TIP OF THE DAY 145: Alternative divisions into dispensations and covenants.

MJ. Smith

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day (when it doesn't time out)

I apologize that this post which lists theological alternatives follows a post that was misunderstood as theological. The intent is simply to show a variety of hermeneutical frameworks (representing a variety of theological positions) which may be used to classify Biblical time.

POST ISSUE: Alternative lists of covenants and dispensations

In the original post on time by law, covenant, and dispensations, only one set of covenants and one set of dispensations were offered. In fact, Christianity contains several lists of covenants and dispensations. In this post a number of alternatives are offered, enabling one to have a context for the list they prefer to use, a preference often informed by theological considerations. A final post discusses the use within the Anglican-Catholic-Eastern Orthodox-Lutheran-Oriental Orthodox churches where the terminology of covenants and dispensations is less common. It is hoped that this helps Logos/Verbum users in the latter churches to understand the Logos documentation and definitions related to covenants and dispensations.

QUESTION: List the top classifications of covenants.

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Here's a table showing 25 different covenant structures found in Christian theology:

Source/Theologian	Covenant Structure
Benny Hinn	Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New, Everlasting
Agape Bible Study	Creation, Patriarchal, Sinai, New Covenant
Theopolis Institute	Creation, Noahic, Sinaitic, Kingdom, Remnant, Restoration
Traditional Reformed	Works, Grace, Redemption
Covenant Theology	Works, Grace
Dispensationalism	Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Palestinian, Davidic, New
John Gill	Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Moabite, New
Douglas Van Dorn	Mosaic (Prophetic), Levitical (Priestly), Davidic (Kingly)
CMDeaf.org	Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Bible Project	Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Grand Canyon University	Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
O. Palmer Robertson	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Meredith Kline	Creation, Redemption, Kingdom
Herman Witsius	Works, Grace (divided into three administrations)
Karl Barth	Creation, Reconciliation, Redemption
John Murray	Creation, Redemption
Michael Horton	Creation, Grace, Redemption
Thomas Schreiner	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, New
Peter Gentry & Stephen Wellum	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, New
Willem VanGemeren	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Bruce Waltke	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Israelite, Davidic, New
Paul Williamson	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Sinai, David, New
Scott Hahn	Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Eucharist
Vaughan Roberts	Creation, Abraham, Sinai, Davidic, New
Progressive Covenantalism	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, New

QUESTION: List the top classifications of dispensations.

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Here's a table showing 25 different dispensational structures found in Christian theology:

Source/Theologian	Dispensational Structure
C. I. Scofield	Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Church, Kingdom
Classic	Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Grace, Millennial Kingdom
Revised	Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Grace (with Israel and Church distinction), Millennial Kingdom
Progressive	Patriarchal, Mosaic, Ecclesial, Zionic
Minimalist	Law, Grace, Kingdom
Ultradispensationalism	Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Grace, Mystery, Kingdom, Fullness
Hyperdispensationalism	Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Early Acts, Late Acts, Church, Kingdom
Covenant Theology	Creation, Redemption, Consummation
O. Palmer Robertson	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, New
Peter Gentry & Stephen Wellum	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, New
Willem VanGemeren	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, New
Bruce Waltke	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, New
Paul Williamson	Creation, Noah, Abraham, Sinai, David, New
Scott Hahn	Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Eucharist
Vaughan Roberts	Creation, Abraham, Sinai, David, New
Benny Hinn	Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New, Everlasting
Agape Bible Study	Creation, Patriarchal, Sinai, New
Theopolis Institute	Creation, Noah, Sinai, Kingdom, Remnant, Restoration
Traditional Reformed	Works, Grace, Redemption
John Gill	Noah, Abraham, Moses, Moab, New
Douglas Van Dorn	Mosaic (Prophetic), Levitical (Priestly), Davidic (Kingly)
Bible Project	Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, New
Meredith Kline	Creation, Redemption, Kingdom
Karl Barth	Creation, Reconciliation, Redemption
Michael Horton	Creation, Grace, Redemption

QUESTION: List the traditional covenant classifications for the Anglican, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Note division into dispensations is not traditional in these traditions.

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Tradition	Covenants
Anglican	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Catholic	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Eastern Orthodox	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Lutheran	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New
Oriental Orthodox	Creation, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New

It's important to note that while these traditions generally recognize the same covenants, their interpretations and emphases may vary. For example:

1. Anglicans and Lutherans, as mentioned in the search results, typically divide the Mosaic Law into moral, civil, and ceremonial components, with only the moral law considered still applicable.
2. Catholics and Eastern Orthodox tend to view the covenants as progressive revelations leading to the New Covenant in Christ.
3. All these traditions generally hold a supersessionist view, believing that the New Covenant fulfills and, in some ways, supersedes the Old Covenant.
4. The Lutheran tradition particularly emphasizes the distinction between Law and Gospel in their understanding of the covenants.
5. While not explicitly stated in the search results for Oriental Orthodox, their covenant theology is generally similar to that of Eastern Orthodox, with some nuances in interpretation.

This table represents a simplified view of these complex theological traditions, and it's worth noting that there can be variations and nuances within each tradition.