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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ephesians/1-22.htm" title="Ephesians 1:22">◄</a> Ephesians 1:23 <a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm" title="Ephesians 2:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ephesians/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ephesians/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ephesians/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ephesians/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ephesians/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/ephesians/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of the <i>One</i> filling all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ephesians/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ephesians/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ephesians/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ephesians/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ephesians/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ephesians/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ephesians/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills <i>and</i> completes all things in all [believers].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ephesians/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ephesians/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ephesians/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ephesians/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The church is the body of Christ and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ephesians/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ephesians/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The church is Christ's body and completes him as he fills everything in every way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ephesians/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ephesians/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ephesians/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ephesians/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ephesians/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ephesians/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/ephesians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />the completeness of Him who everywhere fills the universe with Himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ephesians/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ephesians/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of Him who is filling all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/ephesians/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />which is His body, the fullness of the <i>One</i> filling all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ephesians/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> which is his body, the fulness of Him who is filling the all in all,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ephesians/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Which is his body, the completion of him completing all things in all.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ephesians/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Which is his body, and the fulness of him who is filled all in all. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ephesians/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />which is his body and which is the fullness of him who accomplishes everything in everyone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ephesians/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ephesians/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ephesians/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Which is his body, and confirmation of him who fulfills all things and every thing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/ephesians/1.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Which is his body and the fullness of him who fills all in all. <div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/ephesians/1.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all his members with all things,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/ephesians/1.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all things in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/ephesians/1.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/ephesians/1.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />which is his body, a work compleatly finished in all its parts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/ephesians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />the completeness of Him who everywhere fills the universe with Himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/ephesians/1.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />which, indeed, is His body, the fulness of Him Who is filling all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/ephesians/1.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />which is his body, the complete work of Him, who filleth all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ephesians/1-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfeSHen3sAQ?start=194" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ephesians/1.htm">Spiritual Wisdom</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3748.htm" title="3748: hētis (RelPro-NFS) -- Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever. ">which</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">is</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4983.htm" title="4983: sōma (N-NNS) -- Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.">body,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/4138.htm" title="4138: plērōma (N-NNS) -- From pleroo; repletion or completion, i.e. what fills, or what is filled.">fullness</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of Him</a> <a href="/greek/4137.htm" title="4137: plēroumenou (V-PPM-GMS) -- From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.">who fills</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ta (Art-ANP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: panta (Adj-ANP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">all</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: pasin (Adj-DNP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">all.</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-18.htm">Colossians 1:18</a></span><br />And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/2-9.htm">Colossians 2:9-10</a></span><br />For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. / And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/12-12.htm">1 Corinthians 12:12-27</a></span><br />The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. / For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. / For the body does not consist of one part, but of many. