'The Body' in Ephesians

The word “body” is used nine times in the book of Ephesians. eight of those times is in reference to the church (1:23, 2:16, 4:4, 4:12, 4:16, 5:23, 5:30), and one of those times is used in the plural form to reference husbands in Ephesians 5:28. In this article we will examine the use of the Greek word soma (G4983) in Ephesians in order to find out more about the church.

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“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” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

We see from this passage that Jesus – being the king of kings and Lord of Lords – is the head of the church. The church is defined as the body of Christ. It is in this body that God was “filling all in all.” That, as we will learn further in the epistle, was being accomplished through the mystery by the preaching of the gospel (see Colossians 3:10-11).

To be a part of the church is to be a member of the body of Christ, and to be a member of the body of Christ is to be a part of the “called out ones” of God. As we will see, the only answer to man’s sin problem (from Adam to our present day) is the body of Christ.

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:11-16).

We see once again that – in the body – both the Jew and the Gentile stand on level ground at the foot of the cross of Christ. Both have equal access to the spiritual blessings that are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3, 3:6). If we are members of the church, then we are part of the “new man” of Christ (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4).

Another aspect of the church is that there is only one. In like manner, there is only one hope, and that hope is eternal life – which can only be found in Christ (John 5:26; Ephesians 2:5-6, 12; Titus 1:2). The one Spirit is the Holy Spirit that worked through the church to produce unity and peace (Ephesians 2:17-18, 4:3).

As we just mentioned, the Holy Spirit was sent for the perfecting of the body of Christ through the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:11-21).

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:12-16).

As members of the body of Christ, it is our job to promote the growth of the church by teaching the gospel to others so that they may enjoy the blessings we enjoy in Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14).

“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).

Christ is the head of the body and the savior of the church. Nobody can be saved outside of the church and the only way to enter that body is through baptism (I Corinthians 12:13).

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30).

As the bride of Christ, we should submit to Christ and make His priories our priorities. That is, we should strive to seek and save the lost and live righteously (Luke 19:10; Revelation 19:7-8). Are you in the body?