Ephesians 4:9 kjv
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:9 nkjv
(Now this, "He ascended"?what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:9 niv
(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
Ephesians 4:9 esv
(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
Ephesians 4:9 nlt
Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.
Ephesians 4 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesians 1:20 | "and of his powerful might which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead..." | Exaltation of Christ |
| Ephesians 1:21 | "...far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named..." | Christ's supreme authority |
| Psalm 68:18 | "You ascended on high, you captives in your train; you received gifts among men, yes, even among the rebellious..." | Prophecy of Christ's ascension with spoils |
| John 3:13 | "No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man." | Christ's unique ascent and descent |
| John 16:7 | "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you." | Necessity of Christ's departure for the Spirit |
| Acts 1:9 | "And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." | The visible ascension of Christ |
| Romans 8:34 | "Who is there to condemn? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us." | Christ's present intercession in heaven |
| Hebrews 4:14 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." | Christ as High Priest in heaven |
| Philippians 2:9 | "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name," | God's exaltation of Christ |
| Acts 2:33 | "Being therefore at the right hand of God exalted, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are now seeing and hearing." | Christ exalted, giving the Spirit |
| Ephesians 4:8 | "This is why it says, 'When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.'" | Directly preceding verse about ascension |
| 1 Peter 3:22 | "who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him." | Christ's authority after ascension |
| Ephesians 2:6 | "and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," | Believers' spiritual seating with Christ |
| Ephesians 2:17 | "And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near." | Christ's ministry on earth |
| Ephesians 2:22 | "in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | Spirit's role in building the church |
| 1 Corinthians 15:4 | "that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures," | Resurrection as fulfillment |
| Galatians 4:4 | "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law," | Christ's descent in the incarnation |
| Hebrews 1:3 | "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the very image of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," | Christ's exaltation and divine nature |
| John 1:18 | "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." | Christ's unique knowledge of the Father |
| Mark 10:45 | "For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." | Christ's purpose in His descent |
| Ephesians 4:10 | "The one who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)" | Further clarification of ascent/descent |
| Psalm 47:5 | "God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet." | Davidic king's triumphant ascent |
| Zechariah 9:10 | "He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea..." | Messiah's future reign and peace |
| John 20:17 | "Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”'" | Christ preparing for His ascension |
Ephesians 4 verses
Ephesians 4 9 Meaning
Ephesians 4:9 states, "But the Spirit directs the soul to heaven above the earth." The verse addresses the ascent of Christ, contrasting it with His descent. Christ's ascension to heaven signifies His victory and exaltation, as He ascended far above all principalities and powers. His descent indicates His incarnation and humiliation, stooping to our lowliness by entering earthly realms, even to the lowest parts of the earth, which can refer to His death and the realm of the dead. This movement of ascent and descent is presented as a profound theological truth, emphasizing Christ's divine nature and His completed work of redemption. The Spirit's role is to reveal and apply this truth to believers, enabling them to understand and benefit from Christ's finished work.
Ephesians 4 9 Context
Ephesians 4 discusses the unity of the Church, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. The chapter emphasizes living a life worthy of the calling, characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, and striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit. Following a discussion on the diversity of spiritual gifts given by Christ for the equipping of the saints, the apostle Paul pivots to Christ's ascension and the gifts He bestows.
Verse 9, therefore, follows the assertion in verse 8 that Christ "ascended on high." It explains the significance of this ascension by contrasting it with His prior descent. The descent signifies Christ's stooping low in His incarnation and humiliation, including His death. The ascent signifies His triumphant return to heaven, above all creation, securing victory and receiving gifts for humanity. The Spirit's role here is understood as confirming and illuminating this great work of Christ, directing the believer's gaze upward towards the ascended Savior.
Ephesians 4 9 Word Analysis
"But" (δέ - de): A conjunction indicating contrast or transition, here contrasting the descent (implied by "ascended on high") with the ascent.
"He who descended" (ὁ καταβὰς - ho katabas): "He" refers to Christ. "Descended" (katabasis) refers to His going down. This encompasses His incarnation (coming down from heaven to earth) and potentially His descent into the lower parts of the earth, i.e., death and the grave (referencing Psalm 63:9 or the hellish realms described in Ephesians 4:9's implied parallel passage from the Old Testament, specifically Psalm 68:18, "ascended"). The concept is a going down or into a lower place.
"is the one who also ascended" (καὶ ἀνέβη - kai anebē): "And" (kai) links this with the previous statement. "Ascended" (anabaínō) signifies His going up. This refers to Christ's literal, visible ascension into heaven after His resurrection. It denotes an upward movement.
"far above all the heavens" (ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν - hyperanō pantōn tōn ouranōn): "Far above" (huperanō) emphasizes an exceeding superiority of position and exaltation. "All the heavens" (pantas tous ouranous) suggests not just the visible sky but the entire celestial expanse and spiritual realms. It stresses Christ's supreme dominion over all created authorities and powers in the heavenly places.
"that he might fill all things)" (ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα - hina plērōsei ta panta): "That" (hina) indicates purpose. "He might fill" (plērōsei) implies completeness or sovereignty. "All things" (ta panta) refers to the totality of creation and all its spheres, both earthly and heavenly. The purpose of His ascension and exaltation is for Christ to permeate and sovereignly control, bless, and sustain all of creation, making all things complete in Him.
Group of Concepts (Descent and Ascent): The core of the verse highlights the movement of Christ from the highest heavenly realm, down to the lowest depths, and back up again, even higher than before. This demonstrates the totality of His work – His condescension in incarnation and suffering, and His exaltation after His victorious accomplishment. This movement is paradoxical: He who went down is the same one who went up.
Ephesians 4 9 Bonus Section
The phrasing "far above all the heavens" echoes the intent found in passages like Psalm 8:1 ("O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.") and Psalm 108:5 ("Be exalted above the heavens, O God! Let your glory be over all the earth!"). This highlights that Christ's exaltation is not merely being raised to a high place but is intrinsically linked to God's own glory and sovereignty over the entire cosmos. His position signifies His ultimate authority, which impacts every facet of creation. The idea of "filling all things" is also significant; Christ is the head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:18), and in Him all things in heaven and on earth are reconciled (Colossians 1:20). The descent and ascent, therefore, are not isolated events but foundational to His present, all-encompassing redemptive reign and the unified Church He leads.
Ephesians 4 9 Commentary
This verse succinctly encapsulates the profound work of Christ. His descent signifies His humble incarnation, His journey to earth, and His death and burial, even into the depths of Hades. This stooping to the lowest point demonstrated His immense love and commitment to redemption. Conversely, His ascent is His glorious, triumphant return to heaven after His resurrection, elevated above all powers and authorities. This ascension secured His victory and established Him as sovereign Lord over all creation. The purpose of this complete movement (down and up) was for Christ to fill all things, meaning to bring fullness, order, and sovereignty to the entire universe through His redemptive work. The Holy Spirit testifies to this, guiding believers to grasp the scope of Christ's victory and His present reign.
- Practical Application: We are called to fix our gaze on this ascended Christ, drawing strength from His triumph. Our hope is secured by His presence at the Father's right hand, where He intercedes for us and dispenses gifts through the Spirit.