The Greek word plḗrōma, represented by G4138, signifies repletion or completion. It appears 17 times in 17 unique verses and conveys a range of meanings, from what subjectively fills (like contents or a multitude) to what is objectively filled (like a container or a period of time). Its usage defines concepts of fulfilling, fullness, and completion.
In scripture, G4138 is used in several key contexts. Theologically, it describes the totality of the divine nature dwelling in Christ, as seen in the statement that "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" Colossians 2:9. It denotes the completion of a divine epoch, as when God sent His Son at "the fulness of the time" Galatians 4:4. The term is also used to describe the completion of a group, such as the "fulness of the Gentiles" Romans 11:25. On a more literal level, it can refer to the patch used to fill a tear in a garment Matthew 9:16 or baskets full of leftover fragments Mark 8:20.
Several related words help clarify the meaning of G4138:
- G4137 plēróō (to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram... or (figuratively) to furnish... satisfy, execute... finish... verify... etc.): As the root verb, it directly relates to the act of filling. The connection is seen in Ephesians 1:23, where the Church is called the fulness G4138 of Him who filleth G4137 all in all.
- G2540 kairós (an occasion, i.e. set or proper time): This word for a specific season or time is linked to G4138 to describe a divinely appointed completion. In Ephesians 1:10, Paul speaks of a dispensation of the fulness G4138 of times G2540.
- G1484 éthnos (a race... a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one... Gentile): This term is used with G4138 to describe the completion of a specific people group within God's plan, as in the "fulness of the Gentiles" Romans 11:25.
- G1093 gē (soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe): The contents of the earth are described as its fulness. This is stated plainly in 1 Corinthians 10:26, "For the earth G1093 is the Lord's, and the fulness G4138 thereof."
The theological weight of G4138 is immense, defining core doctrines about Christ, the church, and salvation history.
- The Plenitude of Christ: The word is central to Christology, establishing that the complete fulness of God dwells in Christ Colossians 1:19 and that from His fulness believers receive grace John 1:16.
- The Church's Identity: In a profound mystery, the church is called "his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" Ephesians 1:23, identifying it as the vessel through which Christ's completeness is expressed on earth.
- Divine Sovereignty: The concept of the "fulness of the time" Galatians 4:4 underscores that God's redemptive acts are not arbitrary but occur at precisely the right moment in His sovereign plan.
- The Believer's Goal: The term describes the aim of Christian maturity, which is to be "filled with all the fulness of God" Ephesians 3:19 and to collectively attain "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" Ephesians 4:13.
In summary, G4138 is a rich theological term that transcends the simple idea of being full. It conveys totality, completion, and fulfillment. It points to the absolute sufficiency of Christ, the identity of the church as His body, the precise outworking of God's sovereign plan, and the ultimate goal for every believer.
TRV