Ephesians 4:8-13
4:8 a He led a crowd of captives may refer to Christ’s victory over spiritual powers (see 1:21-22 b; Col 2:15 c), or to his capture of disobedient sinners and making them believers through the power of the Good News message.• Christ gave gifts to his people (see Eph 4:11-12 d).
Summary for Eph 4:9-10: 4:9-10 e to our lowly world (or to the lowest parts of the earth): Some understand this phrase as referring to the tomb, to the world of the dead (cp. Matt 12:40 f; 1 Pet 3:18-20 g), or to the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. Instead, it probably refers to the incarnation, when Christ . . . descended from heaven and became a man (see John 1:14 h; 3:13 i; Phil 2:7-8 j).
4:11 k In his letters, Paul has four different lists of God’s gifts (see also Rom 12:4-8 l; 1 Cor 12:8-10 m, 28 n), none of which is comprehensive. Here the focus is on the gifts of leadership most needed for the growth of the church.
• Apostles are divinely commissioned missionary evangelists.
• Prophets speak messages from God for his people.
• Evangelists proclaim the Good News.
• Pastors (literally shepherds) care for God’s people (see 1 Tim 3:1-7 o).
• Teachers expound Scripture and God’s truths to the church.
• Pastors and teachers might refer to separate ministries or to two aspects of the same ministry.
4:12 p God’s gifts are given so that believers will build up the church (see 1 Cor 12:7 q; cp. 1 Pet 2:5 r).
• to equip God’s people to do his work: All believers are called to active Christian service.
4:13 s The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6 t; 14:20 u; Phil 3:15 v; Col 1:28 w; 4:12 x; cp. Heb 5:14 y; Jas 1:4 z; 3:2 aa). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29 ab).
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