Dispensationalism and the Different Gospels

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Dispensationalism – the belief that the Bible is divided into different epochs of time, during which different sets of rules governed God’s affairs with mankind; how God interacted with man, and man with God.

I was recently involved in a thread on fb where one person dismissively discounted anything I’d said previously, because I was a “dispensationalist.”  Well, I’m not a dispensationalist, I’m a believer of Jesus Christ and the Word of God and a student of the Holy Scriptures.  I’m a son of God, a joint heir with Christ. Regarding doctrine, I know that some people love to discount anything and everything someone says which they disagree with by putting them in a box, and then setting that box on fire!

I remember one incident where I was witnessing to a young man in a store in the local mall.  The store was empty, and so we had time to talk.  I discovered that he was already a Christian believer, and he was getting very excited as I explained to him, from the Bible, some of the things I understood regarding the gifts of the spirit (which the Bible labels as “manifestations of the spirit.”).  In an area where he had had so many unanswered questions, or had gotten only conflicting answers, it was starting to make powerful sense.  “Where did you learn all this?” he asked excitedly.  When I told him, he instantly closed  his heart to me and my teaching, saying, “Oh, you’re a part of that group.”  And he didn’t want to hear another thing I had to say!

I could tell you so many stories of exactly what I’ve described above, each one a heartbreaking tale of how God was touching the heart of a person, only to have the devil reach in and shut that heart down to the beautiful truth of Christ.  Today, I just tell people that I learned it in the Bible, because if I say, “God taught me,” they’ll think I’m just “doing my own thing” (which is of itself a box to light on fire!).  The truth of it is that what I share on this website God did teach me, and the Bible confirms it!

The truths regarding dispensationalism do not negate the fact that some truths are true in all administrations; that is, throughout the Bible.  But some are not.  Knowing which truths are true during the period of time in question is of paramount importance in having an accurate understanding of the Scriptures.

The word “dispensation” in the Bible is translated from the Greek word oikonomia, which is also translated “stewardship”  (though I like the word administration).  It comes from two Greek words; oikos – house, and nomos – law.  The Greek word is only used 7 times in the New Testament, 3 times in the Gospels and 4 times in Paul’s epistles.  E.W. Bullinger, in his “A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament” defines the word thusly:  Administration of a household.  Actively, the administrative activity of the owner or the steward; passively, that which is administered.  A disposition or arrangement of things, a scheme or dispensation.”

And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of you? give an account of your stewardship (oikonomia); for you may be no longer steward (oikonomon).  Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord takes away from me the stewardship (oikonomia); I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.  I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship (oikonomia), they may receive me into their houses.  Luke 16:2-4

These 3 verses contain the 3 uses of oikonomia in the Gospels.  A wealthy man would have a steward, an administrator, who ran the affairs of his household. That steward, within any boundaries imposed upon him by his master, had total discretion as to how he administered the affairs of his master’s household.  Today you might call him a manager, or a CEO.  Each steward, or manager, would bring his own methods and style to the running of the household.  Today, each CEO will bring his/her own unique brand of managing to the job.

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel; For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensation (oikonomia) of the gospel is committed unto me.  I Corinthians 9:16, 17

This is the first use of oikonomia in the Pauline epistles.  Paul was entrusted with the stewardship of the gospel, with administering, or managing it.  But what gospel is being spoken of in this verse?  Did John the Baptist preach this “gospel?”  (“Gospel ” simply means good message).  Did Jesus preach the same gospel that Paul preached?  Didn’t Peter and John and the other apostles and disciples preach “the gospel” that Paul preached?

John the Baptist preached, but it wasn’t called a gospel.  He was telling people to get right with God, because His rule (kingdom) was coming very soon!

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  (For this  (John) is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.)  Matthew 3:1-3

Jesus preached a gospel, the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came unto Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the gospel.  Mark 1:14, 15

The gospel of the kingdom of God is the administering, or dispensing of the rule of God as King, and requires the presence of that king (or, in this case, his prince son).  It was good news, because Jesus was sent by God to do those things he spoke of in Luke.

