Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 118:470 (Apr 1961)
Article: An Outline Study on Dispensationalism
Author: Roy L. Aldrich

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BSac 118:470 (Apr 61) p. 133

An Outline Study on Dispensationalism

Roy L. Aldrich

[Roy L. Aldrich is President of the Detroit Bible College, Detroit, Michigan, and Visiting Bible Lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary.]

[Editor’s Note: This article was originally issued to students of the Dallas Theological Seminary in connection with Bible lectures on The Acts by Dr. Roy L. Aldrich, President of Detroit Bible College. Although not intended to be a comprehensive study, the material will be a ready source of reference for those who desire an outline study of dispensationalism.]

Extremes in dispensationalism should be avoided. There are two growing movements today; one is critical of all dispensationalism and may be called nondispensationalism, and the other carries dispensationalism too far and is usually called ultradispensationalism.

Definitions

“Dispensation (Gr. oikonomia), household management, stewardship, hence any provision of trust or the duties of that position, provision, arrangement.”1

“A dispensation then is a period of time in which God is dealing with men in some way in which He was not dealing with them before.”2

“Dispensationalism is that system of Biblical interpretation which interprets the Bible from the viewpoint of designated periods of time during which a particular revelation of God’s will and mind is operative, and during which man is tested in relation to that particular revelation.”3

“The period during which a particular revelation of God’s mind and will has been operative on mankind; as during the Christian dispensation; during the patriarchal dispensation.”4

“A dispensation is an era of time during which man is tested in respect to obedience to some definite revelation of God’s will. Seven such dispensations are recognized by many premillennialists. Other premillennialists speak of only three or four. Still others prefer not to be classed as dispensationalists at all.”5

“Ultra-dispensationalism: The prefix ultra signifies:

BSac 118:470 (Apr 61) p. 134

excessively, exceedingly, beyond what is common, ordinary, natural, right, proper, or the like.”6

“Hence, ultra-dispensationalism is that system of interpretation which goes beyond dispensationalism, and claims to find more than the...

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