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The Meaning Of The Word
"Dispensation"
(1). Isaiah 1:2
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.Colossians 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; The word “Dispensation,” God has spoken, “at sundry times,” as well as “in divers manner” (Hebrew 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets).And, if we are to understand what He has spoken, we must learn to distinguish, not only the various people to whom He has spoken, but the “sundry times” at which He has spoken to them, and also the “divers manners.”
It is true that word divers is in the Greek is (Polumeros) (Plo-oo-mer-oce),which means strictly, in many parts, or portions. But it is equally true that these parts were spoken at different, or “sundry times”: so that the rendering of the Authorized Version is literal as to fact, and to the sense, though not literal to the Words.
The “time” when God spoke “to the fathers” is manifestly set in contrast with the time in which He hath “spoken unto us.” The “time” in which “He spoke” by the “prophets” stands in contrast with the time in which “He spoke by His Son.” And the “time past” is obviously distinguished from” these last days” (Hebrews 1:1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,).So that Times and Dispensations are inseparable from the Divine Word: not only the Times in which the Words were spoken, and to which they refer. These different times are Called Dispensations.
The Greek word rendered Dispensation is (Oikonomia) (oy-kon-om-ee-ah), and refers to the act of administering. By the Figure of Speech Metonymy, the act of administering is transferred to the time during which that administering is carried on.
The word itself is from oikos (oy-kos), house, and (nemo), to dispense, to weigh or deal out, as a steward or housekeeper. Hence the word was used of the management or administration of a household.
Our English word “Dispensation” comes from the Latin: dis (apart), and pendere (to weigh): a weighing out. We still use the word in this particular sense in connection with medicine which is dispensed, i.e., weighed or measured out: the place where it is being called “a Dispensary.”
The Greek word Oikonomia is transliterated in our English word Economy: and we still preserve its original meaning when we speak of Political, Domestic or Social Economy, etc. This was its meaning at the date of our Authorized Version, the (1611) King`s James Bible, and it was used in the sense of administration. But, like many other words it degenerated by its usage: and, as such administration was carried out rather with the view to saving than spending, so Economy came to mean frugality or thrift.
But the meaning of the Greek in the New Testament is not affected by these modern changes. It is always Administration.
In (Isaiah 22:21
And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.). It is rendered “government,” and in (Isaiah 22:19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.). It is rendered “station” (Revised Version) “office”.In the New Testament it is a question whether the word is used in any other sense than that of administration. It is either the Act of administering or of the Time during which such act of administration is carried out.
The word in (Luke 16:2-4
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.). Where it is rendered “stewardship.”In four other places it is rendered “dispensation.”
In (1Corinthians 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.). Paul says that “ an administration is committed unto me.”In (Ephesians
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:). We learn that God`s secret purpose which He hath purposed in Himself is with a view to (not “in”) the Administration of the fullness of times (Revised Version), the times, margin, seasons: which He will head up (Revised Version), sum up “all things in Christ.”In (Ephesians 3:2
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:). We learn that the “administration of the grace of God” was committed specially to Paul, that he might be the means of first making known the “Mystery” or (Secret).This is further shown in (Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:). Where the rendering “fellowship” should be administration: “to bring to light,” or enlighten all (as to) what (is) the administration of the Mystery (or Secret).In (Colossians 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;). We read “I am made a minister, according to the administration of God which is given to me for you, to fully preach the word of God.”In (1Timothy 1:4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.). “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which bring (Revised Version), minister questionings, rather than an administration of God which is in faith.”These are the places where the word Oikonomia occurs, and, in each, the idea is the same.
Our use of the term, now, in these pages, agrees with this usage: i.e. either the act of administration: or, by an easy transition (Metonymy), the time or period during which any special form of administration is carried on. This transference, however, is not necessary: for we may still think of Dispensational Truth as being the same thing as Administrational Truth.
It is manifestly clear that God`s principles of administration must always have been perfectly adapted to the “times and seasons” during which they have been respectively carried out.
