By Earl Robertson
Jesus is Head
Head in our Testament comes from kephala and is used in various ways. It is used to convey “a sum total; a sum of money, capital, Acts 22:28; the crowning or ultimate point to preliminary matters, He. 8:1.” The “roll” or “volume” or God’s book is called kephalidi (head) by the apostle (Heb. 10:7) as he uses Psalms 40:7. This word, used by Jesus, reflects His reverence for the word of His Father. Many times during His personal ministry Jesus emphatically stated His regard for God’s position and word.
Christ is head of the universe as a whole in that God “put all things under his feet” (Eph. 1:22). Of the cosmic powers Christ is head. Paul wrote, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:10). Being head of all powers, He causes the whole of the universe to cohere. Paul says, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col. 1:17). Jesus, being head, holds it all together.
Christ is the head of the church-His church (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18). In every relationship involving the church of Christ, the rank of Jesus Christ is superior-He is head! The series of headship in 1 Corinthians 11 is: God, the head of Christ; Christ, the head of the man; the man, the head of the woman. This order cannot be changed. The head of man is Christ. The husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23). If this order is perverted, whether spiritually or maritally, all parties involved suffer. The divine order must not be changed by man.
Christ is not only head of His church, but He is “head over all things to the church” (Eph. 1:22, 23). The church is God’s house (1 Tim. 3:15) and, as a house, Christ is the “head of the corner” (Mk. 12:10; Lk. 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7). Just as a wife might cease to “reverence” her husband as her head (Eph. 5:33), so might the church become insubordinate to Christ the head in her worship and work. Such action is not only rebellious, it is sinful; Christ will be subordinate to no man. Some people think that they have a voice in church work, church government, and worship; however, only Christ the head is the legislator in such matters. This means that if you are unable to read in the word of God instructions for what you are and what the church where you worship does, then it’s time for repentance.
Truth Magazine XXII: 8, p. 136
February 23, 1978