Frequently Asked Questions

The following is based on an article by Charles H. Welch., from The Berean Expositor (Volume 1, pp.58-60), briefly addressing a number of questions we often receive.

Who inspired the Scriptures?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16)

How should we esteem the authority of the Bible?

"Not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Is there any special command in respect to the Scriptures?

Yes! "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

What does this term "rightly dividing" involve and mean?

It tells us that Scripture must be interpreted in strict accordance with its dispensational setting. If a passage speaks of the "kingdom of heaven", of "Israel" or "Jerusalem", we must not interpret it as of the "church which is His body".

What do you mean by the term "dispensational"?

A dispensation is a particular economy or administration of God's dealings with any particular people, having its own peculiar and distinctive characteristics. For example, there was a dispensation of law under Moses; a dispensation of miraculous gifts during Pentecost. Today we are in a dispensation of grace, and of the mystery (see Ephesians 3).

When do you believe this dispensation began?

After Acts 28, when Israel as a nation was set aside.

But don't the majority of believers teach that the

 "church began at Pentecost"?

There was A church in operation at Pentecost, but the "church which is His body" is entirely different from this and all else. Peter's sermon in Acts 2 is largely an exposition of the prophecy of Joel, and there is certainly nothing about the body of Christ in Joel. The book of Acts is a continuation of the witness concerning the kingdom of heaven (see use of the word "began" in Acts 1: 1 and Hebrews 2:3,4). The same people are addressed, the same key-word of "Repent" is heard, and the same miraculous accompaniments as are recorded in Matthew 10: 1 - 10 are there. These continue right to the end of the book of Acts. Paul there is inspired to quote Isaiah 6:9,10 to the representatives of the Jews of the dispersion, and then turn to the Gentiles.

Did not Christ come to found the church?

No! He came to save His people from their sins, and to proclaim the near advent of the kingdom, the kingdom promised to David. In Romans 15:8 we read, "Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers", which is in harmony with Matthew 10:5,6 and 15:24, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel". His first ministerial words were, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).

Is there any distinctive teaching in Paul's epistles
written after the period you believe terminated the past dispensation?

In Ephesians 3:9 Paul speaks of The dispensation of the mystery, which from all the ages had been hid in God. The reader should consider Ephesians 3:2-9 and Colossians 1:25,26 (R.S.V).

Does Paul claim to be the special and exclusive apostle

 of this present dispensation?

Associated with Paul were others who were called apostles, an Order distinct from the Twelve (see 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 and I Thessalonians 2:6) which includes Timothy and Silvanus. Space forbids quotations, but a reference to 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1: 1,9-13; 2:2-8; 4:17; and Titus 1: 1-3 will show by the recurrence of such expressions as "my gospel", etc, that the apostle does claim in a peculiar manner the dispensation of the grace of God to the Gentiles (see Ephesians 3:2).

This site is produced by the Berean Bible Fellowship of Australia (BBFA)
Contact our web administrator at webmaster@spiritualblessings.org

Publications, articles, recordings and other items on this site are included at the discretion of the administrators, the Berean Bible Fellowship of Australia (BBFA) - however, interpretations of Scripture by the various authors and speakers may not necessarily be those held by the majority of the Fellowship. The BBFA is not responsible for content published on external websites, to which there are links from the Spiritual Blessings website, and may not endorse every interpretation of Scripture published on those sites.

| Privacy | | About | | Articles | | Books | | Top | | Magazine | | Meetings | | Donate | | Contact | | Links |