Kretzmann's Popular Commentary
Ephesians 4:9
(Now that He ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
(Now that He ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
EPHESIANS 4:9 kate,bh {A} The addition of prw/ton after kate,bh (ac B Cc K P Y 88 614 _Byz Lect al_) appears to be a natural expansion introduced by copyists to elucidate the meaning. The...
Verse 9. _BUT THAT HE ALSO DESCENDED_] The meaning of the apostle appears to be this: The person who _ascended_ is the Messiah, and his _ascension_ plainly intimates his _descension_; that is, his inc...
NOW THAT HE ASCENDED - That is, it is affirmed in the Psalm that he “ascended” - “Thou hast ascended on high.” This implies that there must have been a previous “descent;” or, as applicable to the Mes...
2. THE MINISTRY AND ITS PURPOSE CHAPTER 4:7-16 _ 1. Ministry according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7)_ 2. The needed and permanent gifts (Ephesians 4:11) 3. The purpose and th...
THE DOCTRINE OF GIFTS IN RELATION TO UNITY. Every Christian has his gift of grace: and the grace given to each is proportioned to the measure of Christ's giving (Ephesians 4:7). That is what Scripture...
So then, I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to behave yourselves in a way that is worthy of the calling with which you are called. I urge you to behave with all humility, and gentleness, and patien...
Ephesians 4:1-32 INTRODUCTION (Ephesians 4:1-10) With this chapter the second part of the letter begins. In Ephesians 1:1-23;...
To each one of you grace has been given, as it has been measured out to you by the free gift of Christ. Therefore scripture says, "He ascended into the height and brought his captive band of prisoners...
(NOW... ASCENDED. (Now this fact), He ascended. WHAT IS IT. what does it imply. BUT. except. Greek. _ei_ (App-118) _me_ (App-105). ALSO DESCENDED. descended also. LOWER PARTS. i.e. Hades. App-131....
_Now that he ascended_ More lit., NOW THE [WORD, or THOUGHT,] HE ASCENDED. _what is it_ As if to say, "What does it imply? It implies a previous descent, from the seat of royalty. And, in the light of...
ΤῸ ΔΈ ἈΝΈΒΗ ΤΊ ἘΣΤΙΝ ΕἸ ΜῊ ὌΤΙ ΚΑῚ ΚΑΤΈΒΗ Κ.Τ.Λ. It is possible that the Ascent of the Ark to Zion was also a return, but it is more likely that St Paul simply takes occasion from the occurrence of th...
ΆΝΈΒΗ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΑΝΑΒΑΊΝΩ (G305) подниматься, восходить, ΚΑΤΈΒΗ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΚΑΤΑΒΑΊΝΩ (G2597) спускаться, нисходить. ΚΑΤΏΤΕΡΟΣ (G2737) нижние части, нижние районы, ΓΗΣ _gen. от_ ΓΉ...
_EPHESIANS 4:9_. (_NOW, THAT HE ASCENDED,_ &C.— St. Paul's argumentation in these two verses is skilfully adapted to the main design of his Epistle. The convert Gentiles were attacked by the unconvert...
_PREVIEWING IN OUTLINE FORM_ (EPHESIANS 4:1-16) II. Duties. Ephesians 4:1-32; Ephesians 5:1-33; E
SPECIAL STUDY IDID CHRIST GO TO HELL? Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Ephesians 4:9. Some people have thought that during the time...
(4:9,10) The ascension of Christ is applicable here in two senses. One, He "descended" to earth from His heavenly home with the Father at the instance of His birth as a man. Two, He "descended" into t...
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? THAT HE ASCENDED. The psalm's assertion of His ascent (assuming Him to be God) implies a previous...
__ Summary of the Present Grace 2 The present secret administration of which there is no hint in any Scriptures before this epistle was penned, consists essentially of three separate items, all of w...
UNITY OF THE NEW LIFE. RULES FOR THE NEW LIFE The Apostle passes, as usual, from doctrinal statements to practical exhortations; but doctrine is here and there introduced to support exhortation. 1-6...
