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;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul became a servant of the church by the commission God gave him for their sake, to make the word of God fully known.
What Does Colossians 1:25 Mean?
Paul explains the basis of his ministry. He did not appoint himself; he was made a minister according to a dispensation -- a stewardship, a trust -- handed to him by God specifically for you, the wider church.
His task is to fulfil the word of God, to bring God's message to its full expression and complete reach among the nations. A steward owns nothing but is responsible for everything entrusted to him, and Paul carries the gospel with exactly that sense of accountability. This frames his suffering and labor as duty discharged, not personal heroism. The Colossians benefit from a stewardship arranged by God himself. Paul wants them to receive his teaching as part of that divine trust -- the word of God delivered through a servant placed under orders, faithfully carrying out what he was given to do for their sake.
In the Original Language
Oikonomia (οἰκονομία), 'dispensation' -- a household stewardship; the management of a trust entrusted to a steward.