At the outset, it should be acknowledged that it is nearly impossible to capture every variation within dispensational theology with precision. Any attempt at classification will inevitably invite calls for further nuance or other forms of categorizations. With that said, my aim here has been to be both fair and faithful to the ongoing discussion, while also attempting to introduce greater clarity where I believe some ambiguity has persisted.
The primary motivation for constructing this table is personal. I have found the existing categorizations of dispensationalism increasingly overwhelming and, at times, unclear. Most of the current framing has been reduced to a discussion between traditional vs. progressive dispensationalism. While there are many overlapping components among the various positions, there are also crucial theological and hermeneutical distinctions that are frequently flattened or obscured by broad labels.
For well over a decade I have called myself a “revised/progressive” dispensationalist, however, over time I have found that language to be too ambiguous to be genuinely helpful. What I have been seeking is a way to identify a theological “sweet spot” between what is commonly called traditional (or revised, using Blaising’s earlier terminology) dispensationalism and what is now more fully developed as progressive dispensationalism.
Continue reading “Proposed Perspectives For Dispensational Theology”
