The Doctrine of Gifts in Relation to Unity. Every Christian has his gift of grace: and the grace given to each is proportioned to the measure of Christ's giving (Ephesians 4:7). That is what Scripture means when it says, He went up on high and took captive a captivity and gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:8). He went up surely that means that He came down also to these lower regions, our earth. He that came down is the very same Person who went up, high above all the heavens, to fill all things (Ephesians 4:9 f.); and it is He who has given gifts to His Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers for the fitting of God's people for the work of service, for the upbuilding of Christ's Body (Ephesians 4:11 f.). We are to arrive at last all of us together at that oneness of loyalty and knowledge of God's Son which shall constitute us a full-grown man who has attained the measure of the stature of Christ's own fulness (Ephesians 4:13), So at last shall we cease to be a pack of children tossed like sailors at sea and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching that cunning and craft and error's wiles can bring to bear on us (Ephesians 4:14); in truth and in love we shall grow up in all things unto Him who is the Head Christ (Ephesians 4:15). From Him it is that the whole Body, through every joint of its equipment, is compacted and knit together by the due and effectual working of each several part, and so achieves its own increase, to its own upbuilding, in love (Ephesians 4:16).
Ephesians 4:8. Read, it saith, the Scripture being personified as in Galatians 3:8. The quotation is from Psalms 68:18, which, however, has Thou hast received gifts from men. Perhaps a Targum (i.e. a vernacular paraphrase for synagogue use) is here followed.
Ephesians 4:9. RV rightly omits first, which looks like a gloss in the interest of the view that the descent referred to is either the incarnation or the descent into hell. The only tolerable interpretation in relation to the context is that which regards the descent as subsequent to the ascent, i.e. the ascended and triumphant Lord comes down from heaven to bestow upon His Church the gifts of apostolate, prophecy, etc. (Ephesians 4:11).
Ephesians 4:10. all the heavens: i.e. the seven heavens of Jewish belief (Ephesians 1:3 * cf. Hebrews 4:14).
Ephesians 4:12. Delete the comma after saints.
Ephesians 4:13. a full-grown man: cf. Galatians 3:28, and contrast the plural children (Ephesians 4:14).
Ephesians 4:15. Read mg.
Ephesians 4:16. Every joint of its supply (or equipment); cf. mg. The phrase echoes the technical language of Greek medical writers.