CHRISTIAN BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR EPHESIANS _LES PAINTER (BIBLE TEXT BY CYNTHIA GREEN)_ CHAPTER 4 What Paul taught in Chapter s 1-3 was first about God and his Son Jesus Christ. Then it was about th...
THE LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH. — This may mean either _the regions of the earth,_ as “lower” than heaven, or the _regions beneath the earth._ The reasoning of the text in itself would be satisfied by t...
These verses form a parenthesis, designed to bring out the pervading idea of this and the parallel Epistle — the Divine humanity of Christ as “filling all in all” and “gathering all things” into Himse...
CHAPTER 17 THE MEASURE OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST Ephesians 4:7 In Ephesians 4:7 the apostle passes from the unities of the Church to its diversities, from the common foundation of the Christian life to...
With the fourth chapter begins the second main division of the Epistle. As in others of Paul's Epistles the doctrinal statement is followed by the practical enforcement of duty. Doctrinal consideratio...
Τὸ δέ, ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη πρῶτον : _Now this, “He ascended,” what is it but that He also descended_ [_first_] _?_ The TR inserts πρῶτον, with [389] [390] 3 [391] 3 [392] [393] [394],...
KEEPING THE “UNITY OF THE SPIRIT” Ephesians 4:1 Paul here admonishes lowliness in the presence of another's excellence; meekness in suffering injury; long-suffering under provocation; forbearance tow...
The apostle at once proceeded to apply this great doctrine to the present life of the Church. From the heavenly calling he passed to the earthly conduct. The matter of first importance is maintenance...
Gifts Christ Gave to the Church In a few verses Paul is going to deal with special miraculous abilities given to some in the early church to sustain it until God's word could be set down in inspired w...
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the (h) lower parts of the earth? (h) Down to the earth, which is the lowest part of the world....
_Into the lower parts of the earth. This cannot signify into the grave only, especially since in that which we look upon as the apostles' creed, we first profess to believe that he was buried, and aft...
(7) But unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (9) ...
In this epistle we have the unfolding of the grace of God in all its fulness, not merely the application of His righteousness to man's need on His part, but God from out of Himself, and for Himself, a...
I. INTRODUCTION A. Last week as we studies Chapter 3 of the book of Galatians, Paul told the Gentiles that they were equal with the Jews in Christ! 1. In fact we are all equal at the Cross! B. In C...
9._Now that he ascended. _Here again the slanderers exclaim, that Paul’s reasoning is trifling and childish. “Why does he attempt to make those words apply to a real ascension of Christ, which were fi...
The faithful were to seek in the dispositions mentioned above to maintain this unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace. There are three things in this exhortation: first, to walk worthy of their call...
NOW THAT HE ASCENDED,.... These words are a conclusion of Christ's descent from heaven, from his ascension thither; for had he not first descended from thence, it could not have been said of him that...
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Ver. 9. _Into the lower parts_] That is, into his mother's womb; according to Psalms 139:15; "I w...
_But_ Though there be so many, and those infinitely important particulars, in which the true members of the church agree, and which furnish such powerful motives to love and unity, yet there are some...
THE LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH; understood by some simply of his humiliation in descending from heaven to earth. But the words more naturally mean his descent into Hades, or the world of spirits, which...
RESPONSE IN PRACTICAL UNITY (vs.1-6) In this letter to the Ephesian saints, Paul first presented the basic truth so essential for individual saints (Ch.1:1- 2:10) and for the Church, the body of Chri...
CHAPTER 4 Even though Paul is a ______________, he still urges us to walk in our __________. This walk must be a ____________ one. What does it mean to walk worthy? Paul gives us some words to consi...
“NOW THIS, HE ASCENDED, WHAT IS IT BUT THAT HE ALSO DESCENDED INTO THE LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH?” “What is it”: “Must imply that He had already gone down” (TCNT). “What does it mean but that He had fi...
7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large m...
NOW THAT HE ASCENDED, WHAT IS IT BUT THAT HE ALSO DESCENDED FIRST? The apostle interprets the psalmist, and concludes that David, when he foretold Christ's glorification, or ascending up to heaven, di...
