God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 1:23
23The church is Christ’s body and completes him as he fills everything in every way.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
- New King James Version (NKJV)which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Context of Ephesians 1:23
21He is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come. 22God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good of the church. The church is Christ’s body and completes him as he fills everything in every way.
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 2:16He also brought them back to God in one body by his cross, on which he killed the hostility.
- Ephesians 4:4There is one body and one Spirit. In the same way you were called to share one hope.
- Ephesians 5:23The husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. It is his body, and he is its Savior.
- Romans 13:5Therefore, it is necessary for you to obey, not only because you’re afraid of God’s anger but also because of your own conscience.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12For example, the body is one unit and yet has many parts. As all the parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
- Colossians 1:18He is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, the first to come back to life so that he would have first place in everything.
- Colossians 3:15Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful.
- Ephesians 3:19You will know Christ’s love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.
- Ephesians 4:10The one who had gone down also went up above all the heavens so that he fills everything.
- John 1:16Each of us has received one gift after another because of all that the Word is.
- 1 Corinthians 12:6There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.
- 1 Corinthians 15:28But when God puts everything under Christ’s authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, since God had put everything under the Son’s authority. Then God will be in control of everything.
- Colossians 1:19God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ.
- Colossians 2:9All of God lives in Christ’s body,
- Colossians 3:11Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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