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor (in heart); He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are broken down, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  Luke 4:18, 19

Did Peter and the other apostles preach the same gospel as Jesus?  

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of (which is) the holy spirit.  Acts 2:36-38

This is different than the gospel Jesus preached, for Jesus’ gospel said nothing of anyone being able to receive remission of sins or receive the gift of the holy spirit at that time.  The holy spirit did not come until after Jesus left the earth and was glorified.

(Jesus speaking) He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this he spoke of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the holy spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified).  John 7:38, 39

So what Peter preached was indeed a gospel, but it differed from the good message which Jesus himself preached.  Jesus never preached the remission of sins nor the giving of the gift of holy spirit, only in a prophetic manner regarding that which would happen in the future. Now Paul comes along and states that a dispensation (oikonomia) of the gospel is committed, or entrusted unto him.  Was his gospel different than Peter’s and the apostles’?  It is true that during the time of his ministering in the book of Acts, Paul preached “the kingdom of God;” however, toward the end of his ministry, his understanding of the things of Christ had grown, so that…

(Paul speaking) …so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify (bear full witness to) the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:24b

If you have heard of the dispensation (oikonomia) of the grace of God which is given to me for you.  Ephesians 3:2

Neither the gospel Jesus preached, nor the gospel which Peter and the other apostles preached was ever referred to as the “gospel of the grace of God.” No other New Testament author mentions the gospel of the grace of God, or even the administration (dispensation, stewardship) of the grace of God, but Paul.  This was a responsibility which Paul took very seriously.

Of which (the church) I am made a minister, according to the dispensation (oikonomia) of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  Colossians 1:25-27

The mystery can only be made known and thus practical in the life and heart of a believer by means of the working of the spirit of Christ.  There is absolutely no work of man which can effectuate this working; therefore it is completely by the ongoing grace (generosity) of God that the truth of the Christ within continues to be operational.  Man need do nothing, can do nothing in order to obtain it.  This message of the mystery is a new one in the Bible, and the only writings we have detailing its message are Paul’s.

So we see that there were different gospels mentioned in the Bible, from the time of Jesus until Paul.  The truth of the gospel was an evolving, unfolding thing, as more and more became available.  John’s preaching wasn’t called a gospel, because Jesus’ ministry hadn’t begun.  Jesus preached a gospel which involved the rule of God on the earth, which was very good news indeed, but which, as regarding that present time, still included the law of Moses and the proper behavior of man.  

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.  Matthew 5:17

Jesus’ gospel did not include the remission of sins, because he had not yet died to pay for sins, and had not yet been raised from the dead and been seated at the right hand of God in his glory to be able to send the holy spirit.  Peter preached a gospel which included the remission of (complete payment of the penalty for and restoration needed because of) sins and the giving of the holy spirit to whoever believes, but he did not receive the revelation of the grace of God and the mystery of Christ (as far as we know).  Paul preached a gospel of the grace of God regarding the mystery of Christ.  His is the ultimate gospel, because it regards God’s fulfillment of His ultimate purpose of all the ages.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things (by Jesus Christ is not in the text).  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be experienced by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  Ephesians 3:8-11

John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, James and Jude addressed their ministries to Israel.  But Paul included the Gentiles.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  Matthew 15:24

For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles: 
Galatians 2:8

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.  James 1:1

In the next study, we’ll conclude our study of the different dispensations (administrations) found in the Bible.  We’ll see how the rules which govern God’s dealings with man changed throughout the Bible, and what an understanding of those changes can mean not only to our understanding of the Bible, but to our walk and our relationship with God today. __________________________________ 

Related Studies

If you enjoyed how this study challenged your thinking and opened up your understanding of Christ, click on one of the related studies below:

An Un-Polluted Gospel
Do not preach the Old Testament.
The 2 Systems of God
On Grace, Gifts and Thankfulness

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