Acts Of Ephesians 4: 7-8 Analysis

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD BIBLE COLLEGE

AN EXEGESIS OF EPHESIANS 4:7-16

A PAPER PRESENTED TO

RUTH PHUA-CHNG

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

BS 622: NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS

BY

ALVIN LIM

SINGAPORE

MAY 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
I. EXEGETICAL OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS 4:7-16 . . . . . 5
CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
BIBLOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

APPENDIX: 15 STEPS OF FULL EXEGESIS . . . . . . . . . 40
There are three possible interpretation to to katevbh eij" ta; katwvtera mevrh th '" gh '". The first possibility is that Christ descended to earth at Christ incarnation and death and later ascension on Easter or Ascension Day. The second possibility is that Christ descended into Hades or Sheol and ascended on Easter or Ascension Day (c.f. 1 Pet. 3:19; 4:6; Rom. 10:6-8; Phil. 2:10).34 This view is supported by the apostles ' creed.35 This is a popular view among the church fathers.36 Some see it as Christ painful death and as a symbol of Christ going to those who have not heard the gospel (1 Pet. 3:18-22).37 The third interpretation is that Christ descended into the grave or buried and ascended at Easter or Ascension Day.38 The fourth interpretation is the Christ ascended at Easter or Ascension Day and descended in the Spirit at Pentecost (John 7:39; 20:22; Acts 2:33; 2 Cor. 3:17).39 In this interpretation, Christ ascended first and subsequently descended in the Spirit to give gifts of the Spirit at Pentecost. The first interpretation is the most likely due to some of these reasons. The atmosphere is also considered part of earth in ancient cosmology taking John 3:13 into account (unlike Rom. 10:7; 1 Pet. 3:18-21; Rev. 1:18).40 This can be translated the 'the lower regions, namely the earth ' as a descent from heaven if th '" gh '" is interpreted as genitive of apposition.41 It was only after A.D. 650 that the saying that Christ "descended into
8 Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high, he led captive a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."

EPH 4:9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of