Bible Dictionaries
Head of the Church

Holman Bible Dictionary

A title for Christ (Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 1:18 ). In Ephesians, the metaphor of Christ as head of His body, the church, is carefully developed. Headship includes the idea of Christ's authority (Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23 ) and of the submission required of the church (Ephesians 5:24 ). More is in view than a statement of Christ's authority. The focus is on the character of Christ's relationship with the church. Unlike self-seeking human lords (Luke 22:25 ), Christ exercises His authority for the church (Ephesians 1:22 NRSV, NIV), nourishing and caring for the church as one cares for one's own body ( Ephesians 5:29 ). Christ's headship also points to the interrelationship of Christ and the church. The mystery of husband and wife becoming “one flesh” is applied to Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31 ), which is “the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:23 ). In Colossians 1:18 , the idea of Christ as head is again complex, including not only the idea of head as authority but of head as source (Colossians 1:15-20 ). The church is called to follow its head and to rest secure in its relationship with Him.