Eph 1: 21-23 Jesus, the Head of the Church

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Far above all rule (huperanō pasēs archēs). Late compound adverbial preposition (huper, anō) with the ablative case. 

FAR above (not just above “enough” to make it clear (like my nose is above my mouth)

this is more like “the sun is above my reach”

over and above so far that nothing can even begin to dispute or come remotely in reach

here Paul claims primacy for Jesus Christ above all angels, aeons, what not. These titles all were used in the Gnostic speculations with a graduated angelic hierarchy. World (aiōni). 

In religious traditions such as gnosticism, angels were believed to be celestial beings who controlled certain spheres through which a soul was to pass as it freed itself from the shackles of its material existence.

Gnosticism (from Ancient Greek: γνωστικός, romanized: gnōstikós, Koine Greek: [ɣnostiˈkos], ‘having knowledge’) is a collection of religious ideas and systems which originated in the late 1st century AD among Jewish and early Christian sects.[1] These various groups emphasised personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) above the orthodox teachings, traditions, and authority of the church. Viewing material existence as flawed or evil, Gnostic cosmogony generally presents a distinction between a supreme, hidden God and a malevolent lesser divinity (sometimes associated with the Yahwehof the Old Testament)[2] who is responsible for creating the material universe.[3] Gnostics considered the principal element of salvation to be direct knowledge of the supreme divinity in the form of mystical or esoteric insight. Many Gnostic texts deal not in concepts of sin and repentance, but with illusion and enlightenment.[3]

Col. 1:15 ¶ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:

Col. 1:16 for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Col. 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Col. 1:18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

“head of the body” brings us back to Eph 1: 22-23

22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

head κεφαλή kephale, kef-al-ay´; from the primary κάπτω kapto (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively: — head.

[Eerdmans Dictionary]  

HEAD

Generally the head of the physical body, the seat of the sensory organs and the brain (Heb. rōʾš; Gk. kephalḗ). Several passages allude to particular customs pertaining to the head. 

• The covering of one’s head was an act of contrition (2 Sam. 15:30) or shame (Jer. 14:3). 
• Casting dust upon the head was an act of grief (2 Sam. 13:19; Lam. 2:10; Ezek. 27:30; Rev. 18:19). 
• The shaving of one’s own head was also an act of grief (Job 1:20; Jer. 16:6), 
• but the shaving of another person’s head was a way of humiliating that person (1 Chr. 19:4-5; 1 Cor. 11:5-6). 
• By anointing the head with oil a person was consecrated and received God’s blessing. A ceremony of anointing accompanied the installation of new priests (Exod. 29:7; Lev. 8:12) and kings (1 Sam. 10:1; 16:13).

the body expresses itself through the head, united by the head, blessed by the head, shares in humility and suffering through the head, directed by the head, receives information about the world through the head, given air and food by the head

 

body is totally dependent upon the head to live, body without it’s head is useless, dead.

Often, the term “head” refers to one in a position of leadership (Josh. 11:10; Judg. 11:11). 

Paul blended this understanding of head with the literal concept when he spoke metaphorically of the Church as the body and Christ as the head (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19), 

thus emphasizing the unity of the Church, which is united under the leadership of Christ (the head).

Eph. 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Eph. 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Eph. 4:15 God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.

Eph. 4:16 He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Col. 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Col. 2:19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

“Head” also may refer to that which is most important. This is probably the sense in references to Jesus as the “main (kephalḗ) cornerstone” (Mark 12:10; Matt. 21:42; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7; cf. Ps. 118:22). Similarly, Mt. Zion is referred to as the “chief of the mountains” (Isa. 2:2; Mic. 4:1), and Jerusalem is exalted above my “main joy” (Ps. 137:6).

Mark R. Fairchild

Jesus is our head the head of the body the head must be connected to the body in order to function as the head

How are we connected to the head?

Through 

His Word

His life

His Spirit

All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;

so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17

I am the vine you are the branches … we can do nothing if we are not connected to HIM John 15:5

I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father but by me John 14:6

The beattitudes are the definitive example of what it is like to be connected to the head which is Jesus

I know that in Chosen, they show the disciples gearing up this sermon like a billy graham crusade

(I dont see that in scripture)

I know that in Chosen, they show Jesus getting tips from Matthew for his sermon

(I dont see that in scripture , in fact John 8:28 and John 12:49 contradict this idea)

crowds are following Jesus because of the healings and Jesus, seeing the crowds, climbs up a hill to be heard better and his disciples go up with him, and the crowds begin to go up as well.

if the body is being controlled by the head, then the body is doing what the head desires or instructs

If we are the body, then this applies to us as individuals as parts of the body (see Rom 12, 1 Cor 12)

Yes there are situations where a head does not have control or command of its body …

We call that a disorder, disease, or trauma 

(We also attempt to immediately fix the problem)

Diagnose the cause 

(Head, spine, body)

Correct the cause 

Fix the problem 

what should the body of Christ act like, live like ?

Do we live like we are under the head?

Diagnose ?

(Parts not working with other parts or 

Parts not properly connected to the head)

What is the cause ?

(Head problem… Christ Himself)

(Spine problem… there is no spine)

(Part problem… hmmm)

How to fix ?