The Scofield Bible

It is often referred to in short as simply The Scofield Bible, which is actually a reference Bible containing the entire text of the King James Version along with commentary on the biblical text and a scripture cross-reference. The first Scofield Reference Bible was published in 1909 and was revised by the author in 1917. Dr. Cyrus I. Scofield passed away in 1921 and since another Bible reference was released in 1967 under teh Scofield name, which is not a true "Scofield Bible."

Dr. Cyrus I. Scofield was a Dispensationalist, believing in a quite literal meaning to the text of the Bible. Consideration of the literal meaning is in contract to those that try to interpret the bible into metaphoric meanings rather than the literal word of God. Dispensationalism also recognizes different periods of time or ages ordained by God. Between Genesis and the Apocalypse there are seven different periods of God and man. The Scofield Bible outlines a timetable for these periods and Bible prophecy. Dispensationalism is in contract to Covenant Theology.

Dispensationalism points out a clear distinction between Israel and the church in God's program. There are two distinct peoples of God, that is the people of Israel and the church. The church has not replaced Israel and the Old Testament promises to Israel have not been transferred to the church. In the Old Testament God promised the Jews land, many descendants, and blessings. According to Scofield, this will be fulfilled in the 1000-year period spoken of in Revelation chapter 20. This is by reading the text in the King James Bible. Even though at this time God is focused on the Church, God will again in the future focus attention on Israel (the Jews.)

Israel and the Jews

In the Old Testament mankind was divided into two groups, the Jews and the Gentiles. This was due to the covenants God had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and with their descendants through Moses. The difference between these two groups is referenced throughout the Holy Bible.

Ephesians 2:11-13King James Version (KJV)

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

In the New Testament Christ promised he would build the church. As a result, there are now three divisions of mankind: Jews, Gentiles and the church. These three groups all exist in the modern world. The church was created through offering to both Jews and Gentiles a "new covenant" relationship with God. This did not bring Gentiles under the Jewish Mosaic Law, but delivered from it those coming into the church, both Jews and Gentiles.

A major theme to dispensationalism is that the Church and Israel refer to different groups of people. The Church has its own purpose and destiny that is not the same as that of the Jews. In the book of Acts, for example, both Israel and the church exist simultaneously but the terms "Israel" and "Church" always refer to two distinct groups of people. There is not a single instance in the entire Bible where Israel refers to anything other than the Jewish people.