The Greek word translated DISPENSATION in the Scriptures listed above is “OIKONOMIA” - “Nomia” is law. “Oiko-Nomia” is “house-law”, “stewardship”. Our word is “economy”, “OIKONOMOS” is a governor, a steward.
Note carefully I Corinthians 9:17 “For if I (Paul) do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a DISPENSATION is committed unto me.”
Here the apostle Paul declared that an “economy” or a “dispensation” was committed to him. It was a very special Divine economy, never before committed to any servant of the Lord. (Romans 16:25 - Colossians 1:24 to 26). In the Greek, in II Timothy 1:12, Paul used the word “Paratheke” a “deposit”. The Lord truly deposited something very precious with Paul, and it cost Paul his liberty. Note Ephesians 3:1 to 4: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the DISPENSATION of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words; Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).”
Paul was in the jail at Rome. He may have been Caesar’s prisoner, and Satan had much to do with Paul’s chains in that prison. But Paul was the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ for Gentiles, and for the dispensation which Christ committed to him. He called it “my gospel” and he added, “wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, unto bonds.” (II Timothy 2:8 and 9). I wonder how many Christian appreciate Paul’s suffering for them.
Note Colossians 1:24 to 26: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, Which is the Church: 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; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.”
Try to picture Paul in jail and then carefully and prayerfully study the verses just quoted. This dispensation of God committed to Paul carried with it special intense suffering, for Paul and for us.
In Ephesians 6:19 and 20 and Colossians 4:3 and 4 Paul wrote why he was in jail. There was great opposition from religious men and from Satan (the ruler of principalities and powers in the heavenlies) to this message concerning the heavenly position and possessions of members of Christ’s Body in Christ Who is far above heavenly principalities and powers. (Ephesians 6:11 to 13 - Ephesians 1:19 to 23 - Ephesians 2:6). Satan is uncompromisingly against the truth concerning Christ and the believers in the heavenlies.
But God’s will concerning every member of Christ’s Body is expressed in Ephesians 3:9 and 10: “And to make all men see what is the DISPENSATION of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.”
The Greek word translated “fellowship” in Ephesians 3:9 is “oikonomia”, “dispensation”. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, wants every member of the Body of Christ to know this wonderful truth, so that the Church will make known to principalities and powers in the heavenlies the manifold wisdom of God, which was ordained to our glory before the world was. (I Corinthians 2:6 and 7).
If you would know the glorious, blessed truth, called “The mystery of God’s will” (Ephesians 1:9), pray earnestly the prayer of Ephesians 1:16 to 18. Then make up for lost time in faithful obedience to Ephesians 3:9 and 10.
How God Saves
Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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