User:Butlerblog/Essays/Premillennial dispensationalism

Premillennial dispensationalism is an awkward phrasing of adjective and noun that is incorrect in its order and often unnecessary to use.

When referring to dispensationalism as a theological system, there is no need to state the eschatological adjective "premillennial" since all dispensationalism is premillennial. When referring to the premillennial eschatological view, it is "dispensational premillennialism" to distinguish it from "historic premillennialism".

When dispensationalism is the noun, there is no adjective needed. When premillennialism is the noun, dispensational may be used as an adjective.

Referring to dispensationalism as a whole
Dispensationalism as a whole is an entire theological framework of which premillennialism is only a part. Premillennialism is an eschatological position that is part of the dispensational viewpoint.

The phrase "premillennial dispensationalism" may occasionally be seen when referring to "dispensationalism" as a whole. This is awkward and somewhat redundant, because all dispensationalists are premillennialist in their eschatological view, making it unnecessary to include "premillennial".

If it were necessary to specify the type of dispensationalism based on a specific millennial view, then we would logically conclude that there would also be "postmillennial dispensationalism" or "amillennial dispensationalism". However, there is no such thing as the latter two, indicating that it is unnecessary to define the eschatological subcategorization when referring to the entire theological framework.

In this use, "dispensationalism" in a noun, and no adjective is necessary. Thus, when referring to the theological system itself, just say "dispensationalism", and leave it at that.


 * Use: Darby is considered the founder of dispensationalism. He is the founder of the entire system.


 * Avoid: Darby is the founder of premillennial dispensationalism. Of course, he is, because he's the founder of the entire system, not just its eschatology.

Referring to an eschatological view
Another way this phrase may be misused is when speaking specifically of the eschatological view of dispensationalism. But describing dispensationalism's eschatology as "premillennial dispensationalism" is backwards.

Dispensationalism itself is not an eschatological view, although it places great emphasis on it. Rather, it is an entire system of theology, of which eschatology is a part.

Premillennialism is an eschatological concept of how is interpreted. There are two generally accepted views of premillennialism: historic and dispensational, so it is necessary to define the type of premillennialism using an adjective to clarify.

In this use, "premillennialism" is a noun, and "dispensational" may be used as an adjective as necessary.


 * Wrong:
 * Darby's view of eschatology was premillennial dispensationalism. The noun and adjective are reversed.


 * Correct:
 * Darby's view of eschatology was dispensational premillennialism. Proper placement of adjective describing the noun.


 * Also correct:
 * Two distinct premillennial views are dispensational premillennialism and historic premillennialism.
 * The three millennial views are amillennialism, postmillennialism, and premillennialism.
 * All dispensationalists are premillennialists, but not all premillennialists are dispensationalists.

How to properly state the position
When referring to dispensationalism without regard to its eschatology, just say "dispensationalism". Premillennialism as the eschatological position of the system is presumed since there are no other eschatological views within dispensationalism. In cases where the phrase is used to identify a person's position, even if referring to their eschatology, just say "dispensationalist".

When referring specifically to the eschatology of dispensationalism, note that there are two components. Its millennial view is premillennialism and its overarching view of prophetic timing is futurism. Any of the following would convey the appropriate information:
 * dispensational premillennialism
 * dispensational futurism
 * rapture theology
 * dispensational eschatology


 * Avoid:
 * Premillennial dispensationalism

But sources say...
How reliable is a source that gets it wrong? Of course, we don't do original research and so we have to go by what sources say.

This is where competence is required, especially the ability to read sources and assess their reliability. There are reliable academic sources and there are reliable news sources. When discussing theology and eschatology in an article, remember that news media, while generally reliable, is most often written by journalists, not theologians. When faced with such an issue, keep in mind that that for reliable sources, we give more weight to academic consensus. And you will find that academic consensus is dispensational premillennialism. There may be the occasional instance of premillennial dispensationalism, but those are, more often than not, written by those not necessarily considered "top tier" in the field or by non-theologians (non-academics).