Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 25:1 (Spring 2021)
Article: J. C. Ryle’s Views On Dispensationalism, Politics, And Culture
Author: Sung Cho

JMAT 25:1 (Spring 2021) p. 82

J. C. Ryle’s Views On Dispensationalism, Politics, And Culture

Sung Cho

Key Words: J. C. Ryle, dispensationalism, premillennialism, church, Israel, politics

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In recent times, admiration and respect are rightly paid to J. C. Ryle (1816–1900), whom J. I. Packer describes as a great man, Victorian, sufferer, evangelical, Puritan, Anglican, Bishop, and Preacher, among other titles.2 According to Packer, “If, from an evangelical standpoint, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the greatest Victorian preacher, John Charles Ryle was certainly the greatest Victorian tract writer.”3 His works, including the popular work Holiness, are characterized by lasting achievement, impact, and universality, and recognized by major publishers such as Banner of Trust, though he is not without detractors for his conservative stances.4

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Miska Wilheimsson believes, however, that the said publisher has overlooked Ryle’s work that clearly promotes his premillennialism and at least some agreement with modern dispensationalism: Coming Events and Present Duties: Being Plain Papers on Prophecy.5 The exact reason for the oversight cannot be verified, though Wilheimsson suspects that a publishing house in the reformed tradition would not be eager to promote views unpopular among their readers.6 Such hesitation is in line with the general scorn for dispensationalism in academic circles.7

Ryle describes this book as a compact manual on his views of prophecy.8 In this collection of sermons and his other works, however, modern readers can detect recurring ideas in essential agreement with premillennial dispensationalism, with some caveats. In highlighting these ideas, this article will move from general to specific, beginning with his basic beliefs relating to the topic of dispensationalism, politics, and culture, before moving forward to more specific and relevant doctrines of ecclesiology, eschatology, and hermeneutics. Finally, some attention will be given to Ryle’s approaches to politics and culture.

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Basic Beliefs Relating To Dispensationalism, Politics, And Culture

Two prophetic truths, understood to have literal fulfillment, yet to be fulfilled, are clear to Ryle himse...