Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church: The Search for Definition

by Craig A. Blaising; Darrell L. Bock

Publisher:

Zondervan Academic

, 1992

Overview

This exegetical study examines the continuities and discontinuities regarding Israel and the church and also provides a look at changes in dispensational thought that have developed over the last twenty years.

The relationship between Israel and the church is a crucial reference point in theology, especially in distinguishing between dispensational and nondispensational ways of thinking. The thesis of this book is that Israel and the church are distinct theological institutions that have arisen in the historical progress of divine revelation. But they are also related as successive phases of a redemptive program that is historically progressive and eschatologically converging. The approach to these issues here is neither polemical nor apologetic; rather, it anticipates a convergence among evangelical scholars in the recognition of both continuity and discontinuity in the Israel-church relationship.

Key Features

• Offers a contemporary dispensational treatment of the Israel-church relationship
• Provides dialogue with nondispensational thinkers regarding major biblical themes
• Identifies the changes in dispensational thought

Contents

Part 1: Biblical Studies

• The Reign of the Lord Christ
• The New Covenant and the People(s) of God
• The New Man of Ephesians 2
• The Church as the Mystery of God
• The Israelite Imagery of 1 Peter 2
• The Future of Ethnic Israel in Romans 11
• Christ, the End of the Law in Romans 10:4
• Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law in the Sermon on the Mount
• The New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1-22:5: Con­summation of a Biblical Continuum
• The Scope and Center of Old and New Testament Theology and Hope

Part 2: A Response

Top Highlights

“The third principle was a procedure of ‘inductive’ Bible study, a ‘scientific’ approach designed to free the Bible from sectarian interpretations.” (Page 18)

“Third, the Spirit’s coming was, in most cases, temporary.” (Page 78)

“Its goal is to argue that any reconstruction of New Testament eschatology—indeed of messianic eschatology—must take into account the perspective of both Acts 2 and Acts 3.” (Page 37)

“the Spirit’s work was marked by three characteristics. First, his coming upon people in the Old Testament was selective.” (Page 78)

“It should first be pointed out that ‘throne’ is a pictorial description for rule, and that the allusion to Jesus’ sitting next to God is an allusion to the promise of Psalm 110, a Davidic promise. Hebrews makes the point that Jesus is already a priest according to the order of Melchizedek as a result of this seating through exaltation. Now how can one allow the fulfillment of Melchizedekian priesthood for the present age from Psalm 110 and then deny the present rule of Jesus, which is also tied to the language of the same psalm?” (Page 51)

Contributors

• Craig A. Blaising
• Darrell L. Bock
• Bruce A. Ware
• Carl B. Hoch, Jr.
• Robert L. Saucy
• W.Edward Glenny
• J.Lanier Burns
• David K. Lowery
• John A. Marti
• David L. Turner
• Kenneth L. Barker
• Walter C. Kaiser
• Willem VanGemeren
• Bruce K. Waltke

Product Details

• Title: Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church: The Search for Definition
• Editors: Craig A. Blaising, Darrell L. Bock and W. Edward Glenny
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 1992
• Pages: 404
• Resource Type: Collected Essays
• Topic: Dispensationalism

About the Editors

Craig Blaising is Executive Vice President & Provost and Professor of Theology at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is author of numerous books and a contributor to Zondervan’s Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond (1999) and Three Views on the Rapture (2010).

Darrell L. Bock (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is senior research professor of New Testament studies and Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary. Known for his work in Luke-Acts, Dr. Bock is a Humboldt Scholar (Tubingen University in Germany), is on the editorial board for Christianity Today, and a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society (2000-2001). A New York Times bestselling author, Bock has written over forty books, including Luke in the NIV Application Commentary series.

Dr. W. Edward Glenny is Professor of Biblical Studies at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Jackie, have two daughters, Brittany and Courtney.