“And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” – Ephesians 1:22–23 (ESV)
👑 Christ: The Exalted King Over All
These verses conclude Paul’s powerful opening prayer and doxology by lifting our eyes once again to the enthroned Christ. After declaring that Christ has been raised and exalted above every power, Paul now says: God “put all things under His feet.”
This language echoes Psalm 8:6 and speaks of complete, uncontested dominion. Christ isn’t waiting to be King—He is King. Everything is under His authority—spiritual forces, political powers, visible and invisible realms. Nothing lies outside the rule of Jesus.
📜 Word Study: “Head over all things” (κεφαλή, *kephalē*)
Paul says that God “gave him as head over all things to the church.” The Greek word *kephalē* means head in both a literal and figurative sense. As the head controls and directs the body, Christ is the sovereign leader of His people.
But notice the nuance: Christ is already “head over all things,” yet God gives Him in a special, relational way to the church. His rule is universal, but His relationship with the church is intimate.
🩻 The Church: His Body
Here, Paul introduces one of his most powerful metaphors for the church: “His body.” This will become a dominant image throughout the letter (see Ephesians 4:12–16). Just as a human body expresses the life and will of its head, the church exists to display and obey the authority of Christ.
The church isn’t a building, a denomination, or a program. It is a living, breathing body of believers united to Christ by faith. And just as a body is incomplete without its head, the church has no life apart from Christ.
🌌 “The Fullness of Him Who Fills All in All”
This phrase is awe-inspiring. Paul says the church is “the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” In other words, the exalted Christ—who rules the universe—chooses to express His presence and power through His people.
This doesn’t mean Christ is incomplete without the church. Rather, it means that the church is His appointed vessel to reveal His glory on earth. We are His hands and feet, His visible representation. He fills us, and we in turn reflect Him.
🧠 Think About That:
- 💡 Christ is above all—yet He’s connected to us.
- 💡 The One who reigns over every throne and dominion is personally involved with His church.
- 💡 You are part of something eternal, powerful, and sacred—the Body of Christ.
📣 What This Means for Us Today
1. You Are Not Just an Individual—You’re a Member of Christ’s Body
Christianity isn’t just “me and Jesus.” It’s “we in Christ.” We are part of a global, spiritual body connected to the risen King. That truth should fill us with humility, identity, and unity.
2. The Church Has a Cosmic Purpose
The church is not a side project—it is central to God’s plan. Through the church, Christ reveals His fullness. We are called to be His presence in the world: loving, serving, proclaiming, and uniting under His authority.
3. Jesus Is in Control—Even When It Doesn’t Look Like It
It may seem like the world is spiraling or the church is struggling, but this passage reminds us of ultimate reality: Christ is over all. His feet are on the neck of every enemy. His hand is on the pulse of His people. His authority will never fail.
📣 Reflection and Application
- 🧩 Do I view the church as essential to God’s plan—or optional in mine?
- 🏛️ How would my daily life change if I really believed Jesus was head over all things?
- 🫱 Am I actively functioning as part of Christ’s body—or living as a disconnected member?
🛐 Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are exalted above all things, and yet You dwell among Your people. Thank You for being the Head of the church and the center of my life. Help me live in submission to Your rule and in unity with Your body. Let me reflect Your fullness in all I do. In Your name, amen.
📌 What’s Next?
Coming Soon: Ephesians 2:1–3 — What Were We Like Before Christ?
Paul now shifts from praise to personal history. Before we can understand the beauty of grace, we must face the depth of our need. In the next section, we’ll examine the reality of our condition before salvation—and the mercy that met us there.