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-4.htm">Romans 12:4-5</a></span><br />Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, / so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-24.htm">Colossians 1:24</a></span><br />Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-15.htm">1 Corinthians 6:15</a></span><br />Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-15.htm">Ephesians 4:15-16</a></span><br />Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. / From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-16.htm">1 Corinthians 10:16-17</a></span><br />Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? / Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-15.htm">Colossians 3:15</a></span><br />Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/3-16.htm">1 Corinthians 3:16</a></span><br />Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-16.htm">John 1:16</a></span><br />From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-5.htm">John 15:5</a></span><br />I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-5.htm">1 Peter 2:5</a></span><br />you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9-10</a></span><br />But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-6.htm">Hebrews 3:6</a></span><br />But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.</p><p class="hdg">his.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/2-16.htm">Ephesians 2:16</a></b></br> And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/4-4.htm">Ephesians 4:4,12</a></b></br> <i>There is</i> one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/5-23.htm">Ephesians 5:23-32</a></b></br> 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… </p><p class="hdg">fulness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/3-19.htm">Ephesians 3:19</a></b></br> And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/4-10.htm">Ephesians 4:10</a></b></br> He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/1-16.htm">John 1:16</a></b></br> And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/1-22.htm">Body</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-10.htm">Complete</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-19.htm">Completeness</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/3-2.htm">Everywhere</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/9-12.htm">Filleth</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/9-12.htm">Filling</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-16.htm">Fills</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-18.htm">Full</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-10.htm">Fullness</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-10.htm">Fulness</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-8.htm">Measure</a> <a href="/galatians/4-3.htm">Universe</a> <a href="/galatians/6-9.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ephesians/2-3.htm">Body</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-19.htm">Complete</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-19.htm">Completeness</a> <a href="/philippians/1-13.htm">Everywhere</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-14.htm">Filleth</a> <a href="/colossians/1-24.htm">Filling</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/3-9.htm">Fills</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-4.htm">Full</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-19.htm">Fullness</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-19.htm">Fulness</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-7.htm">Measure</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-10.htm">Universe</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-14.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Ephesians 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/1-1.htm">After Paul's salutation,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/1-3.htm">and thanksgiving for the Ephesians,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/1-4.htm">he treats of our election,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/1-6.htm">and adoption by grace;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/1-11.htm">which is the true and proper fountain of man's salvation.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/1-13.htm">And because the height of this mystery cannot be easily attained unto,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/1-16.htm">he prays that they may come to the full knowledge and possession thereof in Christ.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ephesians/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ephesians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ephesians/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>which is His body</b><br>The phrase "which is His body" refers to the Church as the body of Christ. This metaphor emphasizes the intimate and organic connection between Christ and believers. In the cultural context of the first century, the body was often used as a metaphor for unity and diversity within a community. Paul uses this imagery to illustrate how each member of the Church has a unique role, yet all are united under Christ as the head (<a href="/1_corinthians/12-12.htm">1 Corinthians 12:12-27</a>). This concept is foundational for understanding the Church's identity and mission, as it highlights the interdependence of believers and their collective purpose in representing Christ on earth.<p><b>the fullness of Him</b><br>"The fullness of Him" suggests that the Church is the means through which Christ's presence and power are manifested in the world. This phrase can be connected to the idea of the Church being the vessel through which God's purposes are fulfilled. In <a href="/colossians/1-19.htm">Colossians 1:19</a>, Paul writes that "God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him," referring to Christ. The Church, as His body, is thus the extension of Christ's fullness, tasked with continuing His work and embodying His character. This fullness implies completeness and the idea that the Church is equipped with all it needs to fulfill its divine mission.<p><b>who fills all in all</b><br>"Who fills all in all" speaks to Christ's sovereign authority and His ability to permeate every aspect of creation. This phrase underscores the omnipresence and omnipotence of Christ, who is not limited by time or space. It reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as those found in <a href="/isaiah/6-3.htm">Isaiah 6:3</a>, where the earth is described as being full of God's glory. In the New Testament, this concept is further developed in passages like <a href="/colossians/3-11.htm">Colossians 3:11</a>, where Christ is described as being "all, and in all." This phrase assures believers of Christ's active involvement in the world and His ultimate plan to reconcile all things to Himself.