Hard Passages
Hard Passages
The passage you'll study in this lesson is Ephesians 4:7-10.
"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” Now this, “He ascended” — what does it imply but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things" (Eph 4:7-10 quoting Psa 68:18).
Paul regards the statement in the Psalm (Psa 68:18) as a prediction of the ascension of Christ. Paul adds that this ascent to the highest heaven implies a prior equal and opposite descent into the lower parts of the earth. This lines up with Paul's teaching that Christ "was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures" (1Co 15:4). Notice that Paul does not teach that Christ “descended into hell”. He says Christ descended into the lower parts of the earth.
Peter interprets another Psalm in the same way (Acts 2:31-36 quoting Psa 16:8-11). Here, however, we find the added information that when Christ died and his body was buried in the earth, his soul descended into Sheol or Hades. This is not eternal hell, Gehenna. (The word “hell” is not used in these passages in the New King James Version and other modern translations.)
There is a common belief that Christ “descended into hell” where he preached to the damned. Many in hell took this opportunity to be saved and Christ led them out of hell at his resurrection, and into heaven at his ascension. (This host is sometimes identified as those resurrected in Matthew 27:51-53.) The “proof” that Christ preached to people in hell, is thought to be Peter's statement that Christ "went and preached to the spirits in prison" (1Pe 3:19). However this is an anachronism, because the time of this preaching is clearly stated as "in the days of Noah". Peter is referring to Christ preaching through Noah to a sinful world (1Pe 3:19).
The simplest explanation of "he led captivity captive" (Eph 4:8) is to think of captivity as slavery. Paul thinks of the new birth as an enslavement to Christ when he releases us from enslavement to sin (Rom 6:6,16-18). When Christ died, was buried, arose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of God, he set a host of captives free from sin and took them captive to himself. He continues to do so even today and until he comes again, "that he might fill all things" (Eph 4:10).
The statement "he led captivity captive" (Eph 4:8) is a prophecy of redemption. "All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom 3:23-24). Jesus said, "For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mrk 10:45). He paid the price to release people from captivity in sin, and to purchase them as his own slaves to righteousness. Thus "he led captivity captive".
So Christ "led captivity captive" (Eph 4:8) in that God "rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col 1:12-14).
What is the Leading?