Ephesians 1:22

22 And 1he put all things under his feet and gave him as 2head over all things to the church,

Ephesians 1:22 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 1:22

And hath put all things under his feet
These words are taken out of ( Psalms 8:6 ) . (See Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:27).

And gave him to be the head over all things to the church;
the Vulgate Latin version reads, "and gave him to be the head over every church", or "all the church"; the Ethiopic version, "the whole church"; which intends not barely professors of religion, or a family of faithful persons, or a particular congregation, in which sense the word is sometimes used; but the whole body of God's elect, the church, which is built on Christ the rock, for which he gave himself, and which is the general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven: Christ is an head to this church; in what sense he is so, (See Gill on 1 Corinthians 11:3). And this headship of Christ is the gift of God; and it is an honourable gift to him, as Mediator; it is a glorifying of him, and a giving him in all things the pre-eminence; and it is a free grace gift to the church, and a very special, valuable, and excellent one, and of infinite benefit and advantage to it; and which is expressed in his being head "over all things" to it; to overrule all things for its good; to communicate all good things to it; and to perform all the good offices of an head for it: the Syriac version reads, "and him who is above all things, he gave to be the head to the church" even him who is God over all, blessed for evermore.

Ephesians 1:22 In-Context

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Cited from Psalms 8:6; See 1 Corinthians 15:27
  • 2. Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:19; [1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 2:10]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.