The term "dispensation" refers to a distinct period or administration in the unfolding of God's plan and purpose for humanity. In theological contexts, it is often used to describe the different ways in which God interacts with people and administers His divine will throughout biblical history. The concept of dispensations is rooted in the understanding that God has progressively revealed Himself and His will to humanity in different ways at different times.

Biblical Usage

The word "dispensation" is derived from the Greek word "oikonomia," which is often translated as "stewardship," "administration," or "management" in the New Testament. This term appears in several key passages, highlighting the idea of God's orderly management of His divine plan.

1. Ephesians 1:10 : "as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ." This verse speaks of God's ultimate purpose and the culmination of His plan in Christ, indicating a divine administration that encompasses all of history.

2. Ephesians 3:2 : "Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you." Here, the Apostle Paul refers to the specific dispensation of grace entrusted to him, emphasizing the unique role he played in the revelation of the mystery of Christ to the Gentiles.

3. Colossians 1:25 : "I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God." Paul again speaks of his role in the divine administration, highlighting the responsibility given to him to preach the gospel.

Theological Significance

Dispensationalism is a theological framework that interprets the Bible as a series of dispensations or distinct periods in which God relates to humanity in different ways. This perspective is often associated with a literal interpretation of Scripture and a clear distinction between Israel and the Church.

1. Innocence: The first dispensation, beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, characterized by humanity's initial state of innocence before the Fall (Genesis 1-3).

2. Conscience: Following the Fall, humanity lived according to conscience, with an awareness of good and evil, leading up to the Flood (Genesis 4-8).

3. Human Government: After the Flood, God established human government, giving Noah and his descendants the authority to govern (Genesis 9-11).

4. Promise: This dispensation began with God's covenant with Abraham, focusing on the promises made to him and his descendants (Genesis 12-Exodus 19).

5. Law: Starting with the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, this period is marked by Israel's adherence to the Mosaic Law (Exodus 20-Acts 2).

6. Grace: The current dispensation, also known as the Church Age, began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and is characterized by salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2-Revelation 19).

7. Millennial Kingdom: The future dispensation, where Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years, fulfilling God's promises to Israel and establishing His kingdom (Revelation 20).

Implications for Believers

Understanding dispensations helps believers recognize the progressive nature of God's revelation and His distinct purposes throughout history. It underscores the importance of interpreting Scripture within its historical and theological context, acknowledging the different ways God has interacted with humanity. This perspective also highlights the continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments, providing a framework for understanding the unique role of the Church in God's redemptive plan.(Gr. oikonomia, "management, " "economy").

(1.) The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards men is called a dispensation. There are usually reckoned three dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic or Jewish, and the Christian. (see COVENANT, Administration of.) These were so many stages in God's unfolding of his purpose of grace toward men. The word is not found with this meaning in Scripture.

(2.) A commission to preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2; Colossians 1:25).

Dispensations of Providence are providential events which affect men either in the way of mercy or of judgement.

1. (n.) The act of dealing out; distribution; allocation; often used of the distribution of good and evil by God to man, or more generically, of the acts and modes of his administration.

2. (n.) That which is dispensed, dealt out, or appointed; that which is enjoined or bestowed

3. (n.) A system of principles, promises, and rules ordained and administered; scheme; economy; as, the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations.

4. (n.) The relaxation of a law in a particular case; permission to do something forbidden, or to omit doing something enjoined; specifically, in the Roman Catholic Church, exemption from some ecclesiastical law or obligation to God which a man has incurred of his own free will (oaths, vows, etc.).

DISPENSATION

dis-pen-sa'-shun: The Greek word (oikonomia) so translated signifies primarily, a stewardship, the management or disposition of affairs entrusted to one. Thus 1 Corinthians 9:17, the King James Version "A dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me," the Revised Version (British and American) "I have stewardship entrusted to me." The idea is similar in Ephesians 3:2 parallel Colossians 1:25 (the Revised Version, margin "stewardship"). In Ephesians 1:10 God's own working is spoken of as "dispensation."

