John Calvin Commentary Ephesians 1:22

"and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church," — Ephesians 1:22 (ASV)

And gave him to be the head. He was made the head of the Church, on the condition that He should have the administration of all things. The apostle shows that it was not a mere honorary title, but was accompanied by the entire command and government of the universe.

The metaphor of a head denotes the highest authority. I am unwilling to dispute about a name, but we are driven to it by the base conduct of those who flatter the Romish idol. Since Christ alone is called “the head,” all others, whether angels or men, must rank as members; so that the one who holds the highest place among his fellows is still one of the members of the same body.

And yet they are not ashamed to make an open avowal that the Church will be ἀκέφαλον, without a head, if it does not have another head on earth besides Christ. So small is the respect that they pay to Christ, that, if He obtains undivided that honor which His Father has bestowed upon Him, the Church is supposed to be disfigured. This is the basest sacrilege. But let us listen to the Apostle, who declares that the Church is His body, and, consequently, that those who refuse to submit to Him are unworthy of its communion; for on Him alone the unity of the Church depends.