Colossians 1:25

25. whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to youward, to fulfill the word of God,

Translation and Paraphrase

25. I was made a servant (or minister of the church) in accordance with the (gracious terms of the) stewardship (entrusted to me) of God, (which was) given to me for your sake, to make fully known the word of God.

Notes

1.

Paul indicates in Colossians 1:25 that his ministry was a gift to him. He was made a minister. He did not choose the office himself.

Furthermore the nature of the work that God laid out for Paul was chosen not according to what Paul might have thought best, but it was rather a dispensation, or stewardship, from God.

2.

The word dispensation here means that which is dispensed by God, It is a translation of the Gr. oikonomia, which is often translated stewardship, Stewardship is the managing of the goods or property of someone else. A steward might operate a farm or a vineyard for the owner.

God gave Paul a particular stewardship, or dispensation, a special privilege and responsibility. Paul's ministry then consisted of that which GOD had given him to do. It was a challenging stewardship and occupied every bit of the time and talent Paul could give to it, but it was still God's choice for Paul, not Paul's choice for himself, Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 3:7-9.

3.

Paul's stewardship was given him for you. It was designed to help others. Our service to the Lord should always be done to help others, rather than to make ourselves appear outstanding.

4.

Paul's ministry was given to him to fulfill the word of God, that is, to cause the word of God to abound, to carry it into effect, to carry it through to the fullest.

Study and Review

5.

What does the whereof in Colossians 1:25 refer back to?

6.

According to what was Paul made a minister: (Colossians 1:25)

7.

What was it that was given to Paul? (Colossians 1:25)

8.

Define the word dispensation. What word is a synonym for it?

9.

For what purpose was the dispensation given to Paul?