Ephesians 4:9,10 - He ascended

4:9

“In saying, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions of the earth?” Paul has taken Ps 68:18 as referring to Christ, and then draws the conclusion that if he ascended, He must first of have descended, for prior to the incarnation Christ was exalted in heaven with the Father. But what do the “lower regions” refer to? There are three possibilities. The first is that they refer to Hades. The second that they refer to the tomb, and the third that they simply refer to the earth, i.e. the fact that He was made incarnate. The second of these is the least likely, as it has no real parallels anywhere in Scripture. The first option does have parallels elsewhere in Scripture, e.g. Rom 10:5 f, and 1 Peter 3:18-22. So this is the most likely, though the third option is possible.

4:10

Whether the first or third option referred to above is correct doesn’t really make much difference. For here Paul is emphasising that the Christ who dwelt on earth and died on the cross is the same as the one who ascended to heaven far above all the heavens, and He fills all things. I.e. Christ has all power and authority.