The Already and Not Yet: Four Tensions in Covenant Theology, Progressive Dispensationalism, and Traditional Dispensationalism

This chart compares Covenant Theology, Progressive Dispensationalism, and Traditional Dispensationalism across four "already and not yet" tensions in Scripture: (1) time orientation — already vs. not yet; (2) the relationship of the Testaments — continuity vs. discontinuity; (3) the kingdom perspective — kingdom texts as present vs. future; and (4) the people of promise — Gentile participation in the covenants of promise vs. a future for ethnic Israel. Covenant Theology consistently tips each scale toward the left pole, Traditional Dispensationalism consistently tips each scale toward the right pole, and Progressive Dispensationalism holds both sides in balance — reading every tension as and rather than either/or.