What does EGW write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What does the term “head” mean in these verses? What does Paul mean when he calls Jesus the “head of the church” (Eph 5:23)?"
Answer
The term “head” in these verses describes the spiritual leadership and authority of Jesus Christ over the church, which is his symbolic body. As head, He is the one to whom the church owes obedience, exercising this role not through dictatorial power but through self‑sacrificial love and nurturing care. The relationship between head and body also serves as a model for the marital union, where leadership is to be characterized by love and mutual connection.
Christ as Head and the Model of Love
“Walk in love, just as Christ has loved us... For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject to Christ, so also the women ought to be subject to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
Christ’s Preeminence over Human Authority
“The church is built upon Christ as its foundation; it should obey Christ as its head. It must not depend on humans or be controlled by humans. Many claim that a position of trust in the church gives them the authority to dictate what other men should believe and do. God does not approve of this claim. The Savior declares: ‘You are all brothers.’”
Unity and Growth through the Head
“…so that we are no longer children, tossed about... but that we, speaking the truth in love, grow toward Him in all things, who is the head, Christ: from whom the whole body, joined and connected through every joint, extends its hand... the growth of the body brings about its own edification in love.”
Equality of Believers under One Head
“There is neither domination nor supreme rule among people in the church of Christ; rather, all are brothers. Christ alone is the head of the church and the head of every man in the church.”
The Leading Role of the Creator
“It is to our comfort that we are told that the head of the church is the Creator of all things... The hand that upholds all of nature will well guard His children.”
🔍 Related Searches
- Christ as Head of the Church
- Biblical Understanding of Submission
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Original Sources (English)
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