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    Fullness (Plērōma)

    πλήρωμα (plērōma)

    Complete filling — the totality, completeness, and abundant overflow of God's presence and purpose.

    Greek
    Strong's G4138
    Pronunciation: PLAY-roh-mah
    Quick Answer

    Plērōma is the Greek word for fullness, meaning that which fills up or makes complete. Paul uses it to describe the total presence of God dwelling in Christ and the complete maturity toward which the church grows.

    "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." — Colossians 2:9 (KJV)

    Key Verses

    Colossians 2:9

    “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
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    Ephesians 3:19

    “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
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    Ephesians 4:13

    “Till we all come in the unity of the faith... unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
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    Strong's Concordance

    Strong's G4138 — Fullness (Plērōma) (πλήρωμα (plērōma))

    Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where πλήρωμα (plērōma) appears.

    Open Strong's G4138

    Etymology and Original Meaning

    Plērōma comes from plēroō, meaning 'to fill' or 'to make full.' It denotes that which fills something up — the contents, the completeness, the total amount. A ship's plērōma was its full cargo and crew. Applied theologically, it describes the complete, undiminished presence of God — nothing lacking, nothing partial, everything fully present and overflowing.

    The Fullness of God in Christ

    Paul's most staggering christological claim: 'In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily' (Colossians 2:9). Not a fraction, not an aspect, not a representation — all the fullness. Every attribute, every power, every perfection of deity resides completely in the human person of Jesus Christ. He is not partially God but fully God in a fully human body.

    Filled with God's Fullness

    Paul prays that believers would be 'filled with all the fulness of God' (Ephesians 3:19). This is almost incomprehensible — finite humans filled with the infinite God. Yet this is the trajectory of the Christian life: progressive filling, ever-increasing experience of God's presence and power. The container grows as the filling increases — believers expand in capacity as God fills them.

    The Fullness of Christ in the Church

    Ephesians 1:23 calls the church 'the fulness of him that filleth all in all.' The church is the vessel through which Christ's fullness is expressed in the world. Ephesians 4:13 envisions growth 'unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' — corporate maturity that fully represents Christ. The church's calling is to be the visible display of Christ's invisible fullness.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does fullness mean in the Bible?

    Fullness (plērōma) means completeness and total filling. It describes the complete presence of God dwelling in Christ (Colossians 2:9) and the complete maturity toward which believers and the church are growing (Ephesians 4:13).

    What does 'fullness of the Godhead' mean?

    It means that every attribute, power, and perfection of God resides completely in Jesus Christ in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is not partially divine but fully God — all the fullness, not a fraction.

    Which Bible verse uses the word "Fullness (Plērōma)"?

    Colossians 2:9 — "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (KJV). It also appears in Ephesians 3:19, Ephesians 4:13.

    Why does the Greek word behind "Fullness (Plērōma)" matter?

    Plērōma comes from plēroō, meaning 'to fill' or 'to make full.' It denotes that which fills something up — the contents, the completeness, the total amount. English uses one word, "Fullness (Plērōma)", where the Greek πλήρωμα (plērōma) carries the fuller sense: complete filling — the totality, completeness, and abundant overflow of god's presence and purpose.

    Related Words

    Glory (Doxa)
    Christology
    Spirit
    Ecclesia

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    Word Meaning

    Fullness (Plērōma) (πλήρωμα (plērōma))

    Complete filling — the totality, completeness, and abundant overflow of God's presence and purpose.

    Strong's

    Strong's G4138 — Fullness (Plērōma)

    πλήρωμα (plērōma) • Complete filling — the totality, completeness, and abundant overflow of God's presence and purpose.

    Dream Meaning

    Biblical Meaning of the Number 3 in a Dream (KJV)

    Divine fullness, resurrection, and confirmation.

    Commentary

    Ephesians 5:18 Commentary

    In-depth study • Holy Spirit

    Q&A

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