Meaning of Ephesians 5:18 for Christian Living
Ephesians 5:18 states, "Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit" [1]. This verse is part of a larger section in Ephesians (4:17–5:20) where Paul provides specific guidelines for believers to live a new life in Christ, distinct from the ways of unbelievers [10].
The immediate context of Ephesians 5:18 includes a call to understand the will of the Lord, rather than being foolish [2, 11]. The preceding verses encourage Christians to imitate God and walk in love, avoiding uncleanness, impurity, covetousness, and foolish jesting, as these behaviors are contrary to the kingdom of God [5]. Believers, who were once in darkness, are now called to walk as children of light and produce the fruits of the Spirit [4, 5, 9].
The command "be filled with the Spirit" stands in direct contrast to being "drunken with wine" [1]. The Greek grammar of "be filled" suggests a continuous action, indicating that believers' lives should be constantly governed and dominated by the Holy Spirit [7]. This filling by the Spirit is presented as the alternative to the dissipation associated with drunkenness [1]. The contrast highlights that the Holy Spirit, not wine, should control a believer's life [7].
The concept of being "filled with the Spirit" is central to Christian living as described in Ephesians. It relates to the broader theme of believers being made complete and reflecting God's image through the presence of Christ within them [12]. This spiritual fullness enables believers to comprehend the "breadth, and length, and depth, and height" of God's love [3, 12]. The result of being filled with the Spirit is often linked to expressions of worship and gratitude, as seen in the subsequent verses of Ephesians 5, which speak of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and giving thanks for all things [6, 8]. This thankfulness extends even to adversities, recognizing God as the source of all blessings through Christ [8].
Sources
- Ephesians “Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, -- Ephesians 5:18”
- Ephesians “Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. -- Ephesians 5:17”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:18 (YLT) — that ye may be in strength to comprehend, with all the saints, what <FI>is<Fi> the breadth, and length, and depth, and height,”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 5:8 cross-references: Psalms 74:20, Isaiah 2:5, Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 42:16, Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 49:9, Isaiah 60:1, Isaiah 60:19, Jeremiah 13:16, Matthew 4:16, Luke 1:79, Luke 16:8, John 1:4, John 1:9, John 8:12, John 12:36, John 12:46, Acts 17:30, Acts 26:18, Romans 1:21, Romans 2:19, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:11, Ephesians 4:18, Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:4, Titus 3:3, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:8”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 5 (introduction): Christians should imitate their heavenly Father, and walk in love, after the example of Christ, Eph 5:1, Eph 5:2. They should avoid all uncleanness, impurity, covetousness, and foolish jesting, and idolatry, because these things exclude from the kingdom of God, Eph 5:3-7. The Ephesians were once in darkness, but being now light in the Lord, they are exhorted to walk in that light, and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit; and to have no fellowship with the workers of iniquity, whose evil deeds are manifested by the light, Eph 5:8-13. All are exhorted ”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:18: Giving thanks always for all things,.... For things temporal, for our beings, and the preservation of them, and for all the mercies of life; for things spiritual, for Christ, and for all spiritual blessings in him; for electing, redeeming, sanctifying, adopting, pardoning, and justifying grace; for a meetness for heaven, and for eternal life itself; for the Gospel, promises, truths, ordinances, and ministry; and this is to be done always, at all times, in times of adversity, desertion, temptation, affliction, and persecution, as well as in prosperity: unto God, a”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:18: 5:18 The Holy Spirit, not wine, should dominate believers’ lives (see Prov 23:29-35; cp. Acts 2:15-18). • be filled: The grammar here suggests that believers’ lives are to be continuously filled with and governed by the Holy Spirit.”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:20: thanks . . . for all things--even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Col 3:17; Th1 5:18). unto God and the Father--the Fountain of every blessing in Creation, Providence, Election, and Redemption. Lord Jesus Christ--by whom all things, even distresses, become ours (Rom 8:35, Rom 8:37; Co1 3:20-23).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:8: 5:8 Darkness is ignorance of God and his ways and being dominated by sin (see 4:18). • Light from the Lord is Christ’s good news (see John 8:12). As people of light, believers live in fellowship with God, in whom there is no darkness (see 1 Jn 1:5-7; 5:9; cp. Matt 5:14-16; John 8:12; 12:35-36, 46; Rom 13:12; 2 Cor 6:14; 1 Thes 5:4-8; 1 Pet 2:9).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:17: 4:17–5:20 Paul gives believers specific guidelines for living a new life in Christ. 4:17 God’s people are called to a way of life that is different from that of the Gentiles (pagans, unbelievers) of the world.”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:17: Wherefore--seeing that ye need to walk so circumspectly, choosing and using the right opportunity of good. unwise--a different Greek word from that in Eph 5:15. Translate, "foolish," or "senseless." understanding--not merely knowing as a matter of fact (Luk 12:47), but knowing with understanding. the will of the Lord--as to how each opportunity is to be used. The Lord's will, ultimately, is our "sanctification" (Th1 4:3); and that "in every thing," meantime, we should "give thanks" (Th1 5:18; compare above, Eph 5:10).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”