3622. oikonomia -- stewardship, administration
... [A "dispensation" can also refer to a special period of (management). But this is
a (not primary) meaning of 3622 ().]. ... dispensation, stewardship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3622.htm - 7k

4930. sunteleia -- a joint payment (for public service), joint ...
... completion NASB Word Usage consummation (1), end (5). end. From sunteleo; entire
completion, ie Consummation (of a dispensation) -- end. see GREEK sunteleo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4930.htm - 7k

The Dispensation of the Spirit.
... SERMONS. III. THE DISPENSATION OF THE SPIRIT. Preached Whitsunday, May
19, 1850. THE DISPENSATION OF THE SPIRIT. "Now there ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/iii the dispensation of the.htm

Whether Vows Admit of Dispensation?
... SERVICE BY PROMISE (Q ) Whether vows admit of dispensation? Objection 1:
It would seem that vows are not subject to dispensation. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether vows admit of dispensation.htm

Whether it May have Been Lawful by Dispensation to Put Away a Wife ...
... OF THE BILL OF DIVORCE (SEVEN ARTICLES) Whether it may have been lawful
by dispensation to put away a wife? Objection 1: It seems ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it may have been.htm

The Dispensation of the Divine Favours Reconciled with the ...
... Chapter V. The Dispensation Of The Divine Favours Reconciled With The Goodness
Of God. O God, whose thunder shakes the sky, Whose ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter v the dispensation of.htm

The Dispensation of Grace in Paul the Apostle.
... Discourse III."Thaleia. Chapter IX."The Dispensation of Grace in Paul the
Apostle. Now we should consider the case of the renowned ...
/.../chapter ix the dispensation of grace.htm

By what Dispensation of God's Providence the Sacred Scriptures of ...
... Chapter 42."By What Dispensation of God's Providence the Sacred Scriptures of the
Old Testament Were Translated Out of Hebrew into Greek, that They Might Be ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 42 by what dispensation of.htm

That Another Dispensation and a New Covenant was to be Given.
... First Book. 11. That another dispensation and a new covenant was to be
given. In Jeremiah: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord ...
/.../11 that another dispensation and.htm

Pious Parents, under Such a Dispensation, May Conclude it is Well ...
... II. PIOUS PARENTS, under such a Dispensation, may conclude it is well for them in
particular,"because he, who hath done it, is their Covenant GOD. ...
/.../ii pious parents under such.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Bigamist to Receive a Dispensation?
... OF BIGAMY AND OF THE IRREGULARITY CONTRACTED THEREBY (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether
it is lawful for a bigamist to receive a dispensation? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 23.htm

Whether the Authority of a Prelate is Required for Commutation or ...
... SERVICE BY PROMISE (Q ) Whether the authority of a prelate is required
for commutation or the dispensation of a vow? Objection 1 ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the authority of a.htm

Dispensation (8 Occurrences)
... (1.) The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards
men is called a dispensation. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DISPENSATION. ...
/d/dispensation.htm - 11k

Dispense (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (vi) To compensate; to make up; to make amends. 6. (vi) To give dispensation.
7. (vt) Dispensation; exemption. 8. (n.) Expense; profusion; outlay. ...
/d/dispense.htm - 7k

Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)
... 3:1 the King James Version, he writes: "For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of
Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the ...
/l/laodiceans.htm - 28k

Eucharist
... 1. Other Acts and Words of Christ on Eve of the Passion 2. Sacrificial Language
of the Institution 3. Sacrificial System of Jewish Dispensation 4. Paschal ...
/e/eucharist.htm - 38k

Supper (17 Occurrences)
... 1. Other Acts and Words of Christ on Eve of the Passion 2. Sacrificial Language
of the Institution 3. Sacrificial System of Jewish Dispensation 4. Paschal ...
/s/supper.htm - 44k

You-ward (9 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of
God which is given me to you-ward: (KJV ASV). Colossians ...
/y/you-ward.htm - 9k

Visitation (17 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Special dispensation; communication of divine favor and goodness, or, more
usually, of divine wrath and vengeance; retributive calamity; retribution ...
/v/visitation.htm - 15k

Elder (34 Occurrences)
... 16:21; 21:23; 26:59). The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old
dispensation to the new. "The creation of the office of ...
/e/elder.htm - 27k

Millennium
... operation of the very forces that are now at work in extending the gospel; and that
Christ will only come again at the close of this dispensation to judge the ...
/m/millennium.htm - 24k

Circumcision (98 Occurrences)
... The covenant with Abraham was a dispensation or a specific form of the covenant
of grace, and circumcision was a sign and seal of that covenant. ...
/c/circumcision.htm - 53k

What is the dispensation of Grace? | GotQuestions.org

What is the dispensation of Human Government? | GotQuestions.org

What is the dispensation of Conscience? | GotQuestions.org

Dispensation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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