Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: Dispensation [ 1,,G3622, oikonomia ]
primarily signifies the management of a household or of household affairs" (oikos, "a house," nomos, "a law"); then the management or administration of the property of others, and so "a stewardship," Luke 16:2-Luke 16:4; elsewhere only in the Epistles of Paul, who applies it
(a) to the responsibility entrusted to him of preaching the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 9:17 (RV, "stewardship," AV, "dispensation");
(b) to the stewardship commited to him "to fulfill the Word of God," the fulfillment being the unfolding of the completion of the Divinely arranged and imparted cycle of truths which are consummated in the truth relating to the Church as the Body of Christ, Colossians 1:25 (RV and AV, "dispensation"); so in Ephesians 3:2, of the grace of God given him as a stewardship ("dispensation") in regard to the same "mystery;"
(c) in Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:9, it is used of the arrangement or administration by God, by which in "the fullness of the times" (or seasons) God will sum up all things in the heavens and on earth in Christ. In Ephesians 3:9 some mss. have koinonia, "fellowship," for oikonomia, "dispensation." In 1 Timothy 1:4 oikonomia may mean either a stewardship in the sense of.
Vine's Note: A "dispensation" is not a period or epoch (a common, but erroneous, use of the word), but a mode of dealing, an arrangement, or administration of affairs. Cp. oikonomos, "a steward," and oikonomeo, "to be a steward."
My take on Vine's definition: A God given stewardship of time senitive cycle's of truth managed/administered accordingly.
Parsing the 5 verses from Vines Dictionary definition of Dispensation above:
1 Cor 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
(MY NOTE: Paul says: The stewardship/despenation/managemnt of the gospel, of the grace of God (see Acts 20:24) was given/committed to HIM)
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
(MY NOTE: Paul was chosen/made to be a minister, to manage the dispensing of the gospel, of the grace of God. Paul say's, the word of God is given to me/HIM, to share with us)
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
(MY NOTE: The management/dispensation/stewardship of the gospel, of the grace of God (See Acts 20:24) was given to Paul, to give to us)
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him
MY (NOTE: The dispensation/arrangement or administration by God, by which in "the fullness of the times" (or seasons) God will sum up all things, that are in Christ)
The RISEN Christ, says to Paul:
Acts 26:16 I have appeared to u to make u a "minister" & "witness" of these things which u have seen, & of things that I will show u
(MY NOTE: Christ makes Paul a Minister/steward/manager)
17 I Delivered u from the Jews, & the "Gentiles, to whom now I send thee"
(NOTE: The RISEN Christ sends Paul to Minister/steward/a manager of God's word to the Gentiles)
Paul's gospel of the grace of God. Given to Paul to give to us is:
1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
(MY NOTE: Paul declares the gospel given to him by direct Revelation from the RISEN Christ)
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
(MY NOTE: The Gospel you are SAVED by is
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
(MY NOTE: That Christ DIED for your SINS)
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
(MY NOTE: That Christ was BURIED & ROSE on the 3rd day)
NT gospel by which we are saved:
Jesus DIED for your SINS (paying sins required wage, DEATH) was buried (proof Jesus died) & ROSE on the 3rd day (Father's receipt, sins payment received & accepted)
primarily signifies the management of a household or of household affairs" (oikos, "a house," nomos, "a law"); then the management or administration of the property of others, and so "a stewardship," Luke 16:2-Luke 16:4; elsewhere only in the Epistles of Paul, who applies it
(a) to the responsibility entrusted to him of preaching the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 9:17 (RV, "stewardship," AV, "dispensation");
(b) to the stewardship commited to him "to fulfill the Word of God," the fulfillment being the unfolding of the completion of the Divinely arranged and imparted cycle of truths which are consummated in the truth relating to the Church as the Body of Christ, Colossians 1:25 (RV and AV, "dispensation"); so in Ephesians 3:2, of the grace of God given him as a stewardship ("dispensation") in regard to the same "mystery;"
(c) in Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:9, it is used of the arrangement or administration by God, by which in "the fullness of the times" (or seasons) God will sum up all things in the heavens and on earth in Christ. In Ephesians 3:9 some mss. have koinonia, "fellowship," for oikonomia, "dispensation." In 1 Timothy 1:4 oikonomia may mean either a stewardship in the sense of.
Vine's Note: A "dispensation" is not a period or epoch (a common, but erroneous, use of the word), but a mode of dealing, an arrangement, or administration of affairs. Cp. oikonomos, "a steward," and oikonomeo, "to be a steward."
My take on Vine's definition: A God given stewardship of time senitive cycle's of truth managed/administered accordingly.
Parsing the 5 verses from Vines Dictionary definition of Dispensation above:
1 Cor 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
(MY NOTE: Paul says: The stewardship/despenation/managemnt of the gospel, of the grace of God (see Acts 20:24) was given/committed to HIM)
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
(MY NOTE: Paul was chosen/made to be a minister, to manage the dispensing of the gospel, of the grace of God. Paul say's, the word of God is given to me/HIM, to share with us)
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
(MY NOTE: The management/dispensation/stewardship of the gospel, of the grace of God (See Acts 20:24) was given to Paul, to give to us)
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him
MY (NOTE: The dispensation/arrangement or administration by God, by which in "the fullness of the times" (or seasons) God will sum up all things, that are in Christ)
The RISEN Christ, says to Paul:
Acts 26:16 I have appeared to u to make u a "minister" & "witness" of these things which u have seen, & of things that I will show u
(MY NOTE: Christ makes Paul a Minister/steward/manager)
17 I Delivered u from the Jews, & the "Gentiles, to whom now I send thee"
(NOTE: The RISEN Christ sends Paul to Minister/steward/a manager of God's word to the Gentiles)
Paul's gospel of the grace of God. Given to Paul to give to us is:
1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
(MY NOTE: Paul declares the gospel given to him by direct Revelation from the RISEN Christ)
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
(MY NOTE: The Gospel you are SAVED by is
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
(MY NOTE: That Christ DIED for your SINS)
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
(MY NOTE: That Christ was BURIED & ROSE on the 3rd day)
NT gospel by which we are saved:
Jesus DIED for your SINS (paying sins required wage, DEATH) was buried (proof Jesus died) & ROSE on the 3rd day (Father's receipt, sins payment received & accepted)
