Ephesians 4:10 kjv
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:10 nkjv
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:10 niv
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
Ephesians 4:10 esv
He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:10 nlt
And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Ephesians 4 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesians 4:9 | What does it mean that "He also descended into the lower parts, that is, the first into the lower parts of the earth"? | Echoes His Incarnation and death |
| John 3:13 | "No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man." | Christ’s unique authority |
| Acts 1:11 | "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." | Jesus' ascension and future return |
| Philippians 2:9-11 | "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." | Christ's exaltation and universal rule |
| 1 Corinthians 15:20 | "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." | Christ's resurrection as firstfruits |
| 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 | "So it is written: 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the earth; he was made of dust; the man from heaven is the Lord himself." | Christ as the second Adam |
| Psalm 110:1 | "The LORD says to my lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" | Christ’s enthronement and dominion |
| Hebrews 4:14 | "Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." | Christ as High Priest in heaven |
| Acts 2:33 | "Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear." | Christ pouring out the Spirit |
| Colossians 1:18 | "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." | Christ as Head of the Church |
| 1 Peter 3:22 | "who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God—angels and authorities and powers in submission to him." | Christ's authority over heavenly powers |
| Romans 8:34 | "Who then is there to condemn? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us." | Christ’s intercession |
| Ephesians 1:20-22 | "that he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the age to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church." | Christ's supreme authority in the church |
| Mark 16:19 | "So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." | Jesus' ascension and enthronement |
| John 6:62 | "What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?" | His divine origin |
| John 19:41 | "At the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid." | His descent into the earth |
| 1 Corinthians 12:12 | "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ." | Unity of the Body of Christ |
| Romans 12:4-5 | "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." | Diversity within unity of the body |
Ephesians 4 verses
Ephesians 4 10 Meaning
This verse states that Christ’s ascension into heaven was not an empty or meaningless act. Instead, it was purposeful, establishing His authority and equipping the church. His descent prior to this is understood as His coming to earth, His Incarnation and humiliation.
Ephesians 4 10 Context
Chapter 4 of Ephesians focuses on the unity of the church, grounded in Christ. Paul has just spoken of Christ’s descent and ascent, setting the stage for how His heavenly position benefits believers. This descent signifies His incarnation, burial, and His work in the "lower parts of the earth," understood as Hades or the realm of the dead. His subsequent ascent is His triumphant return to heaven, His exaltation, and His ascension to the Father’s right hand. This action is not merely a physical departure but a crucial salvific act that bestows gifts upon humanity for the building up of the church. The immediate context emphasizes the necessity of this work for Christ to "fill all things," implying that His reign from heaven now permeates all of creation, especially the church, with His presence and power.
Ephesians 4 10 Word Analysis
- He who descended: Refers to Jesus Christ.
- Lower parts of the earth: This phrase, "katōtera merē tēs gēs" (κατωτέρα μέρη τῆς γῆς), is significant. In ancient cosmology and biblical thought, it could refer to the grave, Sheol, or the deepest regions of the earth. It strongly evokes the Incarnation, Christ's earthly existence, and particularly His death and burial. It is interpreted as His descent into the underworld (Hades) after death, or more broadly, His humbling himself by taking on human flesh. This mirrors descriptions like Philippians 2:8.
- That he might fill all things: "Hina plērōsei ta panta" (ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα). "Fill" implies more than just occupying space; it suggests permeation, saturating, or making complete. Christ, from His exalted position, now fills all of creation, and specifically the church, with His presence, power, and the spiritual gifts necessary for its function and growth.
- Ascended: "Anabasis" (ἀνάβασις), referring to Christ’s literal ascent into heaven after His resurrection. This is the triumphant return to the Father, completing His earthly mission and establishing His reign.
- Far above all the heavens: "Hypereanō pántōn tōn ouranōn" (ὑπερανω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν). This emphasizes the supreme exaltation of Christ. It signifies that He is not just in heaven but far beyond all heavenly realms, positioning Him as supreme over all angelic powers and cosmic authorities.
- The "lower parts of the earth" specifically contrasts with "all the heavens," creating a powerful chiastic structure. This highlights the magnitude of Christ's humiliation and subsequent exaltation. His journey was from the lowest point of existence to the highest.
Ephesians 4 10 Bonus Section
This verse speaks to the cosmic Christology prevalent in Ephesians. Christ’s descent and ascent are not just personal experiences but foundational acts that secure His supremacy over all creation, visible and invisible. His being "far above all the heavens" echoes Old Testament imagery of God's sovereign placement of the Messiah on His throne, as seen in Psalm 110:1. The church, as the body of Christ, experiences this cosmic lordship in a spiritual and immanent way through the Holy Spirit. His filling of "all things" can be seen as the impartation of His life and nature into the very fabric of the church, making it a representation of His fullness in the earthly realm.
Ephesians 4 10 Commentary
The verse establishes the basis for spiritual unity and the distribution of gifts to the church. Christ's descent into humanity and even death was the necessary prerequisite for His supreme exaltation in heaven. From this elevated position, He now sovereignly distributes His gifts (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers) to the church, equipping it for its mission. His ascension is not just an endpoint but a functional inauguration of His heavenly reign, from which He continually empowers and directs His people. This understanding underpins the call for unity in the preceding verses, as believers are unified under the ascended Christ who fills all in all.
- Practical implication: Believers can be assured that the gifts they receive for ministry are divinely appointed by an exalted Christ who understands all human experience.