HYPERDISPENSATIONALISM Meaning and
Definition
-
Hyperdispensationalism is a theological position within Christian doctrine that emphasizes a rigorous literal interpretation and division of the dispensations or stages of God's plan for mankind as described in the Bible. It is an extreme form of dispensationalism, which is a system of biblical interpretation that views God as working with mankind through a series of distinct dispensations or periods of revelation and responsibility.
Hyperdispensationalists hold that the present dispensation, often referred to as the "Church Age," did not begin until the apostle Paul's missionary journeys or his conversion, usually around Acts 9 or 13. They argue that the teachings of Jesus and the early apostles in the Gospels and early Acts were primarily intended for the Jews and therefore do not directly apply to Christians today. Hyperdispensationalists often assert that the so-called "Pauline Epistles" (letters written by the Apostle Paul) contain the specific doctrinal teachings for the Church Age.
This distinctive view means that hyperdispensationalists frequently advocate for a separation between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of Paul, giving precedence to the latter. They may also reject certain Christian practices traditionally associated with the Church Age, such as water baptism, communion, and the Sermon on the Mount. However, it is important to note that hyperdispensationalism is a minority theological position within Christianity, and not widely accepted or recognized by mainstream Christian denominations.
Etymology of HYPERDISPENSATIONALISM
The word "hyperdispensationalism" is derived from the combination of two words: "hyper-" and "dispensationalism".
1. "Hyper-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "hýper", meaning "beyond" or "over". It is commonly used to indicate excess, exaggeration, or an extreme degree.
2. "Dispensationalism" is a theological system that divides history into distinct periods, or "dispensations", in which God deals with humanity in various ways. It originated from the teachings of John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren in the 19th century.
The word "hyperdispensationalism" was coined to refer to an extreme or more advanced form of dispensationalism, which may hold distinctive views that go beyond the mainstream understanding of dispensational theology.
