Neville Goddard on Ephesians 4:8-10 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Ephesians 4 in context

Scripture Focus

8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Ephesians 4:8-10

Biblical Context

These verses describe a descent into the lower parts, followed by an ascent that fills all things. Gifts are given to men through that ascent.

Neville's Inner Vision

Beloved, the letter to the Ephesians is speaking to your inner state. The descent is not a historical journey outside you, but the descent of your awareness into the lower parts of your mind—the places where limitation, fear, and ignorance reside. The ascent is the lifting of that awareness into the heights of recognizing I AM, the unconditioned consciousness that fills all. When He ascended, He led captivity captive—your mistaken identifications with lack and separation surrender to the truth that you are already complete. He gave gifts unto men; these gifts are your latent faculties—faith, imagination, discernment—unwrapped as you awaken to your true nature. The clause that He ascended, far above all heavens, that he might fill all things, declares that consciousness itself is universal, capable of permeating every situation, thought, and form. The practical corollary is that you do not seek gifts from without; you awaken the gifts from within by assuming the state of your own I AM and letting the feelings of fullness radiate through you, here and now.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and imagine you are the ascended self who has already given gifts. Revise any sense of lack by silently affirming, I AM, filled with all gifts now, and feel the fullness radiate through you.