Ephesians 1:22

Authorized King James Version

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Word-by-Word Analysis

καὶ

G2532

And

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πάντα

G3956

all

all, any, every, the whole

ὑπέταξεν

G5293

hath put

to subordinate; reflexively, to obey

ὑπὸ

G5259

things under

under, i.e., (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (

τοὺς

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πόδας

G4228

feet

a "foot" (figuratively or literally)

αὐτὸν

G846

him

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

καὶ

G2532

And

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

αὐτὸν

G846

him

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

#10

ἔδωκεν

G1325

gave

to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)

#11

κεφαλὴν

G2776

to be the head

the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively

#12

ὑπὲρ

G5228

over

"over", i.e., (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case super

#13

πάντα

G3956

all

all, any, every, the whole

#14

τῇ

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#15

ἐκκλησίᾳ

G1577

things to the church

a calling out, i.e., (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (jewish synagogue, or christian community of members on earth

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of salvation, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of soteriology and the doctrine of salvation?
How does this verse's literary context within Ephesians chapter 1 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?
What practical applications emerge from understanding salvation as presented in this verse, particularly in light of addressing questions of religious pluralism and the exclusivity of Christ?

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

Topics

Salvation