New Living Translation
Ephesians 1:23
23And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
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
21Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
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 2:16Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
- Ephesians 4:4For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
- Ephesians 5:23For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.
- Romans 13:5So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
- Colossians 1:18Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.
- Colossians 3:15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
- Ephesians 3:19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
- Ephesians 4:10And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
- John 1:16From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
- 1 Corinthians 12:6God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
- 1 Corinthians 15:28Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.
- Colossians 1:19For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
- Colossians 2:9For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
- Colossians 3:11In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
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
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