SDA SABBATH School Lesson TUESDAY August 8 The Exalted Christ, Giver of Gifts

[GerhardEbersoehn]

1.

SDA SABBATH School Lesson

Tuesday ↥ August 8

The Exalted Christ, Giver of Gifts

“However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 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. 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” (Eph. 4:7-10, NLT). What is happening here, and what is Paul’s point in these verses?

Paul here quoted Psalm 68:18, which reads: “When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you” (NLT). Psalm 68:18 portrays the Lord, Yahweh, as a conquering general who, having conquered His enemies, ascends the hill on which His capital city is built, with the captives of battle in His train (see Ps. 68:1, 2). He then receives tribute (“received gifts”) from His conquered foes (noting that Paul adjusts this imagery to the exalted Christ “giving gifts,” based on the wider context of the Psalm, see Ps. 68:35).

If we follow the order of Psalm 68:18, the ascent — Christ’s ascension to heaven (Eph. 1:21-23) — occurs first, followed by the descent in which the risen, exalted Jesus gives gifts and fills all things. This is Paul’s way of depicting the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2). This view is confirmed by Ephesians 4:11, 12, which identify the gifts provided by the exalted Jesus as gifts of the Spirit.

“Christ ascended on high, leading captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. When, after Christ’s ascension, the Spirit came down as promised, like a rushing, mighty wind, filling the whole place where the disciples were assembled, what was the effect? Thousands were converted in a day.” — Ellen G. White, Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 158.

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[GerhardEbersoehn]

2.

However deep these few verses in Ephesians may be, how can we learn to draw comfort from what they show Christ has done for us and will do, especially when He will fill “all things everywhere with himself” (Eph. 1:23, NLT)?

KJV:

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
1 Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος Θεοῦ τοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς οὖσιν [ἐν Ἐφέσῳ] καὶ πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ·

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
3 Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεὸς καὶ Πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ εὐλογήσας ἡμᾶς ἐν πάσῃ εὐλογίᾳ πνευματικῇ ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ,

4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
4 καθὼς ἐξελέξατο ἡμᾶς ἐν αὐτῷ πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἁγίους καὶ ἀμώμους κατενώπιον αὐτοῦ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ

5 God, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
5 προορίσας ἡμᾶς εἰς υἱοθεσίαν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς αὐτόν, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ,

6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in The Beloved.
6 εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἧς ἐχαρίτωσεν ἡμᾶς ἐν τῷ Ἠγαπημένῳ,

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[GerhardEbersoehn]

3.

7 In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His, God’s grace;
7 ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν διὰ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν παραπτωμάτων, κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ

8 Wherein He, God, hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
8 ἧς ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ φρονήσει

9 God, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His Good Pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:
9 γνωρίσας ἡμῖν τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν αὐτοῦ, ἣν προέθετο ἐν αὐτῷ

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in One all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him
10 εἰς οἰκονομίαν τοῦ πληρώματος τῶν καιρῶν, ἀνακεφαλαιώσασθαι τὰ πάντα ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ, τὰ ἐπὶ τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· ἐν αὐτῷ,

11 in Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him, God, Who worketh all things after the counsel of His Own, God’s, will,
11 ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἐκληρώθημεν προορισθέντες κατὰ πρόθεσιν τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐνεργοῦντος κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ,

12 that we (Paul and apostles) who firstly (before you) trusted in Christ, should be to the praise of His, God’s glory:
12 εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης αὐτοῦ τοὺς προηλπικότας ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ·

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[GerhardEbersoehn]

4.

13 God, in Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation (to the praise of His, God’s glory) in Whom also, after that ye believed, were sealed, with that Holy Spirit of promise
13 ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες ἐσφραγίσθητε τῷ Πνεύματι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ Ἁγίῳ,

14 Which is The Earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His, God’s glory.
14 ὅς ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονομίας ἡμῶν, εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints,
15 Διὰ τοῦτο κἀγώ, ἀκούσας τὴν καθ’ ὑμᾶς πίστιν ἐν τῷ Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους,

16 I now cease not to give thanks for you, I making mention of you in my prayers,
16 οὐ παύομαι εὐχαριστῶν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν μνείαν ποιούμενος ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου,

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you The Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (our Lord Jesus Christ):-
17 ἵνα ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ Πατὴρ τῆς δόξης, δώῃ ὑμῖν πνεῦμα σοφίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεως ἐν ἐπιγνώσει αὐτοῦ,

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His (our Lord Jesus Christ’s) calling, and what the riches of the glory of His (our Lord Jesus Christ’s) inheritance in the saints (Paul, an apostle, and you, the saints),
18 πεφωτισμένους τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν, εἰς τὸ εἰδέναι ὑμᾶς τίς ἐστιν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς κλήσεως αὐτοῦ, τίς ὁ πλοῦτος τῆς δόξης τῆς κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις,

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[GerhardEbersoehn]

5.

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His, God’s Mighty Power
19 καὶ τί τὸ ὑπερβάλλον μέγεθος τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ εἰς ἡμᾶς τοὺς πιστεύοντας κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ κράτους τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ,

20 Which He, God, Wrought in Christ, When He Raised Him From The Dead, SETTING HIM In His Own Right In The Heavenlies (of Glory and Exaltation of GOD):-
20 ἣν ἐνήργηκεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ ἐγείρας αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν, καὶ καθίσας ἐν δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις

21 GOD far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
21 ὑπεράνω πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας καὶ δυνάμεως καὶ κυριότητος καὶ παντὸς ὀνόματος ὀνομαζομένου οὐ μόνον ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι·

22 And God put all things under His feet, and Him, He, God, gave to be Head-Over-All to / in the church 23 which is his body.
22 καὶ πάντα ὑπέταξεν ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸν ἔδωκεν κεφαλὴν ὑπὲρ πάντα τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ 23 ἥτις ἐστὶν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ.

(Him, indeed, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ gave to be) the Fulness (of God) that filleth all in all.
(Kαὶ Aὐτὸν ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν ἔδωκεν) tὸ Πλήρωμα τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν πληρουμένου.

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[GerhardEbersoehn]

6.



Conclusion:

The ‘NLT’ at ‘Eph. 1:23’, ‘especially when He will fill “all things everywhere with himself”’, is especially unacceptable, because Paul stated,

1. that God filled Jesus, and not “all things everywhere with himself”; and, the ‘NLT’ at ‘Eph. 1:23’, is especially unacceptable, because Paul especially WROTE at Ephesians 1:23,

2. that God did not ‘show (what) Christ has done for us and will do’, ‘for US’, but what God showed Christ what He, God in Full Fellowship of the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit, HAD DONE FOR HIM our Lord Jesus Christ, by, and in and through HAVING RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD IN THE GRAVE IN THE EARTH THERE, THEN AND THUS, by, and in and through EXALTING AND EXULTING AND GLORIFYING AND HONOURING AND CROWNING HIM : IN ALL THINGS : by, and in and through HIMSELF.

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