βWhereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of Godβ (Colossians 1:25).
In addition to oikonomia being thrice rendered βstewardshipβ in our King James Bible (Luke 16:2-4), it is translated four times as βdispensation.β We will now briefly highlight those four instances:
1 Corinthians 9:17: βFor if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.β
Ephesians 1:10: βThat 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:β
Ephesians 3:2: βIf ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:β
Colossians 1:25: βWhereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;β
Having familiarized ourselves with the above verses, let us us review the definition of βstewardβ once again: βthe manager of household or of household affairs.β A more extended definition is as follows: βesp. a steward, manager, superintendent to whom the head of the house or proprietor has intrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age.β If necessary, go back to our earlier comments about Luke 16:2-4βthe story of the steward being accused of unfaithfulness, or not properly managing his masterβs goods.
With those definitions and Luke 16:2-4 in mind, we reflect on the Apostle Paulβs declarations in 1 Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 3:2, and Colossians 1:25. Paul himself claims to be a βsteward,β βthe manager of household or of household affairs.β Exactly what is Paul managing? A household, yesβbut whose household? Someone has designated Paul as the manager of His household. It is the God of the Bible Himselfβ¦ source
