Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 44:1 (Mar 2001)
Article: The Meaning Of κεφαλή (“Head”): An Evaluation Of New Evidence, Real And Alleged
Author: Wayne Grudem

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JETS 44:1 (March 2001) p. 25

The Meaning Of κεφαλή (“Head”):
An Evaluation Of New Evidence, Real And Alleged

Wayne Grudem*

[* Wayne Grudem is professor of Biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2065 Half Day Road, Deerfield, IL 60015.]

The purpose of this article is to examine recent treatments of the meaning of the word κεφαλή (“head”) as it pertains to certain passages in the NT, 1 focusing especially on new evidence cited by Catherine Kroeger in her article “Head” in the widely-used Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. 2 Concerns will also be raised about the level of care and accuracy with which evidence has been quoted in this reference book. In addition, some new patristic evidence on κεφαλή will be cited. Finally, the article will also present new evaluations of the entry on κεφαλή in the Liddell-Scott lexicon from the editor of the Supplement to this lexicon and from another lexicographer who worked on this Supplement.

I. The Striking Quotation From Chrysostom

When Dr. Kroeger’s article appeared in 1993, it offered citations of a number of new references for the term κεφαλή and argued from these that κεφαλή primarily meant “source,” not “authority over,” and that it had that meaning not only at the time of the NT but also in the preceding classical period and in the subsequent patristic period in Greek literature. The most striking quotation in Dr. Kroeger’s article was a statement from John Chrysostom (AD 344/354–407), which, if accurate, would appear to settle any dispute over whether κεφαλή meant “source” or “authority over,” at least in the Christian world of the fourth century. Kroeger writes,

JETS 44:1 (March 2001) p. 26

In view of Scripture ascribing coequality of Christ with the Father (Jn. 1:1–3; 10:30; 14:9, 11; 16:15; 17:11, 21), John Chrysostom declared that only a heretic would understand Paul’s use of “head” to mean “chief ” or “authority over.” Rather one should understand the term as implying “absolute oneness and cause and primal source” (PG 61.214, 216).

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