Who is the “you” in Colossians 1:25 that Paul says the dispensation of God was given to him for?
The “you” refers to Gentile believers. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, received the dispensation of God so he could give it to Gentiles. The context identifies the recipients as Gentiles, not Israel, and links them to the Body of Christ composed of believers from every walk and corner who believe the Gospel.
Les explains that in Colossians 1:25 Paul says he was made a minister according to the dispensation of God given to him “for you.” Les notes he could substitute the word “Gentiles” there without harming the meaning. He teaches that all this was given to the Apostle of the Gentiles so that Paul could in turn give it to Gentile believers, fulfilling or bringing to completion the Word of God. The surrounding context also describes the mystery hidden from ages and generations but now made manifest to His saints, and it identifies believers as members of the Body of Christ drawn from every walk of life and every corner of the globe by believing the Gospel.
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;