During my nearly 30 years as a ‘mid-Acts-er’ I was advised by a teacher that we didn’t need to ‘go to the Greek.’ Now that I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ I have found that the Greek is sometimes very helpful and informative .... like in the case of the word ‘dispensation.’ I had no idea that it was also translated ‘stewardship’ until I got the initiative to do my own investigation .... mainly, after many of my ministry associates refused to use the KJV word ‘bishop’ for their ‘office’ (1 Tim 3:1), after I brought it to their attention, in preference for the word ‘pastor’ which is a ‘shepherd’ metaphorically, of sheep, which ‘mid-Acts-ers’ claim to NOT be.
The Greek word [oikonomia] is used 7 times in the scriptures.
It is translated in the KJV .... ‘dispensation’ 4 times, and ‘stewardship’ 3 times.
The definition of [oikonomia] is ‘the management, superintendence, oversight, or administration, of a household, another’s property, or affairs.’
The similar Greek word [oikonomos] is used 10 times in the scriptures.
It is translated .... ‘steward’ 8 times, and ‘chamberlain’ 1 time, and ‘govenor’ 1 time.
Jesus used those words in a story about a man who was charged with mishandling his boss’ trust:
Luke 16:1-4 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward [oikonomos]; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship [oikonomia]; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship [oikonomia]: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship[oikonomia], they may receive me into their houses.
Though God entrusted Paul with the administration .... of the mystery .... of His grace .... to the Gentiles, God’s Spirit made it known to His apostles and prophets also:
Eph 3:1-6 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation [oikonomia] of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
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;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs,
and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Paul was not the only steward or ‘dispenser.’ Paul equated stewards with ministers .... who are to be trustworthy supervisors .... of the mystery (or mysteries, same Greek word) of Christ and of God (Col 2:2).
1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us,
as of the ministers [huperetes] (servants in subordination who aid in work to an officer or king) of Christ,
and stewards [oikonomos] of the mysteries [musterion] of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards [oikonomos],
that a man be found faithful.
Paul taught that a bishop, which is an overseer of the church of God, is God’s steward:
Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward [oikonomos] of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
John also testified that God committed His mystery to His servants the prophets, and revealed information through them. One issue, in particular, was the time of the end, when the seventh angel sounds the last trumpet:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Peter wrote about faithful ‘dispensers’ .... who ministered God’s grace, too:
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards [oikonomos] of the manifold grace of God.
Did a Steward Oversee a Dispensation?
These words all have kindred meanings.
Stewards were overseers who dispensed the mystery of God’s grace.
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