Backgrounds to Dispensationalism

By Clarence B. Bass

Book Overview

The purpose of this book is to describe the historical setting out of which dispensationalism has grown, to establish what dispensationalism is, and to point out its implications for contemporary church life. Beginning with a survey of the major features of dispensationalism in relation to the historic beliefs of the church, the book then examines the origins of dispensationalism in the thinking of John Nelson Darby. What kind of man was Darby? What were the circumstances in which his theology was fashioned? What were the practical consequences of his theology of the church for his own day? Dr. Bass offers well-founded answers to these questions, helping readers make their own evaluations about dispensationalism. Dr. Bass traces the development of Darby's thought and practice through the Plymouth Brethren movement. He clearly demonstrates how Darby not only introduced new theological concepts, but new principles of interpretation. This emerging system of interpretation, with its particular chronology of future events, has largely informed the popular Left Behind"" eschatology. In this light, it is clear that Bass's discussion of Darbyite dispensationalism is just as relevant as when his book first came out in 1960. This study is the result of an intensive and exhaustive search for accuracy of detail with a fair, non-argumentative style. Those wishing to do further research will appreciate his classified bibliography regarding dispensational literature.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1597520810
• ISBN13: 9781597520812
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Backgrounds to Dispenationalism

I read Bass's book sometime ago. He is factual and doesn't "demonize" those with whom he doesn't agree. I think every "self-honest", serious Dispensationalist should give it a read. In addition, I suggest a second, more recent book, that deals less with the history of Dispensationalism and more with the Lord's plea for all true believers to heed ignore His multiple warnings (i.e., don't explain them away) and to be "overcomers". Oh yes! the book in question is "Talks on Revelation", by Floyd Police

Good Source for Background of Dispensationalism

Bass does a thorough job of investigating the historical background of what has become tremendously popular in American Christianity, dispensationalism.Although some try and deny it, Bass correctly traces this back to John Nelson Darby. Such as Charles Ryrie try and deny this, saying that Darby's dispensational scheme has never really been adopted, e.g. by Scofield. However, what is import here is not Darby's dispensational scheme, but rather his hermeneutic, that of literal Israel and the NT church as the "great parenthesis."Bass correctly shows how premill dispensationalism has followed Darby's lead in this system which pervades their Biblical interpretation. Even one such as Ryrie, acknowledges that Bass' historical development is correct, he just doesn't agree with Bass' conclusions.This is excellent little book.