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Ephesians 4:8–11

Wherefore he saith, xWhen he ascended up on high, yhe led ||captivity captive, and zgave gifts unto men. a(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into bthe lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that cascended up dfar above all heavens, ethat he might ||ffill all things.) 11 And he gave some, gapostles; and some, ghprophets; and some, ievangelists; and some, kpastors and lteachers;

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Ephesians 4:8–11 — The New International Version (NIV)

This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,

he took many captives

and gave gifts to his people.”

(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:8–11 — English Standard Version (ESV)

Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Ephesians 4:8–11 — New Living Translation (NLT)

That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,

he led a crowd of captives

and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

Ephesians 4:8–11 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive,

And gave gifts to men.”

(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:8–11 — New Century Version (NCV)

That is why it says in the Scriptures,

“When he went up to the heights,

he led a parade of captives,

and he gave gifts to people.”

When it says, “He went up,” what does it mean? It means that he first came down to the earth. 10 So Jesus came down, and he is the same One who went up above all the heaven. Christ did that to fill everything with his presence. 11 And Christ gave gifts to people—he made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God’s people.

Ephesians 4:8–11 — American Standard Version (ASV)

Wherefore he saith,

When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive,

And gave gifts unto men.

(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Ephesians 4:8–11 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Wherefore he says, Having ascended up on high, he has led captivity captive, and has given gifts to men. But that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same who has also ascended up above all the heavens, that he might fill all things; 11 and he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers,

Ephesians 4:8–11 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

That’s why the Scriptures say: 

“When he went to the highest place, 

he took captive those who had captured us 

and gave gifts to people.” 

Now what does it mean that he went up except that he also had gone down to the lowest parts of the earth? 10 The one who had gone down also went up above all the heavens so that he fills everything. 

11 He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts ⸤to his church⸥.

Ephesians 4:8–11 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For it says:

When He ascended on high,

He took prisoners into captivity;

He gave gifts to people.

But what does “He ascended” mean except that He descended to the lower parts 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 personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:8–11 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Therefore it is said,

“When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;

he gave gifts to his people.”

(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:8–11 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Therefore it says,

“Ascending on high he led captivity captive;

he gave gifts to men.”

Now “he ascended,” what is it, except that he also descended to the lower regions of the earth? 10 The one who descended himself is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things.

11 And he himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers

Ephesians 4:8–11 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

That is why Scripture says,

“When he went up to his place on high,

he led a line of prisoners.

He gave gifts to people.”

What does “he went up” mean? It can only mean that he also came down to the lower, earthly places. 10 The One who came down is the same as the One who went up higher than all the heavens. He did it in order to fill all of creation. 11 He is the One who gave some the gift to be apostles. He gave some the gift to be prophets. He gave some the gift of preaching the good news. And he gave some the gift to be pastors and teachers.

Ephesians 4:8–11 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Therefore it says,

When He ascended on high,

He led captive a host of captives,

And He gave gifts to men.”

(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,


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