Which phrase indicates the church's cosmic significance and Jesus' headship in relation to creation?

• A. The church is the fullness of him who fills all in all, with Christ as head over all things for the church
• B. The church is a light to the world
• C. The church is a temple built of living stones
• D. The church is a reflection of Israel's future glory

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the church’s place in Christ’s universal rule and its sharing in Christ’s fullness. The best phrase states that the church is the fullness of him who fills all in all, with Christ as head over all things for the church. This captures two key aspects: Christ’s authority over everything in creation and the church as the place where his fullness is made known. In Paul’s vision, God has put all things under Christ’s feet and appointed him head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The other options point to important images about the church—being a light to the world, or a temple, or reflecting Israel’s future glory—but they don’t articulate that overarching, cosmic scope of Christ’s headship over creation and the church as the fullness of Christ in that realm.