The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” To paraphrase, we need to be diligent in our Bible study so that when we stand before God to give an account, we may not be ashamed due to a careless handling of His precious Word. To this end, may I suggest three books for your study? These are study books. They could be used as a basis for a group study on the very foundation of the way we approach the Scriptures.
God reveals Himself in history. The events of history that are selected by God’s Spirit are selected so we might understand the revelation of God and His purposes for mankind, thus answering the eternal questions: “Why am I here?” and “Where am I going?” There are two systems of interpretation of the Bible’s history that are prevalent today: covenant theology and dispensational theology. These two systems are dramatically different. They differ in the goal of history and the fundamental way in which Scripture is viewed. A very fine book has been written to compare these two systems. Renald Showers gives an overview of covenant theology and shows its strengths and weaknesses.
He devotes a larger part of the book to an examination of dispensational theology and demonstrates its superiority over covenant theology. There Really Is a Difference, the book’s title, is a good description of the book’s contents. It does make a difference which of these two systems you follow, for it greatly affects your understanding of God’s ultimate goal in history and the way in which you view its history.
If you are convinced by Renald Showers’ book that dispensational theology is for you, then there is another book you must study: Dispensationalism by Charles Ryrie. Initially published as Dispensationalism Today, it has been updated and republished. This is an excellent book on the definition, origins, hermeneutics, and distinctive features of dispensationalism. When you get through with this book, you will be able to defend its precepts and understand its principles.
There is an aspect of dispensationalism which concerns the future events of the Bible. As Charles Ryrie says in his book, The Basis of the Premillennial Faith, “All dispensationalists are premillennialists, but not all premillennialists are dispensationalists.” To understand this statement and to see the development of prophecy from a dispensational standpoint, this book is a must-read.
Why are any of these books important? Because if I am to properly study the Bible, I must have a consistent interpretive guideline. It is the lack of this which is bringing much error into the church and is causing so much discouragement among God’s people. May we be delivered from error as we “rightly divide the Word of truth.”
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The Glory of the Ages is a plea to serious Christians to think more critically about the importance of biblical doctrine, and especially dispensational theology. There is a critical need today for Christians to think more clearly about doctrine. The proper understanding of biblical doctrine is not a mere academic exercise but is essential for every Christian. It is spiritual fuel for the soul and a guardrail for the church.
Much in modern theology confuses more than it clarifies and creates more questions than answers. Good theology provides clarity, answers, and an understanding of biblical truth. However, the best theology is that which exalts Christ and stirs our passion to better understand Scripture while nurturing a deeper love for Christ.
In every age, the flame which ignites spiritual change is biblical doctrine. The great truths of Scripture were the tools God used to transform lives. The reader will find that, during the last two hundred years, no theology has touched more lives, stirred more hearts towards evangelism, and awakened more Christians to greater love for Christ than dispensationalism.
The Glory of the Ages discusses these issues in language that all Christians can understand, quoting freely from the Scriptures and from writings of evangelical writers both past and present. —ed.