Apostolic Friends Forum - Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

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Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

Is there anyone that can articulate the basic differences? What are other ways of viewing Scripture?

Re: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

I'm specifically interested in a clear, concise comparison. A link would suffice.

Re: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

Dispensationalism and Covenant theology differ on this major issue.

Disp teaching says that a mistake occurred when Israel rejected Jesus, since Israel was planned to accept Jesus. This caused a postponement of the Kingdom that was supposed to come when Israel accepted Jesus. The kingdom would instead come after a parenthesis in God's plan, due to the rejection by Israel, called the church. The church is a parenthesis. Since God postponed the Kingdom, the church was able to come into existence.

(Makes one wonder what would have occurred if Israel did accept Jesus, according to Disp thinking. No church?)

Covenant theology, on the other hand, claims that every covenant from the start progressively led to the present one with the church, and that Israel was expected to enter into the New covenant in the church, and, in fact, did, except for those who rejected truth. The church was for Israel. And the church opened its doors to the gentile world as well, as foretold in the Old Testament, predominantly Isaiah.

Also, disp teaching says the church was overlooked by the O.T. prophets, whereas Covenant Theology most assuredly says it was not overlooked.

Here are some links and statements:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

As a framework for biblical interpretation, covenant theology stands in contrast to dispensationalism in regard to the relationship between the Old Covenant with national Israel and the New Covenant in Christ's blood. Regarding the theological status of modern day Jewish people, covenant theology is often referred to as "supersessionism," or "replacement theology" by its detractors, due to the perception that it teaches that God has abandoned the promises made to the Jews and has replaced the Jews with Christians as his chosen people in the earth. Covenant theologians deny that God has abandoned his promises to Israel, but see the fulfillment of the promises to Israel in the person and the work of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, who established the church in organic continuity with Israel, not a separate replacement entity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikiepedia

All dispensationalists perceive a clear distinction between Israel and the church, particularly as different groups who receive a different set of promises. Dispensationalists hold that God provided the nation of Israel with specific promises that will be fulfilled at a future time in the Jews. The Church has received a different set of promises than that of Israel. Most dispensationalists also recognize "membership" overlap between Israel and the Church. Jewish Christians such as Paul, Peter and John are in this category. While most do not believe that Israel and the church are mutually exclusive groups, there is a small minority of past and present dispensationalists who do. Those who do hold that Israel and the church are mutually exclusive include some classical dispensationalists and virtually all ultradispensationalists.

Re: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

I don't endorse everything on this site,but it provokes thought.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/DeafPreterist/compare.html

Re: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

Another site I don't agree with everything on,but it has some good info.
http://www.goehringenterprises.com/B...gy%20Chart.htm

Re: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

Basically, dispensationalists think the promises of God to Israel remain unfulfilled, and require a future "kingdom" for Israel. Covenant Theologians argue that all the promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the church. All of them.

Re: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfblume (Post 750920)

Do those who believe in Covenant Theology accept the divisions in Scripture, with how God deals with man (Age of Innocence, Conscience, Grace, Law, etc...)?

I obviously grew up never considering anything other that Dispensationalism -- it just made a lot of sense. Naturally, your explanation seems geared toward the debate on the forum about the Second Coming. Is that all it affects? Chronologically, mfblume, what is coming next for the church. Tribulation? Where do you see the church in the spectrum of history?

Re: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaithtoFaith (Post 750965)

Do those who believe in Covenant Theology accept the divisions in Scripture, with how God deals with man (Age of Innocence, Conscience, Grace, Law, etc...)?

Yes. But not as Disp does. Covenant Theology places these as progressions towards Grace. Disp teaches these were various attempts to show man his failure.

Quote:

I obviously grew up never considering anything other that Dispensationalism -- it just made a lot of sense. Naturally, your explanation seems geared toward the debate on the forum about the Second Coming. Is that all it affects?

No, I think it affects the entire scope of how God does things and how we view Him.

And, also, it deals with how God works in the world especially with the church and the rest of the world, since Disp teaches what we deny... The Church and Israel are two forever separate entities. Covenant Theology says Israel is meant to come into the church.

Quote:

Chronologically, mfblume, what is coming next for the church. Tribulation? Where do you see the church in the spectrum of history?

The rapture which takes us straight to the white throne.