Ephesians 4:9

In Ephesians 4:9-11 Paul commented on the meaning of "ascended" and "gave" in his citation.

For Christ to have ascended to heaven He first had to descend to "the lower parts of the earth." This is probably a reference to Jesus’ grave (genitive of possession) [Note: Hoehner, "Ephesians," p. 634; Simpson, p. 92.] rather than to the earth (genitive of apposition) [Note: John Eadie, Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians, pp. 293-95; Abbott, pp. 115-16; A. T. Lincoln, Ephesians, pp. 242-48; W. Hall Harris III, "The Ascent and Descent of Christ in Ephesians 4:9-10," Bibliotheca Sacra 151:602 (April-June 1994):198-214; Robertson, 4:536; Martin, p. 1310.] or to Hades (genitive of comparison) [Note: Richard C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians to the Ephesians and to the Philippians, pp. 521-22.] in view of the context. In His death Jesus Christ gained the victory over sin, and He redeemed those whom He would give as gifts to the church.