But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore, it says: “He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men.” 9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower [regions] of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. 15 Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.
This passage addresses the unity and diversity in the body of Christ, focusing on the gifts given to believers for building up the Church. It is structured around the themes of Christ's exaltation, the distribution of spiritual gifts, and the growth and maturity of the Church.
Paul states that spiritual gifts (grace) have been given individually to each believer, distributed by Christ according to his sovereign will, to serve the Church. Christ determines the portion given to each person as described in Eph. 4:7-8. Paul adapts Psalm 68, a victory hymn that celebrates God’s triumph over His enemies, to support Christ’s ascension and victorious reign, and his distribution of gifts (Ps. 68:19).
Paul reflects theologically on the meaning of Christ’s ascension explaining that the phrase "he descended into the lower regions" likely refers to Christ’s incarnation and the phrase “the lower [regions] of the earth” refers to his descent to the grave. Some interpretations suggest this could also refer to Christ’s descent to the dead, as mentioned in the Apostles' Creed, signifying His victory over death. Having descended in the incarnation, Christ now ascends far "above all the heavens," indicating his lordship over all creation. Through his ongoing presence and authority over the Church and the world, Christ distributes his gifts for the good of his Church.
Paul mentions specific ministries or offices that Christ has established in the Church. "Apostles" refers to those directly sent by Christ, such as the Twelve and Paul, "Prophets" in the New Testament are those who proclaim divine revelation, "Evangelists" are those who spread the Gospel message, and "Pastors and teachers" refers to those who shepherd local congregations and instruct them in the faith (1 Cor. 12:28). Each of these roles equips Christians (holy ones) to participate in the mission of the Church. The ongoing goal of the spiritual gifts and ministries is to achieve unity of Christian beliefs and a personal, experiential understanding of Christ, implying intimacy with the Son of God through faith, prayer, and participation in the life of the Church.
Christians are to grow into spiritual adulthood, moving beyond infancy in faith to the fullness of Christ's presence and life so that they are not easily swayed by false doctrines and false teachings, arising from human cunning and deceit, which pose a real danger to the unity and stability of the Church. Christians are to live a life that embodies and expresses the truths of faith in every action and relationship. They are called to a self-giving, sacrificial love as exemplified by Christ. They are to grow spiritually, morally, and intellectually in Christ, the source and goal of the Church’s growth. As the head, Christ directs the growth and unity of the body, while each member contributes to its functioning.
Almighty God, thank You for the gifts You have given each of us through Christ. Help us to live in the truth with love, growing in unity and maturity as we become more like Your Son, our Head. Strengthen us to build up Your Church and guide us to use our gifts for Your greater glory. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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