BIB 587 Dispensationalism 3 Credits

Learning Objectives

Know how God's plan has played out through history and into eternity.

Understand how historical events impact future events and to be able to identify the three main events of the future.

Primary Resources

1. King James Bible
2. Interlinear Greek New Testament
3. Interlinear Hebrew Old Testament
4. Strong's Concordance
5. For your reference, here is an archived previous version of this course.

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Websites

We will list various websites that are useful through the program of study and those that are of specific for the course itself.

Dallas Theological Seminary
http://www.dts.edu/
http://library.dts.edu/

BibleGateway.com
http://www.biblegateway.com/
Online Bible in over 50 versions

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon
http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html

Crosswalk
http://bible.crosswalk.com/
Commentaries, concordances, dictionaries, encyclopedias, lexicons

Bible Atlas
http://www.painsley.org.uk/re/Atlas/

Biblical Maps
http://www.blueletterbible.org/images_maps.html

About.com: Ancientclassical History
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/biblicalmaps/ig/Biblical-History-Maps/Historical-Maps-of-Israel.htm

Berean Bible Society: Cornelius R. Stam
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/history.html

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Reference List

1. Dispenstionalism: Revised and Expanded. Charles C. Ryrie. Moody Publishing Chicago. 2007
2. The websites listed in the reference section of the book

Grade: 100%

Weekly Paper 7 percent each = 50%
Final Project 25 = percent
Final Examination = 25 percent
The questions for the final examination will come directly from the study questions. It is to your advantage to answer the study questions each week rather than wait until you begin the final examination.

Deliverables

The Weekly Paper is due at the end of each week.
The Final Project is due at the beginning of the fifteenth week
The Final Examination will be due at the end of the fifteenth week.

Video Downloads
We recommend using the free VLC player to play our video downloads.

LESSON ONE: Dispensationalism, Hype or Heresy?

Reading: Ryrie: Read the entire book.

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Two page paper: Book report on the entire book. Center your discussion around the theme of dispensationalism, hype or heresy.

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LESSON TWO: What is a Dispensation?

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 2

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Study Questions

1. Discuss the word "dispensation" including its derivation and use.
2. How is it used when used in a biblical context?
3. What are the characteristics of a dispensation?
4. Discuss the sine qua non of dispensationalism.

Two page paper: Discuss the essentials of dispensationalism. How is it used in scripture?

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LESSON THREE: What are the Dispensations found in Scripture?

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 3

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Study Questions

1. Based on the sine qua non, discuss the number of dispensations.
2. Which periods of history appear to not fit into a dispensation? For example the eternal state or tribulation.
3. Explain the names and characteristics of the dispensations.

Two page paper: List the 7 dispensations, their characteristics, and their time periods. Include supporting scriptures.

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LESSON FOUR: The Origins of Dispensationalism

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 4

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Study Questions

1. Discuss the word "dispensation" including its derivation and use.
2. How is it used when used in a biblical context?
3. What are the characteristics of a dispensation?
4. Discuss the sine qua non of dispensationalism.

Two page paper: Discuss the essentials of dispensationalism. How is it used in scripture?

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LESSON FIVE: Hermeneutics of Dispensationalism

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 5

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Study Questions

1. Discuss the three differing positions concerning ones approach to hermeneutics.
2. What is the result of a literal interpretation as it relates to dispensationalism?
3. Explain the unifying principle of the Bible.

Two-page Paper: Describe the logical conclusion if you use a proper literal hermeneutic approach to understanding Scripture.

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LESSON SIX: Salvation in Dispensationalism

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 6

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Study Questions

1. What criticisms are often made against dispensationalism?
2. How would you respond to these charges against dispensationalism?
3. Discuss the doctrines of "grace" and "salvation" from both a covenant view of scripture and a dispensational approach to Scripture.

Two page paper: There are those who would say that with a dispensational approach to the interpretation of Scripture, you have two different ways to salvation. How would you respond to this argument?

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LESSON SEVEN: The Church in Dispensationalism

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 7

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Study Questions

1. Why is the nature of the "church" a crucial point of difference between classic dispensationalism and other doctrinal systems?
2. Develop the distinctiveness of the "church" within these differing systems.
3. Discuss the relationships of the church as discussed in chapter 7 of Ryrie's book.

Two page paper: Discuss why a proper understanding of the distinctions of the "church" is essential to understanding dispensationalism.

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LESSON EIGHT: Dispensational Eschatology

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 8

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

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Study Questions

1. What is the relationship between dispensationalism and eschatology?
2. Define the features of a dispensational eschatology.
3. Does dispensationalism minimize the cross?
4. Is the kingdom spiritualized through a dispensational approach to eschatology?

Two page paper: In what way are the distinctiveness of the church and consistent literal interpretation of Israel's promises the basis of a dispensational eschatology?

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LESSON NINE: Progressive Dispensationalism

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 9

Deliverables:

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Lectures online: Listen   Download

Study Questions

1. What are the origins of the progressive dispensationalism movement?
2. Define the basic tenets of progressive dispensationalism.

Two-page paper: Describe the distinguishing characteristics between progressive dispensationalism and classic dispensationalism as presented by Ryrie.

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LESSON TEN: Covenant Theology

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 10

Deliverables:

Download part 1

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Lectures online: Listen   Download

Study Questions

1. Define covenant theology.
2. Discuss the history of covenant theology.
3. Discuss the biblical basis of covenant theology.
4. Understand the hermeneutics of covenant theology.
5. Does covenant theology offer two ways of salvation?

Two page paper: Discuss at least 4 reasons why covenant theology is not a proper system for understanding the purposes of God as revealed in the Bible.

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LESSON ELEVEN: Ultra-Dispensationalism

Reading: Chapter 11

Deliverables:

Lectures online: Listen   Download

Study Questions

1. What are the distinguishing characteristics of ultra-dispensationalism?
2. What are the origins of ultra-dispensationalism?
3. Define the types of ultra-dispensationalism.
4. Explain the beginning of the church in ultra-dispensationalism.
5. Discuss the errors of ultra-dispensationalism.

Two page paper: Describe the similarities and differens between ultra-dispensationalism.

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LESSON TWELVE: A Review

Reading: Ryrie: Chapter 12

Deliverables:

Study Questions

1. Go back through the text and read each scripture reference mentioned by the text. Pay particular attention to word usage.

Two-page paper: Search and list additional websites that address the issues of dispensationalism. Include a brief one to two sentence description for each site.

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FINAL PROJECT (25 percent)

Ten Page Paper: Defend dispensationalism as the proper approach to understanding the unfolding of biblical revelation and God's purposes for human history. Be sure to support your position with Scripture.

FINAL EXAMINATION (25 percent) (Student may be exempt by maintaining an "A" average on deliverables and final project.)

The final examination will be open book and the questions used will be taken directly from the weekly Study Questions. Due at the end of the fifteenth week.

For your reference, here is an archived previous version of this course.

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