3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Dispensation  \Dis`pen*sa"tion\,  n.  [F.  dispensation,  L. 
  dispensatio.] 
  1.  The  act  of  dispensing  or  dealing  out  distribution;  often 
  used  of  the  distribution  of  good  and  evil  by  God  to  man, 
  or  more  generically,  of  the  acts  and  modes  of  his 
  administration. 
 
  To  respect  the  dispensations  of  Providence.  --Burke. 
 
  2.  That  which  is  dispensed,  dealt  out  or  appointed;  that 
  which  is  enjoined  or  bestowed;  especially  (Theol.),  A 
  system  of  principles,  promises,  and  rules  ordained  and 
  administered;  scheme;  economy;  as  the  Patriarchal, 
  Mosaic,  and  Christian  dispensations. 
 
  Neither  are  God's  methods  or  intentions  different  in 
  his  dispensations  to  each  private  man.  --Rogers. 
 
  3.  The  relaxation  of  a  law  in  a  particular  case;  permission 
  to  do  something  forbidden,  or  to  omit  doing  something 
  enjoined;  specifically,  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
  exemption  from  some  ecclesiastical  law  or  obligation  to 
  God  which  a  man  has  incurred  of  his  own  free  will  (oaths, 
  vows,  etc.). 
 
  A  dispensation  was  obtained  to  enable  Dr  Barrow  to 
  marry.  --Ward. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  dispensation 
  n  1:  an  exemption  from  some  rule  or  obligation 
  2:  a  share  that  has  been  dispensed  or  distributed 
  3:  the  act  of  dispensing  (giving  out  in  portions)  [syn:  {dispensing}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Dispensation 
  (Gr.  oikonomia  "management,"  "economy").  (1.)  The  method  or 
  scheme  according  to  which  God  carries  out  his  purposes  towards 
  men  is  called  a  dispensation.  There  are  usually  reckoned  three 
  dispensations,  the  Patriarchal,  the  Mosaic  or  Jewish,  and  the 
  Christian.  (See  {COVENANT},  Administration  of.)  These 
  were  so  many  stages  in  God's  unfolding  of  his  purpose  of  grace 
  toward  men.  The  word  is  not  found  with  this  meaning  in 
  Scripture. 
 
  (2.)  A  commission  to  preach  the  gospel  (1  Cor.  9:17;  Eph. 
  1:10;  3:2;  Col.  1:25). 
 
  Dispensations  of  Providence  are  providential  events  which 
  affect  men  either  in  the  way  of  mercy  or  of  judgement. 
 

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