Basic TrainingBible MinistriesGene CunninghamBasic Training Bible Ministries KBKnowledge Base

What does it mean that Christ is the Head and the Church is His Body?

Answered by Gene Cunningham, Basic Training Bible Ministries · from The Basics

The Head and the Body is the most often used description of Christ and the Church. It pictures the unity of believers and the authority of Christ (Rom. 12:5). In the human body, each member has a specific and individual function. Each member, though different, is necessary. All members take their orders from the brain; but all, by nature, serve the other parts and exist solely for the function of the whole. The Church is one body—the Body of Christ. Every believer is placed “in Christ” at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13) and all believers are exhorted to live as one (Ephesians 4).

Also asked: What does the phrase 'Head and Body' imply about the relationship between Christ and the Church? · How do the human body and its members illustrate the unity and authority of Christ and the Church? · What does it mean for a believer to be 'in Christ' and how does this impact their relationship to other believers?

Source: The Basics The Basics — Body of Christ (canonical doctrine) · Read this lesson in the book →

What this answer is about

The subjects this answer names in its own words. Where the record names that subject itself, it is shown in bold.

Body of ChristSalvation

Related questions

See also

Scripture this answer rests on

Scripture the book prints on the pages this answer was drawn from. The passages printed closest to it are shown, in Bible order.

Ephesians 4:11-16What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Also printed on these pages
John 7:37-39What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Acts 1:8What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
1 Corinthians 12:4-31What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Hebrews 10:25-31What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Matthew 16:13-18What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Matthew 28:19-20What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
John 14-16What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72

Where this is taught in the book

Closest first: the pages where the book treats this subject most directly.

Lesson 2–2: The Base—The Church

p.75p.72

Lesson 2–4: The Equipment—Spiritual Gifts

p.94p.95p.93p.91p.92

Lesson 2–3: The Commission—Evangelism

p.87p.78p.81p.84p.89

More pages teach this. The Source line above carries the full citation and opens the book.

Scripture is not BTBM’s to license: the references above link to Blue Letter Bible (NASB95), and the verse text shown on this page is served by BLB under their own license and terms.