Part One
INTRODUCTION: 1 PROLOGUE
A DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY
By Charles F Baker
Dr. C. I. Scofield, whose
Reference Bible has had a great impact in the field of dispensational
interpretation, defined dispensation as “A period of time during which man is
tested in respect to some specific revelation of the will of God.”[1] Dr.
L. Berkhof, who admits that the word dispensation is a Scriptural one, contends
that Dr. Scofield uses the word in an unscriptural sense. He says: “It denotes
a stewardship, an arrangement, or an administration, but never a testing time
or a time of probation.”[2] It
is unfortunate that Dr. Scofield began his definition as a period of time, for
a dispensation is not a period of time, although it must be admitted that a
dispensation must take place during a certain period of time, and doubtless
this is what Dr. Scofield intended to say. It is also true that the word in
itself contains no thought of being a time of testing, but the words of Paul
should bear some weight at this point, for he says: “It is required in stewards
that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2),
and it should be remembered that our Lord emphasized this same point in the
parable of the unfaithful steward, (Luke 12:42-48).
The steward was not the owner of the household: he was a mere servant and the
master would necessarily put him to some test to prove his trustworthiness.
Hence, Scofield’s idea of God putting His stewards to a test is not
far-fetched.
[1] The
Scofield Reference Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 1945), p. 5.
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