Dispensationalism - Sorting Fact from Fiction

This "study" is a survey through the concepts Dispensationalism presents; although admittedly it's not particularly well organized. It "looks a little weird" and is "set up a little strangely" as a Bible study; because it began as a series of exchanges between myself and a Dispensationalist which pretty much took place as an exchange of Bible verses. This person would give me verses to support his position and I'd research these verses and give an answer. This compilation is the result of those exchanges.

The first presupposition addressed here, is in regards to the concept held by Dispensationalism that the apostles did not understand because of the "dispensation" they were living in. (We will learn later that "dispensation" as defined by the Greek words, has nothing to do with time.)

Although it's true, the apostles didn't understand much of what Jesus was talking about; that all changed when Pentecost occurred. From Pentecost to judgment day; the Holy Spirit has given us all we need to understand about Jesus Christ and what He accomplished from the Scriptures.

So these first verses address what the apostles knew, when they knew it and why that changed: This negates the dispensationalist teaching that certain truths are hid from the "Jews" until some further future time.

Luke 18:34 -They did not understand at the time (Jesus speaks to them of his death just as Passover is approaching) vs. 31 says they were heading to Jerusalem.

They come to understand "all things" when the Holy Spirit is poured out. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" John 14:26

Luke picks this up in the beginning of his gospel. "…having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto you, most excellent Theophilus." Luke 1:3

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." 1 John 2:27

Acquisition of Understanding:

So right here we have the explanation of why they didn't understand at the time. They would come to understand from the point the Holy Spirit was poured out; because He was the One who'd teach them all God wanted them to know.

So from the point that the New Testament Scripture is completed, until the end of time; God has revealed through the Scripture all He wants us to know. Now how much understanding individuals gain depends on a lot of different factors. Some of those factors are purely "organic". A person with an IQ of 60 is not going to have the same capacity of acquisition of knowledge as someone with an IQ of 130.

Also greater understanding of Scripture comes with not just studying it; but also knowing how to study it. The Bible is its own dictionary, commentary and interpreter. What ever question someone has about the Scripture, they will find the answer in the Scripture. Now uncovering those answers may require digging; but the answers are there.

So how do you study the Bible? By comparing Scripture with Scripture; line upon line, precept upon precept.

"Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" Isaiah 28:9-10

Romans 16:24-26 - Now this passage is beneficial to quote because it's telling you what I just said:

"…Now to him who is of power to establish you…." Who is that "him" / (or rather Him)? That is the Holy Spirit. How is this done? "….according to my gospel and the preaching Jesus Christ…"

Now what's the next piece of informant he's telling us about this preaching of the gospel? "…according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from since the world began…"

Is it still a secret? "…But NOW is made manifest…" (No, it's not still a secret.)

The Greek word "now" here means either something established in the recent past going forward, present tense, or present tense moving into the future. Which one of these is dependent on prefix or suffix used; but this word "now" always entails present tense contemporary to the point the passage was penned.

Now how is it made manifest? (He tells us in the next phrase.) "…by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God…."

Now who is it made manifest too? (The next phrase tells us that!) "…..made manifest to ALL NATIONS…" This is not just "made manifest to the gentiles until the eyes of the Jews are opened" - No, it's made manifest to "all nations".

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 - Now this is a fascinating passage. I'd never noticed this before as related to the context of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit; but it explains why the Romans crucified Christ.

"… we speak (present indicative active voice - means present tense is being currently accomplished by the subject of the verb tied to the time of speaking) the wisdom of God upon the mystery, the hidden (perfect participle passive - perfect participle stresses the state brought about by the finished result of an action. Passive voice means the action was performed by someone other than the subject.) which God ordained before the world unto our glory:"

So what this verse means, is that Paul is speaking of a mystery that had been hidden; but is no longer hidden, which God had ordained before the world unto our glory.

What had God ordained before the world? The mystery.

Why is it a glory unto us? It's a glory unto us, because God has chosen to reveal what had previously been hidden.

When did He do that? He did it at Pentecost. The agent of action of the revealing of that mystery is the Holy Spirit.

The next verse explains the result: "Which none of the princes of this world knew because if they had known, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory."

This here verse gives one fascinating insight as to why the Holy Spirit was not poured out prior to the resurrection. Because if that mystery had been known by humanity because of the pouring forth of the Spirit, the atonement would have never happened because those appointed to the task would not have performed it.

Fascinating - absolutely fascinating!

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 - The two things that jump out to me immediately about this passage are:

1. the first of what Paul had received: Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again.

2. That all this happened "according to the Scriptures".

The mystery that was hidden was what was written in the Old Testament. Now verses 5 - 8; he gives a chronological order of who saw Jesus and when they saw him. He was first seen by Cephas.

Cephas in this reference, I don't believe is Peter. Cephas I believe is probably the cemetery caretaker's son. He would have been the first person to the grave and also the person who gave Jesus clothing. (Jesus would have emerged from the tomb naked.) Remember Mary Magdalene thought Jesus was the cemetery caretaker. Why would she have thought that? Probably because of what he was wearing. Mary Magdalene was the first of his public followers recorded to have seen Jesus.

"then he was seen of the 12" Peter is one of the 12, so therefore further evidence that I don't believe this Cephas is Peter. Thus also Mary Magdalene saw Jesus before any of the 12 did.

"seen of more than 500… James… all the apostles… last of all…me." (Paul)

Galatians 2 & Ephesians 3 - I'll address at the end, because you didn't give me specific verses.