which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
Ephesians 1:23
What does Ephesians 1:23 mean?
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Ephesians 1:23
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights a profound, mutual dependence: the Church is called Christ's "fullness," not because it perfectly contains Him, but because it's essential for His expression and completion as Head of His body. Christ, in turn, is the one who "fills all in all," meaning He fully supplies and energizes the Church to fulfill its purpose.
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is describing the incredible, cosmic scope of God's plan in Christ, emphasizing His supreme authority over all things, including the Church. He’s just spoken of Christ being raised and seated above all powers, and now he explains that the Church is His body, making Him, the Head, complete. This leads to a powerful affirmation of Christ's omnipresence and His role in filling everything.
Why does Paul compare the Church to a body, and what does this intimate connection reveal about Christ's relationship with us?
Paul uses the intimate image of a body and its head to describe the Church's relationship with Christ. Just as a body is animated, directed, and nourished by its head, the Church is meant to be animated by Christ's Spirit, guided by His authority, and sustained by His life. This isn't just a symbolic connection; it's a vital, organic union where Christ is the source of all life and function for His people.
A Vital Union
The Church isn't merely an organization; it's a living organism. Christ, as the Head, actively infuses His life, strength, and purpose into every member. This means our spiritual health and growth are entirely dependent on our connection to Him, our Head.
If Christ is God's fullness, how can the Church, a seemingly small part of creation, be called His 'fullness'?
The phrase 'the fullness of him' (pleroma) is rich and can be understood in a few related ways.
A Receptacle and Completion
Ask a follow-up
The verse ends with a powerful statement about Christ's omnipresence. What does this mean for us and for the Church?
The description of Christ as 'him who fills all in all' is staggering. It declares His absolute sovereignty and omnipresence across the entire creation.
Cosmic Lordship
This isn't just about His presence in the Church; it's about His pervasive reign over everything. He is the source and sustainer of all existence, permeating every part of the universe.
This truth serves two crucial purposes:
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 parallels Ephesians 1:23 by also calling Christ the head of the body, the church, emphasizing His supremacy and centrality.
John 1:16Both verses speak of receiving fullness from Christ, highlighting Him as the source of all grace and spiritual blessings that fill believers and the church.
1 Corinthians 12:12This passage uses the same 'body' metaphor to illustrate the unity of believers in Christ, showing how individual members function together as one body.
Ephesians 4:10This verse reinforces the idea of Christ filling all things, echoing Ephesians 1:23 and showing how His presence and power extend throughout the universe and the church.
Romans 11:36This verse declares that all things come from God and are through Him and for Him, connecting to the idea in Ephesians 1:23 of God filling all in all.
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 highlights a profound, mutual dependence: the Church is called Christ's "fullness," not because it perfectly contains Him, but because it's essential for His expression and completion as Head of His body. Christ, in turn, is the one who "fills all in all," meaning He fully supplies and energizes the Church to fulfill its purpose.
Paul is describing the incredible, cosmic scope of God's plan in Christ, emphasizing His supreme authority over all things, including the Church. He’s just spoken of Christ being raised and seated above all powers, and now he explains that the Church is His body, making Him, the Head, complete. This leads to a powerful affirmation of Christ's omnipresence and His role in filling everything.
Paul is describing the incredible, cosmic scope of God's plan in Christ, emphasizing His supreme authority over all things, including the Church. He’s just spoken of Christ being raised and seated above all powers, and now he explains that the Church is His body, making Him, the Head, complete. This leads to a powerful affirmation of Christ's omnipresence and His role in filling everything.
"which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." — The verse highlights a profound, mutual dependence: the Church is called Christ's "fullness," not because it perfectly contains Him, but because it's essential for His expression and completion as He…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026