management
oikonomia is an entrusted administration: a responsibility given to someone and, in several verses, associated with God’s purpose.
The dominant usage concerns an administration associated with God: it is given to Paul for others, set in relation to grace, the mystery, and the fullness of the times. The word also denotes the charge held by a household manager and an entrusted responsibility that may be received unwillingly.
Senses in use
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Administration associated with God’s purpose · dominant
The accusative singular form occurs in statements about an administration of God: in Colossians 1:25 the APB renders an administration given to the speaker for others to fulfill God’s word, and in Ephesians 3:2 it renders one connected with God’s grace and given to the speaker for others. In Ephesians 1:10 the clause concerns the fullness of the times and the summing up of all things in Christ; Ephesians 3:9 uses the nominative singular form in a question about making known the administration of the mystery.
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A manager’s accountable charge · common
In Luke 16:2 the genitive singular form stands in the demand to render an account, followed by the statement that the manager can no longer manage. Luke 16:3 and Luke 16:4 describe that charge being taken away and the manager’s anticipated removal from it.
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An entrusted responsibility · rare
In 1 Corinthians 9:17 the accusative singular form occurs in the contrast between acting voluntarily and unwillingly; the APB renders the latter clause as being entrusted with a stewardship. The verse presents the term as a responsibility received rather than chosen in that stated contrast.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with “management,” while Ephesians 3:9 uses “administration” and 1 Corinthians 9:17 uses “stewardship.” These renderings show the clauses’ presentation rather than separate definitions.