Eph 4:7–11 — Gifts of the Ascended Lord

Context: the unity of the church as the body of Christ “The unity of the Spirit” (v. 3) “The unity of the faith” (v. 13) “One body” (v. 4) “The building up of the body of Christ” (v. 12) “The whole body” (v. 16) Paul has called us in vv. 1-6 to maintain Christian unity by reckoning it to be a fact - indicative/imperative. Now, in vv. 7-16 he discusses the gifts of the ascended Christ to his church as one of the principal means by which the Church’s unity is maintained and strengthened.

Verse 7

Not all believers have received the same gifts - unity through diversity Grace has been distributed in varied measure to each individual - “according to the measure of the gift of Christ” All gifts are due to Christ’s sovereign distribution. The Spirit “distributes to each one individually just as He wills” (1 Cor. 12:11). Thus, we should not be envious of the gifts of others. Some gifts are exercised in public view like the gifts of teaching and preaching given to those called to the ordained ministry Other gifts involve behind-the-scenes service Gifts of mercy, caring, encouragement. How does this variety of gifts and ministry harmonize with the unity of the church Paul has emphasized?

Because all the gifts come from the same ascended Lord.

Verse 8

Psalm 68:18 Original context: God’s march from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion Yahweh ascended Mount Zion possibly with reference to a cultic procession of the ark of the covenant into the sanctuary at the time of David (2 Samuel 6) Paul applies this OT scene to the ascension of Christ. Who are the captives he led in his victory train?

The principalities and powers (Eph. 1:19-22). This highlights the cosmic scope of Christ’s kingly authority “He gave gifts to men” Problem: both Hebrew and LXX of Psalm 68:18 have:

“you received gifts from men” It seems that Paul has turned the original meaning of the text on its head Answer:

A conqueror always distributes the spoils and tribute “even from the rebellious” He never receives the spoils merely for his own enjoyment. He immediately distributes what he gained to his faithful warriors who served with him and enabled him to gain the victory. Therefore, also Christ ascended to the right hand of God and received the tribute and spoils of war but he received these gifts in order that he might then bestow them upon his people Jesus Christ is a conqueror laden with spoils of his victory and thus enabled to enrich his followers with every spiritual gift for their edification and growth into the fullness of Christ.

Verses 9-10

“He descended … He ascended” Survey of the 3 main interpretive options. The patristic view of a descent into hell (1 Peter 3:19) to release the OT believers who were held prisoner by Satan Prior to the resurrection of Christ, the gates of heaven had been closed Roman Catholic doctrine of the Limbus patrum Problem: if the OT saints were saved by grace through faith in the Messiah to come, how could they be the hostages of Satan?

Besides, there is no biblical warrant for this bizarre idea. It is based on the ransom theory of the atonement that Jesus was the ransom price God gave to Satan in exchange for the release of the captives (the OT saints)

2. The incarnation - he descended to the earth

Much better, but not quite on target. Why “the lower parts of the earth”?

This language suggests something more than a descent to earth Note the obvious antithesis stated in verse 10 “He ascended far above all the heavens” not “to the heavens” Consistency demands, therefore, that the descent of Christ was equally extreme - below the earth.

3. A spiritual descent of “Christ” at Pentecost

A more recent interpretation based on the theory that Paul is referring to a Jewish mystical tradition which interpreted Psalm 68:18 as a reference to the ascent of Moses to Mt. Sinai to receive the Law and his descent to give the law to Israel. The idea would then be that for Paul, Jesus is the greater Moses After Jesus ascended into heaven, he received the Spirit and then he descended spiritually not to give us a new set of tablets of stone, but to give us his Spirit. This interpretation places too much weight on non-biblical Jewish materials Also, it doesn’t sound very Pauline to say that after his ascension, Jesus descended by his Spirit to the lower parts of the earth According to Paul Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God far above all principality and power and so are we, by means of union with him!

Proposed interpretation

See Buchsel’s article on kato, katotero in Kittel-TDNT, vol. 3, pp. 640-42.

So since none of the main interpretations are very satisfying, let’s go back to the traditional descent-into-hell view and see if it can be salvaged by removing the Roman Catholic baggage. These are the two outer limits of his journey and between them lies the “all things” which he fills If the one limit is the supreme height of heaven at the right hand of God the other limit is not merely the earth but the lowest depths of the earth the sphere of the underworld, the place of the dead Psalm 63:9 “But those who seek my life to destroy it, will go into the lowest parts of the earth” (cp. Ezekiel 26:20; 32:24; 36:16) Sometimes the grave is called the depths of Sheol (Psalm 86:13; Prov. 9:16). This interpretation is supported by two cross references Acts 2:24-36 Romans 10:5-7 In both texts, the ultimate depth of Christ’s descent is identical with his death, his entering the grave, the place of corruption, the abyss, Hades, Sheol. This is how we should interpret the Apostles’ Creed:

“He was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell” The word “hell” is a common mistranslation of Hades or Sheol, the place of the dead In the process, Christ “led captivity captive” He did not invade Hades and liberate the imprisoned dead believers who were dwelling there waiting for salvation. Rather, he subdued the principalities and powers who had kept man in bondage to sin and death thus delivering us from our spiritual captivity to sin “so that he might fill all things” Christ has traversed the cosmos from the lowest depths of earth to the highest heights of heaven. Therefore, he has a cosmic dominion over all creation. There is nowhere for the demons and powers to hide. They have been led captive in his triumphal procession bound in irons as prisoners of war Matt. 28:18 - “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” Christ fills the entire created universe with is presence and power.

Verse 11

“It is this one who gave some as apostles …”

It is in his character and role as the cosmic Lord and victor over the principalities and powers that the ascended Lord gives gifts to the church His giving these gifts to the church is part of his victory over the powers of darkness. The teachers and pastors of the church who proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ are Christ’s effective means for stemming the tide of spiritual (demonic) deception (v. 14)

Theological implications from these weighty verses

The sufferings of Christ to the point of being at the very depths of Sheol, the antipode of the heights of heaven, convey the profound weight of divine wrath and abandonment by God the Father that was necessary to atone for our sins If the heights of heaven = ultimate expression of divine favor with God, then the depths of the earth = ultimate expression of God’s wrath “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The whole drama of descend and ascent was a mighty conquest of Satan, by which Christ bound the strong man and plundered his goods. In a sense the Roman Catholic view of Christ’s descent into hell has grasped a precious truth, but distorted it to support its utterly inadequate view of salvation.

The cosmic Lordship of Christ is the result of his descent into the lower parts of the earth. Christ’s humiliation and sufferings had to precede and were the basis for his exaltation (Luke 24:25-26; Heb. 2:9).

Application

The preaching of the gospel by Christ’s appointed ministers is an expression of Christ’s kingly victory - an extension of his present reign in heaven at the right hand of God. The building up and growth of the body of Christ by means of Christ’s appointed pastors and teachers is a cosmic demonstration of his universal and cosmic victory! How important it is, then, to be faithful in attending church in order that we might be ministered to by Christ’s servants who proclaim the gospel to us every week.