(Part 1)

JBTM Book Reviews
147
Bingham and Kreider explain the vision of the book and the goals of these essays as
follows:
They focus on areas believed to be reflective of the past and present status of dispensationalism,
strategic to the future of the tradition, and helpful to the gospel ministry. They are concerned
with foundational matters of dispensationalism’s evangelical identity, definition, history, and
hermeneutics. In continued affirmation that one of its greatest blessings is providing insight
into one divine plan revealed progressively in the Bible, other essays trace this concern. Finally,
attempting to situate dispensationalism more broadly, the volume concludes with chapters on
the relationship of the tradition to other traditions and to the global context. (13–14)
Due to space limitations, a few chapters of this work are summarized.
Kreider’s article, “What is Dispensationalism? A Proposal,” is the first essay and sets the
foundation for the remaining essays. His purpose is to define and defend dispensationalism
from the Scriptures. He defines a dispensation as “not merely a period of time, an age, but
a distinguishable period of time during which God administers His plan of redemption
differently from other eras or periods (21). Kreider also addresses misunderstandings
concerning dispensationalism, describes a dispensational hermeneutic, and argues that
salvation in each dispensation is given by grace through faith and grounded in Christ’s
finished work. He contends that Scripture affirms the definition of the dispensation and he
argues that the biblical story depicts seven dispensations. He concludes by presenting both
dispensationalism’s theological distinctives and unresolved tensions.
Nathan D. Holsteen, professor of theological studies at Dallas Theological Seminary,
addresses hermeneutical issues in his essay titled “The Hermeneutic of Dispensationalism.” He
argues that dispensationalism’s hermeneutic is authorial intent, the most used hermeneutic in
the Christian historical tradition. He states that those who employ the grammatical-historical
method most likely advocate authorial intent. Holsteen traces the historical development
of covenant theology’s hermeneutic and compares it to a dispensational hermeneutic. He
concludes that the covenant hermeneutic prioritizes unity as the overarching theme that
emphasizes one covenant, one salvation, and one people of God. He contends that the
dispensational hermeneutic is a literal hermeneutic that is grounded in authorial intent with
the main principles that Scripture is understandable to the original readers and revelation
progresses though redemptive history. This literal approach is characterized by a reluctance
to depart from it in favor of any systematized hermeneutic. Holsteen observes that different
applications of the literal hermeneutic account for the varieties within dispensationalism.
Darrell L. Bock, senior research professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological
Seminary, is the author of the essay “God’s Plan for History: The First Coming of Christ.”
Bock argues for a three-dispensation scheme from the Gospels and the Book of Acts. He
presents his argument by examining the nature of the kingdom, the covenants, and God’s
plan concerning Israel and the nations. He notes that Jesus’s parables expand the kingdom