Ephesians 1:22,23

Eph. 1:22, 23. "And gave him to be head over all things to the church which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." By fullness, according to the apostle's use of the phrase, is signified the good of any being; all that by which any being is excellent and happy; including its perfection, beauty, riches, joy, and pleasure. Romans 11:12, "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!" The word fullness, in the former part of this verse, is doubtless to be understood in like manner as the word filleth in the latter part. By Christ's filling all in all, seems evidently to be intended that he supplies all the creatures in heaven and on earth, angels, and blessed spirits, and men, with all good; as in Ephesians 4:10, "He that descended, is the same also that ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things, viz. That he might supply all intelligent creatures in heaven and earth with good. So when it is said, Ephesians 3:19, "That ye might be filled with all the fullness of God," the meaning seems to be, that ye might have your souls satisfied with a participation of God's own good, his bounty and joy; "for our communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:3. So when the apostle says Christ, the e?e??se ea?t??, emptied himself," as Php_2:7 he means that he appeared in the world without his former glory and joy; see John 17:5. So that here the apostle teaches that Christ, who fills all things, all elect creatures in heaven and earth, is himself filled by the church; he, who supplies angels and men with all that good in which they are perfect and happy, receives the church as that in which he himself is happy; he, from whom and in whom all angels and saints are adorned and made perfect in beauty, himself receives the church as his glorious and beautiful ornament, as the virtuous wife is a crown to her husband. The church is the garment of Christ, and was typified by that coat of his that was without seam, which signified the union of the various members of the church, and was typified by those garments of the high priest that were made for glory and for beauty, Exodus 28:2, as seems evident by Psalms 133:2, and by the precious stones of his breastplate, in a particular manner, on which were engraven the names of the children of Israel. Isaiah 62:3, "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God," i.e. in the possession of God. So Zechariah 9:16; Zechariah 9:17, "And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they shall be as the stones of a crown lifted up, as an ensign upon his land." As it is from and in Christ that all are supplied with joy and happiness, so Christ receives the church as that in which he has exceeding and satisfying delight and joy. Isaiah 62:5, "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." This seems to be the good that Christ sought in the creation of the world, who is the beginning of the creation of God; when all things were created by him and for him, viz. that he might obtain the church, who is "the bride, the Lamb's wife," to whom, and for whom, he might give himself, on whom he might pour forth his love, and in whom his soul might eternally be delighted. Until he had attained this, he was pleased not to look on himself as complete, but as wanting something, as the first Adam was not complete before the creation of Eve, Genesis 2:20.

Eph. 1:23