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_church_in_ephesus.htm">The Church in Ephesus</a></b><br>The recipients of the letter, the church in Ephesus was a significant early Christian community located in a major city of the Roman province of Asia.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>Referred to as "Him" in the verse, Jesus is central to the passage as the one who fills all in all and whose body is the church.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_church_as_christ's_body.htm">The Church as Christ's Body</a></b><br>The church is not just an organization but a living organism, the body of Christ, called to represent Him on earth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_fullness_of_christ.htm">The Fullness of Christ</a></b><br>Christ fills the church with His presence and power, enabling believers to live out their faith effectively.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_and_diversity_in_the_body.htm">Unity and Diversity in the Body</a></b><br>Just as a body has many parts, each with a unique role, so does the church. Every believer has a purpose and function within the body.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/christ's_sovereignty_and_sufficiency.htm">Christ's Sovereignty and Sufficiency</a></b><br>Jesus, who fills all in all, is sovereign over the universe and sufficient for every need of the church.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_as_part_of_the_body.htm">Living as Part of the Body</a></b><br>Believers are called to live in harmony, supporting one another and working together to fulfill the mission of the church.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ephesians_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ephesians 1</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_jesus_as_church's_head_mean.htm">What does it mean Jesus is the church's head?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_missionary_william_carey.htm">What defines the visible and invisible church?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_a_church_in_heaven.htm">Is there a church in heaven?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_pleroma.htm">What is Pleroma?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) <span class= "bld">The fulness of him that filleth all in all.</span>--The word <span class= "ital">pleroma, "</span>fulness," is used in a definite and almost technical sense in the Epistles of the Captivity, and especially in the Epistle to the Colossians, having clear reference to the speculations as to the Divine Nature and the emanations from it, already anticipating the future Gnosticism. The word itself is derived from a verb signifying, first, to "fill;" next (more frequently in the New Testament), to "fulfil" or <span class= "ital">complete.</span> It is found (1) in a physical sense of the "full contents" of the baskets, in <a href="/mark/6-43.htm" title="And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.">Mark 6:43</a>; <a href="/mark/8-20.htm" title="And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took you up? And they said, Seven.">Mark 8:20</a>; and of the earth, in <a href="/context/1_corinthians/10-26.htm" title="For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.">1Corinthians 10:26-28</a>; and in <a href="/matthew/9-16.htm" title="No man puts a piece of new cloth to an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the rent is made worse.">Matthew 9:16</a>, <a href="/mark/2-21.htm" title="No man also sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old, and the rent is made worse.">Mark 2:21</a>, it is applied to the patch of new cloth on an old garment. It is used next (2) of fulness, in sense of the "complete tale or number," "of time" and "seasons," in <a href="/ephesians/1-10.htm" title="That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:">Ephesians 1:10</a>, <a href="/galatians/4-4.htm" title="But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,">Galatians 4:4</a>; of the Jews and Gentiles in <a href="/romans/11-12.htm" title="Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?">Romans 11:12</a>; <a href="/romans/11-25.htm" title="For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.">Romans 11:25</a>. In the third place (3) it is applied to the full essence, including all the attributes, of a thing or person; as of the Law (<a href="/romans/13-10.htm" title="Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.">Romans 13:10</a>), and of the blessing of Christ (<a href="/romans/15-29.htm" title="And I am sure that, when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.">Romans 15:29</a>). Lastly (4), in these Epistles it is applied, almost technically, to the fulness of the Divine Nature. Thus, in <a href="/colossians/1-19.htm" title=" For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;">Colossians 1:19</a> we have, "It pleased the Father that in Christ all the fulness"--<span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, all the fulness of the Divine Nature--"should dwell;" or (to take an admissible but less probable construction) "In Him all the fulness is pleased to dwell;" and this is explained in <a href="/ephesians/2-9.htm" title="Not of works, lest any man should boast.">Ephesians 2:9</a>, "In Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Similarly, though less strikingly, we read in this Epistle, that those who are in Christ are said (in <a href="/ephesians/3-19.htm" title="And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.">Ephesians 3:19</a>; <a href="/ephesians/4-13.htm" title="Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:">Ephesians 4:13</a>) "to be filled up to all the fulness of God," and "to come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. In which of these last senses is the Church here said to be the "fulness of Christ?" If in any, probably in the last of all. As the individual, so the Church, by the presence "of Him who filleth up all things for Himself in all," comes to be "His fulness," the complete image of Him in all His glorified humanity. But it may be questioned whether it is not better to take here a different sense, corresponding to the "patch" in <a href="/matthew/9-16.htm" title="No man puts a piece of new cloth to an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the rent is made worse.">Matthew 9:16</a>, and signifying the "complement." In the original Greek of Euclid (in Book 1., Prop. 4), the cognate word, <span class= "ital">parapleroma, </span>is used of "the complements." In this compound word the