Ephesians 3:2: Stewards of the Stewardship/Dispensation of the Grace of God Revealed Exclusively to The Apostle Paul:

In our last study it was noted that the 3rd chapter of Ephesians is a parenthesis between chapters 2 and 4 and verses 2 through 13 are parenthetical within chapter 3. The chapter opens: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,” Ephesians 3:11 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

. We examined what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote he was the “Prisoner of Jesus Christ The Lord,” as well as an “Ambassador in Bonds” later in Ephesians. Today we will continue with the second verse in the 3rd chapter of Ephesians, which begins the parenthesis within the parenthesis of the 3rd chapter: “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:22 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

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According to Bullinger the word “if” that begins this verse should be translated “if indeed,” and the word “have” should be omitted. The Greek word translated “dispensation” is “oikonomia” (G3622) found 7 times in the New Testament (NT) translated “dispensation” 4 times and “stewardship” 3 times. According to the New Testament Greek - English Concordance the definition of “oikonomia” is “administration of a household, Actively the administrative activity of the owner or Stewart; passively, that which is administered, (Eng. economy,) i.e. a disposition or arrangement of things, a scheme or dispensation.” Therefore, this verse can be translated: “If indeed you heard of that dispensation/ stewardship of the grace of God which was given me which concerned the Ephesians and we believers today, which is “to you-ward,” i.e. the gospel of God’s grace as to the church which is the body of Christ.” Ephesians 3:2.

As usual, to try to grasp the meaning of a word it is preferable to compare Scripture to Scripture so we look at “oikonomia” as translated “stewardship” 3 times in Luke 16:2 - 42 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.

3 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.

4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

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• ◦ Verse 1 - “And He (Jesus) said also unto His disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. Verse 2 - 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. Verse 3 - 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. Verse 4 - I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.” Luke 16:11 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

- 41 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; 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; 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: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

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On the other hand, in each of the 4 times “oikonomia” occurs in Paul’s epistles, it is translated “dispensation:”

• ◦ “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.” 1 Corinthians 9:1717 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.

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◦ “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:” Ephesians 1:1010 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:

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◦ “If ye have heard of the ‘dispensation’ of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:2.

◦ “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the ‘dispensation’ of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God;” Colossians 1:24 - 2524 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

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;

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We also need to examine the word “Stewart” found in Luke, the Pauline epistles and in 1 Peter because a “Stewart” is one who is charged with a “stewardship/dispensation.” The Greek word translated “Stewart” is “oikonom’os” (G3623) found 10 times in the NT where it is translated “stewart” 8 times; “chamberlain” once and “governor” once.

• ◦ “And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?” Luke 12:4242 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

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◦ “And He said also unto His disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.” Luke 16:1.

◦ “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.” Luke 16:33 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.

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◦ “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:88 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

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◦ “Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.” Romans 16:2323 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

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◦ “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1 - 21 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

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◦ “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” Galatians 4:1 - 21 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

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◦ “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;” Titus 1:77 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

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◦ “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:1010 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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Note the Apostle Paul Paul refers to stewards of God 4 times and the stewardship/dispensation of the Grace of God 4 times. The Apostle Peter refers to the manifold grace of God once, and this after he recognized the significance of Paul’s message, 2 Peter 3:1515 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

. Luke’s 4 references to stewards has nothing to do with serving God and the stewardship/dispensation Jesus references there are in a parable that having nothing to do with the stewardship/dispensation of the mystery later revealed to the Apostle Paul, Romans 16:25 - 2625 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,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

. Jesus Christ never mentioned the stewardship/dispensation of the Grace of God during His Ministry on earth to Israel and the Apostles never mentioned it during the time they offered the Kingdom to Israel as recorded in the first chapters of Acts.

We see in the use of these words the distinct ministry The Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul was a stewardship/dispensation of The Grace of God given to Paul for all true believers for almost 2000 years including us today. We are to recognize Paul and his fellow apostles as stewards of the mysteries (secrets) of God. To Paul was given the stewardship/dispensation’ of the grace of God. Thus Paul’s exhortation for us to “Study to shew thyself (Timothy and all believers) approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:1515 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

is for us to recognize the particular stewardship/dispensation we find ourselves in. And so we recognize that the entire Word of God is for our learning and edification but Paul’s epistles are directly to us and are a lens through which we see and understand the rest of God’s Word.