My First Hermeneutics Paper...Presented Humbly

Well, after hearing from several people I have decided to post my first hermeneutics paper. I was not initially going to post it, but several people have expressed an interest in reading it. I want to say that I post it with humility and with trepidation. Please bear in mind that this is my first paper and that this is not a full hermeneutic process, but rather an exercise in observation.

The task was to make observations on the text of Ephesians 5:18. We were to pull out 18 observations on what the text SAYS, seven observations on what the text does NOT say, and ten questions that would need to be answered for further analysis. So here I present to you my paper:

Observations on Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,"

18 Key Observations on What IS Said

1. Paul is contrasting two states of being: being drunk and being filled with the Spirit.
2. Paul connects drunkenness as debauchery.
3. Paul specifies being drunk with wine.
4. By using “but,” Paul conveys that you cannot be drunk and filled with the Spirit at the same time.
5. Paul connects being filled with the Spirit with addressing each other with songs, hymns, etc all to the Lord; giving thanks; and submission to one another. (vs.19-21)
6. The verbs “addressing,” “singing,” “making,” “giving,” and “submitting” are all in present participle (showing that the action is incomplete,) which means that the actions are on going. (vs. 19-21)
7. The verbs “get” and “be” are both present tense verbs describing “drunk” and “filled,” together implying that when these actions happen that they are completed (which differs from #6.)
8. “And” connects v. 18 with the preceding verses, and all the way back to v. 11 by the use of “therefore,” “then,” and “for.”
9. Throughout chapter 5, Paul uses seven contrasting sentences. (Vs. 3, 4, 8, 11, 15, 17, 18)
10. In all of the contrasting verses, Paul puts the immoral/sinful comparison first.
11. In the immediate context (v. 15, 17) Paul says not to be “unwise” or “foolish,” and then connects them with being drunk in v. 18.
12. In a broader context (up to v. 8,) Paul writes about being “light in the Lord,” (v. 8) and Christ’s Light shinning on us (v. 14.) Because of this, we need to be careful how we walk and make use of our time (vs. 15-16) by warning us of the points in number 11.
13. “Spirit,” in verse 18, is capitalized, implying that this instance of spirit is God’s Spirit. It is used this way 11 times in the entire epistle and twice it is preceded “Holy” and six times it is preceded by the definite article “the.”
14. In chapter 1:17, Paul says that he prays that God the Father would give them a “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,” and later in 1:22, 23 he writes about “the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Three times Paul states that things are put together, reveled, or strengthened either “by the Spirit” or through the Spirit.” All this to say that being “filled with the Spirit” is done by God and the changes are by the Spirit.
15. Verse 18 is the only instance in the epistle that Paul addresses drunkenness.
16. The statements “do not get drunk” and “be filled” are both stated as commands and not as suggestions.
17. Paul does not appear to abolish all drinking, just drinking to the point of getting drunk.
18. The evidences of being drunk and being filled with the Spirit are shown to be diametrically apposed.

3 (supposed to be 7) Key Observations on What is NOT Said

1. “Debauchery” is not fully described like the effects of being filled with the Spirit are.
2. Paul does not mention being drunk on anything other than wine.
3. The verse does not specify if being filled is a one time event or if you have to keep getting filled (like with drunkenness, it wears off and you must drink some more to get drunk again.)

11 Key Questions

1. Is the use of “the Spirit” an interpretation of a more generic Greek word for spirit?
2. What is the Greek word for “debauchery?” What other meanings could it have?
3. Was drinking wine a common practice (not for getting drunk)?
4. Was getting drunk a problem in Ephesus at this time?
5. Was this a big problem in the church its self?
6. Why does Paul have to say that drunkenness is debauchery?
7. Why does Paul specify wine?
8. What is the Greek word for “drunk,” and what other meanings could it have?
9. Why is drunkenness only discussed in one relatively small verse, and how often does Paul mention it in his other writings?
10. Why does Paul need to tell the church “to be filled with the Spirit,” did he assume they were just ignorant to these things or that there were goats among the sheep?
11. Is being filled with the Spirit a euphemism for Salvation?

This was a difficult task, I have never approached the Word of God in this manner before. It has really opened my eyes to the depth of the Bible and the need for CAREFUL study and interpretation. I welcome comments.


"Peace to all of you who are in Christ." (1 Peter 5:14 ESV)

--The Wretch