English Standard Version
Ephesians 1:23
23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
- New International Version (NIV)which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
- New King James Version (NKJV)which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
Context of Ephesians 1:23
21far 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. 22And 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.
Read all of Ephesians 1Ephesians 1:23 word by word
ἥτις ἐστὶν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν πληρουμένου.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ephesians 1:23
- Ephesians 2:16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
- Ephesians 4:4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
- Ephesians 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
- Romans 13:5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
- Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
- Colossians 3:15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
- Ephesians 3:19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- Ephesians 4:10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
- John 1:16For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
- 1 Corinthians 12:6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
- 1 Corinthians 15:28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
- Colossians 1:19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
- Colossians 2:9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
- Colossians 3:11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Commentaries on Ephesians 1:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Which is his body - As he is head over all things, he is head to the Church; and this Church is considered as the body of which he is especially the head; and from him, as the head, the Church receives light, life, and intelligence. And is the fullness of him - That in which he especially manifests his power, goodness, and truth; for though he fills all the world with his presence, yet he fills all the members of his mystical body with wisdom, goodness…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Which 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” - ́ plērōma- means properly, that with which anything is filled; the filling up; the contents; notes, Romans 11:12. The exact idea here, however, is not…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 God has laid up spiritual blessings for us in his Son the Lord Jesus; but requires us to draw them out and fetch them in by prayer. Even the best Christians need to be prayed for: and while we hear of the welfare of Christian friends, we should pray for them. Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom. Are not the best of us unwilling to come under God's yoke, though there is no other way to find rest for the soul? Do we not for a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23the fullness of Him who fills all in all: This challenging phrase likely means that the church, as his body, fully expresses Christ in this world. His presence, which fills the entire universe, is reflected in and works through his body (4:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. his body--His mystical and spiritual, not literal, body. Not, however, merely figurative, or metaphorical. He is really, though spiritually, the Church's Head. His life is her life. She shares His crucifixion and His consequent glory. He possesses everything, His fellowship with the Father, His fulness of the Spirit, and His glorified manhood, not merely for Himself, but for her, who has a membership of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones (Ep…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 1:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries