Lesson 12
May 12, 2002
Interpretations
of Ephesians 5:18
There is an interpretive
problem with Ephesians 5:18, in that there are at least three possible
translations of the Greek expression plhrou/sqe evn pneu,mati, (plerousthe en pneumati,) translated as
"be filled with the Spirit."
The translation one chooses
depends upon the meaning one gives to the preposition en, en.
#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.
#1 "BE FILLED WITH (BY MEANS OF) THE
SPIRIT"
In this first translation, en is translated "by means of" or simply "with."
The Non-charismatic View:
In studying this particular
view, certain problems of an exegetical and theological nature immediately
arise:
(1)
The dative (instrumental) case is used to denote the impersonal
instrument or means by which something is done; and it is not used to denote
the content of the filling. [Dana & Mantey pp. 83-91]
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, i.e., the content of
the filling is the Spirit. ex.:
Acts 2:28;
2. With the accusative it refers to the thing filled; Acts 5:28 acc. [what is
filled] and gen. [with what, teaching]
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;
(2) Nowhere does Scripture specifically equate
the filling of the Holy Spirit with the idea of control.
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 it was between the actions accompanying
these phenomena.
It is highly probable that
what Paul has in mind here is a reference to the orgies and rites practiced by
the pagan mystery religions in Ephesus of Paul's day.
To take the idea of
"control" as the primary thrust of the passage, I believe, is to
ignore the entire context.
What
is the point with drunkenness?
Observations
on alcohol and its influence:
1. Alcohol in control of
the body is a depressant and its symptoms are staggered gait, blurred or double
vision, impaired reflexes, reduced mental functions, increased pulse rate, a
decrease in blood pressure, dilated pupils, flushed skin, drowsiness and
stupor.
2. The influence of
alcohol on the body is analogous
spiritually to the OSN in rulership of the life where it dominates the
thoughts, choices and actions etc.; all
the while the ministry of the Spirit in the life of the believer is suppressed
and distorted.
3. Under intoxication, the
alcohol so saturates the cells of the body that the coordination of their
function is totally interrupted; this is analogous to the contamination of
every cell of the body by the OSN, so
that the natural function as created by God in the garden is now totally
distorted interrupted.
4.
The antithetical option open to the Believer is to be under the
empowerment of God the Holy Spirit who also indwells the body of each believer.