In the King James Version (KJV) of Paul's Epistles, "dispensation" (from the Greek oikonomia, meaning "stewardship," "administration," or "household management") appears exactly four times.
Here are the verses (all in Paul's letters; no other occurrences in his epistles):
- 1 Corinthians 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 refers to the stewardship or responsibility/trust of preaching the gospel that God has assigned (committed) to him.
- 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." This points to a future administration or period ("fulness of times") when God will unite all things under Christ's headship.
- Ephesians 3:2 — "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward." Paul describes the stewardship or administration of God's grace revealed to him for the Gentiles (linked to the "mystery" of the church).
- 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." Again, Paul’s God-given stewardship or commission to minister the gospel (especially the mystery now revealed).
Summary of Meaning in Context
In Paul's writings, "dispensation" does not primarily mean a fixed "age" or era in the modern dispensational theology sense (though that concept draws from these passages). Instead, it consistently refers to:
- A stewardship, administration, or entrustment from God (like managing a household).
- Specifically, Paul's own commission to preach the gospel of grace to the Gentiles.
- God's overarching plan or economy of salvation, culminating in the future uniting of all things in Christ.
These uses tie into Paul's unique apostleship and the revelation of the "mystery" (the church as Christ's body, with Jews and Gentiles as fellow heirs), which was hidden in prior ages but now made known.
This is the complete, direct biblical data from Paul's epistles in the KJV. Other Bible books use related ideas, but the question limits it to Paul.