What Does It Mean That Jesus Is the Head of the Church?

Direct Answer

Yes — Jesus is the Head over all things to the Church, and the Church is His Body and His complement.

God gave Christ to be the Head over all things to the Church (Ephesians 1:22–23). Les Feldick teaches that the Church is Christ's Body, and the word 'fulness' means complement — Christ will consider Himself complete when His Body is in His presence. Because believers are members of His Body, they are joint heirs with Him rather than merely subjects of a King.

Key Scriptures

Ephesians 1:22-23 — This passage directly answers the question: God made Jesus Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.

What Does the Bible Say About Jesus as the Head of the Church?

In Ephesians 1:22–23, Paul describes Christ's position: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." The Church is explicitly called His body, and Christ is the Head over all things to that body. Paul also uses the marriage relationship as the picture of this truth: "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Ephesians 5:23). The following verse continues, "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing" (Ephesians 5:24). Scripture thus presents Christ as the Head of the Church, and the Church as His body that is subject to Him.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Jesus as the Head of the Church?

Les Feldick teaches that when Paul calls Christ the Head of the Church, he means the Church is Christ's Body and the complement of the Head. The word 'fulness' in Ephesians 1:23 carries the sense of a complement — something that completes. When Christ finally has His Body in His presence, He considers Himself complete (Clip 1, Clip 2). The Church is the completing of Him who filleth all in all (Clip 2, Clip 3). Les also stresses that the true Church is the ekklesia whose Head is in heaven while the Body is on earth, yet the two cannot be separated (Clip 4). He points out that Paul never refers to the Lord as the King of the Church. A King rules over subjects, but believers are not Christ's subjects — they are members of His Body and joint heirs who will rule and reign with Him (Clip 6, Clip 7).

What Does It Mean That the Church Is Christ's Body?

Paul writes that the Church is Christ's Body and the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:23). Les explains that the Church is the complement of the Head: as Eve was given to Adam to complete him, so the Church completes Christ (Clip 5). The Body has its Head in heaven while the Body is on earth, but the two cannot be separated (Clip 4). Christ does not consider Himself complete until the Body is in His presence (Clip 1, Clip 2).

Why Does Les Say Jesus Is Not the King of the Church?

Les teaches that Paul never refers to Jesus as the King of the Church. Jesus is the Head of the Body, our Savior and Lord, but not our King. A King rules over subjects, and believers are not Christ's subjects — they are joint heirs with Him and will rule and reign with Him, not under Him. Being a member of the Body is a far closer relationship than being the subject of a King (Clip 6, Clip 7).

What Does 'Fullness of Him That Filleth All in All' Mean?

Les explains that the Greek word translated 'fulness' in Ephesians 1:23 means complement. The Church is the complement of the Head — the completing of Him that filleth all in all. God has put all things under Christ's feet and given Him to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body (Clip 1, Clip 2, Clip 3, Clip 5).

From the Teaching

What Happens After the Rapture? Romans 7 & Heaven Explained

of service, is in the Word. And then that He might, verse 27, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church or a glorious body, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Now that's the whole concept of walking the Christian life. We're not to be careless.

Christ the Head, the Church His Body

Les explains that God gave Christ to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, and that the word 'fulness' means complement — Christ considers Himself complete when the Body is in His presence.

The Church as Christ's Completeness

Les teaches that even the Creator, the Lord Jesus, does not consider Himself complete until His blood-bought Church is in His presence; the Church is the complement and completion of Him who filleth all in all.

Head Over All Things to the Church

Les shows that just as enemies are placed under feet, God has given Christ to be Head over all things to the Church — and the Church is His Body, the complement and completion of Him who filleth all in all.

Head in Heaven, Body on Earth

Les explains that the true Church is the ekklesia whose Head is in heaven while the Body is on earth, but the Head and Body cannot be separated.

The Church as Complement of the Head

Les teaches that the Greek word 'fulness' means complement: as Eve was given to Adam as his complement, so the Church is the complement of the Head, pictured in Ephesians 5.

Head of the Body, Not King

Les emphasizes that Paul never calls Christ the King of the Church — Christ is the Head of the Body, and believers are joint heirs who will rule and reign with Him, not subjects under Him.

Members of the Body, Not Subjects

Les explains that while Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, it is not scripturally correct to call Him King of the Church; believers are members of His Body, a relationship far closer than being subjects of a King.

Bible Verses

Ephesians 1:22-23: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

This is the key passage describing Christ as Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body and fulness.

Ephesians 5:23: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Paul uses the marriage relationship to picture Christ's headship over the Church as His Body.

Ephesians 5:24: Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

This verse shows the Church's subjection to Christ, its Head, as the pattern for wives in marriage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jesus the King of the Church?

According to Les Feldick, Paul never calls Jesus the King of the Church. Jesus is the Head of the Body, our Savior and Lord. A King rules over subjects, but believers are members of His Body and joint heirs with Him (Clip 6, Clip 7).

What is the 'fulness' of Christ in Ephesians 1:23?

Les teaches that the Greek word translated 'fulness' means complement. The Church is the complement of the Head — when Christ finally has His Body in His presence, He considers Himself complete (Clip 1, Clip 2).

Why is the Church called the Body of Christ?

Scripture calls the Church 'his body' (Ephesians 1:23). Les explains that the Body has its Head in heaven while the body is on earth, yet the two cannot be separated; believers are members of that Body in a relationship closer than subjects to a king (Clip 4, Clip 7).

Related Questions

Also Answered in This Video

Source Video

Watch the Teaching: What Happens After the Rapture? Romans 7 & Heaven Explained