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No.20.
The title Head, and its relation to the Fullness.
pp. 192 - 196
We have seen that the title `Head' gathers up unto itself, all that the separate titles
`King', `Priest' and `Prophet' imply, with ever so much more than either of these titles
taken separately, or all together can ever teach or contain. That church of which Christ is
Head not only lacks nothing, but is infinitely more blessed, is in a closer relationship with
Christ, and anticipates the goal of the ages in a way that no other company could ever do.
We have seen that Eph. 1: 10 finds its expansion and anticipation in Eph. 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 of Eph. 4: 15.
As a consequence of the Saviour's exaltation `Far above all' in Eph. 1: 20-22, He is
seen as Head over all things to the church, which is called `the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all'. Turning to Eph. 4:, we find that the ascension `far above all' is restated, and
the `fullness' 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).
It is this ascended One Who gives the ministry that has as its goal `the perfect man'. It
is evident from the language of Eph. 4: 8-13, that here we are presented with the
outworking of the truth set out in chapter 1:
Coming now to Eph. 4: 15, we observe that the words of the A.V. `speaking the
truth in love' are a somewhat free translation, 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 Gal. 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 and truthful' or `speaking the truth'. None of these expressions
however exactly present to the mind what the verb aletheuein does. The LXX of
Gen. 42: 16 employs this word where we read, `Ye shall be kept in prison, that your