Bible Strands
Ephesians 4:10
He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian church to explain how Christ's descent and ascent directly enable his distribution of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
The words — καταβὰς (katabas) means "having descended," and ἀναβὰς (anabas) means "having ascended," marking the two movements of the same person.
The thread — This descent-ascent pattern echoes the exaltation described in Ephesians 1:20, the heavenly passage in Hebrews 4:14, and the exalted high priest in Hebrews 7:26.
Why it lands — The text states that Christ's ascent above all heavens serves the purpose of filling all things, which grounds the subsequent listing of church offices in his sovereign provision rather than human achievement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Cross-references
- Hebrews 7:26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
- Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
- Ephesians 1:20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
- Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
- Hebrews 9:23 So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
- Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
- Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
- 1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
- Acts 1:9 After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
- Romans 15:9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.”