Ephesians 1:23
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Ephesians 1:23
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just call the church Christ's body, but "the fullness of him," suggesting that Christ's glory is incomplete without His people, who are meant to fill out and express His work in the world. This highlights the profound dependence Christ has on His church to manifest His fullness.
Paul is describing the incredible exaltation of Christ, emphasizing that God has placed Him far above all powers and authority. He's establishing Christ's supreme headship not just over earthly realms but over the church, His body, which is destined to be filled by Him, the One who in turn fills everything. This cosmic picture highlights the church's vital role as the visible expression of Christ's fullness on earth.
Ever felt like something was missing, like you weren't quite whole? The Bible uses a powerful image to describe the Church's relationship with Christ: it's His 'fullness.'
Ephesians 1:23 calls the Church Christ's body, and it's described as His 'fullness' (pleroma). This isn't about the Church containing Christ, but rather about how the Church, as His body, completes Him in a relational sense. Think of it like this: a head isn't fully a 'head' without a body to connect to. Similarly, Christ, in His role as the Head of the Church, finds His completed expression and purpose through His people.
This means:
The verse concludes by saying Christ is the One 'who fills all in all.' What does this staggering declaration mean for us and for the Church?
While the Church is called Christ's 'fullness,' the verse immediately reminds us that Christ Himself is the One who fills everything. He isn't dependent on the Church for His own being or power; rather, He is the source and sustainer of all creation.
This means:
Understand the original words
sōma · Greek Noun
A metaphor for the church as the living organism that expresses Christ's life on earth. It implies unity, interdependence, and the necessity of the Head for the body to function.
plērōma · Greek Noun
Refers to the state of being filled or the totality of what is contained. It denotes that the church is the recipient of Christ's overflowing presence and blessings, reaching completion in Him.
plēroō · Greek Verb
A verb describing the continuous, comprehensive activity of Christ. It indicates that Christ is the one who actively permeates, completes, and sustains the entire universe.
This passage also describes Christ as the head of the body, the church, reinforcing the idea of the church being Christ's body and integral to His completeness.
John 1:16This verse speaks of receiving 'fullness of grace' from Christ, which parallels the concept in Ephesians 1:23 where the church is Christ's fullness, implying a reciprocal relationship of receiving and being filled.
1 Corinthians 12:12This verse uses the 'body' metaphor for the church, emphasizing that though it's made of many members, it functions as one unit in Christ, which is foundational to understanding the church as Christ's complete body.
Colossians 2:10This passage states that believers are 'complete in him' (Christ), echoing the idea that the church, as Christ's fullness, represents His completeness in a significant way.
Ephesians 4:10This verse explains that Christ who ascended 'fills the whole creation' and also 'fills the church,' directly connecting the idea of Christ's universal presence and filling power with His relationship to the church.
vincentEphesians 1:23: "Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
Which is His body (ἥτις)The double relative is explanatory, seeing it is: by which I mean. Body, a living organism of which He is the head. See on Colossians 1:18.The fullnessSee on John 1:16; see on Romans 11:12; see on Colossians 1:19. That which is filled. The Church, viewed as a receptacle. Compare Ephesians 3:10.That filleth all in all (τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν πληρουμένου)Better, that filleth all things with…
barnesEphesians 1:23: "Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
Which is his body - This comparison of the church with "a person" or body, of which the Lord Jesus is the head, is not uncommon in the New Testament; compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 11:3 ; 1 Corinthians 12:27 , note; Ephesians 4:15-16 , notes. The fulness of him - The word rendered here as "fulness" - πλήρωμα plērōma - means properly, that with which anything is filled; the filling up; the contents; notes, R…
The verse doesn't just call the church Christ's body, but "the fullness of him," suggesting that Christ's glory is incomplete without His people, who are meant to fill out and express His work in the world. This highlights the profound dependence Christ has on His church to manifest His fullness.
Paul is describing the incredible exaltation of Christ, emphasizing that God has placed Him far above all powers and authority. He's establishing Christ's supreme headship not just over earthly realms but over the church, His body, which is destined to be filled by Him, the One who in turn fills everything. This cosmic picture highlights the church's vital role as the visible expression of Christ's fullness on earth.
Paul is describing the incredible exaltation of Christ, emphasizing that God has placed Him far above all powers and authority. He's establishing Christ's supreme headship not just over earthly realms but over the church, His body, which is destined to be filled by Him, the One who in turn fills everything. This cosmic picture highlights the church's vital role as the visible expression of Christ's fullness on earth.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ephesians 1:23 is available in the Sola app.
"which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." — The verse doesn't just call the church Christ's body, but "the fullness of him," suggesting that Christ's glory is incomplete without His people, who are meant to fill out and express His work in t…