Lesson 74 October 22, 2003

Eph 5:18 Be Filled with the Spirit!

Overview of context

First some observations on the structure of the context! 5:18-33

Reason is that each of the next three verses begins with a present participle which emphasizes continuous action.

- vs:19 = speaking [context of worship]

- vs:20 = giving of thanks

- vs:21 = being subject to one another

** B.L.: All of these things flowing out of vs 18; all depend on compliance with the command, that is to be filled by the Spirit, for proper application and function in all these areas that follow including ultimately a right relationship in marriage.

** This command to be filled by the Spirit also looks backward to vs:15-17.

If you are to know what the will of God is, if you are to walk as wise then you need to be filled by the Spirit. There is a direct connection between the two.

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to give believers (us) the insight and discernment needed to be wise and to know the will of God with the result we are able to walk worthy.

Intro: Details of 5:18

Some considerations related to the two clauses that make up this verse. It is assumed that they are parallel to each other grammatically when in fact they are not.

It would appear from the context that the primary contrast Paul was making was not so much between the idea of being drunk and being filled as he was emphasizing the contrast in the actions accompanying these two phenomena.

Analyze the two clauses.

First: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation,"

The idea of the word dissipation avsotia is loss of self-control leading to the squandering of one's resources;

Instead of contrasting the ideas of "control by wine" with "control by the Spirit," what Paul is really contrasting is the activity of the pagan idolaters in the debauched rites and orgies, clear manifestation of sin nature activity, with that of the saints meeting together in the local church worshiping together and ministering to one another under the leadership and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Now the contrast, the 2^nd clause!

"but be filled with the Spirit,"

It is through the fulfillment of this command that believer realizes the influence and enablement or empowerment to live the CWOL, to actually reflect the character of Christ in their life.

What is being described here is to be the normative condition in the life of every believer.

- pass. voice says its a grace process; H/S's work in you! But not apart from you,

- Imperative mood: says there are decisions we must make to ensure this grace ministry of the Holy Spirit is operational in our lives.

There are several grammatical issues that must be resolved if we are to have a right understanding of the thrust of this 2^nd clause.

- First we need to examine the use of the prep. evn + dative of pneu,ma.

- Depending on the context, en can be translated;

#1 "with" or "by means of" denoting means or instrumentality;

#2 it can be translated "in" denoting sphere, or

#3 it can be translated "by" denoting agency.

So the conclusion if we are to follow good grammar and we must! Then en must be translated "by" indicating agency so that we have the personal reference for use with the Holy Spirit.

There is another important point often missed. It also is a grammatical point related to the use of the verb "to fill," plhrow (pleroo).

This verb may govern more than one case of a noun which follows it.

So when the context uses the verb "to fill," plhrow (pleroo), with various cases it does so with these meanings;

1. With the genitive it refers to the material that fills,

- Acts 2:28; made full of gladness/joy gen. [material/content]

2. With the accusative it refers to the thing filled;

- Acts 5:28 acc. [what is filled] and gen. [with what, teaching] [Phil. 4:19]

3. With the dative it refers to the agent that effects the filling, i.e., be filled by the Spirit.

- [Eph. 5:18]; Rom 5:13 all three used;

Concl: So the phrase denotes the One who fills, not the content with which one is filled. Therefore the Holy Spirit must be the agent doing the filling here!

There is another issue that is quite prominent today especially in charismatic churches.

- They want to confuse the filling by the Spirit that we have here and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is positional in nature and therefore only occurs once, is never repeated while the Filling by the Spirit is to be the normal, continual condition in our life as believers.