Paul quotes Psalm 68 and then he explains Christ’s descent—meaning His burial—followed by His later ascension above the heavens. Paul’s overall purpose is to teach that each one of us has received gifts because of Christ’s victorious ascension.
Paul says that a gifting was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift—what He received because of His victory. Beginning in verse 11, Paul then lists various roles or responsibilities within the Body. Notice the progression in Paul’s wording: Christ ascended on high, He gave gifts to men, and He Himself gave some to be apostles, prophets, and so forth.
This was a deliberate act by the Head of the church. If we would continue reading, we would see that those roles are how He ordained that we all come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Son of God. He tells us how He organizes the church and how He works.
Paul goes on to say that the gifting is for the edification of the Body. That is, He gave those specific responsibilities—those gifts—to some as a gift to the whole church. That fits with the final line in Psalm 68:18. Remember, Christ gives these gifts so that the LORD God has a place to dwell. Those offices are part of the gifting Christ gives to make the spiritual Body a fitting abode or dwelling place.
We are going to begin in verse 7, because I want you to see what Paul says here in the light of what we read in Ephesians 1 (about Christ being God the Father's gift to the church).
Even as Jesus Christ was the Father's gift to the church, Christ's gift to the church is the ministry. Now, for what reason? Notice how specific this is.
