Lower Parts of the Earth
There is further proof that this passage is not about Yeshua going to sheol to preach the gospel to those that are in a state of unconscious rest.
Ephesians 4:9
9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Many assume that lower parts of the earth is hell, hades or sheol. However, it never states hades. Remember who wrote the Book of Ephesians, it was Paul, he was a Rabbi. As such, Paul would use terms that linked to the Hebrew Scriptures. The phrase lower parts of the earth is found in the Hebrew scriptures twice, Psalm 63:9-10 and Isaiah 44:23.
Psalm 63:9-10
9But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
In this case, lower parts of the earth refers to sheol.
Isaiah 44:23
23Sing, O ye heavens; for Yehovah hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Yehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
In this case, lower parts of the earth refers to the people of the earth that are alive. So how does one know the proper meaning in Ephesians 4:9. Is it sheol or the people? One must remain in the context of the Bible. Why did Yeshua come to earth? Yeshua speaks for himself in Mark 2:16-17.
16And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17When Yeshua heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Yeshua did not come for the righteous. Yeshua came for the sinners. Yeshua came for the lower class of people, those without hope, Ephesians 2:12.
12That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
The lower levels of society is the lower parts of the earth. And, Yeshua did not just come for Israel but all nations. When one understand that Ephesians 4:8-9 is speaking of the living. This passage fits in perfectly with the context of the rest of the chapter. Yeshua came to give us a gift and that is Ephesians 4:11.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The gift that Yeshua gave believers was the five fold ministry. The purpose of the gift is Ephesians 4:12-13.
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Messiah: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Messiah:
This gift was to help the believer mature. This is the context of this chapter and the Bible itself.
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