idea is, no doubt, more unequivocally expressed. But of the simple word here employed it may be reasonably contended that, if one thing or person alone is contemplated, the <span class= "ital">pleroma</span> must be the fulness of the one nature; if, as here, two are brought in, each will be the "complement" to the other--as the patch to the garment, and the garment to the patch. So here (says Chrysostom) "the complement of the Head is the Body, and the complement of the Body is the Head." Thus by a daring expression, St. Paul describes our Lord as conceiving His glorified humanity incomplete without His Church; and then, lest this should seem to derogate even for a moment from His dignity, he adds the strongest declaration of His transcendent power, "to fill up for Himself all things in all," in order to show that we are infinitely more incomplete without Him than He without us. This sense, bold as it is, certainly suits exactly the great idea of this Epistle, which differs from the parallel Colossian Epistle in this--that while both dwell emphatically on Christ the Head, and the Church as His Body, there the chief stress is laid on the true Deity of the Head, here on the glory and privileges of the Body. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Which is his body.</span> The Church is Christ's body in a real though spiritual sense. He is the Head, his people the members; he the Vine, they the branches. He dwells in the Church as life dwells in a living body. He fills it with his life, replenishes it with his strength, feeds it with his body and blood, beautifies it with his comeliness, calms it with his peace, brightens it with his holiness, and finally glorifies it with his glory. All things are delivered unto him of the Father; and all that he has he has for the Church: "My beloved is mine, and I am his." <span class="cmt_word">The fullness of him that filleth all in all</span>. The grammatical structure of the words would lead us to construe "fullness" with "the Church," and to regard the Church as Christ's <span class="greek">πλήρωμα</span>. Some object to this, inasmuch as, in point of fact, the Church is often very empty, and therefore not worthy of the term "fullness." But it is not meant that the Church has actually received all the fullness of him who filleth all in all, but only that she is in the course of receiving it. The Church on earth is an ever-changing body, perpetually receiving new members, who are at first empty; so that it must always in this state be in the course of filling, never filled. It is in the course of being filled with all Divine things - with all the treasures of heaven. As the empty cells of the honeycomb are being filled with the sweet essences of flowers, so the empty vessels of the Church are being filled with the glorious treasures of God; or, as the courts and compartments of a great international exhibition get filled up with the choicest products of the lands, so the Church gets filled with the handiwork of the grace of God. When the Church is completed, it will be a representation of the fullness of God; all of God that can be communicated to men will be made manifest in the Church. For he whose fullness the Church is, is he that filleth all in all, or filleth all with all. He possesses all things, and he fills all space with the all things. He fills the ocean with water, the organic world with life, the firmament with stars, the entire creation with forms innumerable, alike beautiful and useful. So also he fills the Church. Thus appropriately concludes this chapter, beginning (ver. 3) with thanksgiving to him who had blessed the Ephesians with every blessing of the Spirit in Christ Jesus, and now ending with a sublime picture of the Infinite One filling the Church with these Divine blessings out of the infinite stores of the kingdom of heaven. Thus we see the quality of richness, exuberance, overflowing abundance which is so conspicuously ascribed in this Epistle to the grace of God (comp. <a href="/psalms/36-8.htm">Psalm 36:8</a>; <a href="/psalms/103-3.htm">Psalm 103:3-5</a>; <a href="/matthew/5-3.htm">Matthew 5:3</a>, etc.). <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ephesians/1-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">which</span><br /><span class="grk">ἥτις</span> <span class="translit">(hētis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3748.htm">Strong's 3748: </a> </span><span class="str2">Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">is</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐστὶν</span> <span class="translit">(estin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">His</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(autou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">body,</span><br /><span class="grk">σῶμα</span> <span class="translit">(sōma)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4983.htm">Strong's 4983: </a> </span><span class="str2">Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τὸ</span> <span class="translit">(to)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fullness</span><br /><span class="grk">πλήρωμα</span> <span class="translit">(plērōma)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4138.htm">Strong's 4138: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pleroo; repletion or completion, i.e. what fills, or what is filled.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of [Him]</span><br /><span class="grk">τοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(tou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who fills</span><br /><span class="grk">πληρουμένου</span> <span class="translit">(plēroumenou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Middle - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4137.htm">Strong's 4137: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="grk">πάντα</span> <span class="translit">(panta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐν</span> <span class="translit">(en)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> </span><span class="str2">In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all.</span><br /><span class="grk">πᾶσιν</span> <span class="translit">(pasin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ephesians/1-23.htm">Ephesians 1:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ephesians/1-23.htm">NT Letters: Ephesians 1:23 Which is his body the fullness (Ephes. Eph. Ep) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ephesians/1-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ephesians 1:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ephesians 1:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ephesians 2:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ephesians 2:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>