Dispensations

Scripture uses the term "covenant", not "dispensation". I find the idea of dispensations rather forced. It's a Christianese term not common in modern translations, and even in the KJV, it is not used in the way that dispensationalists employ it.

Scripture uses the term "covenant", not "dispensation". I find the idea of dispensations rather forced. It's a Christianese term not common in modern translations, and even in the KJV, it is not used in the way that dispensationalists employ it.

Adam was in the Garden, God only gave him one set of directions. And it was simple—of that one tree you shall not eat. Everything else is for you, but leave that tree alone.
Now, that was their directions for that dispensation. Simple, wasn’t it? That’s all they had to do—just leave that tree alone, and God would be satisfied, and He would bless them.
they ate from the forbidden tree. Judgment came in and they were cast out of the Garden.

That ended the first dispensation.

Genesis 17 (KJV)

9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

these directions were given to Abraham for that dispensation.


Romans 15:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Colossians 1:25-27 King James Version (KJV)
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;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Ephesians 3:1-9 King James Version (KJV)
3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation 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:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
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:

Paul used this to explain that we were not under the Law any more but under grace.

It was a change of God's instructions. God gave His people instructions.

we don't have to worry about eating of the tree of knowledge. This dispensation was long gone.

The next dispensation was directed to the Jews; they were to follow the Law of Moses.

Paul is only instructing what God is showing him.


I marked it in red so you can not miss it.

Colossians 1:25-27 (KJV)
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;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:


In my own word when a doctor gives directions on how to take your medicine it is called dispensing.

Dispensing in this case in the Bible are directions given by God to be followed or else there are consequences.

example:

Adam was instructed by God not to eat of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil or else he would die.

He ate and he died ( a separation from God)

the instructions given by God is a dispensation.

In our case if we want to be saved from the wrath of God,
we have to believe in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The dispensation (instructions to be saved) is to believe in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus or else face the consequences.

Scripture uses the term "covenant", not "dispensation".

Do you think I'm unable to read? I didn't miss anything. I also didn't miss the sense in which Paul used the word; it isn't what you think it is.

What the doctor gives you is a prescription, not a "dispensation". Paul was given a commission (which is how the word is translated in both NASB and NIV). Adam was given a command not to eat from one specific tree; if he was given a "dispensation", it was, "Be fruitful and multiply." God made a covenant with Abraham; He did not give Abe a dispensation.

You are welcome to call these different things "dispensations" if you like, but I don't agree with you, and won't play along, because your use of the term is not consistent with its use in Scripture.

there are 7 dispensations

• Innocence – Adam under probation prior to the Fall. Ends with expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Some refer to this period as the Adamic period or the dispensation of the Adamic covenant or Adamic law.
• Conscience – From the Fall to the Great Flood. Ends with the worldwide deluge.
• Human Government – After the Great Flood, humanity is responsible to enact the death penalty. Ends with the dispersion at the Tower of Babel. Some use the term Noahide law in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Promise – From Abraham to Moses. Ends with the refusal to enter Canaan and the 40 years of unbelief in the wilderness. Some use the terms Abrahamic law or Abrahamic covenant in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Law – From Moses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Ends with the scattering of Israel in AD70. Some use the term Mosaic law in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Grace – From the cross to the rapture of the church. The rapture is followed by the wrath of God constituting the Great Tribulation. Some use the term Age of Grace or the Church Age for this dispensation.
• Millennial Kingdom – A 1000 year reign of Christ on earth centered in Jerusalem, ending with God's judgment on the final rebellion.

Scripture uses both terms. And "dispensation" is a valid Scriptural term.

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: (Eph 1:10)

*Strong's Concordance
oikonomia: stewardship, administration
Original Word: οἰκονομία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: oikonomia
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kon-om-ee'-ah)
Definition: stewardship, administration
Usage: management of household affairs, stewardship, administration.

So, a dispensation is a stewardship or an administration designed by God and given to man. Thayer's says "intrusted/entrusted by God".

Dispensations and covenants are generally parallel, but not always. And Dispensationalism is a SOUND Scriptural method of understanding how God has dealt with mankind in the past and how He will in the future.

The "dispensation of the fulness of times" actually refers to the eternal Kingdom of God, when the whole universe will be under the authority of Christ and under His rule and dominion. That is the final dispensation.

We are presently in the Dispensation (or Age) of Grace, when the Gospel must be preached to every creature (Mk 16:15,16). It began with the incarnation of Christ and will end with the Resurrection/Rapture of the Church.

As usual, we disagree.

Well since you are disagreeing with GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT you have a very serious problem. The sooner you rectify it and admit that you are in error, the sooner you will understand the truth.

Every word in Scripture was selected by the Holy Spirit and given to the prophets, evangelists, and apostles. And He chose to use οἰκονομία for a very good reason. And it is found in both the Critical as well as the Received texts.

CRITICAL TEXT
εἰς οἰκονομίαν τοῦ πληρώματος τῶν καιρῶν, ἀνακεφαλαιώσασθαι τὰ πάντα ἐν τῷ χριστῷ, τὰ ἐπὶ τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·

RECEIVED TEXT
εἰς οἰκονομίαν τοῦ πληρώματος τῶν καιρῶν, ἀνακεφαλαιώσασθαι τὰ πάντα ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ, τὰ τε ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

That's according to one man's teaching. I don't hold to it because it stretches the concepts of covenant, dispensation, and God's mercy. Salvation is and always was by faith. Nothing in Scripture directly teaches the idea of seven dispensations, and parts of it look like they were invented to fit a pattern the originator invented.

Would you say you subscribe to covenant theology?

No. I tend to avoid labels because they are used to pigeonhole people.

Adam was in the Garden, God only gave him one set of directions. And it was simple—of that one tree you shall not eat. Everything else is for you, but leave that tree alone.
Now, that was their directions for that dispensation. Simple, wasn’t it? That’s all they had to do—just leave that tree alone, and God would be satisfied, and He would bless them.
they ate from the forbidden tree. Judgment came in and they were cast out of the Garden.

That ended the first dispensation.

Genesis 17 (KJV)

9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

these directions were given to Abraham for that dispensation. :

Okay, usually when I encounter people who say they disagree with dispensations, they almost always hold views that are very similar to those in covenant theology.

Adam was in the Garden, God only gave him one set of directions. And it was simple—of that one tree you shall not eat. Everything else is for you, but leave that tree alone.
Now, that was their directions for that dispensation. Simple, wasn’t it? That’s all they had to do—just leave that tree alone, and God would be satisfied, and He would bless them.
they ate from the forbidden tree. Judgment came in and they were cast out of the Garden.