Ephesians 4:8
Back to The Bible's Difficult Scriptures Explained!
“Wherefore he says, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
Does this passage mean that Christ takes His servants “captive” in order to “lead” them to heaven? How exactly does Christ lead “captivity captive”?
First, Catholics believe that this scripture refers to limbus patri—meaning the place of limbo occupied by the fathers (Old Testament figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Samuel, etc.). They teach that these men were captives trapped in a place of salvation limbo before Christ “ascended” to heaven and made it possible for them to finally join Him there. In this way, Christ supposedly led “captivity (the Old Testament fathers) captive” to Himself.
Do you see that it is foolish—even silly—to think of men trapped in captivity in a kind of vague “neverland” or prison for thousands of years until Christ could “free” them?
The real meaning of the verse is that those who serve sin are captive to it and are its servant or slave (Rom. 6:16-19), until repentance and conversion. Christ ascended to heaven to become the High Priest of God’s people (Heb. 4:14-16) and to intercede for them before the Father so that they can receive necessary, regular forgiveness of sins and be offered salvation—and the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to even begin their conversion (Phil. 2:6; II Cor. 13:5). At begettal, Christians literally become captives of Christ and servants (slaves) of righteousness. He then holds all claim over their lives (I Cor. 6:20; 7:23; Rom. 12:1-2).
Ephesians 4:8 is about conversion, not salvation. Romans 6:17-18 states, “But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart…Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.” When this occurs, one is no longer captive to sin and Satan (II Tim. 2:25-26)! Suggested reading:
• What Does the New Testament Teach About Law And Grace?
• Just What Is Salvation?