Covenant Theology and
Dispensationalism
Systematic Theology
I.
Key Differences
a.
b.
Method of
Interpretation (Hermeneutics) – Spiritualization or Literal
c.
God’s relation to
man – 2 covenants or 7 dispensations
II.
Covenant (Federal)
Theology: All scripture viewed in light
of Abrahamic Covenant.
a.
History
i.
Not found in the
writings of early church
ii.
Only formalized
in the 1600s. First formalization was in
the Westminster Confession in 1647.
iii.
Does not appear in
the writings of Reformers such as Luther, Zwingli, or Calvin.
iv.
Some elements are
old – Augustine (354-430) used an allegorical method of interpretation to
create amillenialism (no literal thousand year reign
of Christ).
b.
Two or Three
Covenants define God’s relation to man
i.
Covenant of Works
(Life)
1.
The reward for
obedience was life.
2.
In force only
during the time of Adam
3.
Covenant is
implied by Genesis 2:16-17: “…for when
you eat of it, you shall surely die.” [NIV]
4.
Condition was
obedience: “[Y]ou
must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…”
5.
Reward was
eternal life.
6.
Punishment was
death.
7.
Some believe this
covenant is still in force. It is the
reason that the unsaved (reprobate?) must die.
It is also impossible to be met today because we have sin natures
through Adam (Rom. 5:12).
8.
Some believe it
is abrogated by Christ’s efficacious death.
ii.
Covenant of Grace
1.
Covenant made by
God with the elect in which he offers salvation to the elect sinner.
2.
Scriptural basis
is phrase “I will be God to you and to your descendants after you.” (Gen. 17:7
paraphrase)
3.
God provides his
Son’s death to pay for our sins and the Holy Spirit to help us live up to our
responsibilities.
4.
It is a
Trinitarian covenant (all 3 take part): The Father’s love created it, the Son
redeems us, the Spirit is its application.
5.
It is eternal and
unbreakable. It never changes.
6.
It is particular
– only applies to the elect.
iii.
Covenant of
Redemption
1.
Only believed by
some. Others roll this into the Covenant
of Grace. Two sides of one Covenant.
2.
Made between God the Father and God the Son in eternity past where they
“covenanted together” to redeem the human race.
3.
Christ would be
the 2nd Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) and be the
redeemer of (select) humanity.
c.
Implications
i.
The Old Testament
and the New Testament are under the same Covenant. This means:
1.
Everyone was
saved in the same way. Those saved, had
an understanding of Christ’s coming.
2.
The Law is still
in effect unless explicitly revoked like sacrifices in Hebrews. This would seem to violate the principles of
Galatians and Hebrews.
ii.
Forces
Allegorical Interpretation
1.
Promises made to
2.
If
3.
Biblical prophecy
should be interpreted allegorically (spiritually). Non-prophecy is still seen literally.
4.
Was the basis of
Augustine’s City of
iii.
Must unify Abrahamic covenant (physical, unconditional), Mosaic
covenant (law, conditional), and new covenant (spiritual, conditional). Gal 3:18 contrasts 1st and 2nd. Hebrews 8:6 contrasts 2nd and 3rd.
iv.
Implies Amillennialism or Postmillennialism.
III.
Dispensationalism: Scripture interpreted literally
a.
History
i.
Comes from Greek
word oikonomia
which means stewardship.
ii.
Justin Martyr
(110-165) recognizes several different economies in the Old Testament
(pre-Abraham, Abraham to Law, post Law).
iii.
Modern
Dispensationalism started with the Englishman John Nelson Darby (1800s)
1.
Advocated
historical-grammatical (literal) interpretation.
2.
iv.
C.I. Scofield (whose notes adorn many a Bible) came up with the
traditional 7 dispensations.
b.
Major Beliefs
i.
Different
economies involved in pleasing God over time.
God reveals his will and man has the responsibility to obey it.
ii.
Exact number
isn’t as important as recognizing that they exist.
iii.
Dispensations can
overlap.
iv.
Many agree to
these 7:
1.
Innocence: Time before Adam’s fall.
2.
Conscience: Time before the law (Romans 2:15, 5:13)
3.
Government: Time from Noah to Abraham. Capital Punishment. (Gen 8:15, 9:5-6)
4.
Promise: From Abraham to the Law (Gen 12:1)
5.
Law: Must obey the law to please God. Lasted until Church age in Acts 1:26. Very strict.
1 Chron 13:9-10 Uzza
is killed for touching the
6.
Grace: God saves man through his grace.
7.
Millenium: Christ rules
physically on earth for 1000 years (Rev. 20:4-6).
v.
Literal
interpretation is critical. Must
interpret everything literally unless otherwise stated (words like “as”).
1.
Some old
Testament Promises (like the Messiah) were literal. How do we decide which are merely spiritual?
2.
There are
otherwise no limits to what can be read into the scriptures (eisogesis).
Objectivity is lost.
3.
God is made a
deceiver of
vi.
The belief that
the Church and
vii.
God’s Glory is
the unifying theme (as opposed to salvation of man in Covenant Theology)
c.
Implications
i.
May be taken too
far.
1.
Some believe that
salvation was different in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. (We would believe the mechanism is always
faith, the object is always God, the basis is always the death of Christ, but
that the content of that faith changes based upon the revelation of God).
2.
Some chop up
large parts of the New Testament and say they apply only to
ii.
Premillenialism is the logical outcome. There will be a literal 1000 year reign of
Christ here on Earth.
iii.
We are not under
the law. Parts of the law were re-stated
by Christ and/or the Apostles but the rest is not to be applied to us.
iv.
The Church is a
new creation. It is the mystery of
Christ, revealed after his ascendance into heaven. It is not the progressive inheritor of the
physical promises of Abraham. It is not
v.
Abraham’s
descendants are twofold: physical and
spiritual. The promises made to him were
also twofold: physical and spiritual.
1.
I believe
Jeremiah 31: 27-34 to be a spiritual promise, applied to the Church in Hebrews
8:13.
2.
I believe Amos 9:11-12
to be a physical promise not yet fulfilled.
Covenant Theologists think it is applied to
the Church in Acts 15:15-18.