Bible Study HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE ?

[mel]

What exactly does the apostle Paul mean in the phrase, "when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive...." (Eph. 4:8) whom did our Lord lead captive?

 

[Rick W]

I'd take that to mean the power of sin (separation from God, the second death) whose chains held us in it's power (made captive) for we are all sinners.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

[cj]

Ephesians  4 : 8, "Therefore the Scripture says, "Having ascended to the height, He led captive those taken captive and.... gave gifts..... to men.''

Notes from the Recovery Version bible -
"Those" refers to the redeemed saints, who were taken captive by Satan before being saved by Christ's death and resurrection. In His ascension Christ led them captive; that is, He rescued them from Satan's captivity and took them to Himself. This indicates that He conquered and overcame Satan, who had captured them by sin and death.

The Amplified New Testament renders "He led captive those taken captive" as "He led a train of vanquished foes." Vanquished foes may refer to Satan, to his angels, and to us the sinners, again indicating Christ's victory over Satan, sin, and death. In Christ's ascension there was a procession of these vanquished foes, led as captives from a war, for a celebration of Christ's victory.


Reference the OT verse from which Paul drew....

Psalms  68 : 18

"You have ascended on high; You have led captive those taken captive;.... You have..... received gifts..... among men,.... Even the rebellious ones also, That Jehovah God may dwell among them."


Notice how Paul updated the speaking regarding "gifts"; in the Psalm the phrase is "received gifts", and in Ephesians the phrase is "gave gifts."


In love,
cj

 

[Ray Martinez]

What exactly does the apostle Paul mean in the phrase, "when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive...." (Eph. 4:8) whom did our Lord lead captive?

Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 4:11:

"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. "

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers"

You will never understand the meaning of the 8th verse without the 11th.

8th verse: "gifts" = the Greek word is 'domata'.

When the Roman army vanquished a strong and terrible enemy they would parade him through the streets of Rome and present him bound to the Emperor.

This enemy was called "domata" - a gift to the Emperor.

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, TAKES that Greek word 'domata' and applies it to persons who were captives of Satan doing his bidding in the world - gifts worthy of the Emperor - and says Christ led the captive of Satan to be His captives to accomplish His work.

The 11th verse says these "gifts"/"domatas" are: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teaching pastors.

What Paul is saying is that God stole from Satan that which he was going to use to further his kingdom and GAVE these persons/gifts to the Church.

Paul was serving the devil well as he persecuted the Church.

Jesus stole him back and gave him to the Church.

That which was intended for the Emperors pleasure (type of Satan) the domata/gift was re-captured by Christ and given to His church !

Ray Martinez

 

[cj]

Very nicely presented Ray.

In love,
cj