Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Study Note
Study Note
The command 'be not drunk with wine... but be filled with the Spirit' sets up a studied contrast: both wine and Spirit 'fill' a person, but with radically different results. The present passive imperative 'be filled' (plērousthe) signals ongoing, renewable reception rather than a single crisis-moment — Spirit-fullness is a continual state of yieldedness rather than a possession achieved once. The following participial clauses (speaking, singing, giving thanks, submitting) describe the Spirit-filled life in community and worship, anchoring pneumatology in concrete social practices. Luke's portrait of Spirit-filled boldness (Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31) provides narrative texture to Paul's imperatival formulation.
Other Translations
And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,
And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;
Cross References
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not …
They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it …
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness …
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and …
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast …
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their …