Th.M. Thesis, Grace Theological Seminary, 1981 (TREN, #009-0249).

Brashear, Robert. “Cornerstone, Stumblingstone: Christian Problems in Viewing Israel.”Union Seminary Quarterly Review 38 (1983): 203-224.

Brown, Harold O. J. “Covenant and Dispensation.”Trinity Journal 2 (Spring 1981): 69-70.

Brown, Wesley H. “Christian Understanding of Biblical Prophecy, Israel and the Land, and the Christian-Jewish Encounter.”Immanuel 18 (Fall 1984): 79-95.

Busenitz, Irvin. “Introduction to the Biblical Covenants: The Noahic Covenant and the Priestly Covenant.”The Master’s Seminary Journal 10 (1999): 173-89.

Cooper, Charles. “The Use of Amos 9:11,12 in Acts 15:13-18.”Th.M. Thesis, Capital Seminary, 1985 (TREN, #014-0036).

Crutchfield, Larry. “The Doctrine of Ages and Dispensations As Found in the Published Works of John Nelson Darby.”Ph.D. Dissertation, Drew University, 1985.

______. “Rudiments of Dispensationalism in the Anti-Nicene Period.”Bibliotheca Sacra 144 (1987): 254-276, 377-399.

Dekar, Paul. “Does the State of Israel Have Theological Significance.”Conrad Grebel Review 2 (1984): 31-46.

Dixon, Larry. “Have the ‘Jewels of the Church’ Been Found Again?”The Irving-Darby Debate on Miraculous Gifts.”Evangelical Journal 5 (Fall 1987): 78-92.

Dorsey, David A.“The Law of Moses and the Christian.”Journal of Evangelical Theological Society34 (Sept. 1991).*

Esser, H.“Law.”The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology.Ed. Colin Brown.

Essex, Keith H. “The Abrahamic Covenant.”The Master’s Seminary Journal 10 (1999): 191-212.

Feinberg, John S. “Truth, Meaning and Inerrancy in Contemporary Evangelical Thought.”Journal of Evangelical Theological Society 26 (March 1983): 17-30.

______.“Salvation in the Old Testament.”Tradition and Testament.Ed. John S. and Paul D. Feinberg.

Freeman, Hobart E.“The Efficacy of Old Testament Sacrifices.”Grace Journal4 (1963).

Gade, Ralph M. “Is God Through With the Jews?”Grace Journal 11 (1970): 21-33.

Greenburg, Gershon. “Fundamentalists, Israel, and Theological Openness.”Christian-Jew Relations 19 (1986): 27-33.

Gridley, Barry W. “The Offer of the Kingdom: A Defense of the Dispensational Interpretation.”Th.M. Thesis, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1984 (TREN, #002-0338).

Grisanti, Michael A. “The Davidic Covenant.”The Master’s Seminary Journal 10 (1999): 233-50.

Gromaki, Gary. “A Critique of the Use of Galatians 3 in the Theological Systems of A. Pieters, D. Fuller and A. Hoekema.” Th.M. Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1984 (TREN, #001-022234).

Hagelberg, David. “The Designation ‘The Kingdom of Heaven.”Th.M. Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983 (TREN, #001-0055).

Harbin, Michael. “The Hermeneutics of Covenant Theology.”Bibliotheca Sacra 143 (1986): 246-259.

Hoch, Carl. “The Significance of the Sny-Compounds for Jew-Gentile Relations in the body of Christ.”Journal of Evangelical Theological Society 25 (1982): 175-183.

Holt, Michael. “The Millennial Sacrificial System of Ezekiel 40-48.”Th.M. Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983 (TREN, #001-0065).

Houghton, George. “Some Issues Relating to Law and Grace in Dispensationalism.” Unpublished paper presented to the American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries. Kansas City, KS, 1995.

Houghton, G. G. “Lewis Sperry Chafer, 1871-1952.”Bibliotheca Sacra 128 (1971): 291-299.

Howard, Tracy. “The Use of Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15.”Th.M. Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1984 (TREN, #001-0241).

Ice, Thomas. “A Critical Examination of ‘Progressive Dispensationalism’.”Biblical Perspective5 (1992): 1-6.

Jeremiah, David. “The Principle of Double Fulfillment in Interpreting Prophecy.”Grace Journal 13 (1972): 13-29.

Johnson, Elliott.“Hermeneutics and Dispensationalism,” in Walvoord: A Tribute.Ed. Donald K. Campbell.

Johnston, Robert. “Does Scripture Teach Millennialism: An Exegetical-Expositional Study of the Passages of Scripture Which Are Used to Support the Millennial Doctrine.”S.T.M. Thesis, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 1983 (TREN, #041-0002).

Kaiser, Walter C. “God's Promise Plan and His Gracious Law.”Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (1990).*

______.“The Eschatological Hermeneutics of ‘Evangelicalism’: Promise Theology.”Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society(1970).

______. “Davidic Promise and the Inclusion of the Gentiles (Amos 9:9-15 and Acts 15:13-18): A Test Passage for Theological Systems.”Journal of Evangelical Theological Society 20 (1977): 97-111.

______. “The Promised Land: A Biblical-Historical View.”Bibliotheca Sacra 138 (1981): 302-316.

______. “The Promise to David in Psalm 16 and Its Application in Acts 2:25-33 and 13:32-37.”Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 22 (1980): 219-229.

Karleen, Paul S.“Understanding Covenant Theologians.”Grace Journal(1989).

Kline, Meredith G. “The Covenant of the 70th Week” in The Law and the Prophets. Edited by John H. Skilton.Nutley, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1974. 452-469.

Kurtanek, Nickolas.“Excellencies of Dispensationalism.”Grace Journal, Spring (1962).

Lightner, Robert. “Theological Perspectives on Theonomy.”Bibliotheca Sacra 143 (1986): 26-36, 134-145, 228-245.

Lincoln, Charles F.“The Development of the Covenant Theory.”Bibliotheca Sacra(1943).

Longenecker, Richard.“The Pedagogical Nature of the Law,”Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society(1982).*

Martin, Brice L.“Paul On Christ and the Law.”Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society(1983).*

Martin, John A.“Dispensational Approaches to the Sermon on the Mount.”Essays in Honor of J. Dwight Pentecost.Ed. Toussaint & Dyer.

Merrill, Eugene N.“Covenant and the Kingdom: Genesis 1-3 as Foundation For Biblical Theology.”Criswell Theological Review(1987).

McCune, Rolland.“Is Prophecy Being Fulfilled Today?”Central Testimony(1981).

______. “An Investigation and Criticism of ‘Historical’ Premillennialism from the Viewpoint of Dispensationalism.”Th.D. Dissertation, Grace Theological Seminary, 1972 (TREN, #009-0169).

______. “The Hermeneutics of Dispensationalism, or, What is Literal Interpretation?” Unpublished paper presented to the American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries. Kansas City, Kansas, 1995.

Moo, Douglas.“Law, ‘Works of the Law,' and Legalism in Paul.”Westminster Theological Journal(1983).

______.“Paul and the Law in the Last Ten Years.”Scottish Journal of Theology, 40.