Ian & Jocelyn Barker

Not only is He the head of all creation, but He is the head of the new creation (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). He is described as being “the head of the body, the church.” He is the head “Apostle” (Heb. 3:2) and the supreme authority over His body, and in Him the Church is sustained and held together. The Church is empowered and unified in Him alone (cf. Jn. 14:12; 17:22; Rom. 15:5; Eph. 4:13). The destiny of the Church is glorious and sure because He is the captain of our salvation whose leadership is perfect (cf. Eph. 5:27; Heb. 2:10).

Paul’s use of the imagery of a “body” to describe the Church tells us “at least three things: (1) that the church is a living organism, composed of members joined vitally to one another, (2) that the church is the means by which Christ carries out his purposes and performs his work, and (3) that the union that exists between Christ and his people is most intimate and real” (Curtis Vaughn). There is a interrelationship and partnership between Christ and His bride. There is also an interrelationship between the individual members of the body of Christ, as we all serve a different function but are equally necessary (1 Cor. 12:12-26). Christ functions as the leader of the Church and the source of its redemption.

His authority over the Church is derived from the fact that He “is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.” He is “the beginning” because He was the first one to be resurrected from the dead, thus initiating redemptive history. Richard Melick correctly notes, “It should be translated, ‘He is the beginning, that is, the firstborn from the dead’.” He initiated a new order of creation history which both creation and believers will be brought into at His coming (Rom. 8:19-23; 1 Cor. 15:50-52). It was because of His obedience on the cross that the Father exalted Him as head of over creation and the new creation (cf. Rom. 1:4; Phil. 2:6-11; Rev. 5:9). When all things are brought under His rule and authority, He will have “preeminence” over all things.