Colossians 1:25-29 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; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Paul was always a zealot for God. His studies under Gamaliel had a distinct purpose for his conversion. No one could have argued against Paul’s knowledge of the Old Testament in the first century synagogues. He showed them Jesus Christ in the scriptures. God used who Saul was to create Paul and we can see that in how he was used. That does not however explain this dispensation Paul refers to here in the first chapter of Colossians.

A “dispensation” is not a period or epoch (a common, but erroneous, use of the word), but a mode of dealing, an arrangement, or administration of affairs. Cp. oikonomos, “a steward,” and oikonomeo, “to be a steward.” Source; Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

A steward is a trusted member of a household who is given the responsibility to oversee the everyday operations or administrations of the affairs of a house. There is no sense of ownership, only duty. This responsibility is expanded within the context of the mystery revealed, Christ in you. You are the temple of God, and Paul’s administration extends from the first century church to our present day church.

Paul was put in charge of administration of the church age. His epistles lay out how we should operate together.

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.