Ephesians 4:8

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Therefore he says, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Verse 7 Read Chapter 4 Verse 9

George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

He led captivity captive. He gave gifts to men. Having delivered men from the captivity of sin, he bestowed upon them his gifts and graces. (Witham) Wherefore he, David, in Psalm lxvii., makes use of these words, in order to show that these gifts were gratuitous, and that no person had a right to complain that another had received more: after this the apostle proceeds to show that Christ even descended to the lower parts of the earth, in order to teach us humility; whence he concludes that we ought to be humble and live in union with our brethren, which is the chief subject of the present chapter. (Tirinus)

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Irenaeus of Lyons

AD 202

For the Lord, through means of suffering, "ascending into the lofty place, led captivity captive, gave gifts to men"

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Jerome

AD 420

It was a nice touch for Paul to write here that Christ gave gifts to humanity, when what is written in Psalm is that “he received gifts among humanity.” Why this difference? Since in the psalm the act had not yet occurred but was promised in the future, the phrase was accordingly he received. But the apostle is seeing this as a promise earlier given and later fulfilled. At this time of writing, Christ has already made the gift and churches have been established throughout the whole world. Accordingly he is said to have already given to humanity rather than received gifts among humanity. .

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Jerome

AD 420

We believers in Christ, having been gathered from the Gentiles, had been taken captive by the devil, though we were creatures of God. We were sold out to the demonic powers. Into this circumstance our Lord Jesus Christ came bearing the baggage of captivity, as Ezekiel says, and, covering his head so that his adversaries would not know him, preaching remission to those who had been taken captive and release to those held in chains…. After Christ freed us, we were snatched out of an old captivity into a new freeing captivity [to Christ], as he led us with him into heaven. .

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

As though he had said, Why are you high-minded? The whole is of God. The Prophet says in the Psalm, You have received gifts among men Psalm 68:18., whereas the Apostle says, He gave gifts unto men. The one is the same as the other.

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Tertullian of Carthage

AD 220

On high "that is, into heaven; "He led captivity captive "meaning death or slavery of man; "He gave gifts to the sons of men". What figures of speech could the novel god have found in the prophets (fit for himself)? "He led captivity captive "says the apostle.

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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20