A Dispensational Biblical Theology

by Elliott E. Johnson, Grant Hawley (Editor), Tony Evans (Foreword)

Biblical theology features the story of the whole Bible. Our approach is a Dispensational interpretation of the story. As such, Dispensationalism provides a philosophy of Biblical history. Our interpretation of Biblical history will use the word dispensation in three related First, dispensation refers to the management God exercises in salvation history. Second, it refers to human partners in God’s plan, called to be stewards of what God reveals to them. Third, it refers to economies of God’s management of the stewards, called dispensations. The great mystery of the story is that God the Father’s management allows evil without directly causing it. Rather, evil challenges God and His creation plan by obstructing mankind in an attempt to thwart God’s plan in history. In the end, God’s Son Incarnate will assume the role of steward to see God’s plan to fulfillment. Further, God the Spirit is at work with humanity to address their conflict with evil. While the Spirit is a continuing presence throughout history, His presence is more fully displayed following the Son’s First Advent. Thus, the focus of this interpretation is on God’s glory and those glorious ways. It is God’s intent to share Himself and His glory with His creation and in particular with those called according to His purpose. Since this is salvation history, rather than including all of world history, the scope is limited. Yet we may touch upon related issues in the whole world (like creation, nations, races, or gender, etc.) Since this is salvation history, the focus features two fundamental First, Creation Purposes – While creation was completed in seven days, it was designed to set the stage for history to follow. And this history is the realm of time and space in which man would mediate God’s rule on earth. This would only be realized in the millennial kingdom of the incarnate Son of God. Second, Redemption Purposes – The enemy of God quickly challenged God’s plan by tempting man to rebel against God and His will. Following man’s fall from God, God purposed to use man in spite of the fall and to redeem man from his fallen condition. Further, redemption includes addressing the consequences of man’s sin in order to restore His chosen partners to their created role as stewards of His revealed will.

585 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2017

Reviews

[Peter Vik · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I told a Reformed friend that I was going to be reading Gerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology, He told me I had better drink four shots of espresso first. I would make the same recommendation for anyone preparing to embark on Elliott Johnson’s A Dispensational Biblical Theology. True to his usual form, Dr. Johnson’s research is brilliant, and his presentation heavy. It is always a pleasure to write a review of a book written by one of my former professors. Dr. Johnson is one of the kindest, gentlest, and most brilliant men I have had the pleasure to know. This book is a reflection of decades of thorough study in the entire canon of scripture. He is equally capable in theology and Greek and Hebrew exegesis, any of which subjects he could competently teach. But his specialty is Bible exposition. For those with the concentration to persevere to the end of the book, He gives a cohesive understanding of the entirety of scripture, centered on the Glory of God. All dispensationalists will not agree with all of Dr. Johnson’s conclusions (I certainly don’t), and in certain areas, non-dispensationalists will probably discover more agreement than they would have anticipated. Dr. Johnson interacts with scholars in various disciplines and backgrounds across a wide spectrum of biblical and theological disciplines, doing so graciously and respectfully. I believe the dispensationalist and non-dospensationalist alike would benefit greatly from this excellent work.