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Ephesians 5:18-19 – From Spirits to the Spirit?
How and Why does Paul go from “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs…. (Ephesians 5:18:19). I really like how the HCSB and CSB use the word “reckless” here. In English we can make the pun from being filled with spirits to being filled with the Spirit, but I don’t think that is Paul’s How and Why.
There is a temple motif in Ephesians (i.e., 2:21). Let’s go back to another scene involving another temple or tabernacle. It also involved a reckless act brought on by drunkenness. Does that sound familiar? Read Leviticus 10. Right after Nadab and Abihu’s unholy, unauthorized act of worship, there is a command for priests not to get drunk. Could that be How and Why Paul goes from drunkenness to recklessness; to being filled with the Spirit which leads to worship? To further quote Paul, “Pay careful attention, then, to how you live – not as unwise people but as wise – making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Eph.5:15-17). Understanding the Lord’s will and being wise is How, and Why is we live in evil times.
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