The concept of a dispensation – the arrangement of divisions in
biblical history – dates back to
Irenaeus in the second century. Other Christian writers and leaders since then, such as
Augustine of Hippo and
Joachim of Fiore (1135–1202), have also offered their own dispensation arrangements of history. The
Plymouth Brethren systematized
dispensationalism, which has since been adopted by other groups, including certain
Baptists and
Pentecostals. Modern
Catholic documents refer to God's covenant with Israel in the Old Testament as "a special dispensation" which anticipated "the Christian dispensation", and also refer to the era of the new covenant as "the new dispensation". Below is a table comparing some of the various dispensational schemes: Although the divine revelation unfolds progressively, the deposit of truth in earlier time-periods is not discarded, rather it is cumulative. Thus
conscience (moral responsibility) is an abiding truth in human life (Romans 2:15; 9:1; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:2), although it does not continue as a dispensation. Similarly, the saved of this present dispensation are "not under law" as a specific test of obedience to divine revelation (Galatians 5:18; cf. Galatians 2:16; 3:11), yet the
law remains an integral part of dispensational teaching. The Law clarifies that, although Christ fulfilled the law for us, by it we have had the knowledge of
sin (Rom 7:7), and it is an integral part of the
Holy Scriptures, which, to the redeemed, are profitable for "training in
righteousness" (2 Ti. 3:16–17; cp. Ro. 15:4). The purpose of each dispensation, then, is to place man under a
specific rule of conduct, but such stewardship is not a condition of salvation. In every past dispensation
unregenerate man has failed, much like he is failing in the present dispensation, and will fail in the future until
Eternity arrives. Salvation has been and will continue to be available to everyone by God's grace through faith. ==Baháʼí dispensations==