Resources On Dispensationalism

Dispensationalism describes a way of reading the Bible and a system of theology the nearest roots of which are in the 19th century. There have been premillennial (traditionally known as “chiliastic) movements, including some Reformed theologians, since the early church but most of them have been what is known as “historic premillennialists” since their system lacked the distinctive features of Dispensational premillennialism. It can be a surprise for Dispensationalists to discover that 1) that they are part of a tradition; 2) that their tradition is quite modern. Most Dispensationalists are part of the so-called Bible Church movement, which has not typically emphasized the history of the church. The blessing of Dispensationalism is that it gives a great lot of attention to the Bible, which can mean that when presented with strong arguments from Scripture that Dispensationalists are willing to hear them. The curse of Dispensationalism has been that they are so certain that their system is that of Scripture that they see no need to investigate their place in history or their relation to other traditions or even to consider whether some or all of what they believe may be incorrect.

The resources below contain a variety of materials. Some of them address Dispensationalism directly and others address it indirectly. Some of them provide an introduction to Reformed alternatives to Dispensationalist views and methods. Some of them address how Scripture is read among Dispensationalists and offer alternatives. Some of the materials are biographical, stories of ex-Dispensationalists who discovered historic Reformation (specifically Reformed) theology, piety, and practice. Some of the materials address contemporary intra-Dispensational arguments (e.g., the so-called Lordship  Controversy) and its consequences and others sketch the Reformed alternative.

Bibliography

  1. Allis, Oswald T. Modern Dispensationalism and the Doctrine of the Unity of Scripture. London: James Clarke & Co, 1936.
  2. Allis, Oswald T. Modern Dispensationalism and the Law of God. London: James Clarke & Co, 1936.
  3. Allis, Oswald T. Prophecy and the Church: An Examination of the Claim of Dispensationalists That the Christian Church Is a Mystery Parenthesis Which Interrupts the Fulfilment to Israel of the Kingdom Prophecies of the Old Testament. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub, 1945.
  4. Bass, Clarence B. Backgrounds to Dispensationalism: Its Historical Genesis and Ecclesiastical Implications. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977.
  5. Belcher, Richard P. A Comparison of Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology. Columbia, S.C.: Richbarry Press, 1986.
  6. Blaising, Craig A, and Darrell L Bock. Progressive Dispensationalism.  Grand Rapids, Mich.: BridgePoint, 2000.
  7. Blaising, Craig A. S.v., “Dispensation, Dispensationalism,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Daniel J. Treier and Walter A. Elwell. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017.
  8. Bock, Darrell L, Walter C Kaiser, and Craig A Blaising. Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church: The Search for Definition. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1992.
  9. Cox, William E. An Examination of Dispensationalism. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub, 1979.
  10. Crenshaw, Curtis I, and Grover Gunn. Dispensationalism Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow. Memphis, Tenn.: Footstool Publications, 1985.
  11. Crutchfield, Larry V. The Origins of Dispensationalism: The Darby Factor. Lanham: University Press of America, 1992.
  12. DeWitt, Dale Sumner. Dispensational Theology in America during the Twentieth Century: Theological Development and Cultural Context. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Grace Bible College, 2002.
  13. Ehlert, Arnold D. A Bibliographic History of Dispensationalism. BCH Bibliographic Series, No. 2. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1965.
  14. Gerstner, John H. A Primer on Dispensationalism. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub, 1982.
  15. Gerstner, John H. Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Critique of Dispensationalism. Brentwood, Tenn.: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1991.
  16. Hill, Charles E. Regnum Caelorum: Patterns of Future Hope in Early Christianity. Oxford Early Christian Studies. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992.
  17. Hoekema, Anthony A. The Bible and the Future. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1979.
  18. Hummel, Daniel G. The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle over the End Times Shaped a Nation. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2023.
  19. Kraus, C. Norman. Dispensationalism in America: Its Rise and Development. Richmond, VA: John Knox Press, 1958.
  20. Mangum, R. Todd. The Dispensational-Covenantal Rift: The Fissuring of American Evangelical Theology from 1936 to 1944. Studies in Evangelical History and Thought. Eugene, Or.: Wipf & Stock, 2007.
  21. Marsden, George M. Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth Century Evangelicalism, 1870-1925. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980.
  22. Mathison, Keith A. Dispensationalism Rightly Dividing the People of God? Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub, 1995.
  23. Parker, Brent E, and Richard James Lucas, eds. Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies : Four Views on the Continuity of Scripture. Spectrum Multiview Books. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, an imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2022.
  24. Poythress, Vern S. Understanding Dispensationalists. 2nd ed. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub, 1994.
  25. Riddlebarger, Kim. A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2003.
  26. Riddlebarger, Kim. The Man of Sin: Uncovering the Truth About the Antichrist. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2006.
  27. Rowdon, H. H.  S.v., “Dispensationalism” in Sinclair B. Ferguson and J.I. Packer, ed. New Dictionary of Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
  28. Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Dispensationalism Today. Chicago: Moody Press, 1965.
  29. Saucy, Robert L. The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism: The Interface between Dispensational & Non-Dispensational Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1993.
  30. Storms, C. Samuel. Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative. Fearn, Scotland: Mentor, 2013.
  31. Venema, Cornelis P. The Promise of the Future. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2000.
  32. Williams, Michael D. This World Is Not My Home: The Origins and Development of Dispensationalism. Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Mentor, 2003.

