Kristen

Here’s a link to Sue’s research on “kephale.” We’re indebted to you, Sue, for your intensive work on this.
http://powerscourt.blogspot.com/search?q=kephale

With regards to what the word means in Ephesians– Paul uses it 3 times in the book. The first time, Eph. 1:22, he uses it with the preposition “over” (Greek “hyper”), in reference to “all things” (with the context being that He is “above” all principalities, dominions and powers). The word “over” is not used in the head-body metaphors which are the other two uses of “kephale” in Ephesians. Since Sue’s research indicates that the word “kephale” also meant “preeminent one,” its use with the word “over” in Eph. 1:22 would seem to indicate this meaning. (Authority is IMPLIED in His being “over” all other powers, but it is not part of the actual meaning of the word “kephale.”) But the word “over” is NOT used in any of the three references, when Christ is spoken of as head “of” the body. In Eph. 4:15 we read that the members of the body “grow” in all things into Christ as the “head.” “Head” when used with “of the body” appears to carry the meaning “source of growth.”
In Eph. 5:22, then, since the word “head” is used with “of” and not “over” the body, it quite likely means the same thing it meant just a few paragraphs earlier, in 4:15– source of growth. The word is then followed with a picture of Christ, not taking the preeminent place as He does in 1:22, but giving Himself to make the church glorious. It is Christ’s sacrifice, not His preeminence, that is associated with “head of the body.” And it is not ruling the church, but making her glorious, that is in view.
If there is any meaning of “preeminence” when it comes to husbands and wives, the only logical way to read it is that husbands are being asked to emulate Christ and give themselves; and Christ gave Himself by laying down His preeminence and taking the lowest place– the place of a criminal on a cross.
I think it’s most likely that husbands are being asked to be the source of growth for their wives (nourish and cherish). But the only other possible meaning is that husbands are to lay down the preeminence given them by the social structure, and go lower in service to their wives, to raise the wives up.
There are other places in the Scriptures where Christ is spoken of as being in authority over the church. But authority over the church is not part of the meaning of the head-body metaphor, which refers to the nurturing-providing-raising up aspects of Christ’s ministry to the church. And it is THAT non-authoritative metaphor, and NOT any of the authority passages, that are used in reference to husbands and wives.