kefalh/ (ke pha lae)
This Greek word simply means head as a literal part of the anatomy. It is shown in words such as cephalic, and is used that way in the Bible. However, the figurative use of the word in the New Testament carries important doctrinal significance, especially concerning life and order in the church age. There are three ideas connected with it.
The word head denotes authority.
While headship does not give the idea of superiority of essence or being (ontology). It does denote superior function. With the idea of authority of headship, there are four headships shown in Scripture. The head of the male is Christ; the head of Christ God; the head of the woman is her husband (Ephesians 5:23a)—(all in I Corinthians 11:3); the head of the church is Christ (Ephesians 5:23b; Colossians 1:18). Of these four headships the only one that is human is—that of the husband to the wife. The presence of headship exists in the Godhead even though the Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in essence.
The word head denotes intelligence.
Ephesians 1:22-23 portrays Christ as the head of the church, and from this headship He “fills all (believers) in all (things)”. From this headship flows guidance and direction.
The word head denotes inseparability.
Severing the head from the body would be instant death for the body—this shows the absolute vitality of the head. A person may tolerate loss of limbs but not the head. The use of the body denoting the church shows that the true church is not an organization but and organism.
