9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions
9 ( In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
9 It's true, is it not, that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth?
9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
9 Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 4:9
Commentary on Ephesians 4:7-16
(Read Ephesians 4:7-16)
Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart.