Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition

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Chur ch Mat ter s : Ret r i ev i ng the Great Trad i t i on

What You Should Know about Christian History: AD 1780-1914, continued

7. Cyrus I. Scofield (1843-1921): American lawyer. Wrote the study notes in the Scofield Reference Bible , which popularized dispensationalism among conservative Christians. Four Terms You Should Know 1. Dispensationalism : The belief that God’s work can be divided into distinct eras (dispensations). Dispensationalism treats all biblical references to “Israel” as references to the earthly nation. Most dispensationalists also believe that Christians will be removed from the world (“raptured”) before God judges the world. J.N. Darby and C.I. Scofield popularized this view. 2. Covenantalism : The belief that God’s covenants with Israel are fulfilled in the church. Covenantalism treats most New Testament references to “Israel” as references to the church (see Rom. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:16). B.B. Warfield and J. Gresham Machen defended this view. 3. Social Gospel : A Protestant movement that stressed social reforms more than personal salvation. 4. Holiness Movement : A movement within Methodism that stressed a spiritual experience (a “second blessing”) that leads to “entire sanctification” and “Christian perfection.” Charles Finney spread Holiness ideas in America. A convention in Keswick, England, popularized the movement in Europe. In 1908 several Holiness groups merged to form the Nazarene Church. Modern Pentecostalism arose among Holiness Christians.