9.
kai; katevbh
] The word ascended used of Christ, Whose pre-existence is assumed, implies a descent also. Comp. John 3:13.
ta; katwvtera m. t. g.
] It is most unlikely that such a phrase would be used to describe the earth.
Mevrh
has no force whatever in such a case. But Hades might, according to the prevalent cosmogony, reasonably be called either
ta; katwvtera ªmevrhº th'" gh'"
or
ta; katwvtata th'" gh'"
(Ps. 63:10, LXX.). It may be observed that in Eph. 1:10 and Col. 1:20 there is nothing directly answering to
ta; katacqovnia
in Phil. 2:10.
10.
oJ kataba;" aujtov" ejstin
...]
He that descended, He Himself, is also He that ascended
.... The sense is given substantially by the grammatically incorrect
rendering is the same also that.... Comp. John 3:13.
i{na plhrwvsh/
]
That He might
by His presence
bring all things to their completeness
, give reality to all that the universe of created things presented in sign and promise. Christ first fulfils all things and then receives them to Himself when brought to their true end. Time is no element in this work. It is essentially like creation itself one act at once, though it is slowly realised under the conditions of earthly being.
11.
kai; aujto;" e[dwken
...]
And
in fulfilment of His victor's work
He Himself
, of His own free love (
aujtov"
),
gave
.... The gift was a double gift. Christ first endowed the
men, and then He gave them, so endowed, to the Church.
tou;" mevn
...]
Some
of those whom He had taken and fashioned for His service
as apostles, and some, as prophets
....
The three groups apostles, prophets, evangelists, represent ministers who had a charge not confined to any particular congregation or district. In contrast with these are those who form the settled ministry, pastors and teachers, who are reckoned as one class not from a necessary combination of the two functions but from their connexion with a congregation.
For ajpovstolo" see Lightfoot on Gal. 1:17. The profhvth" was an inspired teacher: Acts 15:32; 1 Cor. 14:3. The prophets are frequently combined with the apostles as having peculiar authority: Eph. 2:20; 3:5; Apoc. 18:20. There is a vivid description of their work at a later period in the Teaching of the Apostles cc. xi. ff.
The work of the eujaggelisthv" was probably that of a missionary to the unbelieving (Acts 21:8). Comp. 2 Tim. 4:5.
This is the only place in which poimhvn is the definite title of an office. But in addressing the elders at Miletus, St Paul bids them take heed to the flock in which the Holy Ghost had made them bishops and feed ( poimaivnein ) the Church of God (Acts 20:28); comp. 1 Pet. 5:2; John 21:16. Christ Himself is spoken of as the shepherd and bishop of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25), and the great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20). For didavskalo" see Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:28 f.
From a consideration of these passages it is evident that there was not as yet a recognised ecclesiastical hierarchy; while there is a tendency to the specialisation of functions required for the permanent well-being of the Church.
See Additional Note. 12-16. The object of this manifold ministry is the perfecting of every member after the pattern of Christ (Eph. 4:12, 13), that all realising the truth in life may grow up to complete fellowship with Him (14, 15), Who provides through the ministry of every part for the growth of the whole body in love (16).
12.
pro;" to;n katort....eij" e[rgon... eij" oijk
.] Latt.
ad consummationem... in opus
ministerii, in aedificationem ... With a view to the perfecting of the saints for a work
....