“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people' — the quotation of Psalm 68:18 applies to Christ's ascension (anabainō): he aichmalōteusas ('took captives,' or in Targum reading, 'led captivity captive,' despoiling enemy powers), and edōken domata ('gave gifts') tois anthrōpois ('to people'), establishing the ascended Christ as the distributive source of spiritual gifts.
Church Fathers on Ephesians 4:8
“Wherefore he says, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” As though he had said, Why are you high-minded? The whole is of God. The Prophet says in the Psalm, “You have received gifts among men” Psalm 68:18., whereas the Apostle says, “He gave gifts unto men.” The one is the same as the other.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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