THE RIGHT-DIVIDER'S POCKET STARTER - Part Four (Dispensational; Non-Caucus)

My Writings & Compilations | September 29, 2010 | John Leland 1789

[John Leland 1789]

Epistles

1. Paul's Epistles (Jew & Gentile)

a. Acts Period Epistles (General Course: to the Jew First and also to the Greek—Romans 1:16) These may be considered the "Childhood" Epistles relative to the sign gifts, their doting over Israel as a nation, and the limits therein as to progressive revelation (1 Corinthians 3:1, 2; 13:11; 14:20; Hebrews 5:11-14; etc.).

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

Hebrews

b. Post Acts Period Epistles (General Object: the Body of Christ) "One New Man"—Neither Jew Nor Gentile) These may be regarded as the "Adulthood" or "Full-Age" Epistles; not mentioning sign gifts, nor giving much time, if any, to Israel's nationhood. Also conspicuous is the absence of instruction for physical ordinances. They are at the apex of progressive revelation for Church Age doctrine.

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Another useful arrangement has been suggested for Paul's Gentile Church Epistles as follows (this does not include the Pastoral Epistles or the Hebrew Epistle):

I. FOUNDATION – The Doctrines of Grace

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

II. FULNESS – The Dispensation of Grace

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

III. FUTURE – The Determination of Grace (or, What will happen when the Day of Grace is Consumated)

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

2. General Epistles (Jewish/Circumcision Emphasis and Flavor) written during the Acts period (that is, during the history accounted in the Acts of the Apostles, when it was God’s purpose to save by the election of Grace a remnant of that generation which had rejected Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit)

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Gifts

1. Gifts of Ministry to Others. Romans 12:3-8; etc.

2. Gifts, Signs to Israelitish Unbelievers. Mark 16:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; James ch. 5; Revelation ch. 11; etc.

3. Gifts of Men/Ministers to the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:7-(v. 11)-16.

Apostles (no more given, unless in the sense of missionaries, “apostles without the signs”)

Prophets (no more given, unless in the sense of “telling forth,” preaching)

Evangelists (still given)

Pastors and Teachers (still given)

Godhead (Trinity)

1. God the Father: Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 68:5; 89:26; Isaiah 9:6; 63:16; 64:8; Matthew 5:16, 45, 48; Acts 1:4, 7; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 4:6; Hebrews 12:9; etc.

2. God the Son: Psalm 2:7, 12; 144:3; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 16:16; 22:42-45; 27:54; John 1:18, 34; 3:16ff; Acts 9:20; Romans 1:3, 4; 8:3, 32; Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 1:2, 5, 8; 2:6; 2 Peter 1:17; 1 John 2:23; 4:15; Revelation 1:13; 2:18; etc.

3. God the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost: Isaiah 63:10; Zechariah 4:6; Mark 3:28-30; John 14:16-18, 26; 20:22; 16:8, 13; Acts 5:3, 4; 8:15; 13:52; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30; Hebrews 2:4; 9:14; etc.

4. Godhead (Trinity) in Unity: Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18, 22; 4:4-6; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7, 8; etc.

Gospels—Books

As distinguished from the Epistles, the Four Gospels are not (doctrinally) the beginning of the New Testament, but rather the completion of the Old Testament. They are not concerned with the founding of the Church of the current dispensation or with the beginning of Christianity. Collectively they deal with the (1.) proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven; (2.) proclamation of the King; (3.) rejection of the King; and finally, (4.) the rejection and thus temporary forfeiture of the Kingdom.

1. Matthew: The Gospel of Jehovah's King—The Lion (Ezekiel 1:10; Revelation 4:7). Zechariah 9:9; Jeremiah 23:5, 6; 33:15; The Royal Genealogy is from Abraham downward to King David and on to Christ (1:1-17). He is presented as what He is before Man (relatively) the highest earthly position: the King.

2. Mark: The Gospel of Jehovah's Servant—The Ox/Calf (Ezekiel 1:10; Revelation 4:7). Isaiah 42:1; Zechariah 3:8. No genealogy is required for a servant. He is presented as what He is before God (relatively) the lowest earthly position: the ideal Servant.

3. Luke: The Gospel of Jehovah's Man—The Man (Ezekiel 1:10; Revelation 4:7). Zechariah 6:12. The human genealogy is upward to Adam (Luke 3:23-38). He is presented as what He is before Man (intrinsically): the ideal Man.

