The History of Dispensationalism with Daniel Hummel

Apr 1, 2024

Daniel Hummel, Director of The Lumen Center and an expert in American religious history, dives into the captivating world of dispensationalism. He traces its origins with John Nelson Darby and unveils key figures like Dwight Moody who shaped its rise. Their discussion reveals dispensationalism’s profound influence on American culture, evangelicalism, and Christian education. Hummel critiques the gap between popular and academic understandings, while reflecting on personal experiences growing up within this theological framework.

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ANECDOTE

Hummel's Dispensationalist Upbringing

Daniel Hummel grew up in a dispensationalist home, though the term wasn't frequently used.
His father's theological library and the popular "Left Behind" series influenced his early understanding of the system.

INSIGHT

Need for an Intellectual History

Existing histories of dispensationalism often overemphasize pop culture elements like "Left Behind."
An intellectual history focusing on the system's theological development was needed.

INSIGHT

Two Sides of Dispensationalism

There's a key distinction between academic and popular dispensationalism.
Popular dispensationalism, often seen in pop culture, differs from the scholarly discussions in seminaries.

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Scofield Reference Bible

Cyrus I. Scofield

The Scofield Reference Bible, first published in 1909 and revised in 1917, is a widely circulated study Bible. It includes the entire text of the King James Version along with Scofield’s annotations, which provide Scripture notes, summaries, definitions, and cross-references. The Bible is notable for its innovative features such as printing commentary alongside the biblical text and a cross-referencing system that ties together related verses. Scofield’s notes also advocate for dispensationalist theology, which has had a significant influence on Christian fundamentalism and the development of Christian Zionism.

Systematic theology

Lewis Sperry Chafer

This work, published in 1947, is the first consistently premillennial and dispensational systematic theology ever written. It covers a wide range of theological topics, including bibliology, theology proper, angelology, anthropology, hamartiology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology. Chafer's work is notable for its completeness and accessibility, making it readable for both scholars and those not formally trained in theology. The eight volumes are highly regarded for their practical and devotional content, as well as their comprehensive treatment of systematic theology[2][3][4].

Discontinuity to Continuity

A Survey of Dispensational and Covenantal Theologies

Ben Merkle

Three Views on the Rapture: Pretribulation, Prewrath, or Posttribulation

Alan Hultberg

Doug Moo

Craig Blaising

Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies: Four Views on the Continuity of Scripture

Brent Parker

Richard Lucas

The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views

Herman Hoyt

Anthony Hoekema

Lorraine Boettner

George Ladd

The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle over the End Times Shaped a Nation

Daniel Hummel

J.N. Darby and the Roots of Dispensationalism

Crawford Gribben

Dispensationalism Today

Charles Ryrie

Left Behind

A Novel of the Earth's Last Days

Tim LaHaye

Jerry B. Jenkins

Left Behind is the first book in the Left Behind series and narrates the story of the Rapture and its immediate aftermath. The novel follows characters such as Rayford Steele, a pilot, and Buck Williams, a journalist, as they navigate a world where millions of people, including all children and babies, have suddenly vanished. The story delves into Christian eschatology, particularly dispensationalism and premillennialism, and introduces the character of Nicolae Carpathia, who is revealed to be the Antichrist. The book sets the stage for the seven-year Tribulation period and the formation of the Tribulation Force, a group of Christians resisting the Antichrist's reign.