Ephesians 1:21-23 (WEL) He is far above all top authorities, strong authorities, powers, and lords, and he is far above every name that is mentioned, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. 22 He has put everything under his feet and given him to be the head of everything in the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
V21 He is far above all top authorities, strong authorities, powers, and lords, and he is far above every name that is mentioned, not only in this world but also in that which is to come.
These are some of the ranks of the fallen angels (demons). It can also be applied to human leadership. No matter who the authority is, Jesus is the Sovereign king.
Compare Philippians 2:9,10, Colossians 2:10, and Hebrews 1:4.
From Precept Austin:
“Harold Hoehner – Christ’s Ascension to the right hand of God involves His being exalted above every order of authority (cf. Colossians 1:16), human and superhuman (cf. Philippians 2:8–11), whether present (in the present Age) or future (the Age to come; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:23–28). The words rule and authority, power and dominion may refer primarily to angelic beings (cf. Romans 8:38; Ephesians 3:10; 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:15; Titus 3:1).(The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
“In his more detailed commentary, Hoehner adds, ‘These powers most likely are angelic and evil and wish to rob us of our spiritual benefits. The point is clear that Christ is over these authorities, and they will not have the final victory. The struggle between God and these evil powers is real, and in the present day, the battle rages between these angelic powers and believers, individually and corporately. The central point of this passage is that believers have the power that raised and seated Christ far above every power: We are to appropriate that power in light of the spiritual warfare that is portrayed in chapter 6 (Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary).
“So Christ is not just ABOVE but FAR ABOVE. This description also includes the idea of rank or dignity. Christ is in a class by Himself. The (created) demonic rule, authority, etc., aren’t even in the same ballpark as the Creator!”
V22 He has put everything under his feet and given him to be the head of everything in the church.
Under his feet is an expression of superiority over servants, enemies, etc. Jesus Christ is the Head, the Lord, the Supreme in everything about the church (believers). The pope is not the supreme leader, nor archbishop, nor priest, nor pastor, etc.
This is part of the great honors that God the Father gave His Son, the Lord Jesus.
V23 Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The church is compared to the human body. The head is the will, the controller, of everything we do. Believers are compared to the parts of the body (Ephesians 5:23 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-20) with Jesus Christ being the Head.
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) “The Church is dwelt in and filled by Christ. She is the receptacle, not of His inherent, but of His communicated, plenitude of gifts and graces. As His is the “fulness” (John 1:16; Colossians 1:19; 2:9) inherently, so she is His “fulness” by His impartation of it to her, in virtue of her union to Him (Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 2:10). “The full manifestation of His being, because penetrated by His life” [CONYBEARE and HOWSON]. She is the continued revelation of His divine life in human form; the fullest representative of His plenitude. Not the angelic hierarchy, as false teachers taught (Colossians 2:9, 10, 18), but Christ Himself is the “fulness of the Godhead,” and she represents Him. KOPPE translates less probably, “the whole universal multitude.”
We learn:
- Jesus is the Supreme leader, the king, the lord, the head of the church (believers).
- We are Jesus’s servants living our lives serving Him.
Questions:
- Are you submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ?
- Are you serving Him in some way, whether official or volunteer?