4. John: The Gospel of Jehovah Himself—The Eagle (Ezekiel 1:10; Revelation 4:7). Isaiah 4:2; 40:9. No genealogy is required for God. He is presented as what He is before God (intrinsically): God in the Flesh!

Gospels—Doctrine or Message

1. The Everlasting Gospel: Revelation 14:6, 7. Related to the messages of Jude 14,15; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5; etc.

2. The Gospel of the Kingdom See Kingdoms Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 10:7; 24:14; Mark 1:14; Luke 9:2; 10:9. Related to the subject matter of Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:4 w/ Galatians 3:16; Genesis 15:8-21; 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Isaiah 8:8; 9:6, 7; Matthew 1:21; 2:2, 6; ch. 13; 22:1-14; Luke 1:68-79; 2:10; 14:15-24; etc.

3. The Gospel of the Uncircumcision: Galatians 2:7. Referring to the fact that Paul had truth revealed to him that the Twelve did not have. This is why Paul had to emphasize that God had given him special revelation, directly from Jesus Christ, and not from any of the other Apostles or any other man (Galatians 1:11, 12). The other Apostles added nothing in the way of truth to Paul (Galatians 2:6).

4. The Gospel of the Circumcision: Galatians 2:7. Distinguishing the Gospel which had originally been committed to Peter and the Twelve. It is involved in the Covenant of Circumcision made with Abraham (Genesis ch. 17), which was the issue in Acts 15 when Paul went up by revelation to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1, 2). Circumcision was not to be binding on the Gentile believers: this was not known until after Paul's ministry began.

5. The Gospel of God: Romans 1:1-4; 15:16; 2 Corinthians 11:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 8, 9; 1 Peter 4:17. Related to Acts 2:23-36; 3:12-21; 4:2, 10-12; 5:29-32; 10:34-43; 13:23-39; etc. It is a very general designation. It is sometimes focusing on that aspect of truth that the King who was rejected and put to death (as was His forerunner) is now risen from among the dead, and there is a re-offer to Israel from the risen Messiah through the Spirit of God empowering the witness of those same Apostles (see Acts 4:33) and now Paul. This, too, was the burden of Paul's preaching (Acts 17:1-3, 7, 18, 31, 32). The renewed offer was preached in its wider aspect of the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22; 19:8).

6. Paul's "My Gospel": Romans 16:25. Focusing particularly on the revelation, through him, of the mystery of the Body of Christ, "which was kept secret since the world began." Related closely to Ephesians ch. 3.

7. The Gospel of Christ: Romans 1:16; 15:19, 29; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 18; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 9:13; 10:14; Galatians 1:7; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 3:2. Rather general, but focusing on the truth that Christ Himself is the object of faith.

8. The Gospel of Peace: Romans 10:15 w/ Isaiah 52:7; Ephesians 6:15. Peace, of course, is a characteristic of both the Gospel of the Grace of God and the Gospel of the Kingdom.

9. The Gospel of the Grace of God: Acts 20:24; Romans 3:19-28; 11:5, 12, 15, 28; 16:25, 26; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Ephesians 1:6-14; 2:8, 9; Colossians 1:19-29; Titus 3:5; etc. Obviously focusing upon the depraved sinner's need to rely solely upon the undeserved favor of God for deliverance from condemnation; made possible only by virtue of the Substitution of Christ in judgment on and payment for sin.

10. The Gospel of the Glory of Christ: 2 Corinthians 4:4. Connected with Christ's exaltation as Head over all things to His Church. Related to Ephesians 1:22, 23; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:14-19. It encompasses, not only the present Glory of Christ, but the ultimate defeat of Satan, the crushing of his head, the subjugation of all spiritual beings, powers, principalities, authorities, dominions, thrones (Genesis 3:15; Revelation ch. 20; etc.)

[John Leland 1789]

I had misnumbered Part Five at

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2593864/posts

So we are simply calling this one Part Four.

[wmfights]

I guess that makes you human. ;-)

Interesting series.

I haven't divided the dispensations/economies to this extent.

[troublesome creek]

bump for later

[Seven_0]

As distinguished from the Epistles, the Four Gospels are not (doctrinally) the beginning of the New Testament, but rather the completion of the Old Testament.

I have read your Right-Dividers series and I must say that this Statement is confusing to me. Are you implying that the Old and New Testaments give us different doctrine? Do the Gospels belong in the Old Testament?

Where are your divisions? The first division in the Bible divides it into two testaments. Did they get it right?

What does non-caucus mean?