I had heard about this charge from others. Yet as I entered the theological library in Haverlee, Belgium on that crisp fall day, it never entered my mind that I would personally hear the charge for the first time. Although the theology student’s charge was neither artificial nor contrived, yet it provoked me to think. As he pressed his point in this brief doctrinal skirmish, he appeared pleased that he had set forth his best argument. What was his masterful charge? It was simply this:
“Dispensational theology is not to be trusted because it is of recent origin.” This student was convinced that if it was new, then it must be novel and, therefore, not worthy of serious thought. The charge was not aimed at me, but rather at giants of the Book, such as J. N. Darby, C. I. Scofield, and the so-called Plymouth Brethren, who were able proponents and defenders of this biblical system.
As I mulled over this charge, I thought, “What if it was of recent origin?” Was not the Reformation of recent origin? Was not Sunday school of recent origin? Does the label “recent origin” automatically discount the value of a particular doctrine? This line of ill-reasoning we must reject. A lie oft repeated does not become truth. The basis of acceptance or rejection of any theological system must rest on the well-worn pages of the Scriptures. Is dispensational theology a method founded on the Word of God? If such a system is biblical, then surely we will find men of God who taught it–albeit in less developed form–throughout the ages of church history.
It is a well-known and rarely disputed fact that the majority of early church fathers, in the area of prophecy, were convinced premillennialists. One such man was Papias (60-130 ad), a disciple of John the apostle. He was an influential premillennialist, penning the Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord, which was valued by such men as Polycarp and Eusebius. According to Eusebius, Papias taught “that there will be a period of some thousand years after the resurrection of the dead, and that the kingdom of Christ will be set up in material form on this very earth” (Church History, 3:39.12). His oral and written ministry on Scripture influenced many concerning the premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus.
About 200 years after the death of Papias, there arose another Christian leader, Ephraem of Syria (306-373 ad), who became a teacher of great prominence. He was well- known for his prolific writings against the false doctrines of Marcion, Mani, and the Arians. Soon after his death, a sermon bearing his name was circulated among Christian communities throughout Syria. This message, The Sermon on the End of the World, became very popular, and contained references to the premillennial, pretribulational Lord’s coming for the Church. In this sermon we read these words, “All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the Tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins” (Paul J. Alexander, The Byzantine Apocalyptic Tradition, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985).
Throughout history there have been intrepid explorers of God’s Word who were convinced of the premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. During the 1850’s, dispensationalists refined many of these key features in such a way that modern-day evangelicalism was completely transformed. This doctrine is neither new nor novel, but rather is founded on a sound and competent interpretation of Scripture. No, this doctrine is not of recent origin, for, as many have discovered, it is as old and as trustworthy as the Bible itself.
John Walvoord, formerly of Dallas Seminary, answers the question as to dispensationalism’s origin when he writes, “Any careful student of Darby soon discovers that he did not get his eschatological views from men, but rather from his doctrine of the church as the body of Christ. Darby’s views were gradually formed, but they were theologically and biblically based.”
As to my accuser’s charge? Well, I thank him for challenging my heart to search the Scriptures that I might discover, like many others before me, that these doctrines are indeed God’s eternal purpose for the ages.