Ephesians 1:22,23, and we now pass on to the other references to Christ as

the Head as they occur in the epistles of the Mystery.  The next reference to

Christ as `Head' occurs in the practical section of Ephesians:

`But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things,

which is the head, even Christ' (Eph. 4:15).

Practice grows out of doctrine, and doctrine deals with calling, sphere

of blessing, and standing in grace.  What

is stated as a fact before God in the revelation of the doctrine of

Ephesians, awaits experimental realization in the practical section.  Let us

see this in the large, before concentrating our attention upon the detail.

As a consequence of the Saviour's exaltation, `far above all', in

Ephesians 1:20 -22, He is seen as Head over all things to the Church, which

church is called `the fulness of Him that filleth all in all'.  Turning to

Ephesians 4, we find that the Ascension `far above all' is restated, and the

`fulness' indicated as a goal.

`He that descended is the same also that ascended up Far Above All

heavens, that He might Fill All Things' (Eph. 4:10).  The gift of apostles,

etc., from this Ascended One has as its goal `the perfect man', and its

measure the stature of `the fulness' of Christ (Eph. 4:13).  It is evident

from this language of Ephesians 4:8 -13, that we are here presented with the

outworking of the truth set out in chapter 1.

Coming now to Ephesians 4:15, we observe that the words of the A.V.,

`speaking the truth in love', are somewhat free, there being no equivalent in

the Greek, for the word `speaking'.  The A.V. margin puts as an alternative

`being sincere' and the R.V. margin reads `dealing truly'.  The Greek word

under consideration is aletheuein, of which Alford, in his commentary, says

`it is almost impossible to express it satisfactorily in English', and

suggests the translation `being followers of truth' but says of this `the

objection to "followers of truth" is that it may be mistaken for "searchers

after truth", but I can find no expression which does not lie open to equal

objection'.  The only other occurrence of aletheuein is Galatians 4:16, where

the A.V. renders it, `because I tell (you) the truth'.

It is not possible in English to say `truthing in love', we must say,

`being sincere', `being true or truthful' or `speaking the truth'.  None of

these expressions, however, exactly present to the mind what the verb

aletheuein does.  The LXX of Genesis 42:16 employs this word where we read,

`ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be

any truth in you; or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies'.

In Isaiah 44:26, the LXX employs aletheuein to translate the word

shalam `perform', but when the same Hebrew word occurs again in verse 28, it

is there translated by the Greek poiein `to make or to do'.  If we can

imagine a word in English that conjures up to the mind a person whose whole

life is truth, whose very breath and atmosphere is truth, whose desires,

will, plans and activities are truth, we may perhaps approach the meaning of

Ephesians 4:15.  This utter regard for `truth', however, is balanced, for it

must be held `in love'; without that, such zeal in present circumstances

would lead to fanaticism and a persecuting spirit.

This utter regard for truth held in love is the great accessory to

`growth', `may grow up into Him in all things'.  Growing up into Christ in