Meaning of DISPENSATION

It literally means "management of a household," an "economy," and hence an orderly dealing with men by God in the varied administration of His ways at different times.

In examining God's administrations with men, we may point out the state of innocence in Eden, although it hardly partook of the character of a dispensation. A command was given to Adam and Eve, demanding obedience, with the penalty announced if they disobeyed.

This was followed by a prolonged period of almost 1,600 years until the Flood, (a period without concrete dealings of God with men, although certainly with the promise of the Deliverer given in the Protoevangelium (Gen. 3: 15)).

During this time men became corrupt in all their ways, and the earth was filled with violence. Then God spoke to the world in the person of Noah, who was "a preacher of righteousness," patiently waiting for his repentance while the ark was prepared (1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:15).

They showed no repentance, and the ancient world perished. In the postflood world God established human government, while the knowledge of God, as the God who judged evil, was dispersed by the descendants of Noah; Traditions of the Flood are found in practically all the tribes and languages of the world.

This constitutes another divine testimony. Then followed the division of the land among various nations and tribes, according to their families and languages. Ignorance about God prevailed among these (Acts 17:30), despite the testimony of the power and deity of God, and the testimony of conscience mentioned in Rom. 1-2.

About 360 years after the Flood the Patriarchal Era began with the calling of Abraham, a new sovereign deal from God; but this was limited to Abraham and his descendants.

(a) DISPENSATION OF THE LAW.
The Dispensation of the Law came next, which is, strictly speaking, the first publicly ordered system of God's dealings with men, and administered by angels (Deut. 33:2; Acts 7:53; Gal. 3: 19).

God's oracles were given to a nation, the only nation in all the earth that God had known in this way (Am. 3:2). It was the dispensation of “Do this, and you will live in blessing; disobey, and you will receive a curse” (cp. Deut. 28).

This dispensation had three stages:
(A) About 400 years under the Judges, a time in which God would have been their King in a direct theocracy, but in which time each one did what seemed right to him.

(B) 500 years as a kingdom under kings.

(C) 600 years from the captivity to the coming of Christ. In relation to this there was the prophetic testimony: the Law and the prophets were until John (Lk. 16:16).
During this "Dispensation of the Law" the Times of the Gentiles had their beginning with the political supremacy of Nebuchadnezzar, the golden head and king of kings (Dan. 2:37, 38); They continue to run their course, and will continue until the Lord Jesus begins his reign.

(b) DISPENSATION OF GRACE.
The Dispensation of Grace and Truth began, after the preaching of John, with the coming of Christ.
During this economy the Gospel is preached, the great Amnesty that God offers to every creature under heaven, and the call of the Church to separate itself for the Lord takes place, this period extending as an interval, from the day of Pentecost until the rapture of the saints (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).
God entrusted Paul with a special “dispensation,” both in regard to the Gospel and to fulfill the word of God through the doctrine of the Church as the body of Christ (1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2, 3; Col. 1:25, 26).

(c) DISPENSATION OF THE KINGDOM.
The Dispensation of the Kingdom of Christ on earth during the millennium. It is also called "the dispensation of the fulness of times" (Eph. 1:10; Rev. 20:1-6). (See MILLENNIUM).
Under all these varied administrations the goodness and faithfulness of God are manifested, and the failure of man is made universally manifest.