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV For this reason also were the eyes of the disciples weighed down when Christ's passion was approaching; and when, in the first instance, the Lord found them sleeping,...
Ephesians 4:9 Now G1161 ascended G305 (G5627) what G5101 mean G2076 (G5748) but G1508 that G3754 He...
‘Now this “he ascended”, what does it indicate but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth.' Paul then takes the opportunity for a small digression in order to exalt Christ. He points...
EXHORTATION TO ONENESS (4:1-16). Paul calls on them therefore now to be as one, and walk worthily of their calling....
Ephesians 4:9. It is not necessary to regard Ephesians 4:9-10 as parenthetical. NOW introduces an explanatory statement, not a proof, of the correctness of the application of Ephesians 4:8. That he...
II. MOTIVES FOR PRESERVING THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT. In this passage the leading thought is ‘ the unity of the Spirit; ' the duty of preserving it is not directly enjoined, but motives are presented:...
NOW THIS (το δε). Paul picks out the verb αναβας (second aorist active participle of αναβαινω, to go up), changes its form to ανεβη (second aorist indicative), and points the article (το) at it. Th...
Ephesians 4:9 Consider: I. The ascension of Christ in the light of its previous and preparatory history. That the Son of man ascended from the deepest depth of human history and experience, from the...
Ephesians 4:8 The Origin of the Christian Clergy. No doubt from the first the Christian society which we now call a Church existed in Christ's faithful followers, even from the beginning, and whereso...
Ephesians 4:7 The Church Edified and Edifying Itself. I. There are various outward appliances all meant for the edifying of the body of Christ. These may be regarded as comprehending generally all th...
Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,-_ «You are called to be sons of God, you are called to be one with Chri...
Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one anot...
Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you-_ Paul puts force into the argument by his manner of speaking; you can hear in his words the rattle of his chains. Here is a man who...
CONTENTS: Walk and service of the believer in Christ. Ministry of gifts of Christ to His Body. CHARACTERS: Christ, Holy Spirit, God, Paul. CONCLUSION: Considering to what state and condition God has...
Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you_ a pathetic argument, for if I hear of discords among you it will add affliction to my bonds; _that ye walk worthy of the vocation wh...
NOW? "Because the Jews deny that Jesus is The Christ because of his shame and death, I show you that he went up' can have no other meaning but that he first came down to earth from heaven. This must b...
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 4:9 LOWER REGIONS, THE EARTH. In the incarnation, Christ descended from the highest heavens to the lowest regions (that is, to the earth). He then ASCENDED ...
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 4:1 Unity of the Body of Christ. Paul shows how to apply the truths he has been teaching. There are three subsections: vv. Ephesians 4:1,...
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:7. BUT UNTO EVERY ONE OF US IS GIVEN GRACE.—The distributing Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11) leaves no humblest member of the body of Christ without his endo...
EXPOSITION PRACTICAL PORTION OF THE EPISTLE. EPHESIANS 4:1 CHURCH PRINCIPLE OF GROWTH AND PROGRESS; THE CHURCH A BODY
Now Paul begins the fourth chapter again with the reminder that he is a prisoner of the Lord, and I beseech you, [I beg you, I implore you] that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are call...
Acts 2:34; Exodus 16:27; Exodus 16:28; Exodus 19:20; Exodus 8:14;...
Now that He ascended. vers. 9 and 10 are parenthetical, showing what the ascension of Christ presupposes. By descending into the depths and ascending above all, He entered upon His function of filling...
THE HIGHER CHRISTIAN LIFE Ephesians 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. A prisoner of the Lord. One would hardly expect to find a prisoner in a Roman jail, the author of such a remarkable letter. We are accus...
Now this expression, He ascended, what is it, but that he descended — That is, does it not imply, that he descended first? Certainly it does, on the supposition of his being God. Otherwise it would no...
Did Jesus descend into hell? PROBLEM: Paul claims here that Jesus “descended into the lower parts of the earth.” And the Apostles’ Creed declares that after Jesus died, He “descended into hell.” Howev...