The concept of one being the "head" of something is a familiar one (e.g., heads of corporations, animals and people have heads that direct their bodies, heads of families, etc.). Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary lists 21 definitions for the noun "head," four definitions for the "head" as an adjective and 10 definitions for the word "head" used as a verb, for a total of 35 primary definitions. Meanings for the word "head" include: the part of the animal or human body having the brain and the mouth, one side of a coin, an individual as in counting heads, the upper of something such as a stream or the opposite of the foot of something, director or leader, the leading element of something, the top of something, the toilet on a ship, place of honor, headlines pertaining to the printed page, something rising to the top, a machinery attachment, to behead or decapitate, a course set for travel, to originate and to go in a certain direction.

Scripture represents Jesus Christ as being Head of his church, Head of his spiritual body and Head of his spiritual house or family. Several of the definitions for the word "head" apply to Jesus Christ in his relationship to the church, his spiritual body and his spiritual family. Let's compare the appropriate definitions of the word "head" with biblically described roles of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Head of his church. The apostle Paul distinctly and repeatedly wrote by divine inspiration that Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. Paul affirmed in two chapters of the Ephesian epistle that Jesus Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23). In Ephesians 1:22-23 and 5:23, the apostle Paul uses the words "church" and "body" interchangeably. Paul also emphasized to the church at Colosse that Jesus Christ is the Head of the church while he is also Head of the body (Colossians 1:18).

Only Jesus Christ is the Head of his church. This means that Jesus Christ alone is the brains and mouth for the church. Our Lord alone is the director or leader of his church. Jesus alone occupies the place of chief honor in the church. Jesus Christ alone has arisen to the top respecting his church. Jesus Christ alone as Head of his church determines the direction or course of the church. No one else, and especially no one on earth, is head of the church that Jesus established (contrary to what religious leaders may claim for themselves).

Jesus Christ is the Head of his spiritual body. The apostle Paul distinctly and repeatedly wrote by divine inspiration that Jesus Christ is the Head of his spiritual body. We already observed that the apostle Paul used the words "church" and "body" interchangeably in Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18. In Ephesians 4:15-16, as well as Colossians 2:19, the apostle Paul describes the church as a body with its many members over which Jesus Christ is the Head (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:4-5).

Only Jesus Christ is the Head of his spiritual body. This means that Jesus Christ alone is the brains and mouth for his spiritual body. Our Lord alone is the director or leader of his spiritual body. Jesus alone occupies the place of chief honor in his spiritual body. Jesus Christ alone has arisen to the top respecting his spiritual body. Jesus Christ alone as Head of his spiritual body determines the direction or course of his spiritual body. No one else, and especially no one on earth, is head of our Lord's spiritual body (contrary to what religious leaders may claim for themselves).

Jesus Christ is the Head of his spiritual house or family. The apostle Paul distinctly and repeatedly wrote by divine inspiration that Jesus Christ is the Head of his spiritual house or family. The apostle uses the words "church" and "house of God" as interchangeable terms (1 Timothy 3:15). Robertson's records of 1 Timothy 3:15 about the words "house of God": "Probably here 'household of God,' that is 'the family of God.'" Likewise, the writer of Hebrews acknowledges that Jesus Christ is "over his own house" (Hebrews 3:2-6). The apostle Peter adds that Christians are the spiritual stones with which Christ's spiritual house is built (1 Peter 2:5).

Only Jesus Christ is the Head of his spiritual house or family. This means that Jesus Christ alone is the brains and mouth for his spiritual house or family. Our Lord alone is the director or leader of his spiritual family. Jesus alone occupies the place of chief honor in his spiritual house. Jesus Christ alone has arisen to the top respecting his spiritual family. Jesus Christ alone as Head of his spiritual house determines the direction or course of his spiritual house. No one else, and especially no one on earth, is head of our Lord's spiritual house or family (contrary to what religious leaders may claim for themselves).

The designation "Head" appears in Scripture respecting Jesus Christ in other references as well. Jesus Christ is "the head stone of the corner" (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42-43; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-7). "CORNERSTONE The stone at the corner of two walls that unites them; specifically, the stone built into one corner of the foundation of an edifice as the actual or nominal starting point of a building" (New Unger's). "CORNERSTONE A stone placed at the corner, or the intersecting angle, where two walls of a building come together. In biblical times, buildings were often made of cut, squared stone. By uniting two intersecting walls, a cornerstone helped align the whole building and tie it together" (Nelson's). This stone of prophecy that the Jewish leaders rejected but God chose is Jesus Christ (Genesis 49:24; Isaiah 28:16; Romans 9:33). Jesus Christ is the living cornerstone to the same spiritual building that is comprised of Christians as living stones (1 Peter 2:5-7).

In addition, Jesus Christ is "the head of every man" (1 Corinthians 11:3). Jesus Christ "is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:10).

In conclusion, it is apparent that the church, body and house or family, each of which Jesus Christ heads, are different references to the same divine institution. Since Jesus Christ is Head of the church, and the church and the body are the same thing, then Our Lord is likewise Head of his spiritual body (Ephesians 1:22-23). Colossians 1:18 records this information in reverse; since Jesus Christ is Head of the body, and the body and the church are the same thing, then Our Lord is likewise Head of his church. Jesus Christ is the Head of his spiritual house or family. Jesus Christ is unquestionablely Head of his church, his spiritual body, his house or family and everything that matters.

If Jesus Christ is not the Head of your life, then you need to obey the Gospel (Romans 6:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Jesus saves the obedient and adds them to his church, which is his spiritual body and his spiritual family (Hebrews 5:9; Acts 2:47). Those who are already the spiritual stones that comprise our Lord's spiritual house or family need to remain faithful and repent when they stumble in sin (Revelation 2:10; Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament. CD-ROMANS Seattle: Biblesoft & Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, 1997.

Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. CD-ROMANS Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1993.

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. CD-ROMANS Nashville: Nelson, 1986.

New Unger's Bible Dictionary. CD-ROMANS Chicago: Moody P., 1988.