Exegesis of Eph 5:18 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ok, the way this passage is interpreted is "Paul tells the Ephesians not to get drunk with wine, BUT TO GET DRUNK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT".
In order to understand what this means for us, we must understand what it meant for the Ephesians, that is, what Paul actually wanted to express.
First, we must take a look at the WHOLE CONTEXT of Eph. 5:18.
Analizyng the Epistle, we can see that Paul exhorts the Ephesians not to live the same way they used to lived before coming to Christ. The exhortation starts in Eph. 4:17:
Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!--
Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Look how Paul contrasts the OLD SELF and the NEW SELF, and how we must get rid of the former.
Then he start to contrast what the gentiles (the unsaved) do, and what the Ephesians (believers) MUST DO INSTEAD.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 neither give place to the devil.
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: BUT rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, BUT such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
Eph 5:2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: BUT rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them;
Eph 5:8 For ye were once darkness, BUT are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Eph 5:10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;
Eph 5:11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, BUT rather even reprove them;
Eph 5:12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.
Eph 5:13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
Eph 5:15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, BUT as wise;
Eph 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, BUT understand what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, BUT be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Eph 5:21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
Look at how many times the word BUT is repeated.
The greek word used is:
Quote:
ἀλλά
alla
al-lah'
properly other things, that is, (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations): - and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
which is different from the greek world translated also as BUT in Eph. 4:20, 5:3:
Quote:
δέ
de
deh
A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.: - also, and, but, moreover, now [often unexpressed in English].
So, what Paul is basically saying is YOU SHOULD NOT DO THAT (things not pleasing to God), BUT YOU SHOULD DO THIS (things that pleases God).
So, it is a contrast, therefore, we cannot interpret Eph. 5:18 as Paul is saying "GET DRUNK OF THE SPIRIT".
The greek word for "drunk" is:
Quote:
μεθύσκω
methuskō
meth-oos'-ko
to intoxicate: - be drunk (-en).
The greek word for "filled":
Quote:
πληρόω
plēroō
play-ro'-o
to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
(Note: I am still learning how to exegete the Bible)
God bless you
SOLI DEO GLORIA
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