Articles and Quotations

  1. Can Dispensationalists Be Reformed? (Part 1)
  2. Can Dispensationalists Be Reformed? (Part 2)
  3. We Condemn Jewish Dreams Of A Golden Age
  4. Dispensationalism’s Millennial Memorial Sacrifices: A Regression To Types And Shadows
  5. Good News! The Dividing Wall Is Gone
  6. Southern Presbyterian Church On Dispensationalism In 1944
  7. Berkhof Contra Dispensationalism On The Essential Unity Of Redemptive History
  8. Three Things Dispensational Apologists Should Stop Saying
  9. Dispensationalism May Get You Arrested
  10. The Gospel According To Jesus, Grace, Salvation, And Sanctification
  11. Is There An Apostolic Hermeneutic And Can We Imitate it?
  12. Good News! The Dividing Wall Is Gone
  13. What Preaching Christ From All Of Scripture Does And Does Not Mean
  14. Covenant Theology Is Not Replacement Theology
  15. Antinomianism Is A Serious Error And So Is Nomism
  16. Dismantling the “Rapture”
  17. The USA Is Not Old Testament Israel
  18. What Would Calvin Say (About Premillennialism)?
  19. Are The Ten Commandments For Christians?
  20. Daniel P. Fuller’s Doctrine Of Justification: Antithetical To The Reformation
  21. Daniel P. Fuller’s Doctrine Of Justification: Antithetical To The Reformation
  22. Background On The Current Salvation Controversy
  23. Heidelberg 50: Christ Reigns Now (1)
  24. Heidelberg 50: Christ Reigns Now (2)
  25. We Are Not Polishing Brass On A Sinking Ship
  26. The Israel Of God
  27. Reading the Prophets With The New Testament (1)
  28. Reading the Prophets With The New Testament (2)
  29. Harrison Perkins, Kingdom Through Covenant: A Review (1)
  30. Harrison Perkins, Kingdom Through Covenant: A Review (2)
  31. Resources For A Redemptive-Historical Reading Of Scripture
  32. Resources On The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace
  33. Resources For Those Beginning To Study Covenant Theology
  34. And Now for Something Completely Different: Amillennialism
  35. A Case for A-millennialism Available on Kindle
  36. What Preaching Christ From All Of Scripture Does And Does Not Mean
  37. Kim Riddlebarger, “Jesus—The True Temple”
  38. Kim Riddlebarger, On The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism

Audio

  1. Audio: With Chris Gordon And AGR On Replacement Theology
  2. Office Hours: What the Bible Actually Says About the End Times
  3. Office Hours: From Ryrie To Reformed
  4. With No Compromise Radio On The Lordship Controversy, QIRE, And The Reformation
  5. Office Hours: The Lordship Controversy Is Back
  6. Audio: Amillennialism 101
  7. Heidelcast 95: Reformation Happens
  8. Audio: With New Geneva On Reformed Amillennialism (1)
  9. With The New Geneva Podcast On Amillennialism (Part 2)
  10. Heidelcast 99: The Noah Paradigm
  11. As It Was In The Days Of Noah: A Commentary On 1 and 2 Peter
  12. Office Hours: What the Bible Actually Says About the End Times
  13. Audio: Strimple On Premillennialism
  14. Audio: Strimple On Amillennialism (1)
  15. Audio: Strimple On Amillennialism (2)
  16. New Audio: With Theology Gals On Covenant Theology And The Church
  17. With Bill Feltner On Distinguishing The Jerusalem From Above From The Jerusalem That Is Below
  18. Office Hours: Complete Audio Commentary On Hebrews

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