{The head of the body} (h(8820)kephal(8820)tou s(936d)atos). Jesus is
first also in the spiritual realm as he is in nature (verses
18-20 ). Paul is fond of the metaphor of the body (s(936d)a) for
believers of which body Christ is the head (kephal(885c)) as seen
already in 1Co 11:3 12:12,27 Ro 12:5 . See further Col 1:24:
2:19 Eph 1:22f. 4:2,15 5:30 . {The church} ( (8873) ekkl(8873)ias)
Genitive case in explanatory apposition with ou s(936d)atos. This
is the general sense of ekkl(8873)ia, not of a local body,
assembly, or organization. Here the contrast is between the realm
of nature ( a panta) in verses 15-17 and the realm of spirit
or grace in verses 18-20 . A like general sense of ekkl(8873)ia
occurs in Eph 1:22f. 5:24-32 Heb 12:23 . In Eph 2:11-22 Paul
uses various figures for the kingdom of Christ (commonwealth
politeia, verse 12 , one new man eis hena kainon anthr(9370)on,
verse 15 , one body en heni s(936d)ati, verse 16 , family of God
oikeioi tou theou, verse 19 , building or temple oikodom(885c)
and
aos, verses 20-22 ). {Who} (hos). Causal use of the
relative, "in that he is." {The beginning} (h(8820)arch(885c)). It is
uncertain if the article (h(885c)) is genuine. It is absolute
without it. Christ has priority in time and in power. See Re
3:14 for his relation as arch(885c) to creation and 1Co 15:20,23
for aparch(885c) used of Christ and the resurrection and Ac 3:14
for arch(8867)os used of him as the author of life and Heb 2:10
of Jesus and salvation and Heb 12-2 of Jesus as the pioneer of
faith. {That in all things he might have the preeminence} (hina
gen(8874)ai en p(8373)in autos pr(9374)eu(936e)). Purpose clause with hina and
the second aorist middle subjunctive of ginomai, "that he
himself in all things (material and spiritual) may come to
(gen(8874)ai, not (8869), be) hold the first place" (pr(9374)eu(936e),
present active participle of pr(9374)eu(935c), old verb, to hold the
first place, here only in the N.T.). Christ is first with Paul in
time and in rank. See Re 1:5 for this same use of pr(9374)otokos
with (936e) nekr(936e) (the dead).
|