Eph 4:9 (Now this, "He ascended" --what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
The term could refer to three things: a) It could simply mean the grave. The Lord Jesus died and was buried. It refers to His humiliation.
1Sa 2:6 "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.
b) It could refer to Hades, the underworld where the spirits (saved and unsaved) were temporarily confined before His resurrection and ascension to heaven. Peter on the day of Pentecost, citing a Messianic Psalm, said these words:
Ac 2:27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
c) It could refer to the womb. The Psalmist figuratively referred to his mother's womb as the lowest parts of the earth. The expression, then, can refer to His incarnation.
Ps 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
I believe letter a would be a more accurate interpretation of the Ephesian passage.