Gods`s principles of administration with Adam, before the Fall, must have been quite different from those with his immediate posterity after the Fall.
His administration with Israel “under the Law” was carried out on different principles from those which obtain now, during this present administration of grace.
These again are obviously quite different from those which will characterize God`s coming administration in Judgment.
And these, again, will be necessarily quite different from those which will belong to the administration of Glory in “the fullness of times” when all things shall be gathered together in one under the Headship of Christ (Ephesians 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:).The present administration of God is in Grace: not in Law, Judgment, or Glory. It belongs to the time which is called “the Administration of the Mystery” or (Secret): that Secret (as the word Mystery means in the Greek) “which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men,” (Ephesians 3:5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;). It was “hid in God from the beginning of the world” (Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:). It “was kept secret since the world began” (Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,). But Paul was made the special administrator of all the truth connected with it. It was committed to him by God: and the Word of God could not be “fully preached” without it (Colossians 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;). The Word of truth can be preached today, but it cannot be “fully preached” without the truth connected with this Mystery.Here then, at the outset, we have various administrations suited to the various and corresponding Times and Dispensations, during which they were carried out, and in force. In “other ages” certain truths were hidden, which are contrasted with the truths which are “now revealed.”
In the same way the Lord Jesus said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not bear them now” (John 16:12
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.).It is clear therefore that, while “God hath spoken,” everything which He has said belongs to its own proper Time and Dispensation. These times in which, or concerning which, He spoke, must therefore be carefully distinguished. “The Word of truth” must be rightly divided in this important matter, or, clearly, we shall not get the truth.
If we read into one Time or Dispensation that which belongs to another, we must necessarily have only confusion: and, confusion so great, that it will be absolutely impossible for us to have any idea of the purpose or meaning of what “God hath spoken.”
We are specially enjoined by the Lord not to separate what God hath joined together: and it is equally true that we must not join together what He has separated.
If we take what God said and did in one Dispensation, and carry it forward to another in which His Administration was on quite a different principle: or, if we take a truth subsequently revealed, and read it backward into the Time when it was hidden, from the sons of men, it is impossible for us to understand what we read: we shall find ourselves taking what is quite true of one Time, and using it to contradict what is also true of another Time.
God deals not only with the three distinct classes of persons (the Jew, the Gentile, and the Church of God), but He deals with them in distinct ages and periods: and on different principles of Administration. If therefore we mix them all up together, and indiscriminately take what was said of one time and interpret it of another, we only create insuperable difficulties, and make it impossible for us to arrive at the truth of the revealed Word.
When the Lord Jesus said in (Luke 21:24
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.), speaks of “the times of the Gentiles”, He necessarily, by implication, contrasts these “times” with other times which are obviously, “times of the Jews.” He thus divides off, in a very marked manner, two of these “times,” and set one in contrast with the other.We shall find that there are at least seven distinct Dispensations, or Administrations, each having its own beginning and ending, clearly revealed and marked off.
These maybe thus exhibited to the eye: (1). The Eden Dispensation, the state of (Innocence). (2). Mankind as a whole, Patriarchal Dispensation. (3). Israel Dispensation, (under Law). (4). The Church of God (The Secret), The Dispensation of Grace. (5). Israel, the (Judicial Dispensation). (6). Mankind as a whole (Millennial Dispensation). (7). The Eternal Dispensation (State Glory).
The first and seventh correspond, each being characterized as Divine, in its origin and principles, God being in direct communion and intercourse with man: the one before the entrance of sin, and the other after the ending of sin.
The second and sixth are each occupied with mankind as a whole, the former being Patriarchal and the latter Millennial.
The third and fifth are occupied with Israel: in the former being governed under Law, in the latter judged “by the law.”
The fourth, the Church of God, stands alone and by itself, as occupying the great position, showing the “purpose of God,” round which all His counsels circle, and with reference to which they all exist according to His eternal purpose.
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