|
 Bro.
Turner:
Please
explain EPH.4:8; what was the captivity he led captive?
Reply:
"Captive"
is, literally "one taken by the spear" or one
captured. "Captivity" is the abstract form of
"captive" and Vine says it "seems to be an
allusion to the triumphal procession by which victory was
celebrated, the captives taken forming part of the
procession". Vine cites a marginal reading, viz., "a
multitude of captives”. REV.13:10 says, "If any man is
for captivity (footnote, "leading into captivity" ARV)
into captivity he goeth; if any man shall kill with the sword,
with the sword must he be killed”.
The expression in EPH.4:8 is a partial quotation of PSA.68:18
where, in praising Jehovah, the Psalmist says, "Thou hast
ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou has received
gifts among men, yea among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God
might dwell with them”.
Now EPH.4:8-f. is concerned with the "dwelling" among
men part of this psalm -- God "receiving" and being
glorified by the exercise of His gifts to men. The gifts are
here cataloged as Spirit-equipped apostles, prophets,
evangelists, and shepherds (note 2:22 and forward, to get
contextual association of grace, Spirit, etc.). But before God
(in Christ) could send gifts, He had to be victorious over death
(The Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet
glorified". JOH.7:39). So Christ overcame death, bringing
"to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the
Devil" (HEB.2:14-15). He then ascended to heaven,
where
|
|
He
received His Kingdom (sovereignty, DAN.7:13-14) and from heaven
sent the Holy Spirit with "all truth"
(JOH.15:26-f,16:12-14).
"He
led captivity captive" is, in my opinion, a reference to
the triumphant Christ, as he (figuratively) parades Satan and
his hosts before the throne of Jehovah. The enemy, who for a
time seemed to be winning the battle (when Christ was crucified)
is now in chains -- led captive.
Perhaps
I am too much influenced by the word-play in the English
translation, but "led captivity captive" has always
suggested to me the overcoming of that which had, for a time,
overcome Christ. This was my early understanding of the
expression — as, "putting the jailer in jail" —
and it still comes readily to mind as I read the passage under
consideration.
In
the miraculous endowment of the apostles, prophets, and early
evangelists and shepherds, there was a manifestation of deity,
and "indwelling", which is not found nor needed in
later saints. They delivered truth, confirmed by signs and
wonders. It seems to me the "gifts" of EPH.4:8 are;
first and particularly, the Spirit endowments necessary to equip
apostles and the rest. The purpose was to build up the body of
Christ, perfected in knowledge, grown to spiritual manhood.
Thus, gifts given to apostles, etc., were also gifts given to us
(see JOH.14:21-23; EPH.3:16-19).
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
