Dictionary entry

Dispensation

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dis-pen-sa'-shun: The Greek word (oikonomia) so translated signifies primarily, a stewardship, the management or disposition of affairs entrusted to one. Thus1Co 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 inEph 3:2parallelCol 1:25(the Revised Version, margin "stewardship"). InEph 1:10God's own working is spoken of as "dispensation."