What does Ephesians 1:22 mean?

At the will of God the Father, Jesus rules over everything. Both the Father and the Son reign together over all created things, according to Paul's words in this verse. This includes the church, the bride of Christ, a theme Paul will develop in detail in chapter 5. Paul elsewhere called the church "the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). The church belongs to Jesus. The church serves as the foundation of God's truth to the world.

Many Christians believe they can grow spiritually apart from the church. This passage and others speak against this idea. Interaction with the church—the human, living group of fellow believers—is essential to a believer's spiritual health. Though imperfect, it is the family of believers working together who serve as God's bride in this world. This requires cooperation and unity. The church is intended to seek God's goals for our lives both collectively and individually. Those who seek to grow spiritually without church involvement miss out on an important aspect of faith. Being part of a church is part of God's design, and is foundational to spiritual maturity.