Apex
Radical Centrist & Ethicist
- Jan 1, 2017
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That has nothing to do with Sheol. Jesus took all the believers out of Sheol and took them to be with,in direct proximity, with the Father.
Ephesians 4:7-9 (CJB)
7 Each one of us, however, has been given grace to be measured by the Messiah’s bounty. 8 This is why it says,
“After he went up into the heights,
he led captivity captive
and he gave gifts to mankind.”
9 Now this phrase, “he went up,” what can it mean if not that he first went down into the lower parts, that is, the earth?
I do not think the captives were the believers in Sheol.
Paul is alluding to Psalm 68:18 here. Psalm 68 is a victory hymn composed by David to celebrate the conquest of a Jebusite city. It describes a victory parade up Mount Zion to attribute the victory to God.
Historically, it was typical, after a king won a significant military victory, to bring back the spoils of war, including enemy prisoners, to display to his people.
As such, I think the better interpretation is that the captives are the foes of Christ. Death, the curse, and sin (Colossians 2:15) are led as it were in triumphal procession as a sign of their destruction.
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