EPHESIANS 5:17-19 DO NOT BE DRUNK WITH WINE

 

 

EPHESIANS 5:17-19 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Cross References: Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Unwise; is translated "unwise" in this verse. signifies without reason" (a, negative, phren, "the mind"), "want of mental sanity and sobriety, a reckless and inconsiderate habit of mind" (Hort), or "the lack of commonsense perception of the reality of things natural and spiritual ... or the imprudent ordering of one's life in regard to salvation" (G. Vos, in Hastings' Bible Dic.); it is mostly translated "foolish" or "foolish ones" in the RV; The Greek word is actually ἄφρων aphron which is the word "foolish". Vines (def A-1), Strong's G878.

Understand; primarily, to bring or set together," is used metaphorically of "perceiving, understanding, uniting" (sun), so to speak, the perception with what is perceived. The Greek word is συνίημι suniemi. Vine's (def A-1), Strong's G4920.

Will Of The Lord; signifies objectively, that which is willed, of the will of God," in this text it has the idea of "the gracious design," rather than "the determined resolve;". The Greek word is θέλημα thelema. Vine's (def a), Strong's G2307.

Notes on God's Will

Looking at 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God's Will - Precepts God has revealed to His people. 

(1) It is against God's Law for us to perish.

God's Will - Sovereign action by which God brings to pass whatsoever He wills to                   happen. 

(2) God has sovereignly decreed and effects most certainly that no one will perish.

God's Will - That which is pleasing to God. 

(3) God is not pleased or delighted when people perish. 

In this text the 3rd interpretation is correct after examining the rest of the text. 

Notes from: Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul. 

Moving to Verse 18. 

Cross References: Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 23:31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly;

Both of these verses in Proverbs are a warning against the abuse of wine or excessive drinking. A wise person takes the danger seriously. There is no wisdom in drunkenness only brawling and confusion. NSB*

Drunk With Wine; signifies "to make drunk, or to grow drunk" (an inceptive verb, marking the process or the state expressed in No. 1), "to become intoxicated," The Greek word used here for drunk is μεθύσκω methusko. Vines (def A-2 verb), Strong's G3182. 

Dissipation; This word is also translated "excess". lit., "a pouring out, overflowing" (akin to anacheo, "to pour out"). It is used of "riotous" conduct. That word is ἀσωτία astia, which means prodigality, a wastefulness, profligacy" (a negative, sozo, "to save") is rendered "riot". Vine's (def A-1), Strong's G810.

My Notes: One thing we can derive from the words used here is that it's not good. You do not want to be in this condition. 

Just as a person who is drunk with wine is under the control of alcohol, so a Spirit-Fillled believer is controlled by the Spirit. Filling is a step beyond the sealing of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:3), Sealing is an action that God took at the point of our new birth. The tense of the Greek word translated filled indicates that "filling" is a moment-by-moment repeatable action. It is something Paul commands the believers in Ephesus to do. In other words, not all Christians are spirit-filled, but all have been sealed (Ephesians 4:20). NSB*

Moving to Verse 19.

One of the natural outcomes of being filled with the Spirit is singing and melody-making to God. Paul is most likely referring to types of music mentioned in his reference to different parts of Psalms, or the 150 Psalms in the Psalter plus other Psalms like poems throughout scripture. NSB* para. 

To note: Hymns are compositions addressed directly to God.
Spiritual Songs - Hymns about the Christian experience. 

Cross Reference: Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

Takeaways - I think this one is pretty obvious. If you deal with alcoholism get help. The good news here is that there are many faith-based help centers for this. https://www.christian12step.org/ .

I think the deeper issue for Christians who are not alcoholics is that we do want to know our audience. I for instance don't drink at all but am tempted by it from time to time. As such I typically try not to surround myself with people that drink all the time. We also need to be aware of who around us may be tempted or is an alcoholic so that we are not the cause of their stumbling. At some point I will likely do a full study in Romans, but for now, here are the verses that back up this concept. 

Romans 14:14-23 14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.