"8Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men." 9(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)" - Ephesians 4:8-10 (NASB)
In verse 8 of Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul quotes from Psalm 68:18, which originally referred to Yahweh’s victories1 and the removal of the ark of the covenant and bringing it up to Mount Zion. The choice of translation varies among different ancient sources, with some indicating “gave gifts to men” and others “received gifts from men.” The Psalmist declares that through this act, God triumphed over His enemies and took them as captives. The ascent of the ark to the hill of Zion signifies this victory. It is believed that this triumph will bestow abundant gifts upon the people, with kindness and truth emanating from the mountain. Paul’s allusion to Psalm 68 aligns with his theological intentions. Through God in Christ, His people have received gifts (cf. Eph 4:11), not for a position of privilege, but for the purpose of serving others (see Matthew 20:25-28; 23:1-12)
The phrase “He led captive a host of captives” has a parallel in Colossians 2:15, portraying a Roman military triumphal parade where the defeated forces were displayed demonstrating its complete victory2. This custom included leading captives in chains and distributing gifts among the soldiers. in this context, it refers to Christ’s victory over the hostile spiritual forces of the universe, potentially linked to Gnostic aeons. This symbolizes Christ’s triumph over the spiritual realm, portraying Him as the victorious leader who vanquishes opposing forces. It emphasizes the superiority and authority of Christ over all spiritual entities, highlighting His role as the conqueror and ruler. This victory brings about freedom and deliverance for believers.
In verse 9-10, Paul explains the meaning of the “ascension and descent” of Christ. He says the phrase “Now that he ascended,” affirms Psalm 68:18 that Christ ascended on high. And it goes without saying, therefore, that there must have been a previous descent of Christ “into the lower parts of the earth”. Others interpret the phrase “Into the lower parts of the earth” as Jesus’ descent into Hades (cf. Acts 2:31; Rom. 10:6-7; or possibly 1 Pet. 3:18-20; 4:6; which is reflected in the early creeds of the Church, “descended into hell”). I’m inclined to believe that this simply signifies Christ’s descent to the lowest state of humiliation3. It denotes his stooping to the most humble condition of humanity, emphasizing his incarnation and earthly existence. Rather than specifically referring to the grave or the region of departed spirits, the focus is on Christ’s descent from heaven to earth and His embodiment in human form. Paul wants to emphasize the depth of Christ’s humility (cf. Phil 2:7) and the extent of His love and sacrifice for humanity, as well as highlight the profound nature of the incarnation and its implications for the redemptive work of Christ. I think Paul wants to portray a stark contrast between heaven and earth, emphasizing Christ’s descent from the former to the latter. It emphasizes the humility of Christ as He transitions from the lofty heights of heaven to the humble condition of humanity on earth.
The phrase “far above all the heavens” compares with “the lower parts of the earth” to further show how exalted Jesus is. It emphasizes that Jesus left heaven, became human, and then returned victorious to the highest heaven as the glorified Savior (Acts 1:9).
The use of the word “heavens”4 in this context is important. It is linked to similar language used in 2 Corinthians 12:2, where the idea of more than one heaven is mentioned. This connects to the discussions among Jewish scholars about how many heavens there are, with some debating between three or seven. The mention of multiple heavens refers to the different levels or dimensions within the celestial realm.
In this context, the mention of “heavens” refers to the divine presence or the throne room of God, as described in the book of Revelation (Chapters 4-5). This highlights Jesus’ elevated status, surpassing both the cosmic realms and achieving victory and glory in a way that exceeds all earthly and heavenly areas.
The phrase “that He might fill all things” signifies the fulfilling of God’s eternal plan for the unity and redemption of all humanity as well as the whole physical creation. This terminology is linked to the Gnostics false teachers’ 5use of the same term to describe the angelic levels (aeons). However, the true significance lies in the salvation attained not through human knowledge but through faith and repentance in Christ’s finished work. This work encompasses His incarnation, life, teachings, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, intercession, and promised return (cf. Romans 8:19-21; Ephesians 3:19; 4:10; 5:18). In other words, “when the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, began to sit at the right hand of the Father, He began also to fill all things” (Calvin).
In summary, Paul reminded the early believers as he reminds us today of the exalted status and triumph of Christ, offering a source of strength and hope in the face of adversity. It calls believers to a profound understanding of Christ’s sacrificial love and humility, prompting a response of service and selflessness towards others. Furthermore, it underscores the redemption and unity found only in Christ, inspiring believers to preach the gospel of reconciliation to a world in rebellion against God. Paul calls upon believers to utilize the gifts they have been endowed with to impact people within the orb of their influence and to the the world at large.
- “To me it seems plain that the Psalm had original reference to the bringing up the ark to Mount Zion, and is a triumphal song. In the song or Psalm, the poet shows why God was to be praised – on account of his greatness and his benignity to people; Eph 4:1-6. He then recounts the doings of God in former times – particularly his conducting his people through the wilderness, and the fact that his enemies were discomfited before him; Eph 4:7-12. All this refers to the God, the symbols of whose presence were on the tabernacle, and accompanying the ark. He then speaks of the various fortunes that had befallen the ark of the covenant. It had lain among the pots, Eph 4:13, yet it had formerly been white as snow when God scattered kings by it; Eph 4:14.” – Barnes ↩︎
- “the plain meaning is, that God reduced his enemies to subjection, which was more fully accomplished in Christ than in any other way.” – Calvn ↩︎
- “To the lowest state of humiliation. This seems to be the fair meaning of the words. Heaven stands opposed to earth. One is above; the other is beneath. From the one Christ descended to the other; and he came not only to the earth, but he stooped to the most humble condition of humanity here;” – Barnes ↩︎
- https://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/heavens.html ↩︎
- https://www.facebook.com/lorenzo.palon/posts/pfbid0hpb2H6C13K3cUiYZsZNFZ7FxZ9sGMQtXGGwaY6dGxUWtLLD5xD9CCgTWCKrxzKFGl ↩︎
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