Replies

Jude,

For further research for your paper on the history of Dispensationalism, here is an essay written by Earnest Riesinger; a Calvinistic Baptist, on "THE HISTORY OF DISPENSATIONALISM IN AMERICA" =
http://www.preteristarchive.com/dEmEnTiA/reisinger-ernest_dd_01.html

But; if you want the real "Lowdown" on the THEOLOGY as well as the history of "old line Scofieldian" Dispensationalism, Dr. John Gerstner,(who was R.C. Sproul's mentor) has written the most scholarly, definitive analysis of Dispensationalism that I've yet seen in print; the title is "WRONGLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH, a critique of Dispensationalism" . You can find this book here =
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1573580686/qid=1075415749/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/103-5000785-7047818?v=glance&s=books

Keep in mind that this style of "Old Line" Dispensationalism is no longer being taught in any of the major conservative Seminaries; even those seminaries, like Dallas Theological Seminary; which was founded "foursquare" on the Scofield Bible, is no longer teaching "Old Line" Dispensationalism; and has not taught it for some years now.

"Old Line" Dispensationalism is now only being taught through novels; like the "Left Behind" series, or by TV Evangelists; who prey on the uninformed by sensationalist tactics. It's still very popular in the pew though; since most American conservative Christians have been raised with the Scofield Bible. Again, this theology is no longer being taught in the majority of conservative seminaries.

Rather; most conservative Seminaries are largely teaching what is called "Progressive Dispensationalism"; which is close in many ways to classic Covenant Theology. The best book that explains this newer form of Dispensationalism is "PROGRESSIVE DISPENSATIONALISM" by Craig Blaising, and Darrell Bock. You can find it here =
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0801022436/103-5000785-7047818?v=glance

I don't know that a website entitled "preterist archive" is a good source for an analysis of dispensationalism. Similarly, Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth seems way too biased.

"Old Line" Dispensationalism is no longer being taught in any of the major conservative Seminaries; even those seminaries, like Dallas Theological Seminary; which was founded "foursquare" on the Scofield Bible, is no longer teaching "Old Line" Dispensationalism; and has not taught it for some years now.

Is that true? I know Dallas is getting a rep amongst the more doctrinaire of the Brethren as "wishy-washy" on dispensationalism because of Bock and Blasing, and that Swindall wanted to move Dallas away from being "too dispensational," but I wasn't under the impression that Dallas itself has shifted entirely.

(BC: I grew up with a Scofield Bible, and my church taught me Classical Dispensationalism. I've largely shifted away from that position. I don't affirm as sharp a distinction between the church and Israel as the classical dispensationalist does, though I do affirm that there are fundamental differences between the Old Covenant and New Covenant dispensations.)

Gotta run to help with one of those eeeeeevil parachurch ministries on campus... ;-)