What is Pauline Dispensationalism? Why the emphasis on Paul? Isn't there just one Gospel? Or is Paul's gospel different from Jesus', Peter's, John's, etc.?
I have been introduced to the concept of Pauline Dispensationalism, but Carol Berubee's book has helped me understand it better. This book clearly defines both Dispensationalism and the Pauline emphasis. Each chapter ends with a segment titled "Going Deeper," which looks at related but side issues like the authorship of Hebrews and tongues.
For those not familiar with the terms, Dispensationalism is the view that while salvation was always by grace through faith, God worked in different ages in different ways. The primary distinction made is between Israel before the cross and the Church afterward. The Pauline emphasis is based on the fact that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, which most Christians are, and so his letters have more weight on us than do the letters of Peter, James, and John, who wrote to Jewish audiences.
Berubee starts off with hermeneutics (Biblical interpretation) and then takes several chapters following God's dealings from Genesis through Acts. She then deals with differences and distinctions between Paul's ministry and that of Jesus' earthly ministry and that of the twelve.
There are some of her conclusions, particularly on side issues, that I disagree with. However, Berubee does a thorough job of presenting her case for Pauline Dispensationalism, and I would recommend the book.
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