κεφαλή kephalḗ

κεφαλή kephalḗ literally or figuratively means the head. It is the root word of encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. It could mean the head of a human body where the brain resides. The head or top of a building or the head of an organization. The main leader or someone or something in the primary place. As Christ is the head of the Church and of the Kingdom. He that is in the most important or primary position of these two entities. Christ is κεφαλή/kephalḗ or in authority over both. Interestingly. when the New Testament says that the “head of every man is Christ” and “the head of a woman is the man” (1 Cor 11:3), or that “the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church” (Eph 5:23), Christians have usually understood the word head to mean “authority over.” Thus, Christ is the authority over the church and a husband is the authority over his wife. The husband is to, “love his wife as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her . . ." (Ephesians 5:25). In other words, be willing to give their life for her. The wife is functionally subordinate to the husband to maintain the perfect order of the family. The question is, the man is in authority how?

Spiritually of course.

The perfect example of equal but functionally subordinate is the Trinity itself. In the Triune Godhead, the relationship among the three persons of the Trinity is characterized by love, one for the other. The Father loves the Son for his willingness to do his Father's will wholeheartedly. The Son demonstrates his love for the Father by making the Father's will the overarching priority of his entire life. The Spirit empowers or energizes the relationship between Father and Son in a sort of behind-the-scenes way, content to let the spotlight, so to speak, be on the Son. He demonstrates his love for the Son and Father by revealing Jesus (who is God incarnate) to God's image bearers. Call the relationships among the Godhead what you will. One thing is clear: there is no superior/inferior distinction in the relationships; rather, there is a distinction of roles, each of which expresses love continuously and naturally. At the crucifixion though Jesus has to go functionally subordinate to the Father to allow Himself to be Crucified in accordance with Scripture. This is what a wife is being asked to emulate to maintain God’s perfect order. Subordinate spiritually but in no way less or inferior. Because we’re talking about Christ in this we should also mention that κεφαλή kephalḗ can metaphorically mean cornerstone. Christ is the cornerstone.

1 Samuel 17:46, Ezekiel 5:1, Mark 6:24, 8:26, 12:10