"pr. the management of a household; a stewardship, Lk. 16:2, 3, 4; in NT an apostolic stewardship, a ministerial commission in the publication and furtherance of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9:17; 3:2; Col. 1:25; or, an arranged plan, a scheme, Eph. 1:10; a due discharge of a commission, 1 ..."
Definition and meaning
pr. the management of a household; a stewardship, Lk. 16:2, 3, 4; in NT an apostolic stewardship, a ministerial commission in the publication and furtherance of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9:17; 3:2; Col. 1:25; or, an arranged plan, a scheme, Eph. 1:10; a due discharge of a commission, 1 Tim. 1:4, Eph. 3:9*
In the original Greek the word is written: οἰκονομία
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of oikonomia (G3622) across the King James Bible.
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.
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.
I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
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.
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:
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
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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Common questions
Strong's G3622 (oikonomia) is a Greek word that means: pr. the management of a household; a stewardship, Lk. 16:2, 3, 4; in NT an apostolic stewardship, a ministerial commission in the publication and furtherance of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9:17; 3:2; Col. 1:25... It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word oikonomia (G3622) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3622 is oikonomia, a Greek word defined as: pr. the management of a household; a stewardship, Lk. 16:2, 3, 4; in NT an apostolic stewardship, a ministerial commission in the publication and furt. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
oikonomia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.