Special Topic 6The Key to Unlock the BibleGods Economy

Mainland Scholars Gospel

Main ContentWhat is Economy?Bible Translations of OikonomiaPaul uses Gods economy to unlock the Old TestamentGods Economy as the key to unlock the BibleExamples in the Recovery Version Conclusion

What is EconomyIt is a word in the Bible (Gk. , or oikonomia) (Luke 16:2-4; 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; 3:2, 9; Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:4).Unto the oikonomia of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him. (Eph. 1:10)Nor to give heed to mythswhich produce questionings rather than Gods oikonomia, which is in faith.

What is EconomyIt is a compound of two nouns, oikos and nomos; oikos means house or household, and nomos means law, administration or management. Thus oikonomia means household administration or household management, denoting a plan with a process of distributing or dispensing to reach its goal. Out of this word came the English word economy.

What is EconomyIt is a compound of two nouns, oikos and nomos; oikos means house or household, and nomos means law, administration or management. Thus, oikonomia means household administration or household management, denoting a plan with a process of distributing or dispensing to reach its goal. This became the English word economy.

Bible Translations of OikonomiaBible translators have employed a variety of English words in their attempts to translate the term oikonomia.In 1 Tim. 1:4 and Eph. 1:10 and 3:9, it is more precisely rendered economy or dispensation for it denotes Gods overall plan. In 1 Cor. 9:17, Eph. 3:2, and Col. 1:25, it is more accurately described as stewardship for it refers not to Gods economy in a general sense but to mans participation and service in Gods economy.

Bible Translations of Oikonomia

King James VersionNew International VersionNew American StandardEnglishStandard VersionRecovery VersionEph. 1:10DispensationPut into effectAdministrationPlanEconomyEph. 3:9FellowshipAdministrationAdministrationPlanEconomy1 Tim. 1:4EdifyingWorkAdministration Stewardship EconomyEph. 3:2 DispensationAdministrationStewardshipStewardshipStewardshipCol. 1:25DispensationCommissionStewardshipStewardshipStewardship1 Cor. 9:17DispensationTrust committedStewardshipStewardshipStewardship

Paul Uses Gods Economy to unlock the Old TestamentWhenever Paul wanted to explain the mystery of God, i.e., to unlock the Old Testament, he used the word oikonomia.Of which I became a minister according to the oikonomia of God, which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations but now has been manifested to His saints (Col. 1:25-26).

Making known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself, unto the oikonomia of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him (Eph. 1:10).And to enlighten all that they may see what the oikonomia of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things (Eph. 3:9).

Paul Uses Gods Economy to unlock the Old Testament

Gods EconomyThe Source is God: Gods plan. The Process is Dispensing: God in Christ dispensing Himself into His chosen and redeemed people to be their life, life supply, and everything The Goal is the Corporate Expression of God: so that they may be built up as the church, the Body of Christ, consummating in the New Jerusalem.

Gods Economy is the Key to Unlock the BibleGrasping the central revelation of the BibleChrist and the church:The Lord Jesus: You search the Scripturesit is these that testify concerning Me. (John 5:39); And I also say to youupon this rock I will build My church. (Matt. 16:18)The Apostle Paul: a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church. (Eph. 5:31-32)

Gods Economy is the Key to Unlock the BibleII. The central process of Gods economy Gods dispensingChrist is life, and the church is produced through the dispensing of Christ into the believers as life.All-embracing: Gods economy includes forgiveness of sins, cleansing of sins, justification, reconciliation, positional sanctification, regeneration, shepherding, sanctification, renewing, transformation, building up, conformation, and glorification; this embraces both the justification emphasized by the Western Churches and the sanctification emphasized by Eastern Churches.

Apostle Pauls Charge:Icharge certain ones not to teach different things [other than Gods economy] or to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, which produce questionings rather than Gods economy, which is in faith. (1 Tim. 1:3-4)

The Recovery Version Uses Gods Economy to unlock the BibleEx. 1: ExodusThe pattern of the tabernacle and all its furnishings is a full and complete type of both the individual Christ as the Head and the corporate Christ as the Body, the church, including many details of the experience of Christ for the church (25:9 note 1).The measurements of the Ark are halves of the numbers three and five, the numbers of Gods building. This signifies that the Ark is a testimony, another half being needed to make a complete unit, a full testimony. This implies that Christ, typified by the Ark, needs the church as His counterpart, His bride, to be a testimony in full in humanity (Exo. 25:10 note 3).

The Recovery Version Uses Gods Economy to unlock the BibleEx. 2: The Subject of Romans

The Gospel of God1:1The Source: God To Make Sinners Sons of GodChapter 1-8The Process: Dispensing(through justification, sanctification, and glorification)To Constitute the Body of Christ, Which is Expressed as the Local ChurchesChapter 9-16 (with the insertion of ch. 9-11 on Gods selection)Goal: The Corporate Expression of God (the Body of Christ expressed as the local churches)

ConclusionThe economy of God, as revealed in the Bible and particularly exemplified in Pauls writings, is the key to unlock and to interpret Gods Word.The Recovery Version, following the patterns of the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul, is a unique Bible translation which focuses on Gods economy.Through the study of the Recovery Version with the enlightenment of the Spirit, the readers may see the vision of Gods economy and thus acquire the key to cut straight the word of the truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

****************