Ephesus was a cosmopolitan city and was religiously diverse. Situated on the western coast of modern day Turkey. It was known for its worship of the goddess of hunting and fertility, Artemis. The practice of magic and pluralistic worship was embedded in this ancient New Testament world. Ephesus thrived as a prosperous commercial hub. It served as the capital of Asia Minor. The city attracted various cultures. It held significance in both the spiritual and economic life of the Roman Empire.
For more on the context of Ephesians, check out our prior article: Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (5:15-21): Magic & Religious Pluralism
Ephesians 5:17 (ESV)
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Believers avoiding being foolish recognize the nature of the times that which they live and making the most of those opportunities for the hope of salvation and good works in the love and name of Christ Jesus.(Eph. Vol 42) In Jewish tradition, the understanding of foolishness or mindlessness is strong in reference to throwing away salvation. The understanding of wisdom and foolishness had much more to do with morality than they did in pagan thought.(IVP background commentary) The same term was used in strong exhortation in Luke 12:20; Matthew 7:26; Mark 7:21 and Matthew 25:8. Another Greek meaning of the word foolishness can be understood as stupid or unphilosophical.
In these terms, irony is not present, the urgency for Christians to avoid mindlessness or foolish unbelief within the evil days rests upon believers understanding what the will of the Lord truly is. Similarly, the wording, as found in Romans 12:2, is a variation of well-pleasing to the Lord.(Blacks’a NT commentary). Paul claims if they are to buy their opportunities, it is to have understanding.(Eph. An intro and commentary).The contrast between being unwise and unwise is now being paralleled with the contrast of foolishness and understanding. Pointing back to the understanding on the children of the Light, so are those who engage with doing the will of the Lord are urged to understand this.
Colossians 1:9 claims, “filed with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. By this wisdom is reckoned to be hand in hand with understanding. Wise living is coherent with direction of living. Understanding the will of the Lord, is in step with discovering what the will of God is as questioned and explained in Romans 12:2. Paul uncovers that believers already obtain knowledge of what the will of the Lord is, yet he seeks to elaborate as in Ephesians 4:20 and 21.(Eph, vol. 42)
Paul continues to repeatedly present the desire to seek to know what the will of the Lord as top priority.(IVP commentary). By contrasting foolishness with he will of the Lord ,Paul is already writing in full confidence that the mystery of God’s will has been made known to the Ephesians as recorded in Ephesians 1:9. The will of God is to bring all things to their proper completion in and through Christ Jesus. Paul has made known what that end is, or telos— where God is moving all things. (Eph. Vol. 42)
Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”
An ancient manifestation of foolishness if directly linked to drunkenness. The Old and or New Testament never bears witness to commanding the complete abstinence from intoxicants except those who have committed to personal vows, for example like that of which Samson was under. To take note to the sudden abruptness of the topic enhances the importance of Paul being very clear to the believers in regards to this specific moral act. Scripture wholly speaks against drunkenness and Proverbs 23:20-35 can back that up.
In the ancient world, it was common that the majority of people thought drunkenness could produce some sort of inspiration or a form of possession by Dionusus, the god of wine. With full devotion to Dionusus came commitment to preform sexual acts as symbolism. Paul understood the active worship of gods and magic in Ephesus— though, being drunk was not always in relation to the worshiping Dionusus, the contrast against drunkenness in light of being filled with the Spirit would have imprinted well on the minds of the believers. As recorded in 1 Timothy 3:3 and 8, Titus 1:7, and 2:3, it was even warned against to those who were held as leaders amongst the early church to be careful in how they handle intoxicants.
It also should be noted in regards to the idea of fullness, as encountered already in Ephesians 1:23, 3:19 and 4:13. The term is especially appropriate in use of contrast to drinking. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “made to drink of the one spirit,” and Acts 2:33; Romans 5:5 speak to “being poured out,” and John 7:38. The present tense of the imperative does not imply that believers are to just be gradually filled but are suppose to be full, or overflowing with the Spirit.10 The incredibly specific objection here connects to the term Paul uses: dissipation or debauchery. The Greek word for dissipation can be better expounded upon as the idea of wastefulness and the lack of self-control. By these definitions alone, the understanding of this kind of foolishness is urged by Paul to be avoided by all believers.
The apparent lack of wisdom and self-control is to be not even counted among the saints, to be a reflection of Christ and to walk as children of the light is to refrain from such things. For Paul knows full well that by fleeing from these acts of darkness, the pleasure of being filled with more joy will come by being filled with the Spirit. As recorded in Acts 2, there was even a misunderstanding of witnesses seeing the early believers filled with the Spirit that seemed to them to being drunk on wine— which could not be farther from the truth. This implication can bear witness, that Paul would place the command not to be drunk on wine next to being filled with the Spirit.
By this he points to a joy beyond intoxication, a joy that is not fleeting but an eternal hope that comes with the sealing and filling of the Holy Ghost. Other records of being filled with the Spirit are found and can be paralleled in Acts 2:4; 4:31’ 9:17; 11:24 and 13:52. It can be attested to that the looks of joy of being filled with the spirit as in Acts 2:4 that was apparent to those witnessing as being drunk was merely associated due to the lack of experience in witnessing the filling of the Spirit before that moment. To claim that the witnesses had only every been as close to that joy as being drunk— which is far from the substance of goodness, can be noted as well on how they might have come to their conclusions.
To walk in righteous, it is to be expected to have experiences of engaging with the Spirit. Living in the spirit, not in the flesh is recorded throughout Ephesians 2:18, 22; 3:5; and 6:18. But to nearly take expression as the only understanding of being filled with the spirit deprives the original context. To know that embracing the Spirit is a gift, and is not something that can be possessed in our own power— Romans 5:5 says that “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Also being recognized that we do hold some form of power to access this filling of the spirit due to the blatant command at hand by Paul, urging to be filled with the Spirit.
There is a grace that comes with friendship and interactions with Holy Spirit, engagement that comes from a genuine and sincere heart.12 The understanding of the present imperative in the Greek bring proper understanding that experiencing and being filled is not a one time experienced, but is a constant living out of faith as Paul reflects in all his letters. Acts 2:4 and 4:31 bears witness to the same apostle being filled more than once.9 The commands of Ephesians 5:19-21 flow out of Paul’s expression to be filled with the Spirit and expressed the nature of Spirit-filled living. The Spirit has to be linked to wisdom, and looking towards doing the will of God therefore. This final imperative leads into the chain of participles which are all subordinate to its second half.
Keep Reading: Ephesians 5:19-20
Have any thoughts or questions? Leave a comment below! I pray that your study of scripture, dedication to faithfully live out your call as a child of the Light, and love for Christ and His Church would only increase. In Jesus name!
In Christ,
Cosette
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