Progressive Dispensationalism in Comparison to Normative Dispensationalism

Introduction

When discussing Progressive Dispensationalism (PD) it is important to first establish its origin and a working definition so as to distinguish it from other theological systems. PD began its public life at the annual Evangelical Theological Society meeting in Atlanta Georgia in 1986. It’s main formulators were Darrel L. Bock and Craig A. Blaising, out of Dallas Theological Seminary, and Robert L. Saucy out of Talbot Theological Seminary. [1] These men put forward a critique and adjustment of Normative Dispensationalism (ND) that was different enough to merit defining an entirely new system.

The 7 Dispensations in Normative Dispensationalism

Introduction

Depending on one’s dispensational theology, as few as three dispensations can be argued over in scripture. In the passage that most clearly gives the basis for Dispensationalism, Ephesians 1-3, there are at least three spoken of. However, most dispensationalists will hold to a seven-dispensation view. These are the seven that will be discussed in this paper: Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Patriarchal Rule, Law, Grace, and Millennium. Each dispensation, or economy of government between God and man, follows loosely the same pattern. A test or requirement is given from God to man, man fails to meet the standard set by God, God issues a judgment on man and ushers in a new dispensation. The main source to be used in this paper is Charles Ryrie’s Dispensationalism: Revised and Expanded, because it is, by far, the seminal work when discussing dispensationalism and provides ample explanation of the normative view on the dispensations, so not much else is needed. Other sources will be used to inform generally, but will not be directly quoted or supply unique ideas to their work that require citation. [1]

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit: A Systematic Analysis

Introduction

The following is an attempt to concisely identify and explain the most prominent characteristics of the Holy Spirit revealed in Scripture in a systematic way. It is a daunting task and so a few shortcuts have been taken that should be clarified up front. The basic structure and attributes of the Holy Spirit that form the outline of this paper have been borrowed from Charles Ryrie’s Basic Theology, a book that does a good job of explaining the bare essentials of theology in plain English for anyone to read. Basic Theology will be the primary source in this paper just behind the scriptures themselves, and other Systematic Theologies will act as support works. One other shortcut taken is that not every scripture about the Holy Spirit will be analyzed. Ideally, every single reference in the Bible to the Holy Spirit would appear in this paper and would be exposited to understand what it tells us about the Holy Spirit’s character, but this is an unrealistic goal for a ten- to twelve-page paper. The point of this paper is to get the basics, not the particulars. That being said, the attributes of the Holy Spirit that will be discussed are: (1) His Personhood, (2) His Deity, (3) His Indwelling Work, (4) His Filling Work, (5) His Baptizing Work, (6) His Sealing Work, and (7) His Gifting Work.