Eph. 1:20-23 - Hope, Riches, Glory, and Power

20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

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seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places

V. 20 - "which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places”

Our hope is in Christ’s resurrection. His riches - our belief and faith and ourselves - His power to us, are all proportional to the work done in Christ. Paul defines this work in the next few phrases:

(1) Raised Christ from the dead;
(2) Seated Him at His right hand. That’s all.

God conquered death through Christ, and offered it to all. This might (conquering of death) is ours in Christ. The hope is ours in proportion to the amount Christ is in control of our lives!

V. 21 - “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

This verse deals with Christ and where He is as a result of being raised from the dead. (See: Rom 8:38, 13:1; Col 1:16, 2:10, 15; 1 Cor 15:24) There may be rulers or kings who exercise absolute authority over their subjects - Jesus Christ is greater than these! There may be those whose authority has been gained or taken from others and is undeniable. Christ is greater than these. There may be those who power is undisputed (all of the above exist in the physical and spiritual worlds). Christ is greater than these! There are dominions and kingdoms in this world, and in the spiritual world we cannot see, and Jesus Christ is greater than these!

“Every name that is named...” - People honor others. There are names which bring awe to our minds and command our respect. Statues; Buildings; Cities named after them; States named after them. No matter how much honor is bestowed upon another, either now or in any future time — Christ is greater than all! There are not enough superlatives to describe Christ.

V. 22 - “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,”

God put everything under Christ’s feet. Really, picture a king on a throne - all of his subjects bow at his feet. This is the image presented here - everything has been put under Christ’s control and authority. (See: 1 Cor 15:27; Matt 28:18; Phil 2:9-11; Rom 14:!1; Col 1:18)

“Gave Him as head over all things to the church” - There is no other leader or authority for the church. (See: Col 1:18, 2:19, 3:11; John 15:4-5) Christ is the first of all those to be raised from the dead to eternal life. (See: Rev 1:8, 17-18, 2:1-2, 8, 12, for Christ position). Since we know his position - then we also know that any endeavor must be blessed, originated by Him, or it will not bring glory to Christ and God. The church, the body of believers, exists for really two reasons: (1) to bring glory to Christ and God, and (2) to bring people to a saving knowledge of Christ. Indeed as a person comes to Christ, it brings glory to Him.

V. 23 - “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

The church is Christ’s body (1 Cor 12:27). One of those interesting analogies - Christ the head, we the body; Christ the bridegroom, we the bride, etc. His body, the church, is the completion of Christ. We in ourselves can not do anything to make Christ better, etc. But in the church, in us, God has brought about, accomplished all that He set out to do in Christ. The reason: we do not do it, but Christ does (John 15:5) Christ begins the work in us, and completes the work in us. In Christ, God gives everyone who believes everything they need for the Christian life.

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End of chapter