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 he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of …
And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he …
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not …
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.